Here chocolate was brought in at the same time with his lordship's journals.
"See if there is anything in the papers," he commanded.
Lebeau glanced through the _Morning Chronicle_ and the _Gentleman's Magazine_, and several other gazettes of the same description, which included magazines both matrimonial and sentimental.
"Let us see," said he; "'In a certain house in the neighborhood of the Thames--' Your lordship knows that this has reference to the House of Commons."
"Here is a book announced from the pen of Mr. Bryant, the antiquarian, who is so well informed concerning events from the origin of the world to the Deluge. Fancy considering nothing of importance _after_ the Deluge! His work is disposed of in three words,--'Heavy, tiresome, pedantic.' Cumberland's romance is also treated in three words,--'Refined, sensible, and tender.'"
"The condemned of the week: 'Sarah Hoggs, to be hanged for stealing a piece of cloth that was spread out to dry; Laurence Williamson, to the same penalty for having cut down sundry young trees; item, Annie Smith, to one year's imprisonment for having taken forty shillings in the presence of witnesses; item, Florence Dunk, to be hanged for having taken five shillings privately; item, William Morton, to transportation for having assassinated his father.'"
"Pass over all that. What society news is there?"
"'Major T---- has again been detected in cheating at cards; he has been requested not to appear at Almack's again.'"
"That's Topham, the editor of the _World_!" exclaimed his lordship. "Bah! in a week's time he will be back again and everybody will be shaking hands with him."
"'Lady B---- has eloped with her husband's groom; his lordship will be consoled by the society of Mlle. Annette, the little French dancer.'"
"Nothing but two duels, three abductions, five or six bankruptcies, several fires, and a charade in verse.--Ah!"
"George Barrington, the gentleman-sharper, has been arrested at Edinburgh!"
"Barrington! a charming fellow! I recollect one evening at Ranelagh, when he showed me how he purloined a snuff-box, and as payment for the lesson he took my watch. And here he is under lock and key! Poor boy!"
"You need not pity him. He will plead his cause so eloquently that he will be acquitted, as he has been many a time."