登陆注册
5223900000019

第19章

So much in praise of Major Tifto honesty has compelled the present chronicler to say. But there were traits of character in which he fell off a little, even in the estimation of those whose pursuits endeared him to them. He could not refrain from boasting,--and especially from boasting about women. His desire for glory in that direction knew no bounds, and he would sometimes mention names, and bring himself into trouble. It was told of him that at one period of his life, when misfortune had almost overcome him, when sorrow had produced prostration, and prostration some expression of truth, he had owned to a friend his own conviction that could he have kept his tongue from talking of women, he might have risen to prosperity in his profession. From these misfortunes he had emerged, and, no doubt, had often reflected on what he himself had then said. But we know that the drunkard, though he hates drunkenness, cannot but drink,--that the gambler cannot keep from the dice. Major Tifto still lied about women, and could not keep his tongue from the subject. He would boast, too, about other matters,--much to his own disadvantage. He was, too, very 'deep', and some men, who could put up with his other failings, could not endure that. Whatever he wanted to do he would attempt round three corners. Though he could ride straight, he could do nothing else straight. He was full of mysteries. If he wanted to draw Charter Wood he would take his hounds out of the street at Egham directly in the other direction. If he had made up his mind to ride Lord Pottlepot's horse for the great Leamington handicap, he would be sure to tell even his intimate friends that he was almost determined to take the 'baronet's' offer of a mount. This he would do even when there was no possible turn in the betting to be affected by such falsehood. So that his companions were apt to complain that there was no knowing where to have Tifto. And then, they who were old enough in the world to have had some experience in men, perceived that peculiar quality of his eyes, which never allowed him to look anyone in the face.

That Major Tifto should make money by selling horses was, perhaps, a necessity to his position. No one grumbled at him because he did so, or thought that such a pursuit was incompatible with his character as a sporting gentleman. But there were some who considered that they had suffered unduly under his hands, and in their bargains with him had been made to pay more than a proper amount of tax for the advantages of his general assistance. When a man has perhaps made fifty pounds by using a 'straight tip' as to a horse at Newmarket, in doing which he had of course encountered some risks, he feels he ought not be made to pay the amount back into the pockets of the 'tipper', and at the same time to find himself saddled with the possession of a perfectly useless animal.

In this way there were rocks in the course through which Tifto was called on to steer his bark. Of course he was anxious, when preying upon his acquaintances, to spare those who were useful friends to him. Now and again he would sell a serviceable animal at a fair price, and would endeavour to make such a sale in favour of someone whose countenance would be a rock to him. He knew his business well, but yet there would be mistakes.

Now, at this very moment, was the culmination of the Major's life.

He was Master of Runnymede Hounds, he was partner with the eldest son of a Duke in the possession of that magnificent colt, the Prime Minister, and he was a member of the Beargarden. He was a man who had often been despondent about himself, but was now disposed to be little triumphant. He had finished his season well with the Runnymede, and were it not that, let him work as he would, his expenses always exceeded his means, he would have been fairly comfortable.

At eight o'clock Lord Silverbridge and his friend met in the dining-room of the Beargarden. 'Have you been here before?' asked the Lord.

'Not in here, my Lord. I just looked in at the smoking-room last night. Glasslough and Nidderdale were there. I thought we should have got up a rubber, but they didn't seem to see it.'

'There is whist there generally. You'll find out all about it before long. Perhaps they are a little afraid of you.'

'I'm the worst hand at cards, I suppose, In England. A dash at loo for about an hour, and half-a-dozen cuts at blind hookey,--that's about my form. I know I drop more than I pick up. If I knew what I was about I should never touch a card.'

'Horses; eh, Tifto?'

'Horses, yes. They've pretty good claret, here, eh, Silverbridge?'

He could never hit off his familiarity quite right. He had my-Lorded his young friend at first, and now brought out the name with a hesitating twang, which the young nobleman appreciated. But then the young nobleman was quite aware that the Major was a friend for club purposes, and sporting purposes, and not for home use.

'Everything of that kind is pretty good here,' said the Lord.

'You were saying--horses.'

'I dare say you deal better with them than cards.'

'If I didn't I don't know where I should be, seeing what a lot pass through my hands in the year. Anyone of our fellows who has a horse to sell thinks that I am bound to buy him. And I do buy 'em.

Last May I had forty-two hunters on my hands.'

'How many of them have you got now?'

'Three. Three of that lot,--though a goodish many have come up since. But what does it amount to? When I have anything that is very good, some fellow that I like gets it from me.'

'After paying for him?'

'After paying for him! Yes, I don't mean that I make a fellow a present. But the man who buys has a deal the best of it. Did you ever get anything better than that spotted chestnut in your life?'

'What, old Sarcinet?'

同类推荐
  • 新世鸿勋

    新世鸿勋

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 佛说缘起圣道经

    佛说缘起圣道经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 艇斋诗话

    艇斋诗话

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 覆瓿集

    覆瓿集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 医学读书记

    医学读书记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 妖禁

    妖禁

    鬼吃人,妖惑心,霊界幽幽锁怨仇人心埋,道行浅,须弥欺欺禁孽缘一缕芳魂,满门惨死,魂入异世,浴火重生!原来世界如此之大,平行之位面,修炼之三界,一次杀戮牵扯出她惊天的身世之谜!且看她如何在这美男遍地、妖孽横行的三界混的风生水起!
  • 幻影冷妃

    幻影冷妃

    她,是二十一世纪的催眠大师,一次空难,使她在无意间穿越到了一个充满异能的奇幻世界。她淡定至极,总是以面无表情为标准表情,若她笑,必定世界都为之倾倒,众生都为之臣服。只可惜,她早已忘了如何去笑,不是不笑,而是不会笑。她初见他,是他救了昏迷的她。当她再次醒来,她看着他,毫不客气的下了定语:“骚包。”“骚包?”他嘴角微勾,笑道:“丫头,你还是第一个敢这样说我的人啊~不过,你就不感谢我吗?可是我救了你哦!”她面无表情的道:“你救了吗?我怎么不知道。”“你……”他被她的无赖话语逗笑了:“你这丫头真是与众不同啊!不愧是我看中的女人。”“可笑,我什么时候成了你的女人了。”她冷声道:“你最好现在就给我滚,不然我对你不客气。”她的身边美男无数,在她要成婚的前一天,各个美男找上门来。她却一脸淡定的握着他的手。他笑:丫头,你真是太招桃花了,为夫深感力不从心啊!她面无表情:这是你身为丈夫的责任。他无奈:丫头,你这是欺负我。“不欺负你欺负谁。赶紧的别废话,把他们都给我轰出府去。”说完,她面无表情的转身而去。他微笑,他感受到了幸福。
  • 嘉靖武安县志

    嘉靖武安县志

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 红楼之水溶玉心

    红楼之水溶玉心

    蓝淩又有开新文,大家多多支持哈!《红楼之溶掬黛》重新开文,多多支持《梦红楼之溶黛》青青仙草立河畔,天域海王守苍穹!仙草和海王相遇会有怎么样的情意演绎!前生三生石畔,绛珠仙草立在河边,收取天地之精华,修炼成女体,心中着实感激灌溉之恩的神瑛侍者!怎奈繁花入眼,神瑛侍者,渐渐忘记了这株仙草,若不是海王眼中血珠滋养,仙草必定香消玉殒,心中暗生情意,一颗芳心遗落海王身上,只盼来生来世一世情,用眼泪还了神瑛侍者灌溉之恩,用柔情蜜意用满身柔情还却海王神情!海王心中亦是心心念念于一棵灵动仙草,听得仙草下世,亦跟随下世,心中坚定信念,无论世间如何,必定要先遇到这仙草,用生生世世的呵护柔情保护着这株仙草不受欺负!用生生世世的情意守护仙草,只愿仙草永远快乐!陪着自己走过春夏秋冬!相知相守,生生世世永不分离!欢迎大家加我的群:77306446(红楼一梦)
  • 文娱不朽

    文娱不朽

    魔都音乐学院在读博士生苏逸阳,意外获得不断觉醒异位面记忆片段的能力。在台前,他是亿万粉丝崇拜的天王巨星,一首首经典的歌曲出自他手,一部部经典的影片被他完美演绎!在幕后,他是互联网领域投资界的巨头,一款款惠民悦民的APP在他的推动下,绽放出耀眼夺目的光辉!苏逸阳:“这是最好的时代,也是属于我的时代,娱乐至死,文娱不朽!”……书友1群:635363342(已满) 书友2群:717557113(新建) 欢迎来撩!已有高订近万的作品《重生之大娱乐家系统》,实力人品有保障,欢迎入坑!
  • 盛宠之医女风华

    盛宠之医女风华

    《锦史》记载:太祖圣穆皇后程氏懿德懿容,少而婉顺,长而贤明,贵而不恃,谦而益光,扶帝于危厄,助帝于繁难,十载琴瑟相随,弗离朝夕,更兼巾帼,武安邦国,文定天下,毋让须眉……程锦素手挑页,眉头一扬,然,以鼻嗤之。野史记载:太祖皇后程氏女,药王谷之后,身无懿范,更无女德,实则妲己之属,褒姒之流,帝之红颜劫难,手染江山,剑指天下,制乱,三国争之而杀戮起;引战,王侯欲之而太平裂……实不适母仪天下。程锦怒:一派胡言,我21世纪卓尔不群惊才艳艳的女法医女博士,药王谷传人,将门之后,我娘名满天下,我爹威名昭昭,有钱有权、有容有貌、有德有才,能安邦国,可定天下,创繁荣,复盛世……唉,古人诚不知我也……旁边某人抽掉炸毛女人手中再版民间小书,随意丢入秋波湖水之中,声音温柔如醉人秋酿,似是为发怒的小猫安抚顺毛,“卿卿莫气,回头我将那写书之人全砍了,将这些废纸全禁了!”程锦一则白眼瞪过去,“……下辈子换个皇后再做暴君!”“……”【其实这是一个自称惊才艳艳女博士兼女法医与一个真正智冠天下美绝人寰的禁欲闷骚男人在彼此征服中相爱并且征战天下的故事】————【那些情深如许】————在遇到她以前,我不怕死,不惧远行,也不曾忧虑悠长岁月,如今却从未如此真切地思虑起将来。==========江山如此多娇,引无数英雄竞折腰。——江山如此多娇,而我只为你折腰。==========便纵相思化骨,生死两茫,天地相易,此心不变,除非黄沙白骨,我守她安乐无忧。
  • 吊李群玉

    吊李群玉

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 实相之壤

    实相之壤

    欧塞芭伸出柔软的枝蔓,插入土壤。土壤厚实,潮湿而又温暖。她将根尖探入土堆,品尝营养穿过茎干时的甘甜。她满足地哼唱着,用整片叶子把土一勺勺舀到大花瓣里,再把花瓣裹起来,以便这些土壤能够被分配到飞船各处。她的导师简德塞哼出送别曲和欢迎曲。沙沙沙的声音摩挲着欧塞芭顶端的树叶。她放好最后一小包土,站起身,根部稳稳迈过地上缠绕交错的藤蔓,步入光线昏暗的内室。一群萤火虫在简德塞的身边飞舞着。
  • 自然密码百科(奥秘世界百科)

    自然密码百科(奥秘世界百科)

    宇宙天地和自然世界真是丰富多彩、纷繁庞杂,使我们对于那许许多多的难解之谜,不得不密切关注和发出疑问。人们总是不断地去认识它,勇敢地去探索它。虽然今天科学技术日新月异,达到了很高程度,但对于许多奥秘还是难以圆满解答。人们都希望发现天机,破解奥秘。古今中外许许多多的科学先驱不断奋斗,一个个奥秘不断解开,推进了科学技术的大发展,但又发现了许多新的奥秘现象,又不得不向新的问题发起挑战。正如达尔文所说:“我们认识自然界的固有规律越多,这种奇妙对于我们就更加不可思议。”科学技术不断发展,人类探索永无止境,解决旧问题,探索新领域,这就是人类一步一步发展的足迹。
  • 特工难追:韩少请走心

    特工难追:韩少请走心

    顾简冉咬牙切齿地对身后的男人说:“你TM是不是很闲,天天粘着我?”男人嘴角勾起一个弧度:“我要是不粘着你,那要怎么追你啊。”“滚!”顾简冉忍无可忍地怒吼。“滚?难道冉冉你是想要跟我滚床单吗?”某男抱着顾简冉无耻地问。看着眼前这个没脸没皮的男人,顾简冉的脑门上挂下了好几道黑线。心里想:这人之前天天冷着脸跟冰山一样,怎么现在就变成这样了?某男勾唇一笑:还不是为了追你?