Mr. Lovel, irritated beyond endurance, angrily demanded of the Captain what he meant?
"Mean?" cried the Captain, as soon as he was able to speak; "why only to shew you in your proper colours." Then rising, and pointing to the monkey, "Why now, ladies and gentlemen, I"ll be judged by you all!-Did you ever see any thing more like?-Odds my life, if it wasn"t for this here tail, you wouldn"t know one from t"other."
"Sir," cried Mr. Lovel, stamping, "I shall take a time to make you feel my wrath."
"Come now," continued the regardless Captain, "just for the fun"s sake, doff your coat and waistcoat, and swop with Monseer Grinagain here; and I"ll warrant you"ll not know yourself which is which."
"Not know myself from a monkey!-I a.s.sure you, Sir, I"m not to be used in this manner, and I won"t bear it-curse me if I will!"
"Why, hey-day!" cried the Captain, "what, is master in a pa.s.sion?-well, don"t be angry:-come, he shan"t hurt you;-here, shake a paw with him:-why, he"ll do you no harm, man!-come, kiss and be friends!"
"Who, I?" cried Mr. Lovel, almost mad with vexation; "as I"m a living creature, I would not touch him for a thousand worlds!"
"Send him a challenge," cried Mr. Coverley, "and I"ll be your second."
"Ay, do," said the Captain; "and I"ll be second to my friend, Monseer Clapperclaw here. Come to it at once!-tooth and nail!"
"G.o.d forbid!" cried Mr. Lovel, retreating, "I would sooner trust my person with a mad bull!"
"I don"t like the look of him myself," said Lord Merton, "for he grins most horribly."
"Oh, I"m frightened out of my senses!" cried Lady Louisa, "take him away, or I shall die!"
"Captain," said Lord Orville, "the ladies are alarmed; and I must beg you would send the monkey away."
"Why, where can be the mighty harm of one monkey more than another?" answered the Captain: "howsomever, if its agreeable to the ladies, suppose we turn them out together?"
"What do you mean by that, Sir?" cried Mr. Lovel, lifting up his cane.
"What do you mean?" cried the Captain, fiercely, "be so good as to down with your cane."
Poor Mr. Lovel, too much intimidated to stand his ground, yet too much enraged to submit, turned hastily round, and, forgetful of consequences, vented his pa.s.sion by giving a furious blow to the monkey.
The creature darting forwards, sprung instantly upon him; and, clinging round his neck, fastened his teeth to one of his ears.
I was really sorry for the poor man; who, though an egregious fop, had committed no offence that merited such chastis.e.m.e.nt.
It was impossible now to distinguish whose screams were loudest, those of Mr. Lovel, or of the terrified Lady Louisa, who I believe, thought her own turn was approaching: but the unrelenting Captain roared with joy.
Not so Lord Orville: ever humane, generous, and benevolent he quitted his charge, who he saw was wholly out of danger, and seizing the monkey by the collar, made him loosen the ear; and then with a sudden swing, flung him out of the room, and shut the door.
Poor Mr. Lovel, almost fainting with terror, sunk upon the floor, crying out, "Oh, I shall die, I shall die!-Oh, I"m bit to death!"
"Captain Mirvan," said Mrs. Beaumont, with no little indignation, "I must own I don"t perceive the wit of this action; and I am sorry to have such cruelty practised in my house."
"Why Lord, Ma"am," said the Captain, when his rapture abated sufficiently for speech, "how could I tell they"d fall out so?-By jingo, I brought him to be a messmate for t"other."
"Egad," said Mr. Coverley, "I would not have been served so for a thousand pounds."
"Why, then, there"s the odds of it," said the Captain; "for you see he is served so for nothing. But come," turning to Mr. Lovel, "be of good heart, all may end well yet, and you and Monseer Longtail be as good friends as ever."
"I"m surprised, Mrs. Beaumont," cried Mr. Lovel, starting up, "that you can suffer a person under your roof to be treated so inhumanly."
"What argufies so many words?" said the unfeeling Captain; "it is but a slit of the ear; it only looks as if you had been in the pillory."
"Very true," added Mrs. Selwyn; "and who knows but it may acquire you the credit of being an anti-ministerial writer?"
"I protest," cried Mr. Lovel, looking ruefully at his dress, "my new riding suit"s all over blood!"
"Ha, ha, ha," cried the Captain, "see what comes of studying for an hour what you shall put on!"
Mr. Lovel then walked to the gla.s.s; and, looking at the place, exclaimed, "Oh heaven, what a monstrous wound! my ear will never be fit to be seen again!"
"Why then," said the Captain, "you must hide it;-"tis but wearing a wig."