Japhet, In Search Of A Father Part 1 by Frederick Marryat (read people like a book .TXT) 📕

The Floor,  Embracing The Bolster With All My Might. Such Was The Vivid

Impression Of This Dream,  That I Could Not Turn My Thoughts Away From

It,  And At Last I Considered That It Was A Divine Interposition. All My

Scruples Vanished,  And Before The Day Had Dawned I Determined That I

Would Follow The Advice Of Timothy. An Enthusiast Is Easily Led To

Believe What He Wishes,  And He Mistakes His Own Feelings For Warnings;

The Dreams Arising From His Daily Contemplations For The Interference Of

Heaven. He Thinks Himself Armed By Supernatural Assistance,  And

Warranted By The Almighty To Pursue His Course,  Even If That Course

Should Be Contrary To The Almighty'S Precepts. Thus Was I Led Away By My

Own Imaginings,  And Thus Was My _Monomania_ Increased To An Impetus

Which Forced Before It All Consideration Of What Was Right Or Wrong.

     _An Important Chapter--I Make Some Important Acquaintances,  Obtain

     Some Important Papers Which I Am Importunate To Read Through._

The Next Morning I Told My Dream To Timothy,  Who Laughed Very Heartily

At My Idea Of The Finger Of Providence. At Last,  Perceiving That I Was

Angry With Him,  He Pretended To Be Convinced. When I Had Finished My

Breakfast,  I Sent To Inquire The Number In The Square Of Lord

Windermear'S Town House,  And Wrote The Following Simple Note To His

Lordship,  "_Japhet Newland_ Has Arrived From His Tour At The Piazza,

Covent Garden." This Was Confided To Timothy,  And I Then Set Off With

The Other Letter To Mr Masterton,  Which Was Addressed To Lincoln'S Inn.

By Reading The Addresses Of The Several Legal Gentlemen,  I Found Out

That Mr Masterton Was Located On The First Floor. I Rang The Bell,  Which

Had The Effect Of "Open,  Sesame," As The Door Appeared To Swing To Admit

Me Without Any Assistance. I Entered An Ante-Room,  And From Thence Found

Myself In The Presence Of Mr Masterton--A Little Old Man,  With

Spectacles On His Nose,  Sitting At A Table Covered With Papers. He

Offered Me A Chair,  And I Presented The Letter.

"I See That I Am Addressing Mr Neville," Said He,  After He Had Perused

The Letter. "I Congratulate You On Your Return. You May Not,  Perhaps,

Remember Me?"

"Indeed,  Sir,  I Cannot Say That I Do,  Exactly."

"I Could Not Expect It,  My Dear Sir,  You Have Been So Long Away. You

Have Very Much Improved In Person,  I Must Say; Yet Still,  I Recollect

Your Features As A Mere Boy. Without Compliment,  I Had No Idea That You

Would Ever Have Made So Handsome A Man." I Bowed To The Compliment.

"Have You Heard From Your Uncle?"

"I Had A Few Lines From Lord Windermear,  Enclosing Your Letter."

"He Is Well,  I Hope?"

"Quite Well,  I Believe."

Mr Masterton Then Rose,  Went To An Iron Safe,  And Brought Out A Packet

Of Papers,  Which He Put Into My Hands. "You Will Read These With

Interest,  Mr Neville. I Am A Party To The Whole Transaction,  And Must

Venture To Advise You Not To Appear In england Under Your Own Name,

Until All Is Settled. Your Uncle,  I Perceive,  Has Begged The Same."

"And I Have Assented,  Sir. I Have Taken A Name Instead Of My Real One."

"May I Ask What It Is?"

"I Call Myself Mr Japhet Newland."

"Well,  It Is Singular,  But Perhaps As Good As Any Other. I Will Take It

Down,  In case I Have To Write To You. Your Address Is--"

"Piazza--Covent Garden."

Mr Masterton Took My Name And Address,  I Took The Papers,  And Then We

Both Took Leave Of One Another,  With Many Expressions Of Pleasure And

Good-Will.

I Returned To The Hotel,  Where I Found Timothy Waiting For Me,  With

Impatience. "Japhet," Said He,  "Lord Windermear Has Not Yet Left Town. I

Have Seen Him,  For I Was Called Back After I Left The House,  By The

Footman,  Who Ran After Me--He Will Be Here Immediately."

"Indeed," Replied I. "Pray What Sort Of Person Is He,  And What Did He

Say To You?"

"He Sent For Me In The Dining-Parlour,  Where He Was At Breakfast,  Asked

When You Arrived,  Whether You Were Well,  And How Long I Had Been In Your

Service. I Replied That I Had Not Been More Than Two Days,  And Had Just

Put On My Liveries. He Then Desired Me To Tell Mr Newland That He Would

Call Upon Him In about Two Hours. Then,  My Lord," Replied I,  "I Had

Better Go And Tell Him To Get Out Of Bed."

"The Lazy Dog!" Said He,  "Nearly One O'Clock,  And Not Out Of Bed; Well,

Go Then,  And Get Him Dressed As Fast As You Can."

Shortly Afterwards A Handsome Carriage With Greys Drew Up To The Door.

His Lordship Sent In His Footman To Ask Whether Mr Newland Was At Home.

The Reply Of The Waiter Was,  That There Was A Young Gentleman Who Had

Been There Two Or Three Days,  Who Had Come From Making A Tour,  And His

Name Did Begin With An _N_. "That Will Do,  James; Let Down The Steps."

His Lordship Alighted,  Was Ushered Up Stairs,  And Into My Room. There We

Stood,  Staring At Each Other.

"Lord Windermear,  I Believe," Said I,  Extending My Hand.

"You Have Recognised Me First,  John," Said He,  Taking My Hand,  And

Looking Earnestly In My Face. "Good Heavens! Is It Possible That An

Awkward Boy Should Have Grown Up Into So Handsome A Fellow? I Shall Be

Proud Of My Nephew. Did You Remember Me When I Entered The Room?"

"To Tell The Truth,  My Lord,  I Did Not; But Expecting You,  I Took It For

Granted That It Must Be You."

"Nine Years Make A Great Difference,  John;--But I Forget,  I Must Now

Call You Japhet. Have You Been Reading The Bible Lately,  That You Fixed

Upon That Strange Name?"

"No,  My Lord,  But This Hotel Is Such A Noah'S Ark,  That It'S No Wonder I

Thought Of It."

"You'Re An Undutiful Dog,  Not To Ask After Your Mother,  Sir."

"I Was About--"

"I See--I See," Interrupted His Lordship; "But Recollect,  John,  That She

Still Is _Your Mother_. By-The-By,  Have You Read The Papers Yet?"

"No,  Sir," Replied I,  "There They Are," Pointing To Them On The Side

Table. "I Really Do Not Like To Break The Seals."

"That They Will Not Contain Pleasant Intelligence,  I Admit," Replied His

Lordship; "But Until You Have Read Them,  I Do Not Wish To Converse With

You On The Subject,  Therefore," Said He,  Taking Up The Packet,  And

Breaking The Seals,  "I Must Now Insist That You Employ This Forenoon In

Reading Them Through. You Will Dine With Me At Seven,  And Then We Will

Talk The Matter Over."

"Certainly,  Sir,  If You Wish It,  I Will Read Them."

"I Must _Insist_ Upon It,  John; And Am Rather Surprised At Your

Objecting,  When They Concern You So Particularly."

"I Shall Obey Your Orders,  Sir."

"Well,  Then,  My Boy,  I Shall Wish You Good Morning,  That You May

Complete Your Task Before You Come To Dinner. To-Morrow,  If You Wish

It--But Recollect,  I Never Press Young Men On These Points,  As I Am

Aware That They Sometimes Feel It A Restraint--If You Wish It,  I Say,

You May Bring Your Portmanteaus,  And Take Up Your Quarters With Me.

By-The-Bye," Continued His Lordship,  Taking Hold Of My Coat,  "Who Made

This?"

"The Tailor To His Serene Highness The Prince Of Darmsradt Had That

Honour,  My Lord," Replied I.

"Humph! I Thought They Fitted Better In Germany; It'S Not Quite The

Thing--We Must Consult Stulz,  For With That Figure And Face,  The Coat

Ought To Be Quite Correct. Adieu,  My Dear Fellow,  Till Seven."

His Lordship Shook Hands With Me,  And I Was Left Alone. Timothy Came In

As Soon As His Lordship'S Carriage Had Driven Off. "Well,  Sir," Said He,

"Was Your Uncle Glad To See You?"

"Yes," Replied I; "And Look,  He Has Broken Open The Seals,  And Has

Insisted Upon My Reading The Papers."

"It Would Be Very Undutiful In You To Refuse,  So I Had Better Leave You

To Your Task," Said Timothy,  Smiling,  As He Quitted The Room.

     I Open An Account With My Bankers,  Draw Largely Upon Credulity,  And

     Am Prosperous Without A _Check_.

I Sat Down And Took Up The Papers. I Was Immediately And Strangely

Interested In all That I Read. A Secret!--It Was,  Indeed,  A Secret,

Involving The Honour And Reputation Of The Most Distinguished Families.

One That,  If Known,  The Trumpet Of Scandal Would Have Blazoned Forth To

The Disgrace Of The Aristocracy. It Would Have Occasioned Bitter Tears

To Some,  Gratified The Petty Malice Of Many,  Satisfied The Revenge Of

The Vindictive,  And Bowed With Shame The Innocent As