Henry Gray.
As we moved out, after this ordeal was over, my friend was at once
surrounded and claimed by his acquaintances of the congregation;
and I was rejoiced to hear him addressed by the expected name of
Robbie.
So soon as we were clear of the crowd--'Mr. Robbie?' said I,
bowing.
'The very same, sir,' said he.
'If I mistake not, a lawyer?'
'A writer to His Majesty's Signet, at your service.'
'It seems we were predestined to be acquaintances!' I exclaimed.
'I have here a card in my pocket intended for you. It is from my
family lawyer. It was his last word, as I was leaving, to ask to
be remembered kindly, and to trust you would pass over so informal
an introduction.'
And I offered him the card.
'Ay, ay, my old friend Daniel!' says he, looking on the card. 'And
how does my old friend Daniel?'
I gave a favourable view of Mr. Romaine's health.
'Well, this is certainly a whimsical incident,' he continued. 'And
since we are thus met already--and so much to my advantage!--the
simplest thing will be to prosecute the acquaintance instantly.
Let me propose a snack between sermons, a bottle of my particular
green seal--and when nobody is looking we can talk blazons, Mr.
Ducie!'--which was the name I then used and had already
incidentally mentioned, in the vain hope of provoking a return in
kind.
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