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it was a small study； surrounded with bookcases； the window looking
out upon the square。 Of these individuals he who appeared to be
the principal stood with his back to the fireplace。 He was a tall
stout man； about sixty； dressed in a loose morning gown。 The
expression of his countenance would have been bluff but for a
certain sinister glance； and his complexion might have been called
rubicund but for a considerable tinge of bilious yellow。 He eyed
me askance as I entered。 The other； a pale； shrivelled…looking
person； sat at a table apparently engaged with an account…book； he
took no manner of notice of me； never once lifting his eyes from
the page before him。
'Well； sir； what is your pleasure？' said the big man； in a rough
tone； as I stood there； looking at him wistfully … as well I might
… for upon that man； at the time of which I am speaking； my
principal； I may say my only； hopes rested。
'Sir；' said I； 'my name is so…and…so； and I am the bearer of a
letter to you from Mr。 so…and…so； an old friend and correspondent
of yours。'
The countenance of the big man instantly lost the suspicious and
lowering expression which it had hitherto exhibited； he strode
forward； and； seizing me by the hand； gave me a violent squeeze。
'My dear sir；' said he； 'I am rejoiced to see you in London。 I
have been long anxious for the pleasure … we are old friends；
though we have never before met。 Taggart；' said he to the man who
sat at the desk； 'this is our excellent correspondent； the friend
and pupil of our other excellent correspondent。'
The pale； shrivelled…looking man slowly and deliberately raised his
head from the account…book； and surveyed me for a moment or two；
not the slightest emotion was observable in his countenance。 It
appeared to me； however； that I could detect a droll twinkle in his
eye： his curiosity； if he had any； was soon gratified； he made me
a kind of bow； pulled out a snuff…box； took a pinch of snuff； and
again bent his head over the page。
'And now； my dear sir；' said the big man； 'pray sit down； and tell
me the cause of your visit。 I hope you intend to remain here a day
or two。'
'More than that；' said I； 'I am come to take up my abode in
London。'
'Glad to hear it； and what have you been about of late？ got
anything which will suit me？ Sir； I admire your style of writing；
and your manner of thinking； and I am much obliged to my good
friend and correspondent for sending me some of your productions。
I inserted them all； and wished there had been more of them … quite
original； sir； quite： took with the public； especially the essay
about the non…existence of anything。 I don't exactly agree with
you though； I have my own peculiar ideas about matter … as you
know； of course； from the book I have published。 Nevertheless； a
very pretty piece of speculative philosophy … no such thing as
matter … impossible that there should be … EX NIHILO … what is the
Greek？ I have forgot … very pretty indeed； very original。'
'I am afraid； sir； it was very wrong to write such trash； and yet
more to allow it to be published。'
'Trash！ not at all； a very pretty piece of speculative philosophy；
of course you were wrong in saying there is no world。 The world
must exist； to have the shape of a pear； and that the world is
shaped like a pear； and not like an apple； as the fools of Oxford
say； I have satisfactorily proved in my book。 Now； if there were
no world； what would become of my system？ But what do you propose
to do in London？'
'Here is the letter； sir；' said I； 'of our good friend； which I
have not yet given to you； I believe it will explain to you the
circumstances under which I come。'
He took the letter； and perused it with attention。 'Hem！' said he；
with a somewhat altered manner； 'my friend tells me that you are
come up to London with the view of turning your literary talents to
account； and desires me to assist you in my capacity of publisher
in bringing forth two or three works which you have prepared。 My
good friend is perhaps not aware that for some time past I have
given up publishing … was obliged to do so … had many severe losses
… do nothing at present in that line； save sending out the Magazine
once a month； and； between ourselves； am thinking of disposing of
that … wish to retire … high time at my age … so you see … '
'I am very sorry； sir； to hear that you cannot assist me' （and I
remember that I felt very nervous）； 'I had hoped … '
'A losing trade； I assure you； sir； literature is a drug。 Taggart；
what o'clock is？'
'Well； sir！' said I； rising； 'as you cannot assist me； I will now
take my leave； I thank you sincerely for your kind reception； and
will trouble you no longer。'
'Oh； don't go。 I wish to have some further conversation with you；
and perhaps I may hit upon some plan to benefit you。 I honour
merit； and always make a point to encourage it when I can； but …
Taggart； go to the bank； and tell them to dishonour the bill twelve
months after date for thirty pounds which becomes due to…morrow。 I
am dissatisfied with that fellow who wrote the fairy tales； and
intend to give him all the trouble in my power。 Make haste。'
Taggart did not appear to be in any particular haste。 First of
all； he took a pinch of snuff； then； rising from his chair； slowly
and deliberately drew his wig； for he wore a wig of a brown colour；
rather more over his forehead than it had previously been； buttoned
his coat； and； taking his hat； and an umbrella which stood in a
corner； made me a low bow； and quitted the room。
'Well； sir； where were we？ Oh； I remember； we were talking about
merit。 Sir； I always wish to encourage merit； especially when it
comes so highly recommended as in the present instance。 Sir； my
good friend and correspondent speaks of you in the highest terms。
Sir； I honour my good friend； and have the highest respect for his
opinion in all matters connected with literature … rather eccentric
though。 Sir； my good friend has done my periodical more good and
more harm than all the rest of my correspondents。 Sir； I shall
never forget the sensation caused by the appearance of his article
about a certain personage whom he proved … and I think
satisfactorily … to have been a legionary soldier … rather
startling； was it not？ The S… of the world a common soldier； in a
marching regiment … original； but startling； sir； I honour my good
friend。'
'So you have renounced publishing； sir；' said I； 'with the
exception of the Magazine？'
'Why； yes； except now and then； under the rose； the old coachman；
you know； likes to hear the whip。 Indeed； at the present moment； I
am thinking of starting a Review on an entirely new and original
principle； and it just struck me that you might be of high utility
in the undertaking … what do you think of the matter？'
'I should be happy； sir； to render you any assistance； but I am
afraid the employment you propose requires other qualifications
than I possess； however； I can make the essay。 My chief intention
in coming to London was to lay before the world what I had
prepared； and I had hoped by your assistance … '
'Ah！ I see； ambition！ Ambition is a very pretty thing； but； sir；
we must walk before we run； according to the old saying … what is
that you have got under your arm？'
'One of the works to which I was alluding； the one； indeed； which I
am most anxious to lay before the world； as I hope to derive from
it both profit and reputation。'
'Indeed！ what do you call it？'
'Ancient songs of Denmark； heroic and romantic； translated by
myself； with notes philological； critical； and historical。'
'Then； sir； I assure you that your time and labour have been
entirely flung away； nobody would read your ballads； if you were to
give them to the world to…morrow。'
'I am sure； sir； that you would say otherwise if you would permit
me to read one to you'； and； without waiting for the answer of the
big man； nor indeed so much as looking at him； to see whether he
was inclined or not to hear me； I undid my manuscript； and； with a
voice trembling with eagerness； I read to the following effect： …
Buckshank bold and Elfinstone；
And more than I can mention here；
They caused to be built so stout a ship；
And unto Iceland they would steer。
They launched the ship upon the main；
Which bellowed like a wrathful bear；
Down to the bottom the vessel sank；
A laidly Trold has dragged it there。
Down to the bottom sank young Roland；
And round about he groped awhile；
Until he found the path which led
Unto the bower of Ellenlyle。
'Stop！' said the publisher； 'very pretty indeed； and very original；
beats Scott hollow； and Percy too： but； sir； the day for these
things is gon