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chanced to be seated exactly opposite to me； wore an air of
constraint and vexation。 This circumstance caused me to observe
him more particularly than I otherwise should have done： his
features were handsome and prepossessing； he had dark brown hair
and a high…arched forehead。 After the lapse of half an hour； the
two elder individuals； having finished their coffee； called for the
waiter； and then rose as if to depart； the young man； however；
still remaining seated in the box。 The others； having reached the
door； turned round； and； finding that the youth did not follow
them； one of them called to him with a tone of some authority；
whereupon the young man rose； and； pronouncing half audibly the
word 'botheration；' rose and followed them。 I now observed that he
was remarkably tall。 All three left the house。 In about ten
minutes； finding nothing more worth reading in the newspaper； I
laid it down； and though the claret was not yet exhausted； I was
thinking of betaking myself to my lodgings； and was about to call
the waiter； when I heard a step in the passage； and in another
moment the tall young man entered the room； advanced to the same
box； and； sitting down nearly opposite to me； again pronounced to
himself； but more audibly than before； the same word。
'A troublesome world this； sir；' said I； looking at him。
'Yes；' said the young man； looking fixedly at me； 'but I am afraid
we bring most of our troubles on our own heads … at least I can say
so of myself；' he added； laughing。 Then； after a pause； 'I beg
pardon；' he said； 'but am I not addressing one of my own country？'
'Of what country are you？' said I。
'Ireland。'
'I am not of your country； sir； but I have an infinite veneration
for your country； as Strap said to the French soldier。 Will you
take a glass of wine？'
'Ah； de tout mon coeur； as the parasite said to Gil Blas；' cried
the young man； laughing。 'Here's to our better acquaintance！'
And better acquainted we soon became； and I found that； in making
the acquaintance of the young man； I had indeed made a valuable
acquisition； he was accomplished； highly connected； and bore the
name of Francis Ardry。 Frank and ardent he was； and in a very
little time had told me much that related to himself； and in return
I communicated a general outline of my own history； he listened
with profound attention； but laughed heartily when I told him some
particulars of my visit in the morning to the publisher； whom he
had frequently heard of。
We left the house together。
'We shall soon see each other again；' said he； as we separated at
the door of my lodging。
CHAPTER XXXIII
Dine with the publisher … Religions … No animal food … Unprofitable
discussions … Principles of criticism … The book market … Newgate
lives … Goethe a drug … German acquirements … Moral dignity。
ON the Sunday I was punctual to my appointment to dine with the
publisher。 As I hurried along the square in which his house stood；
my thoughts were fixed so intently on the great man； that I passed
by him without seeing him。 He had observed me； however； and joined
me just as I was about to knock at the door。 'Let us take a turn
in the square；' said he； 'we shall not dine for half an hour。'
'Well；' said he； as we were walking in the square； 'what have you
been doing since I last saw you？'
'I have been looking about London；' said I； 'and I have bought the
DAIRYMAN'S DAUGHTER； here it is。'
'Pray put it up；' said the publisher； 'I don't want to look at such
trash。 Well； do you think you could write anything like it？'
'I do not；' said I。
'How is that？' said the publisher； looking at me。
'Because；' said I； 'the man who wrote it seems to be perfectly well
acquainted with his subject； and； moreover； to write from the
heart。'
'By the subject you mean … '
'Religion。'
'And ain't you acquainted with religion？'
'Very little。'
'I am sorry for that；' said the publisher seriously； 'for he who
sets up for an author ought to be acquainted not only with
religion； but religions； and indeed with all subjects； like my good
friend in the country。 It is well that I have changed my mind
about the DAIRYMAN'S DAUGHTER； or I really don't know whom I could
apply to on the subject at the present moment； unless to himself；
and after all I question whether his style is exactly suited for an
evangelical novel。'
'Then you do not wish for an imitation of the DAIRYMAN'S DAUGHTER？'
'I do not； sir； I have changed my mind； as I told you before； I
wish to employ you in another line； but will communicate to you my
intentions after dinner。'
At dinner； beside the publisher and myself； were present his wife
and son with his newly…married bride； the wife appeared a quiet
respectable woman； and the young people looked very happy and good…
natured； not so the publisher； who occasionally eyed both with
contempt and dislike。 Connected with this dinner there was one
thing remarkable； the publisher took no animal food； but contented
himself with feeding voraciously on rice and vegetables prepared in
various ways。
'You eat no animal food； sir？' said I。
'I do not； sir；' said he； 'I have forsworn it upwards of twenty
years。 In one respect； sir； I am a Brahmin。 I abhor taking away
life … the brutes have as much right to live as ourselves。'
'But；' said I； 'if the brutes were not killed； there would be such
a superabundance of them； that the land would be overrun with
them。'
'I do not think so； sir； few are killed in India； and yet there is
plenty of room。'
'But；' said I； 'Nature intended that they should be destroyed； and
the brutes themselves prey upon one another； and it is well for
themselves and the world that they do so。 What would be the state
of things if every insect； bird； and worm were left to perish of
old age？'
'We will change the subject；' said the publisher； 'I have never
been a friend of unprofitable discussions。'
I looked at the publisher with some surprise； I had not been
accustomed to be spoken to so magisterially； his countenance was
dressed in a portentous frown； and his eye looked more sinister
than ever； at that moment he put me in mind of some of those
despots of whom I had read in the history of Morocco； whose word
was law。 He merely wants power； thought I to myself； to be a
regular Muley Mehemet； and then I sighed； for I remembered how very
much I was in the power of that man。
The dinner over； the publisher nodded to his wife； who departed；
followed by her daughter…in…law。 The son looked as if he would
willingly have attended them； he； however； remained seated； and； a
small decanter of wine being placed on the table； the publisher
filled two glasses； one of which he handed to myself； and the other
to his son； saying； 'Suppose you two drink to the success of the
Review。 I would join you；' said he； addressing himself to me； 'but
I drink no wine； if I am a Brahmin with respect to meat； I am a
Mahometan with respect to wine。'
So the son and I drank success to the Review； and then the young
man asked me various questions； for example … How I liked London？ …
Whether I did not think it a very fine place？ … Whether I was at
the play the night before？ … and whether I was in the park that
afternoon？ He seemed preparing to ask me some more questions； but；
receiving a furious look from his father； he became silent； filled
himself a glass of wine； drank it off； looked at the table for
about a minute； then got up； pushed back his chair； made me a bow；
and left the room。
'Is that young gentleman； sir；' said I； 'well versed in the
principles of criticism？'
'He is not； sir；' said the publisher； 'and； if I place him at the
head of the Review ostensibly； I do it merely in the hope of
procuring him a maintenance； of the principle of a thing he knows
nothing； except that the principle of bread is wheat； and that the
principle of that wine is grape。 Will you take another glass？'
I looked at the decanter； but； not feeling altogether so sure as
the publisher's son with respect to the principle of what it
contained； I declined taking any more。
'No； sir；' said the publisher； adjusting himself in his chair； 'he
knows nothing about criticism； and will have nothing more to do
with the reviewals than carrying about the books to those who have
to review them； the real conductor of the Review will be a widely
different person； to whom I will； when convenient； introduce you。
And now we will talk of the matter which we touched upon before
dinner： I told you then that I had changed my mind with respect to
you； I have been considering the state of the market； sir； the book
market； and I have come to the conclusion that； th