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had employed； the individual in black uttered several sentences in
tones and with gestures which were intended to express a
considerable degree of pathos； though it is possible that some
people would have thought both the one and the other highly
ludicrous。 After a pause； Francis Ardry recommenced imitating the
tones and the gestures of his monitor in the most admirable manner。
Before he had proceeded far； however； he burst into a fit of
laughter； in which I should； perhaps； have joined； provided it were
ever my wont to laugh。 'Ha； ha！' said the other； good…humouredly；
'you are laughing at me。 Well； well； I merely wished to give you a
hint； but you saw very well what I meant； upon the whole I think
you improve。 But I must now go； having two other pupils to visit
before four。'
Then taking from the table a kind of three…cornered hat； and a cane
headed with amber； he shook Francis Ardry by the hand； and； after
glancing at me for a moment； made me a half bow； attended with a
strange grimace； and departed。
'Who is that gentleman？' said I to Francis Ardry； as soon as were
alone。
'Oh； that is … ' said Frank； smiling； 'the gentleman who gives me
lessons in elocution。'
'And what need have you of elocution？'
'Oh； I merely obey the commands of my guardians；' said Francis；
'who insist that I should； with the assistance of …； qualify myself
for Parliament； for which they do me the honour to suppose that I
have some natural talent。 I dare not disobey them； for； at the
present moment； I have particular reasons for wishing to keep on
good terms with them。'
'But；' said I； 'you are a Roman Catholic； and I thought that
persons of your religion were excluded from Parliament？'
'Why； upon that very thing the whole matter hinges； people of our
religion are determined to be no longer excluded from Parliament；
but to have a share in the government of the nation。 Not that I
care anything about the matter； I merely obey the will of my
guardians； my thoughts are fixed on something better than
politics。'
'I understand you；' said I； 'dog…fighting … well； I can easily
conceive that to some minds dog…fighting … '
'I was not thinking of dog…fighting；' said Francis Ardry；
interrupting me。
'Not thinking of dog…fighting！' I ejaculated。
'No；' said Francis Ardry； 'something higher and much more rational
than dog…fighting at present occupies my thoughts。'
'Dear me；' said I； 'I thought I had heard you say that there was
nothing like it！'
'Like what？' said Francis Ardry。
'Dog…fighting； to be sure；' said I。
'Pooh；' said Francis Ardry； 'who but the gross and unrefined care
anything for dog…fighting？ That which at present engages my waking
and sleeping thoughts is love … divine love … there is nothing like
THAT。 Listen to me； I have a secret to confide to you。'
And then Francis Ardry proceeded to make me his confidant。 It
appeared that he had had the good fortune to make the acquaintance
of the most delightful young Frenchwoman imaginable； Annette La
Noire by name； who had just arrived from her native country with
the intention of obtaining the situation of governess in some
English family； a position which； on account of her many
accomplishments； she was eminently qualified to fill。 Francis
Ardry had； however； persuaded her to relinquish her intention for
the present； on the ground that； until she had become acclimated in
England； her health would probably suffer from the confinement
inseparable from the occupation in which she was desirous of
engaging； he had； moreover … for it appeared that she was the most
frank and confiding creature in the world … succeeded in persuading
her to permit him to hire for her a very handsome first floor in
his own neighbourhood； and to accept a few inconsiderable presents
in money and jewellery。 'I am looking out for a handsome gig and
horse；' said Francis Ardry； at the conclusion of his narration； 'it
were a burning shame that so divine a creature should have to go
about a place like London on foot； or in a paltry hackney coach。'
'But；' said I； 'will not the pursuit of politics prevent your
devoting much time to this fair lady？'
'It will prevent me devoting all my time；' said Francis Ardry； 'as
I gladly would； but what can I do？ My guardians wish me to qualify
myself for a political orator； and I dare not offend them by a
refusal。 If I offend my guardians； I should find it impossible …
unless I have recourse to Jews and money…lenders … to support
Annette； present her with articles of dress and jewellery； and
purchase a horse and cabriolet worthy of conveying her angelic
person through the streets of London。'
After a pause； in which Francis Ardry appeared lost in thought； his
mind being probably occupied with the subject of Annette； I broke
silence by observing； 'So your fellow…religionists are really going
to make a serious attempt to procure their emancipation？'
'Yes；' said Francis Ardry； starting from his reverie； 'everything
has been arranged； even a leader has been chosen； at least for us
of Ireland； upon the whole the most suitable man in the world for
the occasion … a barrister of considerable talent； mighty voice；
and magnificent impudence。 With emancipation； liberty； and redress
for the wrongs of Ireland in his mouth； he is to force his way into
the British House of Commons； dragging myself and others behind him
… he will succeed； and when he is in he will cut a figure； I have
heard … himself； who has heard him speak； say that he will cut a
figure。'
'And is … competent to judge？' I demanded。
'Who but he？' said Francis Ardry； 'no one questions his judgment
concerning what relates to elocution。 His fame on that point is so
well established； that the greatest orators do not disdain
occasionally to consult him； C… himself； as I have been told； when
anxious to produce any particular effect in the House； is in the
habit of calling in … for a consultation。'
'As to matter； or manner？' said I。
'Chiefly the latter；' said Francis Ardry； 'though he is competent
to give advice as to both； for he has been an orator in his day；
and a leader of the people； though he confessed to me that he was
not exactly qualified to play the latter part … 〃I want paunch；〃
said he。'
'It is not always indispensable；' said I； 'there is an orator in my
town； a hunchback and watchmaker； without it； who not only leads
the people； but the mayor too； perhaps he has a succedaneum in his
hunch： but； tell me； is the leader of your movement in possession
of that which … wants？'
'No more deficient in it than in brass；' said Francis Ardry。
'Well；' said I； 'whatever his qualifications may be； I wish him
success in the cause which he has taken up … I love religious
liberty。'
'We shall succeed；' said Francis Ardry； 'John Bull upon the whole
is rather indifferent on the subject； and then we are sure to be
backed by the Radical party； who； to gratify their political
prejudices； would join with Satan himself。'
'There is one thing；' said I； 'connected with this matter which
surprises me … your own lukewarmness。 Yes； making every allowance
for your natural predilection for dog…fighting； and your present
enamoured state of mind； your apathy at the commencement of such a
movement is to me unaccountable。'
'You would not have cause to complain of my indifference；' said
Frank； 'provided I thought my country would be benefited by this
movement； but I happen to know the origin of it。 The priests are
the originators； 'and what country was ever benefited by a movement
which owed its origin to them？' so says Voltaire； a page of whom I
occasionally read。 By the present move they hope to increase their
influence； and to further certain designs which they entertain both
with regard to this country and Ireland。 I do not speak rashly or
unadvisedly。 A strange fellow … a half…Italian； half…English
priest； … who was recommended to me by my guardians； partly as a
spiritual； partly as a temporal guide； has let me into a secret or
two； he is fond of a glass of gin and water … and over a glass of
gin and water cold； with a lump of sugar in it； he has been more
communicative； perhaps； than was altogether prudent。 Were I my own
master； I would kick him； politics； and religious movements； to a
considerable distance。 And now； if you are going away； do so
quickly； I have an appointment with Annette； and must make myself
fit to appear before her。'
CHAPTER XLIII
Progress … Glorious John … Utterly unintelligible … What a
difference。
BY the month of October I had； in spite of all difficulties and
obstacles； accomplished about two…thirds of the principal task
which I had undertaken； the compiling of th