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30 A SHABBY GENTEEL STORY
Swigby, a man who rides his horse, and has his five hundred a year
to spend, and to eat a prime cut out of as good a leg of pork (though
he said it) as ever a knife was stuck into, they should dine that day
at three o'clock sharp, and Mrs. G. and the gals would be glad of
the honour of his company."
The person so invited was rather amused at the terms in which
Mr. Gann conveyed his hospitable message; and at three o'clock
made his appearance in the back-parlour, whence he had the honour
of conducting Mrs. Gann (dressed in a sweet yellow mousseline de
laine, with a large red turban, a ferronnière, and a smelling-bottle
attached by a ring to a very damp fat hand) to the " office," where
the repast was set out. The Misses Macarty were in costumes
equally tasty : one on the guest's right hand ; one near the boarder,
Mr. Fitch—who, in a large beard, an amethyst velvet waistcoat,
his hair fresh wetted, and parted accurately down the middle to fall
in curls over his collar, would have been irresistible if the collar had
been a little, little whiter than it was.
Mr. Brandon, too, was dressed in his very best suit ; for though
he affected to despise his hosts very much, he wished to make the
most favourable impression upon them, and took care to tell Mrs.
Gann that he and Lord So-and-so were the only two men in the
world who were in possession of that particular waistcoat which
she admired : for Mrs. Gann was very gracious, and had admired
the waistcoat, being desirous to impress with awe Mr. Gann's friend
and admirer, Mr. Swigby—who, man of fortune as he was, was a
constant frequenter of the club at the " Bag of Nails."
About this club and its supporters Mr. Gann's guest, Mr. Swigby,
and Gann himself, talked very gaily before dinner ; all the jokes
about all the club being roared over by the pair.
Mr. Brandon, who felt he was the great man of the party, indulged
himself in his great propensities without restraint, and told
Mrs. Gann stories about half the nobility. Mrs. Gann conversed
knowingly about the Opera ; and declared that she thought Taglioni
the sweetest singer in the world.
"Mr.—a—Swigby, have you ever seen Lablache dance?" asked
Mr. Brandon of that gentleman, to whom he had been formally
introduced.
" At Vauxhall is he he?" said Mr. Swigby, who was just from
town.
" Yes, on the tight-rope ; a charming performer."
On which Mr. Gann told how he had been to Vauxhall when
the princes were in London ; and his lady talked of these knowingly.
And then they fell to conversing about fireworks and rack-punch ;
Mr. Brandon assuring the young ladies that Vauxhall was the very