Comical People | Page 9

lawyers' costs. Mr. Sharpe Vulture advised a second action, which was
tried, I remember, at the Assizes just twelve months after the assault
complained of. Counsel were engaged on each side. Mr. Badger was
for Chanticleer, and the Hon. Mr. Muff for the Leveretts. Badger had
Captain Bulldog put into the witness-box, and the whole story of the
duel was told in court, making even the learned judge roar with
laughter. Badger proved, beyond a doubt, that Tom had well deserved
castigation for his cowardice, and that Mr. Chanticleer had only laid his
whip lightly across his shoulders; that Bob, as one of the family, was
not to be believed; and that the defendant bore the highest character for
gentleness of disposition. The Hon. Mr. Muff proved nothing, but that
he richly deserved his name, and the jury returned a verdict for the
plaintiff, damages one farthing.
Poor old Leverett! this trial completely ruined him. Sharpe Vulture
seized all his property, and the once happy little family were sent adrift
on the wide world without a home.
The last time I heard of them, the mother and the two sons were living
in an humble way not far from the sea-side; the father was dead; Tom
still continued his favourite study, but he always took great care not to
trespass in other people's fields.
[Illustration: MR. LEVERETT'S INTERVIEW WITH SHARPE
VULTURE, ESQ.]
[Illustration: THE DE MOUSAS.]

THE DE MOUSAS.
A TALE.
IN one of those charming Italian villas lately built at Bayswater, live
Mr. Persian and Lady Angora De Mousa, personages of much
consequence in the society to which they belong. Late hours, and a
somewhat gay life, have a little impaired Lady Angora's beauty; but she
still attracts great admiration, and her husband is as proud of her as
ever.
A highly respectable couple, but of plainer pretensions than the De
Mousas, reside in Cypress Cottage, a small house in the adjacent
Gravel-pits,--Mr. Thomas and Mrs. Tabitha Tortoshell, with a family of
one son and two daughters. Mr. De Mousa is of foreign extraction, but
Mr. Tortoshell claims him as a cousin by his mother's side, and is not a
little proud of the relationship.
The De Mousas are in very easy circumstances, and indulge in many
expensive luxuries, having Devonshire clotted cream every morning at
breakfast, and a fricassee of some small deer, that they appear to be
very fond of, for their supper. Their carriage is the handsomest in the
villas; and when they go to church, two pages always attend them.
Before the arrival of the De Mousas--for they have but lately come
from abroad--the Tortoshells lived in the most unpretending way; but
within the last twelve months they have started a brougham, and a
livery-servant with a gold-laced collar, much to the surprise of their
neighbours, who wondered what sudden good fortune had befallen
them. But I am sorry to say this extravagance was all owing to the
vanity of Mrs. Tortoshell, who is most anxious to be introduced into
society by Lady Angora De Mousa, as you shall hear.
Mr. Tortoshell called on his cousin soon after his arrival in the
neighbourhood of the Gravel-pits, and explained to him their
relationship, which Mr. De Mousa, who is extremely well bred,
professed great delight in hearing of, at the same time he invited the
whole family of the Tortoshells to dinner on the next day. Lady Angora

was not over-pleased at this arrangement, and assumed a haughty air
when the Tortoshells came; but being naturally of a warm-hearted
disposition, she quickly became attached to the elder daughter Minnie,
though it must be confessed she showed no great partiality for the
mamma. The son also, Young Tom as he was called, to distinguish him
from his father, won the good opinion of Mr. De Mousa, by his
shrewdness and his intimate knowledge of London life among certain
classes. So the day passed pleasantly enough, and Mr. and Mrs.
Tortoshell and their family all walked home with greater consequence
than they had before assumed. But it happened to be a rainy evening,
Mrs. Tortoshell spoiled her best velvet dress, and easily persuaded her
husband that it would be more economical for them to keep a
brougham. Mr. Tortoshell pretended to believe her, and bought one.
One day, about a month after, as Lady Angora and her husband were
about taking their usual promenade in Kensington Gardens, they were
astonished at the appearance of a footman in the smartest of liveries,
who, instead of going as usual to the servants' gate, came straight up to
them, and delivered a letter to Mr. De Mousa, who abruptly tore open
the envelope, read the contents of the note, and handed it to his wife.
Lady Angora, seeing it was an invitation from