Page:Vivian Grey, Volume 1.djvu/165

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
VIVIAN GREY.
155

not yet unravelled it. Come, there's Washington Irving's autograph for you; read it, isn't it quite in character? Shall I write any more? One of Sir Walter's, or Mr. Southey's, or Mr. Milman's, or Mr. D'Israeli's? or shall I sprawl a Byron?"

"Mr. Grey! I really cannot patronize such unprincipled conduct. You may make me one of Sir Walter's, however."

"Poor Washington, poor Washington!" said Vivian, writing; "I knew him well in London. He always slept at dinner. One day as he was dining at Mr. Hallam's, they took him, when asleep, to Lady Jersey's rout; and, to see the Sieur Geoffrey, when he opened his eyes in the illumined saloons, was really quite admirable! quite an Arabian tale!"

"Oh, how delightful! I should have so liked to have seen him! He seems quite forgotten now in England. How came we to talk of him?"