Chapter xii.
A discovery made by Partridge.
While Jones was exulting in the consciousness of his integrity,Partridge came capering into the room, as was his custom when hebrought, or fancied he brought, any good tidings. He had beendespatched that morning by his master, with orders to endeavour, bythe servants of Lady Bellaston, or by any other means, to discoverwhither Sophia had been conveyed; and he now returned, and with ajoyful countenance told our heroe that he had found the lost bird. "Ihave seen, sir," says he, "Black George, the gamekeeper, who is one ofthe servants whom the squire hath brought with him to town. I knew himpresently, though I have not seen him these several years; but youknow, sir, he is a very remarkable man, or, to use a purer phrase, hehath a most remarkable beard, the largest and blackest I ever saw. Itwas some time, however, before Black George could recollect me.""Well, but what is your good news?" cries Jones; "what do you know ofmy Sophia?" "You shall know presently, sir," answered Partridge, "I amcoming to it as fast as I can. You are so impatient, sir, you wouldcome at the infinitive mood before you can get to the imperative. As Iwas saying, sir, it was some time before he recollected myface."--"Confound your face!" cries Jones, "what of my Sophia?" "Nay,sir," answered Partridge, "I know nothing more of Madam Sophia thanwhat I am going to tell you; and I should have told you all beforethis if you had not interrupted me; but if you look so angry at me youwill frighten all of it out of my head, or, to use a purer phrase, outof my memory. I never saw you look so angry since the day we leftUpton, which I shall remember if I was to live a thousandyears."--"Well, pray go on your own way," said Jones: "you areresolved to make me mad I find." "Not for the world," answeredPartridge, "I have suffered enough for that already; which, as I said,I shall bear in my remembrance the longest day I have to live." "Well,but Black George?" cries Jones. "Well, sir, as I was saying, it was along time before he could recollect me; for, indeed, I am very muchaltered since I saw him. _Non sum qualis eram._ I have had troubles inthe world, and nothing alters a man so much as grief. I have heard itwill change the colour of a man's hair in a night. However, at last,know me he did, that's sure enough; for we are both of an age, andwere at the same charity school. George was a great dunce, but nomatter for that; all men do not thrive in the world according to theirlearning. I am sure I have reason to say so; but it will be all one athousand years hence. Well, sir, where was I?--O--well, we no soonerknew each other, than, after many hearty shakes by the hand, we agreedto go to an alehouse and take a pot, and by good luck the beer wassome of the best I have met with since I have been in town. Now, sir,I am coming to the point; for no sooner did I name you, and told himthat you and I came to town together, and had lived together eversince, than he called for another pot, and swore he would drink toyour health; and indeed he drank your health so heartily that I wasoverjoyed to see there was so much gratitude left in the world; andafter we had emptied that pot I said I would buy my pot too, and so wedrank another to your health; and then I made haste home to tell youthe news."
"What news?" cries Jones, "you have not mentioned a word of mySophia!" "Bless me! I had like to have forgot that. Indeed, wementioned a great deal about young Madam Western, and George told meall; that Mr Blifil is coming to town in order to be married to her.He had best make haste then, says I, or somebody will have her beforehe comes; and, indeed, says I, Mr Seagrim, it is a thousand pitiessomebody should not have her; for he certainly loves her above all thewomen in the world. I would have both you and she know, that it is notfor her fortune he follows her; for I can assure you, as to matter ofthat, there is another lady, one of much greater quality and fortunethan she can pretend to, who is so fond of somebody that she comesafter him day and night."
Here Jones fell into a passion with Partridge, for having, as he said,betrayed him; but the poor fellow answered, he had mentioned no name:"Besides, sir," said he, "I can assure you George is sincerely yourfriend, and wished Mr Blifil at the devil more than once; nay, he saidhe would do anything in his power upon earth to serve you; and so I amconvinced he will. Betray you, indeed! why, I question whether youhave a better friend than George upon earth, except myself, or onethat would go farther to serve you."
"Well," says Jones, a little pacified, "you say this fellow, who, Ibelieve, indeed, is enough inclined to be my friend, lives in the samehouse with Sophia?"
"In the same house!" answered Partridge; "why, sir, he is one of theservants of the family, and very well drest I promise you he is; if itwas not for his black beard you would hardly know him."
"One service then at least he may do me," says Jones: "sure he cancertainly convey a letter to my Sophia."
"You have hit the nail _ad unguem_" cries Partridge; "how came I notto think of it? I will engage he shall do it upon the very firstmentioning."
"Well, then," said Jones, "do you leave me at present, and I willwrite a letter, which you shall deliver to him to-morrow morning; forI suppose you know where to find him."
"O yes, sir," answered Partridge, "I shall certainly find him again;there is no fear of that. The liquor is too good for him to stay awaylong. I make no doubt but he will be there every day he stays intown."
"So you don't know the street then where my Sophia is lodged?" criesJones.
"Indeed, sir, I do," says Partridge.
"What is the name of the street?" cries Jones.
"The name, sir? why, here, sir, just by," answered Partridge, "notabove a street or two off. I don't, indeed, know the very name; for,as he never told me, if I had asked, you know, it might have put somesuspicion into his head. No, no, sir, let me alone for that. I am toocunning for that, I promise you."
"Thou art most wonderfully cunning, indeed," replied Jones; "however,I will write to my charmer, since I believe you will be cunning enoughto find him to-morrow at the alehouse."
And now, having dismissed the sagacious Partridge, Mr Jones sathimself down to write, in which employment we shall leave him for atime. And here we put an end to the fifteenth book.
BOOK XVI.
CONTAINING THE SPACE OF FIVE DAYS.