Tales and Novels, vol 7 | Page 9

the making of a good patron.
There was, he thought, the right twist, if he had but skill to follow, and
humour it in the working; but this was a task of much nicety. Lord
Oldborough appeared to be aware of the commissioner's views, and
was not disposed to burden himself with new friends. It seemed easy to
go to a certain point with his lordship, but difficult to get farther; easy
to obtain his attention, but impossible to gain his confidence.
The commissioner, however, had many resources ready; many small
means of fastening himself both on his lordship's private and public
interests. He determined to begin first with the despatch which he had
been deciphering. With this view he led Mr. Percy to speak of the
shipwreck, and of M. de Tourville. Lord Oldborough's attention was
immediately awakened; and when Mr. Falconer perceived that the

regret for not having seen M. de Tourville, and the curiosity to know
the nature of his secret negotiations had been sufficiently excited, the
commissioner quitted the subject, as he could go no farther whilst
restrained by Mr. Percy's presence. He took the first opportunity of
leaving the room with his lordship's nephew, Col. Hauton, to look at
some horses, which were to run at the ensuing races.
Left alone with Mr. Percy, Lord Oldborough looked less reserved, for
he plainly saw, indeed Mr. Percy plainly showed, that he had nothing to
ask from the great man, but that he came only to see his friend.
"Many years since we met, Mr. Percy," said his lordship, sitting down
and placing his chair for the first time without considering whether his
face or his back were to the light.--"A great many years since we met,
Mr. Percy; and yet I should not think so from your appearance; you do
not look as if--shall I say it?--five-and-twenty years had passed since
that time. But you have been leading an easy life in the country--the
happiest life: I envy you."
Mr. Percy, thinking that these were words of course, the mere polite
cant of a courtier to a country gentleman, smiled, and replied, that few
who were acquainted with their different situations in the world would
imagine that Mr. Percy could be an object of envy to Lord Oldborough,
a statesman at the summit of favour and fortune.
"Not the summit," said Lord Oldborough, sighing; "and if I were even
at the summit, it is, you know, a dangerous situation. Fortune's wheel
never stands still--the highest point is therefore the most perilous." His
lordship sighed again as deeply as before; then spoke, or rather led to
the subject of general politics, of which Mr. Percy gave his opinions
with freedom and openness, yet without ever forgetting the respect due
to Lord Oldborough's situation. His lordship seemed sensible of this
attention, sometimes nodded, and sometimes smiled, as Mr. Percy
spoke of public men or measures; but when he expressed any sentiment
of patriotism, or of public virtue, Lord Oldborough took to his
snuff-box, shook and levelled the snuff; and if he listened, listened as to
words superfluous and irrelevant. When Mr. Percy uttered any principle
favourable to the liberty of the press, or of the people, his lordship

would take several pinches of snuff rapidly, to hide the expression of
his countenance; if the topics were continued, his averted eyes and
compressed lips showed disapprobation, and the difficulty he felt in
refraining from reply. From reply, however, he did absolutely refrain;
and after a pause of a few moments, with a smile, in a softer and lower
voice than his usual tone, he asked Mr. Percy some questions about his
family, and turned the conversation again to domestic
affairs;--expressed surprise, that a man of Mr. Percy's talents should
live in such absolute retirement; and seeming to forget what he had said
himself but half an hour before, of the pains and dangers of ambition,
and all that Mr. Percy had said of his love of domestic life, appeared to
take it for granted that Mr. Percy would be glad to shine in public, if
opportunity were not wanting. Upon this supposition, his lordship
dexterously pointed out ways by which he might distinguish himself;
threw out assurances of his own good wishes, compliments to his
talents; and, in short, sounded his heart, still expecting to find
corruption or ambition at the bottom. But none was to be found. Lord
Oldborough was convinced of it--and surprised. Perhaps his esteem for
Mr. Percy's understanding fell some degrees--he considered him as an
eccentric person, acting from unaccountable motives; but still he
respected him as that rarest of all things in a politician's eye--a really
honest independent man. He believed also that Mr. Percy had some
regard for him; and whatever portion it might be,