He behaved very rudely to Gandish, who seemed to
be afraid before him. It was whispered that the Professor was not
altogether easy in his circumstances, and that the elder Moss had some
mysterious hold over him. Honeyman and Bayham, who once came to see Clive
at the studio, seemed each disturbed at beholding young Moss seated there
(making a copy of the Marsyas). "Pa knows both those gents," he informed
Clive afterwards, with a wicked twinkle of his Oriental eyes. "Step in,
Mr. Newcome, any day you are passing down Wardour Street, and see if you
don't want anything in our way." (He pronounced the words in his own way,
saying: "Step id, Bister Doocob, ady day idto Vordor Street," etc.) This
young gentleman could get tickets for almost all the theatres, which he
gave or sold, and gave splendid accounts at Cavendish's of the brilliant
masquerades. Clive was greatly diverted at beholding Mr. Moss at one of
these entertainments, dressed in a scarlet coat and top-boots, and
calling out, "Yoicks! Hark forward!" fitfully to another Orientalist, his
younger brother, attired like a midshipman.
Pages:
397
398
399
400
401
402
403
404
405
406
407
408
409
410
411
412
413
414
415
416
417
418
419
420
421