| 320 | 321 | 322 | 323 | 324 |
| 1 | 236 | 472 | 708 | 944 |
|
Thus he was preparing himself for public life to which he was to be
called later on. It is no easy matter to become an accomplished
gentleman.
Lord David Dirry-Moir was passionately fond of open-air exhibitions, of
shows, of circuses with wild beasts, of the caravans of mountebanks, of
clowns, tumblers, merrymen, open-air farces, and the wonders of a fair.
The true noble is he who smacks of the people. Therefore it was that
Lord David frequented the taverns and low haunts of London and the
Cinque Ports. In order to be able at need, and without compromising his
rank in the white squadron, to be cheek-by-jowl with a topman or a
calker, he used to wear a sailor's jacket when he went into the slums.
For such disguise his not wearing a wig was convenient; for even under
Louis XIV. the people kept to their hair like the lion to his mane.
This gave him great freedom of action. The low people whom Lord David
used to meet in the stews, and with whom he mixed, held him in high
esteem, without ever dreaming that he was a lord. They called him
Tom-Jim-Jack. Under this name he was famous and very popular amongst the
dregs of the people. He played the blackguard in a masterly style: when
necessary, he used his fists. This phase of his fashionable life was
highly appreciated by Lady Josiana.
322
Page
Quick Jump
|