Page:Paul Clifford Vol 1.djvu/125

Rh impudent, ungrateful puppy! Would you steal the bread from your old master? If I can obtain for your crude articles an admission into the illustrious pages of the Asinæum, will you not be sufficiently paid, Sir, by the honour? Answer me that. Another man, young gentleman, would have charged you a premium for his instructions;—and here have I, in one lesson, imparted to you all the mysteries of the science, and for nothing. And you talk to me of 'receive!'—'receive!' Young gentleman, in the words of the immortal bard, 'I would as lief you had talked to me of ratsbane!'"

"In fine, then, Mr. Mac Grawler, I shall get nothing for my trouble," said Paul.

"To be sure not, Sir; the very best writer in the Asinæum only gets three shillings an article!" Almost more than he deserves, the critic might have added; for he who writes for nobody, should receive nothing!

"Then, Sir," quoth the mercenary Paul profanely, and rising, he kicked with one kick, the cat, the epic, and the inquiry, to the other end of the room,—"Then, Sir, you may all go to the devil!"