Page:Paul Clifford Vol 1.djvu/182

152 had so kindly delivered him from his tormentors, was now sitting next to him. Paul gazed long and earnestly upon his neighbour, struggling with the thought, that he had beheld that sagacious countenance in happier times—although, now, alas! it was altered, not only by time and vicissitude, but by that air of gravity which the cares of mankind spread gradually over the face of the most thoughtless,—until all doubt melted away: and he exclaimed—

"Is that you, Mr. Tomlinson?—how glad I am to see you here!"

"And I," returned the quondam murderer for the newspapers, with a nasal twang, "should be very glad to see myself any where else!"

Paul made no answer, and Augustus continued.

"'To a wise man, all places are the same,'—so it has been said. I don't believe it, Paul,—I don't believe it.—But a truce to reflection. I remembered you the moment I saw you, though you are surprisingly grown. How is my friend Mac Grawler?—still hard at work for the Asinæum?"

"I believe so," said Paul sullenly, and hastening to change the conversation; "but tell me,