Page:Vanity Fair 1848.djvu/370

 very different in the morning, when Mr. Bowls's young man, who operated upon Mr. James's hoots, and brought him his hot water to shave that beard which he was so anxiously expecting, handed a note into Mr. James in bed, in the handwriting of Miss Briggs.



"Dear Sir," it said, "Miss Crawley has passed an exceedingly disturbed night, owing to the shocking manner in which the house has been polluted by tobacco; Miss Crawley bids me say she regrets that she is too unwell to see you before you go—and above all, that she ever induced you to remove from the ale-house, where she is sure you will be much more comfortable during the rest of your stay at Brighton."

And herewith honest James's career as a candidate for his aunt's favour ended. He had in fact, and without knowing it, done what he menaced to do. He had fought his cousin Pitt with the gloves.

Where meanwhile was he who had been once first favourite for this race for money? Becky and Rawdon, as we have seen, were come together