Page:Vivian Grey, Volume 1.djvu/274

 be found within this realm, I pledge myself that, within ten days, he is drinking my noble friend's health at this very board."

The Marquess halloed, "Bravo!"—the rest laughed, and rose in confusion; Lord Beaconsfield fell over a chair, and, extricating himself with admirable agility, got entangled with a dumb-waiter, which came tumbling down with a fearful crash of plates, bottles, knives, and decanters. The pledge was, however, accepted; and the Marquess and Vivian were left alone. The worthy Peer, though terrifically tipsy, seemed quite overcome by Vivian's offer and engagement.

"Vivian, my boy! you don't know what you've done—you don't, indeed—take care of yourself, my boy,—you 're going to call on the Devil; you are, indeed—you're going to leave your card at the Devil's. Didn't you hear what Lord Beaconsfield,—a very worthy gentleman, but, between ourselves, a damned fool—that's entre nous, though, entre nous—I say, didn't