ld it.
Now had he, without saying a word to the writer, or about the writer with
respect to the employment, got the place for himself when he had an
opportunity, knowing, as he very well knew, himself to be utterly
unqualified for it, the transaction, though a piece of jobbery, would not
have merited the title of a base transaction; as the matter stands,
however, who can avoid calling the whole affair not only a piece of--come,
come, out with the word--scoundrelism on the part of the writer's friend,
but a most curious piece of uncalled-for scoundrelism? and who, with any
knowledge of fallen human nature, can wonder at the writer's friend
entertaining towards him a considerable portion of gall and malignity?

This feeling on the part of the writer's friend was wonderfully increased
by the appearance of Lavengro, many passages of which the Radical in his
foreign appointment applied to himself and family--one or two of his
children having gone over to Popery, the rest become members of Mr.
Platitude's chapel, and the minds of all being filled with ultra notions
of gentility.

The writer, hearing that his old friend had returned to England, to
apply, he believes, for an increase of salary, and for a title, called
upon him, unwillingly, it is true, for he had no wish to see a person for
whom, though he bore him no ill-will, he could not avoid feeling a
considerable portion of contempt; the truth is, that his sole object in
calling was to endeavour to get back a piece of literary property which
his friend had obtained from him many years previously, and which, though
he had frequently applied for it, he never could get back. Well, the
writer called; he did not get his property, which, indeed, he had
scarcely time to press for, being almost instantly attacked by his good
friend and his wife--yes, it was then that the author was set upon by an
old Radical and his wife--the wife, who looked the very image of shame
and malignity, did not say much, it is true, but encouraged her husband
in all he said. Both of their own accord introduced the subject of
Lavengro. The Radical called the writer a grumbler, just as if there had
ever been a greater grumbler than himself until, by the means above
described, he had obtained a place: he said that the book contained a
melancholy view of human nature--just as if anybody could look in his
face without having a melancholy view of human nature. On the writer
quietly observing that the bo