o his
astonishment, Mrs. Norton, Summerfield pottage, Wicklow, and then looked
at Dandy for an explanation. The latter nodded with his usual easy
confidence, and proceeded, "It's all right, sir--she was in France--own
maid to Lady Cullamore--came home and got married--first to a Mr.
Norton, and next to a person named Mainwarin': and there she is, the
true Mrs. Norton, safe and sound for you, in Summerfield Cottage, under
the name of Mrs. Mainwarin'."
"Dandy," said his master, starting to his feet, "I forgive you a
thousand times. Throw that letter in the post-office. You shall have the
money, Dandy, more, perhaps, than I promised, provided this is the lady;
but I cannot doubt it. I am now going to Mr. Birney; but, stay, let us
be certain. How did you become acquainted with these circumstances?"
Dandy gave him his authority; after which his master put on his hat, and
was about proceeding out, when the former exclaimed, "Hello-sir, where
are you goin'?"
"To see Birney, I have already told you."
"Come, come," replied his man, "take your time--be steady, now--be
cool--and listen to what your friend has to say to you."
"Don't trifle with me now, Dandy; I really can't bear it."
"Faith, but you must, though. There's one act I patronized you in; now,
how do you know, as I'm actin' the great man, but I can pathronize you
in another?"
"How is that? For heaven's sake, don't trifle with me; every day, every
hour, every moment, is precious, and may involve the happiness of--"
"I see, sir," replied this extraordinary valet, with an intelligent nod,
"but, still, fair and aisy goes far in a day. There's no danger of her,
you know--don't be unaisy. Fenton, sir--ehem--Fenton, I say--Fenton and
fifty I say."
"Fenton and a hundred, Dandy, if there's an available trace of him."
"I don't know what you call an available trace," replied Dandy, "but
I can send you to a lady who knows where he is, and where you can find
him."
The stranger returned from the door, and sitting down again covered his
face with his hands, as if to collect himself; at length he said, "This
is most extraordinary; tell me all about it."
Dandy related that with which the reader is already acquainted, and did
so with such an air of comic gravity and pompous superiority, that his
master, now in the best possible spirits, was exceedingly amused.
"Well, Dandy," said he, "if your information respecting Fenton prove
correct, reckon upon another hun
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