nificent build, sir, from
bows to stern--I like 'em of that sort. Thank you, Mr. Binnie, I will
take a back-hander, as Clive don't seem to drink. The youth, sir, has
grown melancholy with his travels; I'm inclined to think some noble
Roman has stolen the young man's heart. Why did you not send us over
a picture of the charmer, Clive? Young Ridley, Mr. Binnie, you will
be happy to hear, is bidding fair to take a distinguished place in the
world of arts. His picture has been greatly admired; and my good friend
Mrs. Ridley tells me that Lord Todmorden has sent him over an order to
paint him a couple of pictures at a hundred guineas apiece."

"I should think so. J. J.'s pictures will be worth five times a hundred
guineas ere five years are over," says Clive.

"In that case it wouldn't be a bad speculation for our friend Sherrick,"
remarked F. B., "to purchase a few of the young man's works. I would,
only I haven't the capital to spare. Mine has been vested in an Odessa
venture, sir, in a large amount of wild oats, which up to the present
moment make me no return. But it will always be a consolation to me to
think that I have been the means--the humble means--of furthering that
deserving young man's prospects in life."

"You, F. B.! and how?" we asked.

"By certain humble contributions of mine to the press," answered Bayham,
majestically. "Mr. Warrington, the claret happens to stand with you;
and exercise does it good, sir. Yes, the articles, trifling as they may
appear, have attracted notice," continued F. B., sipping his wine with
great gusto. "They are noticed, Pendennis, give me leave to say, by
parties who don't value so much the literary or even the political part
of the Pall Mall Gazette, though both, I am told by those who read them,
are conducted with considerable--consummate ability. John Ridley sent a
hundred pounds over to his father, the other day, who funded it in
his son's name. And Ridley told the story to Lord Todmorden, when the
venerable nobleman congratulated him on having such a child. I wish F.
B. had one of the same sort, sir." In which sweet prayer we all of us
joined with a laugh.

One of us had told Mrs. Mackenzie (let the criminal blush to own that
quizzing his fellow-creatures used at one time to form part of his
youthful amusement) that F. B. was the son of a gentleman of most
ancient family and vast landed possessions, and as Bayham was
particularly attentive to the widow, and grandiloquent