on walls, and, you may be sure, was loudly
praised by a certain critic in the Pall Mall Gazette. The picture was
sold on the first day of the exhibition at the price of twenty-five
pounds, which the artist demanded; and when the kind J. J. wrote to
inform his friend of this satisfactory circumstance, and to say that
he held the money at Clive's disposal, the latter replied with many
expressions of sincere gratitude, at the same time begging him directly
to forward the money, with our old friend Thomas Newcome's love, to Mrs.
Sarah Mason, at Newcome. But J. J. never informed his friend that he
himself was the purchaser of the picture; nor was Clive made acquainted
with the fact until some time afterwards, when he found it hanging in
Ridley's studio.

I have said that we none of us were aware at this time what was the real
state of Colonel Newcome's finances, and hoped that, after giving up
every shilling of his property which was confiscated to the creditors
of the Bank, he had still, from his retiring pension and military
allowances, at least enough reputably to maintain him. On one occasion,
having business in the City, I there met Mr. Sherrick. Affairs had been
going ill with that gentleman--he had been let in terribly, he informed
me, by Lord Levant's insolvency--having had large money transactions
with his lordship. "There's none of them so good as old Newcome," Mr.
Sherrick said with a sigh; "that was a good one--that was an honest man
if ever I saw one--with no more guile, and no more idea of business
than a baby. Why didn't he take my advice, poor old cove?--he might be
comfortable now. Why did he sell away that annuity, Pendennis? I got
it done for him when nobody else perhaps could have got it done for
him--for the security ain't worth twopence if Newcome wasn't an honest
man;--but I know he is, and would rather starve and eat the nails off
his fingers than not keep his word, the old trump. And when he came to
me, a good two months before the smash of the Bank, which I knew it,
sir, and saw that it must come--when he came and raised three thousand
pounds to meet them d--d electioneering bills, having to pay lawyers,
commission, premium, life-insurance--you know the whole game, Mr. P.--I
as good as went down on my knees to him--I did--at the North and South
American Coffee-house, where he was to meet the party about the money,
and said, 'Colonel, don't raise it--I tell you, let it stand
over--let it go in along