第134章 MR. COSWAY AND THE LANDLADY.(9)

"I am afraid we are running up a terrible bill," he said. "We have been here more than three weeks--""And we have denied ourselves nothing," Cosway added. "We have lived like princes. Another bottle of champagne, waiter. We have our riding-horses, and our carriage, and the best box at the theater, and such cigars as London itself could not produce. Icall that making the most of life. Try the new bottle. Glorious drink, isn't it? Why doesn't my father have champagne at the family dinner-table?""Is your father a rich man, Cosway?"

"I should say not. He didn't give me anything like the money Iexpected, when I said good-by--and I rather think he warned me solemnly, at parting, to take the greatest care of it.' There's not a farthing more for you,' he said, 'till your ship returns from her South American station.' _Your_ father is a clergyman, Stone.""Well, and what of that?"

"And some clergymen are rich."

"My father is not one of them, Cosway."

"Then let us say no more about him. Help yourself, and pass the bottle."Instead of adopting this suggestion, Stone rose with a very grave face, and once more rang the bell. "Ask the landlady to step up,"he said, when the waiter appeared.