14:340;1174[' ]| However, as a matter of fact though, the preposterous surmise about 14:340;1175[' ]| him being in$4$ some description of a doldrums or other or mesmerised which$6#1$ 14:340;1176[' ]| was entirely due to$4$ a misconception of the shallowest character, was not the 14:340;1177[' ]| case at all. The individual whose visual organs while the above was going 14:340;1178[' ]| on$5$ were at this juncture commencing to$9$ exhibit symptoms of animation was 14:340;1179[' ]| as astute if not astuter than any man living and anybody that$6#1$ conjectured 14:340;1180[' ]| the contrary would have found themselves pretty speedily in$4$ the wrong 14:340;1181[' ]| shop. During the past four minutes or thereabouts he had been staring hard 14:340;1182[' ]| at a certain amount of number one Bass bottled by$4$ Messrs*Bass*and*Co at 14:340;1183[' ]| Burton-on-Trent which$6#1$ happened to$9$ be situated amongst a lot of others 14:340;1184[' ]| right opposite to$4$ where he was and which$6#1$ was certainly calculated to$9$ attract 14:340;1185[' ]| anyone's remark on$4$ account of its scarlet appearance. He was simply and 14:340;1186[' ]| solely, as it subsequently transpired for$4$ reasons best known to$4$ himself, 14:340;1187[' ]| which$6#1$ put quite an altogether different complexion on$4$ the proceedings, after 14:340;1188[' ]| the moment before's observations about boyhood days and the turf, 14:340;1189[' ]| recollecting two or three private transactions of his own which$6#1$ the other 14:340;1190[' ]| two were as mutually innocent of as the babe unborn. Eventually, however, 14:340;1191[' ]| both their eyes met and as soon as it began to$9$ dawn on$4$ him that$3$ the other 14:340;1192[' ]| was endeavouring to$9$ help himself to$4$ the thing he involuntarily determined 14:340;1193[' ]| to$9$ help him himself and so$3$ he accordingly took hold of the neck of the 14:340;1194[' ]| mediumsized glass recipient which$6#1$ contained the fluid sought after and 14:340;1195[' ]| made a capacious hole in$4$ it by$4$ pouring a lot of it out with, also at the same 14:340;1196[' ]| time, however, a considerable degree of attentiveness in$4$ order not to$9$ upset 14:340;1197[' ]| any of the beer that$6#1$ was in$4$ it about the place. 14:340;1198[' ]| The debate which$6#1$ ensued was in$4$ its scope and progress an epitome of 14:340;1199[' ]| the course of life. Neither place nor council was lacking in$4$ dignity. The 14:340;1200[' ]| debaters were the keenest in$4$ the land, the theme they were engaged on$4$ the 14:340;1201[' ]| loftiest and most vital. The high hall of Horne's house had never beheld an 14:341;1202[' ]| assembly so$5#1$ representative and so$5#1$ varied nor had the old rafters of that$6#2$ 14:341;1203[' ]| establishment ever listened to$4$ a language so$5#1$ encyclopaedic. A gallant scene 14:341;1204[' ]| in$4$ truth it made. Crotthers was there at the foot of the table in$4$ his striking 14:341;1205[' ]| Highland garb, his face glowing from the briny airs of the Mull*of*Galloway. 14:341;1206[' ]| There too, opposite to$4$ him, was Lynch whose countenance bore 14:341;1207[' ]| already the stigmata of early depravity and premature wisdom. Next the 14:341;1208[' ]| Scotchman was the place assigned to$4$ Costello, the eccentric, while at his 14:341;1209[' ]| side was seated in$4$ stolid repose the squat form of Madden. The chair of the 14:341;1210[' ]| resident indeed stood vacant before the hearth but on$4$ either flank of it the 14:341;1211[' ]| figure of Bannon in$4$ explorer's kit of tweed shorts and salted cowhide 14:341;1212[' ]| brogues contrasted sharply with the primrose elegance and townbred 14:341;1213[' ]| manners of Malachi*Roland*St*John*Mulligan. Lastly at the head of the 14:341;1214[' ]| board was the young poet who$6#1$ found a refuge from his labours of 14:341;1215[' ]| pedagogy and metaphysical inquisition in$4$ the convivial atmosphere of 14:341;1216[' ]| Socratic discussion, while to$4$ right and left of him were accommodated the 14:341;1217[' ]| flippant prognosticator, fresh from the hippodrome, and that$6#2$ vigilant 14:341;1218[' ]| wanderer, soiled by$4$ the dust of travel and combat and stained by$4$ the mire of 14:341;1219[' ]| an indelible dishonour, but from whose steadfast and constant heart no$2$ lure 14:341;1220[' ]| or peril or threat or degradation could ever efface the image of that$6#2$ 14:341;1221[' ]| voluptuous loveliness which$6#1$ the inspired pencil of Lafayette has limned for$4$ 14:341;1222[' ]| ages yet to$9$ come.