Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Loving Cup: Or, How The Dustmen Were Diddled.
given him your address , as he is coming at once to London . His name is Monsieur AchiUe de Movisse . " The letter fell from the would-be cynic ' s hands . He was fairly astonished . " What ! " he muttered . " My roving brother who left England so long ago ; and of whose death I have the certificate . He , the owner of the cup I rescued after so many years ! Impossible ! the man at Antwerp , of whom I bought it said the man was fair ,
and my brother Achilles was dark . I shall take no notice of it ! It is some impostor . Wait , I'll have another glass of grog , and then to bed . " He was engaged in compounding another jorum of his favourite rum and water , when a cab drove to the door , and a great ringing ensued . Ann Eliza Jane was still out of the way , so John Hector had again to be the porter . Two stood at the door—an elderlmanand a irl .
persons y , young g John Hector started ; it was strange to see a Commission Agent pretty fairly full of rum and water moved ; his emotion was not , however , of the Jamaica , but of the real spirit . He had never seen so fair a young creature with such appealing eyes . The two elder men confronted each other .
" Mr . Movis , I believe , " said the stranger . " That is my name , " replied the other . " Then I am right , no doubt , " observed the new comer . " May I have a few moments' conversation with you ? I have not long to remain in London , as I must start on important business to Antwerp to-morrow morning . " "Enter if you choose , " said Mr . Movis ( inwardly adding ) , "I hope he has no designs on my curios . "
The other , accompanied by the girl , entered the parlour , and Mr . Movis , with many apologies for the absence of his housekeeper , tried to set them at their ease . They were soon seated . "You are , I believe , a Commission Agent , Mr . Movis , often travelling abroad ?" "lam . "
" Do you know Antwerp ? " "I do , " said John Hector , with visibly increasing perplexity . " I believe you are fond of curiosities , " observed the stranger . " That is certainly the case , " said our hero . " Did you buy at the shop of a certain M . —¦ , " the other began . " But how is this , here is the very article itself , " he burst out , " the very cup ! " " I certainly bought this cup at the town you named" said Mr . Movis ; " but what
, concern is that of yours ? " " My honour , " said the stranger , " is concerned in its restoration . It is not mine ; I carried it away from a Masonic Lodge in a fit of folly , and it should be restored . It was a relic of past times , dear to those who had the right to hold it . "
" Your name ! " gasped the astonished John Hector . " De Movisse , " replied the other . " My brother ! " exclaimed John Hector . " And who is this ? " " My only daughter Helen , " said the stranger . " Do you recognise me ? " " Scarcely , " said Mr . Hector . " Then let me remind you that when we stood ruined both of us in our
parental hall , we agreed that if ever we should both see this cup at the same time again , we should restore it , and our hearts and fortunes should again be rejoined . Yours , " said the stranger , "have apparently flourished ; mine , perhaps , have not languished ; but I claim the fulfilment of your word . " "Be it so , " said the old bachelor , " and before it is returned to the Lodge , let us drink once more from the Loving Cup . "
And so they did , and when Ann Eliza Jane came in from her gossip , she opened her eyes , and the accumulations of John Hector , backed by a handsome fortune made by his brother Achilles , went to Helen , and thus it was that the Dustmen were diddled .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Loving Cup: Or, How The Dustmen Were Diddled.
given him your address , as he is coming at once to London . His name is Monsieur AchiUe de Movisse . " The letter fell from the would-be cynic ' s hands . He was fairly astonished . " What ! " he muttered . " My roving brother who left England so long ago ; and of whose death I have the certificate . He , the owner of the cup I rescued after so many years ! Impossible ! the man at Antwerp , of whom I bought it said the man was fair ,
and my brother Achilles was dark . I shall take no notice of it ! It is some impostor . Wait , I'll have another glass of grog , and then to bed . " He was engaged in compounding another jorum of his favourite rum and water , when a cab drove to the door , and a great ringing ensued . Ann Eliza Jane was still out of the way , so John Hector had again to be the porter . Two stood at the door—an elderlmanand a irl .
persons y , young g John Hector started ; it was strange to see a Commission Agent pretty fairly full of rum and water moved ; his emotion was not , however , of the Jamaica , but of the real spirit . He had never seen so fair a young creature with such appealing eyes . The two elder men confronted each other .
" Mr . Movis , I believe , " said the stranger . " That is my name , " replied the other . " Then I am right , no doubt , " observed the new comer . " May I have a few moments' conversation with you ? I have not long to remain in London , as I must start on important business to Antwerp to-morrow morning . " "Enter if you choose , " said Mr . Movis ( inwardly adding ) , "I hope he has no designs on my curios . "
The other , accompanied by the girl , entered the parlour , and Mr . Movis , with many apologies for the absence of his housekeeper , tried to set them at their ease . They were soon seated . "You are , I believe , a Commission Agent , Mr . Movis , often travelling abroad ?" "lam . "
" Do you know Antwerp ? " "I do , " said John Hector , with visibly increasing perplexity . " I believe you are fond of curiosities , " observed the stranger . " That is certainly the case , " said our hero . " Did you buy at the shop of a certain M . —¦ , " the other began . " But how is this , here is the very article itself , " he burst out , " the very cup ! " " I certainly bought this cup at the town you named" said Mr . Movis ; " but what
, concern is that of yours ? " " My honour , " said the stranger , " is concerned in its restoration . It is not mine ; I carried it away from a Masonic Lodge in a fit of folly , and it should be restored . It was a relic of past times , dear to those who had the right to hold it . "
" Your name ! " gasped the astonished John Hector . " De Movisse , " replied the other . " My brother ! " exclaimed John Hector . " And who is this ? " " My only daughter Helen , " said the stranger . " Do you recognise me ? " " Scarcely , " said Mr . Hector . " Then let me remind you that when we stood ruined both of us in our
parental hall , we agreed that if ever we should both see this cup at the same time again , we should restore it , and our hearts and fortunes should again be rejoined . Yours , " said the stranger , "have apparently flourished ; mine , perhaps , have not languished ; but I claim the fulfilment of your word . " "Be it so , " said the old bachelor , " and before it is returned to the Lodge , let us drink once more from the Loving Cup . "
And so they did , and when Ann Eliza Jane came in from her gossip , she opened her eyes , and the accumulations of John Hector , backed by a handsome fortune made by his brother Achilles , went to Helen , and thus it was that the Dustmen were diddled .