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VIII

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 April 2021

Jean Chothia
Affiliation:
University of Cambridge
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Summary

HUGH CRIMBLE had come back from his voyage of discovery, and it was visible as he stood there flushed and quite radiant that he had caught in his approach Lord Theign's last inquiry and Mr. Bender's reply to it. You would have imputed to him on the spot the lively possession of a new idea, the sustaining sense of a message important enough to justify his irruption. He looked from one to the other of the three men, scattered a little by the sight of him, but attached eyes of recognition then to Lord Theign’s, whom he remained an instant longer communicatively smiling at. After which, as you might have gathered, he all confidently plunged, taking up the talk where the others had left it. “I should say, Lord Theign if you’ll allow me, in regard to what you appear to have been discussing, that it depends a good deal on just that question—of what your Moretto, at any rate, may be presumed or proved to ‘be.’ Let me thank you,” he cheerfully went on, “for your kind leave to go over your treasures.”

The personage he so addressed was, as we know, nothing if not generally affable; yet if that was just then apparent it was through a shade of coolness for the slightly heated familiarity of so plain, or at least so free, a young man in eye-glasses, now for the first time definitely apprehended. “Oh, I’ve scarcely ‘treasures’—but I’ve some things of interest.”

Hugh, however, entering the opulent circle, as it were, clearly took account of no breath of a chill. “I think possible, my lord, that you’ve a great treasure—if you’ve really so high a rarity as a splendid Mantovano.”

“A ‘Mantovano’?” You wouldn't have been sure that his lordship didn't pronounce the word for the first time in his life.

“There have been supposed to be only seven real examples about the world; so that if by an extraordinary chance you find yourself the possessor of a magnificent eighth——”

But Lord John had already broken in. “Why, there you are, Mr. Bender!” “Oh, Mr. Bender, with whom I’ve made acquaintance,” Hugh returned, “was there as it began to work in me——”

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The Outcry , pp. 52 - 60
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2016

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  • VIII
  • Henry James
  • Edited by Jean Chothia, University of Cambridge
  • Book: The Outcry
  • Online publication: 11 April 2021
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9780511756580.015
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  • VIII
  • Henry James
  • Edited by Jean Chothia, University of Cambridge
  • Book: The Outcry
  • Online publication: 11 April 2021
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9780511756580.015
Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • VIII
  • Henry James
  • Edited by Jean Chothia, University of Cambridge
  • Book: The Outcry
  • Online publication: 11 April 2021
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9780511756580.015
Available formats
×