In following my nose, I narrowly escaped being _nosed_ by a Beak.
And as I lay in my bed, thinking that I was now nearly twenty years old,
and had not yet made any discovery, my heart sank within me. My
monomania returned with redoubled force, and I resolved to renew my
search with vigour. So I told Timothy the next morning, when he came
into my room, but from him I received little consolation; he advised me
to look out for a good match in a rich wife, and leave time to develop
the mystery of my birth; pointing out the little chance I ever had of
success.
Town was not full, the season had hardly commenced, and we had few
invitations or visits to distract my thoughts from their object. My leg
became so painful, that for a week I was on the sofa, Timothy every day
going out to ascertain if he could find the person whom we had seen
resembling me, and every evening returning without success, I became
melancholy and nervous. Carbonnell could not imagine what was the matter
with me. At last I was able to walk, and I sallied forth, perambulating,
or rather running through street after street, looking into every
carriage, so as to occasion surprise to the occupants, who believed me
mad; my dress and person were disordered, for I had become indifferent
to it, and Timothy himself believed that I was going out of my senses.
At last, after we had been in town about five weeks, I saw the very
object of my search, seated in a carriage, of a dark brown colour, arms
painted in shades, so as not to be distinguishable but at a near
approach; his hat was off, and he sat upright and formally. "That is
he!" ejaculated I, and away I ran after the carriage. "It is the nose,"
cried I, as I ran down the street, knocking every one to the right and
left. I lost my hat, but fearful of losing sight of the carriage, I
hastened on, when I heard a cry of "Stop him, stop him!" "Stop him,"
cried I, also, referring to the gentleman in black in the carriage.
"That won't do," cried a man, seizing me by the collar; "I know a trick
worth two of that."
"Let me go," roared I, struggling; but he only held me the faster. I
tussled with the man until my coat and shirt were torn, but in vain; the
crowd now assembled, and I was fast. The fact was, that a pickpocket had
been exercising his vocation at the time that I was running past, and
from my haste, and loss of my hat, I was supposed to be the criminal.
The police took charge of me--I pleaded innocence in vain, and I was
dragged before the magistrate, at Marlborough Street. My appearance, the
disorder of my dress, my coat and shirt in ribbons, with no hat, were
certainly not at all in my favour, when I made my appearance, led in by
two Bow Street officers.
"Whom have we here?" inquired the magistrate.
"A pickpocket, sir," replied they.
"Ah! one of the swell mob," replied he. "Are there any witnesses?"
"Yes, sir," replied a young man, coming forward. "I was walking up Bond
Street, when I felt a tug at my pocket, and when I turned round, this
chap was running away."
"Can you swear to his person?"
There were plenty to swear that I was the person who ran away.
"Now, sir, have you anything to offer in your defence?" said the
magistrate.
"Yes, sir," replied I; "I certainly was running down the street; and it
may be, for all I know or care, that this person's pocket may have been
picked--but I did not pick it. I am a gentleman."
"All your fraternity lay claim to gentility," replied the magistrate;
"perhaps you will state why you were running down the street."
"I was running after a carriage, sir, that I might speak to the person
inside of it."
"Pray who was the person inside?"
"I do not know, sir."
"Why should you run after a person you do not know."
"It was because of his _nose_."
"His _nose_?" replied the magistrate, angrily. "Do you think to trifle
with me, sir? You shall now follow your own nose to prison. Make out his
committal."
"As you please, sir," replied I; "but still I have told you the truth;
if you will allow any one to take a note, I will soon prove my
respectability. I ask it in common justice."
"Be it so," replied the magistrate; "let him sit down within the bar
till the answer comes."
In less than an hour, my note to Major Carbonnell was answered by his
appearance in person, followed by Timothy. Carbonnell walked up to the
magistrate, while Timothy asked the officers in an angry tone, what they
had been doing to his _master_. This rather startled them, but both they
and the magistrate were much surprised when the Major asserted that I
was his most particular friend, Mr Newland, who possessed ten thousand
pounds per annum, and who was as well known in fashionable society, as
any young man of fortune about town. The magistrate explained what had
passed, and asked the Major if I was not a little deranged; but the
Major, who perceived what was the cause of my strange behaviour, told
him that somebody had insulted me, and that I was very anxious to lay
hold of the person, who had avoided me, and who must have been in that
carriage.
"I am afraid, that after your explanation, Major Carbonnell, I must, as
a magistrate, bind over your friend, Mr Newland, to keep the peace."
To this I consented, the Major and Timothy being taken as
recognisances, and then I was permitted to depart. The Major sent for a
hackney coach, and when we were going home he pointed out to me the
folly of my conduct, and received my promise to be more careful for the
future. Thus did this affair end, and for a short time I was more
careful in my appearance, and not so very anxious to look into
carriages; still, however, the idea haunted me, and I was often very
melancholy. It was about a month afterwards, that I was sauntering with
the Major, who now considered me to be insane upon that point, and who
would seldom allow me to go out without him, when I again perceived the
same carriage, with the gentleman inside as before.
"There he is, Major," cried I.
"There is who?" replied he.
"The man so like my father."
"What, in that carriage? that is the Bishop of E----, my good fellow.
What a strange idea you have in your head, Newland; it almost amounts to
madness. Do not be staring in that way--come along."
Still my head was turned quite round, looking at the carriage after it
had passed, till it was out of sight; but I knew who the party was, and
for the time I was satisfied, as I determined to find out his address,
and call upon him. I narrated to Timothy what had occurred, and
referring to the Red Book, I looked out the bishop's town address, and
the next day, after breakfast, having arranged my toilet with the utmost
precision, I made an excuse to the Major, and set off to Portland Place.