This intelligence determined me upon going myself to Mr. Lowndes, and
discovering what sort of answers he made to such curious inquirers as I
found were likely to address him. But as I did not dare trust myself to
speak, for I felt that I should not be able to act my part well, I asked
my mother to accompany me. We introduced ourselves by buying the book,
for which I had a commission from Mrs. G----. Fortunately Mr. Lowndes
himself was in the shop; as we found by his air of consequence and
authority, as well as his age; for I never saw him before.
The moment he had given my mother the book, she asked him if he could
tell her who wrote it.
“No,” he answered; “I don't know myself.”
“Pho, pho,” said she, “you mayn't choose to tell, but you must know.”
“I don't indeed, ma'am,” answered he “I have no honour in keeping the
secret, for I have never been trusted. All I know of the matter is, that
it is a gentleman of the other end of the town.”
MY mother made a thousand other inquiries, to which his answers were to
the following effect: that for a great while, he did not know if it was
a man or a woman; but now, he knew that much, and that he was a master
of his subject, and well versed in the manners of the times.
“For some time,” continued he, “I thought it had been Horace Walpole's;
for he once published a book in this snug manner; but I don't think
it is now. I have often people come to inquire of me who it is; but I
suppose he will come Out soon, and then when the rest of the world knows
it, I shall. Servants often come for it from the other end of the town,
and I have asked them divers questions myself, to see if I could get at
the author but I never got any satisfaction.”
Just before we came away, upon my mother's still further pressing him,
he said, with a most important face,
“Why, to tell you the truth, madam, I have been informed that it is
a piece of real secret history; and, in that case, it will never be
known.”
This was too much for me---I grinned irresistibly, and was obliged to
look out at the shop-door till we came away.
How many ridiculous things have I heard upon this subject! I hope that
next, some particular family will be fixed upon, to whom this secret
history must belong! However, I am delighted to find myself so safe.