Passages from the Life of a Philosopher

SCENE I.—Committee-room of the Conservatives, Charles-street; LORD FLUMM; MARQUIS OF FLAMBOROUGH; LORD GEORGE; LORD CHARLES; other Tory Lords, and TRIM. A table covered with papers; LORD CHARLES smoking a cigar; LORD GEORGE half asleep in an arm-chair; TRIM busy in looking over a list of the House of Commons. Trim. It will be a devilish close run I see!—yet I think we might manage some of them (Pause). Does anybody know Turnstile? Marquis. Never heard of him! Lord George. (Mumbling). The reform Member for Puddledock, isn’t he?—the author of a book on Pinmaking, and things of that kind. An ironmonger in Newgate-street! Trim. No, no! Member for Shoreditch;—with Smooth, the Colonial Secretary! Lord Charles. (Taking the cigar from his mouth.) I think I’ve heard something of him at Cambridge: he was Newtonian Professor of Chemistry when I was at College. Trim. Can’t we talk him over? Lord Charles. No, no! he is too sharp for that. Trim. Will anybody speak to him?—and if he won’t vote with us, keep him out of the way. Marquis. Perhaps a hint at an appointment!— Lord Charles. Nor that either; he is a fellow of some spirit; and devilish proud. {278} Lord Flumm. But what are his tastes?—how does he employ himself?—who are his friends? Trim. Why he’s—a sort of a—phi­los­o­pher,—that wants to be a man of the world! Lord Flumm. Oh!—now I begin to recollect;—I must have seen him at Sir Phillip’s. Leave him to me;—I think Lady Flumm and my daughter can manage to keep him quiet on Thursday night. Trim. But for Tuesday,—my Lord? Lord Flumm. Two nights!—Then I must try what I can do for you, myself. [Exit.