"
"But I was promised," said Middlemas, "promised by Tom Hillary"--
"Promised, were you? Why, there is not a man here that has not been
promised something by somebody or another, or perhaps has promised
something to himself. This is the land of promise, my smart fellow, but
you know it is India that must be the land of performance. So, good
morning to you. The Doctor will come his rounds presently and put you
all to rights."
"Stay but one moment--one moment only--I have been robbed."
"Robbed! look you there now," said the Governor--"everybody that comes
here has been robbed.--Egad, I am the luckiest fellow in Europe--other
people in my line have only thieves and blackguards upon their hands;
but none come to my ken but honest, decent, unfortunate gentlemen, that
have been robbed!"
"Take care how you treat this so lightly, sir," said Middlemas; "I have
been robbed of a thousand pounds."
Here Governor Seelencooper's gravity was totally overcome, and his laugh
was echoed by several of the patients, either because they wished to
curry favour with the superintendent, or from the feeling which
influences evil spirits to rejoice in the tortures of those who are sent
to share their agony.
"A thousand pounds!" exclaimed Captain Seelencooper, as he recovered his
breath,--"Come, that's a good one--I like a fellow that does not make
two bites of a cherry--why, there is not a cull in the ken that pretends
to have lost more than a few hoggs, and here is a servant to the
Honourable Company that has been robbed of a thousand pounds! Well done,
Mr.
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