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After my papa's death； as he left me no money； and only a little
land； I put my estate into an auctioneer's hands； and determined to
amuse my solitude with a trip to some of our fashionable watering…
places。 My house was now a desert to me。 I need not say how the
departure of my dear parent； and her children； left me sad and
lonely。
Well； I had a little ready money； and； for the estate； expected a
couple of thousand pounds。 I had a good military…looking person：
for though I had absolutely cut the old North Bungays （indeed；
after my affair with Waters； Colonel Craw hinted to me； in the most
friendly manner； that I had better resign）though I had left the
army； I still retained the rank of Captain； knowing the advantages
attendant upon that title in a watering…place tour。
Captain Stubbs became a great dandy at Cheltenham； Harrogate； Bath；
Leamington； and other places。 I was a good whist and billiard
player； so much so； that in many of these towns； the people used to
refuse； at last； to play with me； knowing how far I was their
superior。 Fancy my surprise； about five years after the Portsmouth
affair； when strolling one day up the High Street； in Leamington；
my eyes lighted upon a young man； whom I remembered in a certain
butcher's yard； and elsewhereno other； in fact； than Dobble。 He；
too； was dressed en militaire； with a frogged coat and spurs； and
was walking with a showy…looking； Jewish…faced； black…haired lady；
glittering with chains and rings； with a green bonnet and a bird…
of…Paradisea lilac shawl； a yellow gown； pink silk stockings； and
light…blue shoes。 Three children； and a handsome footman； were
walking behind her； and the party； not seeing me； entered the
〃Royal Hotel〃 together。
I was known myself at the 〃Royal；〃 and calling one of the waiters；
learned the names of the lady and gentleman。 He was Captain
Dobble； the son of the rich army…clothier； Dobble （Dobble； Hobble
and Co。 of Pall Mall）；the lady was a Mrs。 Manasseh； widow of an
American Jew； living quietly at Leamington with her children； but
possessed of an immense property。 There's no use to give one's
self out to be an absolute pauper： so the fact is； that I myself
went everywhere with the character of a man of very large means。
My father had died； leaving me immense sums of money； and landed
estates。 Ah！ I was the gentleman then； the real gentleman； and
everybody was too happy to have me at table。
Well； I came the next day； and left a card for Dobble； with a note。
He neither returned my visit； nor answered my note。 The day after；
however； I met him with the widow； as before； and going up to him；
very kindly seized him by the hand； and swore I wasas really was
the casecharmed to see him。 Dobble hung back； to my surprise；
and I do believe the creature would have cut me； if he dared； but I
gave him a frown； and said
〃What； Dobble； my boy； don't you recollect old Stubbs； and our
adventure with the butcher's daughtersha？〃
Dobble gave a sickly kind of grin； and said； 〃Oh！ ah！ yes！ It is
yes！ it is； I believe； Captain Stubbs。〃
〃An old comrade； Madam； of Captain Dobble's； and one who has heard
so much； and seen so much of your ladyship； that he must take the
liberty of begging his friend to introduce him。〃
Dobble was obliged to take the hint； and Captain Stubbs was duly
presented to Mrs。 Manasseh。 The lady was as gracious as possible；
and when； at the end of the walk； we parted； she said 〃she hoped
Captain Dobble would bring me to her apartments that evening； where
she expected a few friends。〃 Everybody； you see； knows everybody
at Leamington； and I； for my part； was well known as a retired
officer of the army； who； on his father's death； had come into
seven thousand a year。 Dobble's arrival had been subsequent to
mine； but putting up as he did at the 〃Royal Hotel；〃 and dining at
the ordinary there with the widow； he had made her acquaintance
before I had。 I saw； however； that if I allowed him to talk about
me； as he could； I should be compelled to give up all my hopes and
pleasures at Leamington； and so I determined to be short with him。
As soon as the lady had gone into the hotel； my friend Dobble was
for leaving me likewise； but I stopped him and said； 〃Mr。 Dobble； I
saw what you meant just now： you wanted to cut me； because；
forsooth； I did not choose to fight a duel at Portsmouth。 Now look
you； Dobble； I am no hero； but I'm not such a coward as youand
you know it。 You are a very different man to deal with from
Waters； and I WILL FIGHT this time。〃
Not perhaps that I would： but after the business of the butcher； I
knew Dobble to be as great a coward as ever lived； and there never
was any harm in threatening； for you know you are not obliged to
stick to it afterwards。 My words had their effect upon Dobble； who
stuttered and looked red； and then declared he never had the
slightest intention of passing me by； so we became friends； and his
mouth was stopped。
He was very thick with the widow； but that lady had a very
capacious heart； and there were a number of other gentlemen who
seemed equally smitten with her。 〃Look at that Mrs。 Manasseh；〃
said a gentleman （it was droll； HE was a Jew； too） sitting at
dinner by me。 〃She is old； and ugly； and yet； because she has
money； all the men are flinging themselves at her。〃
〃She has money； has she？〃
〃Eighty thousand pounds； and twenty thousand for each of her
children。 I know it FOR A FACT；〃 said the strange gentleman。 〃I
am in the law； and we of our faith； you know； know pretty well what
the great families amongst us are worth。〃
〃Who was Mr。 Manasseh？〃 said I。
〃A man of enormous wealtha tobacco…merchantWest Indies； a
fellow of no birth； however； and who； between ourselves； married a
woman that is not much better than she should be。 My dear sir；〃
whispered he； 〃she is always in love。 Now it is with that Captain
Dobble； last week it was somebody elseand it may be you next
week； ifha！ ha！ ha！you are disposed to enter the lists。 I
wouldn't； for MY part； have the woman with twice her money。〃
What did it matter to me whether the woman was good or not；
provided she was rich？ My course was quite clear。 I told Dobble
all that this gentleman had informed me； and being a pretty good
hand at making a story； I made the widow appear SO bad； that the
poor fellow was quite frightened； and fairly quitted the field。
Ha！ ha！ I'm dashed if I did not make him believe that Mrs。 Manasseh
had MURDERED her last husband。
I played my game so well； thanks to the information that my friend
the lawyer had given me； that in a month I had got the widow to
show a most decided partiality for me。 I sat by her at dinner； I
drank with her at the 〃Wells〃I rode with her； I danced with her；
and at a picnic to Kenilworth； where we drank a good deal of
champagne； I actually popped the question； and was accepted。 In
another month； Robert Stubb