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This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1847 edition. Excerpt:...man who knows he has the power to make himself welcome, and glancing round the chamber, observed--"Quite private, I see--no company--eh?" "Not one, corporal--not a soul," replied the host--"So much the better," replied Deveril, taking a gold piece from his waistcoat pocket, and raising it impressively between his finger and thumb. "I've spent a good round lump of money with you--Mr. What-d'-ye-call'em, and I mean to spend a trifle more." "The keen sense of favours to come," inclined the short and bloated body of mine host with a profound and grateful acknowledgment. "The fact is, I want a couple of rooms up stairs," continued Deveril, "they must open one upon the other, but I'll see to that myself--I expect some company--very particular company to supper this evening. Come up along with me--I'll see your apartments, and choose for myself." They both accordingly ascended the stairs, and entered the chambers opening from the first landing. The building extended far in a backward direction, and had been very irregularly divided from its neighbour, so that Deveril and his guide found themselves involved in a rambling complexity of passages and dismal chambers, of which it would have been no easy matter to draft the plan. The proprietor had suggested several apartments, as presenting the required relation--that of communicating one with the other; but his recommendations had been either wholly disregarded, or else dismissed with an impatient "pish;" the soldier, however, at last resolved to cut the matter short by a full explanation. "What I want," he said, in a low distinct tone, "is a chamber in which some company--I and a friend for instance,...