But his patron, who did not
think proper to drive him to extremities, found means to persuade
his honour to do something for the pacification of the young man's
choler; and that same evening our adventurer received a message
from his lordship, desiring to see him immediately.
In consequence of this intimation, Pickle went to his house, and
appeared before him with a very cloudy aspect, which signified
to whom it might concern, that his temper was at present too much
galled to endure reproof; and therefore the sagacious peer forbore
taking him to task for his behaviour during the audience he
had obtained; but gave him to understand, that the minister, in
consideration of his services, had sent him a bank-note of three
hundred pounds, with a promise of the like sum yearly, until he
could be otherwise provided for. This declaration in some measure
appeased the youth, who condescended to accept the present; and,
next levee day, made his acknowledgment to the donor, who favoured
him with a smile of infinite complacency, which entirely dissipated
all the remains of his resentment; for, as he could not possibly
divine the true cause of his being temporized with, he looked upon
this condescension as an undoubted proof of Sir Steady's sincerity,
and firmly believed that he would settle him in some place with the
first opportunity, rather than continue to pay this pension out of
his own pocket.
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