An Experiment in Treason by Alexander Bruce

Author:Alexander, Bruce [Alexander, Bruce]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780425192818
Google: ukRm8feyLY8C
Amazon: 0425192814
Published: 2002-05-15T04:00:00+00:00

SEVEN

In which little

happens whilst much

history is Made

Next day, when I made my report on our outing to Sir John, I included something of our meeting with Benjamin Franklin in Shakespeare’s Head, telling the story (I fear) as a bit of gossip. Yet Sir John was uninterested, dismissing the incident as of little or no importance.

“Such a silly fellow,” said he. “I had heard it said by some that he was a libertine, but I never credited it till now. Still, what surprises me more than his commerce with bawds is that he should appear to you and the rest to be inebriated. He is one — or so I have heard — who keeps close watch upon his health.”

“Strange, is it not. Sir John,” said I, “that one so admirable in so many ways should seem foolish, even contemptible in others.” (Yes, reader, I confess that I said this, or something quite like it, for in those days I was much given to such priggishness.)

“I find that not in the least strange. We are none of us complete human beings — neither completely good, nor completely bad. Why, you may find this difficult to credit, but even I may have a fault or two.”

I let that pass without comment.

Sir John was pleased to hear of Mr. Goldsmith’s triumph at the Covent Garden Theatre. He bridled up a bit, however, when I gave it as my opinion that She Stoops to Conquer was the best of all comedies.

“Of all comedies?” he echoed. “Frankly, Jeremy, I am surprised. Do you hold it higher than the Midsummer Night’s Dream, or Much Ado About Nothing, or The Comedy of Errors, or … or …”

“Or any of Shakespeare’s?”

“All right, it’s you who’ve said it. Do you hold it higher than any of his? “

“Ah well, Sir John, ‘tis a different sort of comedy from those others by Shakespeare.”

“Different in what way? “

“Well, Mr. Goldsmith himself makes the distinction between Laughing and Sentimental Comedy.”

“I hold no brief for the so-called sentimental stuff, but what has that to do with Shakespeare? “

“Mr. Goldsmith also would make the distinction between Laughing comedies, and comedies of character, comedies of wit, at which one may smile but seldom laugh aloud.”

“And naturally,” said Sir John, “his sort of comedy he finds superior.”

“Not necessarily, but I would say that his audience at the Covent Garden certainly would find it superior.”

“And so you vote with the many — is that it?”

With that final thrust, he felt he had won the argument. I held my tongue, allowing him to think so.

What I find odd as I think back to the occasion, and others that followed, is that never once did he question me regarding the behavior of Mr. Donnelly and Molly, which, presumably, was why he had sent us to accompany them. Nor, for that matter, did he ask me or Clarissa about our own conduct.

In fact, as it happened, the conduct of all four of us (or five, counting Mr. Goldsmith) was quite above reproach.

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