Horatio Sparkins

The appearance of Mr. Horatio Sparkins at the assembly, had excited no small degree of surprise and curiosity among its regular frequenters. Who could he be? He was evidently reserved, and apparently melancholy. Was he a clergyman? – He danced too well. A barister? – He said he was not called. […] Was he a surgeon, a contributor to the magazines, a writer of fashionable novels, or an artist? – No; to each and all of these surmises, there existed some valid objection. – ‚Then,‘ said everybody, ‚he must be SOMEBODY.‘