When you went to
Lamb's rooms on the Wednesday evenings (his "At Home"), you generally
found the card table spread out, Lamb himself one of the players. On the
corner of the table was a snuff-box; and the game was enlivened by sundry
brief ejaculations and pungent questions, which kept alive the wits of the
party present. It was not "silent whist!" I do not remember whether, in
common with Sarah Battle, Lamb had a weakness in favor of "Hearts." I
suppose that it was at one of these meetings that he made that shrewd
remark which has since escaped into notoriety: "Martin" (observed he), "if
dirt were trumps, what a hand you would hold!" It is not known what
influence Martin's trumps had on the rubber then in progress.--When the
conversation became general, Lamb's part in it was very effective. His
short, clear sentences always produced effect. He never joined in talk
unless he understood the subject; then, if the matter in question
interested him, he was not slow in showing his earnestness; but I never
heard him argue or talk for argument's sake. If he was indifferent to the
question, he was silent.
The supper of cold meat, on these occasions, was always on the side-table;
not very formal, as may be imagined; and every one might rise, when it
suited him, and cut a slice or take a glass of porter, without reflecting
on the abstinence of the rest of the company.
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