Page:The life and opinions of Tristram Shandy (Volume 3).pdf/161

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up into the best vacancies in the kingdom.—He would often boast that the Shandy family rank'd very high in King Harry the VIIIth's time, but owed its rise to no state engine,—he would say,—but to that only;—but that, like other families, he would add,—it had felt the turn of the wheel, and had never recovered the blow of my great grandfather's nose.—It was an ace of clubs indeed, he would cry, shaking his head,—and as vile a one for an unfortunate family, as ever turn'd up trumps.

—Fair and softly, gentle reader!—where is thy fancy carrying thee?—If there is truth in man, by my great grandfather's nose, I mean the external organ of smelling, or that part of man which stands prominent in his face,and