at WE paid, and not a rap more, upon my
honour."

"Nonsense, you're joking. The Marquess of Billinsgate dine for
eighteenpence! Why, hang it, if I was a marquess, I'd pay a five-pound
note for my lunch."

"You little know the person, Master Eglantine," replied the Captain,
with a smile of contemptuous superiority; "you little know the real
man of fashion, my good fellow. Simplicity, sir--simplicity's the
characteristic of the real gentleman, and so I'll tell you what we had
for dinner."

"Turtle and venison, of course:--no nob dines without THEM."

"Psha! we're sick of 'em! We had pea soup and boiled tripe! What do you
think of THAT? We had sprats and herrings, a bullock's heart, a baked
shoulder of mutton and potatoes, pig's-fry and Irish stew. _I_ ordered
the dinner, sir, and got more credit for inventing it than they ever
gave to Ude or Soyer. The Marquess was in ecstasies, the Earl devoured
half a bushel of sprats, and if the Viscount is not laid up with a
surfeit of bullock's heart, my name's not Howard Walker. Billy, as I
call him, was in the chair, and gave my health; and what do you think
the rascal proposed?"

"What DID his Lordship propose?"

"That every man present should subscribe twopence, and pay for my share
of the dinner. By Jove! it is true, and the money was handed to me in
a pewter-pot, of which they also begged to make me a present. We
afterwards went to Tom Spring's, from Tom's to the 'Finish,' from the
'Finish' to the watch-house--that is, THEY did--and sent for me, just as
I was getting into bed, to bail them all out."

"They're happy dogs, those young noblemen," said Mr Eglantine; "nothing
but pleasure from morning till night; no affectation neither--no HOTURE;
but manly downright straightforward good fellows."

"Should you like to meet them, Tiny my boy?" said the Captain.

"If I did sir, I hope I should show myself to be gentleman," answered
Mr. Eglantine.

"Well, you SHALL meet them, and Lady Billingsgate shall order her
perfumes at your shop. We are going to dine, next week, all our set,
at Mealy-faced Bob's, and you shall be my guest," cried the Captain,
slapping the delighted artist on the back. "And now, my boy, tell me how
YOU spent the evening."

"At my club, sir," answered Mr. Eglantine, blushing rather.

"What! not at the play with the lovely black-eyed Miss--What is her
name, Eglantine?

"Never mind her name, Captain," replied Eglantine, partly from prudence
and part