is under the
impression that there is something very winning in it, though, also, as
he admits, a touch of sadness. They use it in his family for keeping the
children in order.

The people of the inn seemed rather astonished at his behaviour. They
regarded him, with troubled looks, and then gathered together among
themselves and consulted in whispers.

"I evidently have not made myself sufficiently clear to these simple
peasants," said my friend to himself. "I must put more vigour into this
show."

Accordingly he rubbed and patted that part of himself to which I have
previously alluded--and which, being a modest and properly brought-up
young man, nothing on earth shall induce me to mention more
explicitly--with greater energy than ever, and added another inch or two
of smile; and he also made various graceful movements indicative, as he
thought, of friendly feeling and contentment.

At length a ray of intelligence burst upon the faces of his hosts, and
they rushed to a cupboard and brought out a small black bottle.

"Ah! that's done it," thought my friend. "Now they have grasped my
meaning. And they are pleased that I am pleased, and are going to insist
on my drinking a final friendly bumper of wine with them, the good old
souls!"

They brought the bottle over, and poured out a wineglassful, and handed
it to him, making signs that he should drink it off quickly.

"Ah!" said my friend to himself, as he took the glass and raised it to
the light, and winked at it wickedly, "this is some rare old spirit
peculiar to the district--some old heirloom kept specially for the
favoured guest."

And he held the glass aloft and made a speech, in which he wished long
life and many grand-children to the old couple, and a handsome husband to
the daughter, and prosperity to the whole village. They could not
understand him, he knew; but he thought there might be that in his tones
and gestures from which they would gather the sense of what he was
saying, and understand how kindly he felt towards them all. When he had
finished, he put his hand upon his heart and smiled some more, and then
tossed the liquor off at a gulp.

Three seconds later he discovered that it was a stringent and trustworthy
emetic that he had swallowed. His audience had mistaken his signs of
gratitude for efforts on his part to explain to them that he was
poisoned, or, at all events, was suffering from acute and agonising
indigestion, and had done wh