; and as to the
how, he went away in the same old conveniency that he arrived by; and,
though drawn by a sorry hack, and driven by a ragged Irishman, he felt
prouder as he sat in it than if his place had been beside a duke in the
king's livery, with a coach paid for out of the pockets of the people.

"This is the answer, therefore, to your correspondent. And if he wants
any further information, will you tell him that it will be more in
accordance with the habits of Irish gentlemen if he'll address himself
personally to Mr. Curtis, 12, Ely Place, than by any appeal in the
columns of a newspaper.

"And now, Mr. Editor, a word for yourself and the others. I know nothing
about the habits of your order, nor the etiquette of the press; but this
I do know: I am a private gentleman, living, so far, at least, as you
and the like of you are concerned, out of the world; I am very unlikely
to fill a paragraph either among the marriages or the births; and
if--mark me well, for I am not joking--you, or any of you, print my name
again in your pages, except to announce my decease, I will break every
bone in your body; and this 'without prejudice,' as the attorneys say,
to any future proceedings I may reserve for your correspondent."

None who knew Curtis doubted for an instant the authenticity of this
letter, though many at the time fancied it must be a queer quiz upon
his style. The effect of it was, however, marvellous; for, in the most
implicit confidence that he meant to keep his word, his name entirely
dropped out of the discussion, which, however, raged as violently, if
not more violently, than ever. Personalities of the most offensive kind
were interchanged; and the various guests were held up, with little
histories of their private life, by the journals of one side or the
other.

Up to this moment my father's name had never been regularly introduced
into the discussion. Regrets, it is true, were insinuated that he
who could afford the shortest and most satisfactory explanations of
everything should not condescend to give the public such information. It
was deplored that one who so long enjoyed the confidence of the national
party should feel himself bound to maintain a silence on questions which
a few words would suffice to make intelligible. Gradually these regrets
grew into remonstrances, and even threatened to become reproach.
Anonymous letters, in the same spirit, were addressed to him in great
numbers; but they all fai