inside and out with distinguished characters, comprising Mr.
Muddlebranes, Mr. Drawley, Professor Muff, Mr. X. Misty, Mr. X. X. Misty,
Mr. Purblind, Professor Rummun, The Honourable and Reverend Mr. Long
Eers, Professor John Ketch, Sir William Joltered, Doctor Buffer, Mr.
Smith (of London), Mr. Brown (of Edinburgh), Sir Hookham Snivey, and
Professor Pumpkinskull. The ten last-named gentlemen were wet through,
and looked extremely intelligent.'

'_Sunday_, _two o'clock_, _p.m._

'The Honourable and Reverend Mr. Long Eers, accompanied by Sir William
Joltered, walked and drove this morning. They accomplished the former
feat in boots, and the latter in a hired fly. This has naturally given
rise to much discussion.

'I have just learnt that an interview has taken place at the Boot-jack
and Countenance between Sowster, the active and intelligent beadle of
this place, and Professor Pumpkinskull, who, as your readers are
doubtless aware, is an influential member of the council. I forbear to
communicate any of the rumours to which this very extraordinary
proceeding has given rise until I have seen Sowster, and endeavoured to
ascertain the truth from him.'

'_Half-past six_.

'I engaged a donkey-chaise shortly after writing the above, and proceeded
at a brisk trot in the direction of Sowster's residence, passing through
a beautiful expanse of country, with red brick buildings on either side,
and stopping in the marketplace to observe the spot where Mr. Kwakley's
hat was blown off yesterday. It is an uneven piece of paving, but has
certainly no appearance which would lead one to suppose that any such
event had recently occurred there. From this point I proceeded--passing
the gas-works and tallow-melter's--to a lane which had been pointed out
to me as the beadle's place of residence; and before I had driven a dozen
yards further, I had the good fortune to meet Sowster himself advancing
towards me.

'Sowster is a fat man, with a more enlarged development of that peculiar
conformation of countenance which is vulgarly termed a double chin than I
remember to have ever seen before. He has also a very red nose, which he
attributes to a habit of early rising--so red, indeed, that but for this
explanation I should have supposed it to proceed from occasional
inebriety. He informed me that he did not feel himself at liberty to
r