ptain, staring about him.

'Sing'ler!' ejaculated the unconscious Mr. Joseph Tuggs.

Lieutenant Slaughter looked first at one person mysteriously, then at
another: then, laid down his cigar, then approached the window on tiptoe,
and pointed with his right thumb over his shoulder, in the direction of
the curtain.

'Slaughter!' ejaculated the captain, rising from table, 'what do you
mean?'

The lieutenant, in reply, drew back the curtain and discovered Mr. Cymon
Tuggs behind it: pallid with apprehension, and blue with wanting to
cough.

'Aha!' exclaimed the captain, furiously. 'What do I see? Slaughter,
your sabre!'

'Cymon!' screamed the Tuggses.

'Mercy!' said Belinda.

'Platonic!' gasped Cymon.

'Your sabre!' roared the captain: 'Slaughter--unhand me--the villain's
life!'

'Murder!' screamed the Tuggses.

'Hold him fast, sir!' faintly articulated Cymon.

'Water!' exclaimed Joseph Tuggs--and Mr. Cymon Tuggs and all the ladies
forthwith fainted away, and formed a tableau.

Most willingly would we conceal the disastrous termination of the six
weeks' acquaintance. A troublesome form, and an arbitrary custom,
however, prescribe that a story should have a conclusion, in addition to
a commencement; we have therefore no alternative. Lieutenant Slaughter
brought a message--the captain brought an action. Mr. Joseph Tuggs
interposed--the lieutenant negotiated. When Mr. Cymon Tuggs recovered
from the nervous disorder into which misplaced affection, and exciting
circumstances, had plunged him, he found that his family had lost their
pleasant acquaintance; that his father was minus fifteen hundred pounds;
and the captain plus the precise sum. The money was paid to hush the
matter up, but it got abroad notwithstanding; and there are not wanting
some who affirm that three designing impostors never found more easy
dupes, than did Captain Waters, Mrs. Waters, and Lieutenant Slaughter, in
the Tuggses at Ramsgate.

CHAPTER V--HORATIO SPARKINS

'Indeed, my love, he paid Teresa very great attention on the last
assembly night,' said Mrs. Malderton, addressing her spouse, who, after
the fatigues of the day in the City, was sitting with a silk handkerchief
over his head, and his feet on the fender, drinking his port;--'very
great attention; and I say again, every possible encouragement ought to
be given him. He positively must be asked down here to dine.'

'Who must?' inquired Mr. Malderton.

'Why, you kno