n I think of it, still,
the old surpint! He WAS a surpint, that Deuceace, and no mistake.

Well, by a most extrornary piece of ill-luck, the nex day punctially
as Mr. Dawkinses brexfas was coming UP the stairs, Mr. Halgernon Percy
Deuceace was going DOWN. He was as gay as a lark, humming an Oppra tune,
and twizzting round his head his hevy gold-headed cane. Down he went
very fast, and by a most unlucky axdent struck his cane against the
waiter's tray, and away went Mr. Dawkinses gril, kayann, kitchup,
soda-water and all! I can't think how my master should have choas such
an exact time; to be sure, his windo looked upon the court, and he could
see every one who came into our door.

As soon as the axdent had took place, master was in such a rage as, to
be sure, no man ever was in befor; he swoar at the waiter in the most
dreddfle way; he threatened him with his stick, and it was only when he
see that the waiter was rayther a bigger man than hisself that he was
in the least pazzyfied. He returned to his own chambres; and John, the
waiter, went off for more gril to Dixes Coffy-house.

"This is a most unlucky axdent, to be sure, Charles," says master to me,
after a few minits paws, during witch he had been and wrote a note,
put it into an anvelope, and sealed it with his big seal of arms. "But
stay--a thought strikes me--take this note to Mr. Dawkins, and that pye
you brought yesterday; and hearkye, you scoundrel, if you say where you
got it I will break every bone in your skin!"

These kind of promises were among the few which I knew him to keep: and
as I loved boath my skinn and my boans, I carried the noat, and of cors
said nothink. Waiting in Mr. Dawkinses chambus for a few minnits, I
returned to my master with an anser. I may as well give both of these
documence, of which I happen to have taken coppies:

I.

THE HON. A. P. DEUCEACE TO T. S. DAWKINS, ESQ.

"TEMPLE, Tuesday.

"Mr. DEUCEACE presents his compliments to Mr. Dawkins, and begs at
the same time to offer his most sincere apologies and regrets for
the accident which has just taken place.

"May Mr. Deuceace be allowed to take a neighbor's privilege, and to
remedy the evil he has occasioned to the best of his power if Mr.
Dawkins will do him the favor to partake of the contents of the
accompanying case (from Strasbourg direct, and the gift of a
friend, on whose t