hile, evidencing the most candid spirit one can well
imagine.

"A right-down slick and shrewd 'un, darn me if he ain't!"

"A very wide awake young gemman," quoth number two.

"Il a de 'beaux yeux,' celui-la,"--this was a lady's remark.

"Set that young 'un among the girls 'down east,' and he'll mow 'em down
like grass."

"A Londoner,--swell-mobbish a bit, I take it."

"Not at all, he a'nt; he's a bank clerk or a post-office fellow bolted
with a lot of tin."

"Der ist ein echter Schelm," growled out an old Dantzic skipper; "I kenn
him vehr wohl,--steal your wash wid a leetle scheer,--scissars you call
him, ha! ha!"

"Ladies and gentlemen," said I, assuming a pose of the most dignified
importance, "before entering upon the circumstance to which you have so
graciously attached a little interest, let me assure you--not that
the fact can or ought to have any weight with this distinguished
company--that I have no claim upon your sympathy with regard to any of
the pleas whispered around me. I am neither thief, pickpocket, runaway
postman, burglar, nor highwayman. If I be, as you are pleased to say,
'wide awake,' I believe it is only a common precaution, considering
the company I find myself in; and if I really could lay claim to the
flattering praise of a fair lady on the loft, it would be merely from
what he was commonly called at the clubs, the Great 'Borassus,' he was
listened to with interest and attention; and, in fact, from the extent
of his knowledge of the subject, and his acquaintance with every detail
of its history, each felt that to his Lordship ought by right to fall
the fortunate ticket.

"So did it, in fact, turn out. After much vacillation, with the last two
numbers remained the final decision. One belonged to the Royal Duke, the
other to Lord E------.

"'You shall have a hundred guineas for your chance, E------,' said the
Duke; 'what say you?'

"'Your Ruyal Highness's wish is a command,' said he, bowing and
blushing; 'but were it otherwise, and to any other than your Royal
Highness, I should as certainly say nay.'

"'Then "nay" must be the answer to me also; I cannot accept of such a
sacrifice: and, after all, you are much more worthy of such a treasure
than I am,--I really only meant it for a present to Mori.'

"'A present, your Royal Highness!' cried he, horrified; 'I would n't
give such a jewel to anything short of St. Cecilia,--the violin, you are
aware, was her instrument.'

"'Now, then