they would think:
"surely I should know him!" and, a church being the place in all the
world where one has least to think of, it was ten to one they would end
by remembering me before the benediction. However, my mind was made up:
I thanked my obliging friend, and placed myself at his disposal.

Our way now led us into the north-east quarter of the town, among
pleasant new faubourgs, to a decent new church of a good size, where I
was soon seated by the side of my good Samaritan, and looked upon by a
whole congregation of menacing faces. At first the possibility of danger
kept me awake; but by the time I had assured myself there was none to be
apprehended, and the service was not in the least likely to be enlivened
by the arrest of a French spy, I had to resign myself to the task of
listening to Dr. Henry Gray.

As we moved out, after this ordeal was over, my friend was at once
surrounded and claimed by his acquaintances of the congregation; and I
was rejoiced to hear him addressed by the expected name of Robbie.

So soon as we were clear of the crowd--"Mr. Robbie?" said I, bowing.

"The very same, sir," said he.

"If I mistake not, a lawyer?"

"A writer to His Majesty's Signet, at your service."

"It seems we were predestined to be acquaintances!" I exclaimed. "I have
here a card in my pocket intended for you. It is from my family lawyer.
It was his last word, as I was leaving, to ask to be remembered kindly
and to trust you would pass over so informal an introduction."

And I offered him the card.

"Ay, ay, my old friend Daniel!" says he, looking on the card. "And how
does my old friend Daniel?"

I gave a favourable view of Mr. Romaine's health.

"Well, this is certainly a whimsical incident," he continued. "And since
we are thus met already--and so much to my advantage!--the simplest
thing will be to prosecute the acquaintance instantly. Let me propose a
snack between sermons, a bottle of my particular green seal--and when
nobody is looking we can talk blazons, Mr. Ducie!"--which was the name I
then used and had already incidentally mentioned, in the vain hope of
provoking a return in kind.

"I beg your pardon, sir; do I understand you to invite me to your
house?" said I.

"That was the idea I was trying to convey," said he. "We have the name
of hospitable people up here, and I would like you to try mine."

"Mr. Robbie, I shall hope to try it some day, but not yet," I replied.
"I hope you will not mis