trary to principle to pay to learn anything. Saurin hit on a
way out of the difficulty; he wrote this letter to his guardian:

"My dear Uncle,--I should like to learn gymnastics, fencing, boxing,
and those things, but the regular man appointed to teach such things
here is a duffer, and makes it a bore, keeping you at dumb-bells and
clubs and such stupid work for ever, just to make the course last out,
for the charges are monstrous. And so, hearing about this, Professor
Wobbler, a first-rate instructor, I am told, has engaged a room in the
neighbourhood, where he gives lessons at half-a-crown each, or a
course of ten for one pound. It has to be kept secret, because the
man appointed by the school would have the boys forbidden to go there
if he knew. If you don't mind, will you please send the pound to me
or to Professor Wobbler. I will send you his receipt if you pay him
through me. Please do not mention the matter if it does not meet with
your approval, as I should be very sorry to take the poor man's bread
out of his mouth."

This part of the epistle, a cunning combination of the _suppressio veri_
and _suggestio falsi_, was given to all the others who were in the plot
to copy. I am sorry to say that in several instances, including those
of Saurin and Edwards, it was successful, and the class was formed.

The professor was not beautiful to look at. His forehead was low and
projecting, his eyes small, his nose flat, his lower jaw square and
massive. Neither were his words of instruction characterised by that
elegance which public lecturers often affect, but they were practical
and to the point, which after all is the chief thing to be looked at.

"You stands easy like," he said to Saurin, who was taking his first
lesson in an unfurnished room of Slam's house, the fine weather having
terminated in a thunderstorm, and a wet week to follow. "Don't plant
your feet as if you meant to grow to the floor, and keep your knees
straight--no, not stiff like that, I mean don't bend them. You wants to
step forwards or to step backwards, quick as a wink, always moving the
rear foot first, or else you'd stumble over it and get off your balance,
and that would give t'other a chance. You must be wary, wary, ready to
step up and hit, or step back out of reach. Keep your heyes on
t'other's, and that will help you to judge the distance. Take 'em off
for a bit of a second and you'll have his mawley