onducting them (with reverence be
it spoken) it so happened that he had a scoundrel with him by name
Hamilton--and a thorough scoundrel was he. O Lord! if I had lived in
those days, and wasn't in Orders to tie my hands up--but no matter; this
same scoundrel was one of the handsomest vagabonds in the English camp.
Well and good; but, indeed, to tell God's truth, it was neither well nor
good, because, as I said, the man was a first-rate, tiptop scoundrel;
but you will find that he was a devilish sight more so before I have put
a period to my little narration. Mr. Woodward, will you hob or nob? I
think your name is Woodward?"

"With great pleasure, sir," replied Woodward; "and you are right, my
name is Woodward; but proceed with your narrative, for, I assure you, I
feel very much interested in it, especially in that portion of it which
relates to the Black Spectre. Though not a believer in supernatural
appearances, I feel much gratification in listening to accounts of them.
Pray proceed, sir."

"Well sir, it so happened that this Hamilton, who had been originally
a Scotch Redshank, became privately acquainted with a beautiful and
wealthy orphan girl, a relation of the O'Neils; and it so happened
again, that whether they made a throw on the dice for it or not, he won
her affections. So far, however, there was nothing very particularly
obnoxious in it, because we know that intermarriages between Catholics
and Protestants may disarm the parties of their religious prejudices
against each other; and although I cannot affirm the truth of what I am
about to say from my own experience, still, I think I have been able to
smell out the fact that little Cupid is of no particular religion, and
can be claimed by no particular church; or rather I should say that he
is claimed by all churches and all creeds. This Hamilton, as I said, was
exceedingly handsome, but it seems from the tradition that it was by the
beauty of his eyes that Eva O'Neil was conquered, just as the first
Eve was by the eyes and tongue of the serpent. Not, God knows, that the
great Eve was any great shakes, for she left the world in a nice plight
by falling in love with a serpent; but upon my credit she was not the
first woman, excuse the blunder, who fell in love with a serpent, and
suffered accordingly. I appeal to Pythagoras there."

"It is an allegory," replied the Pythagorean, "and simply means that we
are innocent so long as we are young, and that when we com