He had, he insisted, orders to deliver
the letter into nobody's hands but those of the "General" himself,
and on this pretext in due course found himself, after being led
through a labyrinth of passages and stairs, in the presence of our
ex-client.

"Are you General ----?" he inquired.

"That's my name," answered the "General."

"I've got a letter for yous," continued the bantam, fumbling in
his cap and producing two letters, one of which he handed over.

The "General" took it and his eye glinted for he perceived that it
was addressed to a very well-known member of society whose escapades
were notorious. Quickly he ran his penknife through the tongue of
the envelope.

"Hold on, there!" suddenly cried Hennessey. "I've give yous the
wrong letter. Here's yours. That one is for Mr. ----. Gimme it
back!"

"One moment, my boy!" replied the "General," hastily tearing open
the envelope. "Just one moment."

"Don't you take out dat letter! It ain't fer yous!" expostulated
the messenger. "Here's your letter."

But the "General," with watering mouth, was already feverishly
devouring a violet-colored note beginning, "Darling Guy," his
bulbous nose close to the paper and scenting scandal in every line
--that is, he devoured it until, quite unexpectedly, the bantam
squared off and proceeded to hand him a few "upper cuts," "hooks,"
and straight leads from the shoulder, until the scandalmonger howled
for mercy. But the bantam had his instructions.

"No!" says he. Bing! "I'll teach you to read other people's
letters!" Bing! "I'll show yous what yous'll get if yous violates
de United States mail--see?" Bing! "Read Mr. ----'s letter, will
yous?" Bing! "Not wit' me here--see?" Bing! Bing! "You white-
haired old son of a printing-press!"

Hennessey's description, on his return to the office, of the
"General's" appearance at the conclusion of his drubbing was
eminently satisfactory; and he forthwith exchanged his messenger's
uniform for his Broadway regalia and a crisp one-hundred dollar
bill. That is the only time, so far as I ever learned, that the
"General" ever got his real deserts; but I am glad that he did,
for once. And the sight of his red nose--somehow it looks redder
now than it used to--invariably fills me with satisfaction.

Quite naturally our firm attracted a number of strange wastrels in
the way of clients, all of whom were picturesque and many of them
profitable. Among these was a gentl