u will
all know by-and-by!"

With the exception of Dashall and Tallyho, the minds of the spectators,
previously impressed with the legends of superstition and diablerie,
gave way under the dread of the actual presence of his satanic majesty;
and the congregated auditors of his ominous denunciation instantaneously
dispersed themselves from the scene of witchery, and, re-assembling in
groupes on distant parts of the street, cogitated and surmised _on the
Devil's visit to the Coachmakers of Long Acre!_

Tallyho now turned an inquisitive eye on his Cousin, who answered the
silent and anxious enquiry with an immoderate fit of laughter, declaring
that this was the best and most ingenious hoax of any he had ever
witnessed, and that he would not have missed, on any consideration
whatsoever, the pleasure of enjoying it. "The Devil in Long Acre!--I
shall never forget it," exclaimed the animated Cousin of the staring and
discomfited 'Squire.

"Explain, explain," reiterated the 'Squire, impatiently.

"You shall have it in one word,"answered Dashall--"Ventriloquism!"{1}

1 This hoax was actually practised by a Ventriloquist in the
manner described. It certainly is of a less offensive nature
than that of many others which have been successfully
brought for-ward in the Metropolis, the offspring of folly
and idleness.--"A fellow," some years ago, certainly not "of
infinite humour," considering an elderly maiden lady of
Berner Street a "fit and proper subject" on whom to
exercise his wit, was at the trouble of writing a vast
number of letters to tradesmen and others, magistrates and
professional men, ordering from the former various goods,
and requiring the advice, in a case of emergency, of the
latter, appointing the same hour, to all, of attendance; so
that, in fact, at the time mentioned, the street, to the
annoy-ance and astonishment of its inhabitants, was crowded
with a motley group of visitants, equestrian and pedestrian,
all eagerly pressing forward to their destination, the old
lady's place of residence. In the heterogeneous assemblage
there were seen Tradesmen of all denominations, accompanied
by their Porters, bearing various articles of household
furniture; Counsellors anticipating fees; Lawyers engaged
to execute the last will and testament of the heroine of the
drama, and, not the least conspicuous, an Under