but their former
habits of intimacy made the danger of discovery imminent. It was
Warren's wish that the spirit should guide the pen of his medium, and
accordingly our Ancient sat down, and tried to indite Miltonic lines.
"Very blank verse, indeed, it was," as he subsequently confessed to his
familiar, at their midnight conference. The face of the visitor twitched
convulsively as he read the so-called poetry, and the young fellows,
ever ready to enjoy a joke, would have dearly loved to join him in a
loud and merry peal of laughter. By a great effort, all three restrained
themselves; but the inquirer remarked, with a grave countenance, that
"it appeared as if the genius of Milton had not expanded in the upper
world--he certainly never wrote such trash when he was upon the earth.
It reminded him of the saying of the wits of Athens: that although
Apollo was the god and patron of poetry, any common rhymster would be
ashamed of the lines which emanated from the deity at Delphos." When
Selim escorted the gentleman into the outer apartment, the skeptic
slipped some gold into his palm, which the former at first pretended to
receive; and by cunning cross-examination, strove to make him confess
that his master was not so old as he assumed to be. "How long have you
been in his service?" "Not very long, myself." "But do you think him as
ancient as he pretends to be?" "That is a delicate question: I hardly
like to answer it. To be frank, I have sometimes had doubts about the
great length of his life, although I cannot feel any hesitation on the
subject of his wonderful powers." "But how long have you known him?"
"Let me see. It was Friar Bacon who first introduced me to His
Eminence, and advised me to enlist in his service. He did not look so
very old at that time, and it was only six centuries ago. This occurred
at Oxford, on the magic eve of St. John's day, in 1250 A.D.--I remember
the date distinctly. No, between ourselves, I have some suspicions that
he is not quite so old as he says he is." Very soon after that, the
investigator left. One thing was certain, that he had not recognized
them.

On the last day of their intended stay, an incident occurred which
furnished a proper termination to their frolic. A rough, boorish fellow
came to visit them, who evidently "hailed" from remote country
districts, into which the civilizing influences of education had not
penetrated. All his utterances, for his words should scarcely be
dignif