e come all th' way from
Orleans ter buy thet gal; an' buy har I shill!'

Quite a commotion followed this speech. It lasted some minutes, and the
speaker was the object of considerable attention.

'He's some on th' trigger, ole feller,' cried one. 'He kin hit a
turkey's eye at two hundred paces, he kin,' said another. 'He'll burn
yer in'ards, shore,' shouted a third. 'Ye'll speak fur warm lodgin's, ef
ye bid on thet gal, ye wull,' cried a fourth.

'Come, my friends, ye karn't skeer me,' coolly said the first speaker,
mounting one of the rough benches. 'I've h'ard sech talk afore. It
doan't turn _me_ a hair. I come yere ter buy thet gal, an' buy har I
shill, 'cept some on ye kin gwo higher'n my pile; an' my pile ar
_eighty-two hundred dollars_!'

He was a tall, stoutly-built man, with bushy gray whiskers and a clear,
resolute eye. It was Larkin!

Turning to Joe, I exclaimed:

'I understand this. Get the auctioneer to postpone the sale for half an
hour for dinner. Take Selly into the house.'

'No. It might as well be over first as last. Let him bid--he's a dead
man!' replied Joe coolly, but firmly.

'You're mad, boy. Would you take his life needlessly?'

The auctioneer, who overheard these remarks, then said to me:

'I will adjourn the sale, sir;' and, turning to the audience, he cried,
drawing out his watch: 'Gentlemen, it is twelve o'clock. The sale is
adjourned for an hour, to give you a chance for dinner.'

SHYLOCK vs. ANTONIO.

OPINION OF THE VICAR.

The Vicar desires briefly, modestly, and by way of suggestion, rather as
Amicus Curiae than as an advocate, to lay before his learned brethren of
the law a legal point or two, for their consideration.

The case to which I refer is well known to all the members of the bar as
that of Shylock--_versus_ Antonio, reported, in full, in 2 Shakspeare
299. The decision which I am desirous of having reviewed, is that of the
Chief Justice, or Ducal Magistrate, who heard that curious case, and who
yielded to the extraordinary arguments of the young woman, Portia. The
judgment rendered, and the argument or decision of the Lady Advocate, on
that occasion, have been regarded as models of judicial acumen, have
received the approbation of many worthy and enlightened students, and,
when theatrically represented, have been greeted with the plaudits of
nearly every theatre. It may be arrogant to impugn a judicial decision
of such antiquity and acknowledged authority;