the front room, and taking his hat off, before he could get in at all.
'Pernicious snug.'

'For a man at all particular in such matters, it might be a trifle
too snug,' said Nicholas; 'for, although it is, undoubtedly, a great
convenience to be able to reach anything you want from the ceiling or
the floor, or either side of the room, without having to move from your
chair, still these advantages can only be had in an apartment of the
most limited size.'

'It isn't a bit too confined for a single man,' returned Mr Lenville.
'That reminds me,--my wife, Mr Johnson,--I hope she'll have some good
part in this piece of yours?'

'I glanced at the French copy last night,' said Nicholas. 'It looks very
good, I think.'

'What do you mean to do for me, old fellow?' asked Mr Lenville, poking
the struggling fire with his walking-stick, and afterwards wiping it on
the skirt of his coat. 'Anything in the gruff and grumble way?'

'You turn your wife and child out of doors,' said Nicholas; 'and, in a
fit of rage and jealousy, stab your eldest son in the library.'

'Do I though!' exclaimed Mr Lenville. 'That's very good business.'

'After which,' said Nicholas, 'you are troubled with remorse till the
last act, and then you make up your mind to destroy yourself. But, just
as you are raising the pistol to your head, a clock strikes--ten.'

'I see,' cried Mr Lenville. 'Very good.'

'You pause,' said Nicholas; 'you recollect to have heard a clock
strike ten in your infancy. The pistol falls from your hand--you are
overcome--you burst into tears, and become a virtuous and exemplary
character for ever afterwards.'

'Capital!' said Mr Lenville: 'that's a sure card, a sure card. Get the
curtain down with a touch of nature like that, and it'll be a triumphant
success.'

'Is there anything good for me?' inquired Mr Folair, anxiously.

'Let me see,' said Nicholas. 'You play the faithful and attached
servant; you are turned out of doors with the wife and child.'

'Always coupled with that infernal phenomenon,' sighed Mr Folair;
'and we go into poor lodgings, where I won't take any wages, and talk
sentiment, I suppose?'

'Why--yes,' replied Nicholas: 'that is the course of the piece.'

'I must have a dance of some kind, you know,' said Mr Folair. 'You'll
have to introduce one for the phenomenon, so you'd better make a PAS DE
DEUX, and save time.'

'There's nothing easier than that,' said Mr Lenville, observing the
disturbed looks