--no, Sir," stammered Hogarth, colouring. And he hazarded a wink at
the poet over the paper on which he was sketching. Luckily, Sir James
was so much engrossed by his own task, that both the remark and gesture
escaped him.

"I suppose I was mistaken," returned Gay. "You've been quizzing my
friend Kent, I perceive, in your Burlington Gate."

"A capital caricature that," remarked Thornhill, laughing. "What does
Mr. Kent say to it?"

"He thinks so highly of it, that he says if he had a daughter he would
give her to the artist," answered Gay, a little maliciously.

"Ah!" exclaimed Sir James.

"'Sdeath!" cried Hogarth, aside to the poet. "You've ruined my hopes."

"Advanced them rather," replied Gay, in the same tone. "Miss Thornhill's
a charming girl. _I_ think a wife a needless incumbrance, and mean to
die a bachelor. But, if I were in your place, I know what I'd do--"

"What--what would you do?" asked Hogarth, eagerly.

"Run away with her," replied Gay.

"Pish!" exclaimed Hogarth. But he afterwards acted upon the suggestion.

"Good-b'ye, Jack," said Figg, putting on his hat. "Rather in the way.
Send you the shirt. Here, turnkey. Couple of guineas to drink Captain
Sheppard's speedy escape. Thank him, not me, man. Give this fellow the
slip, if you can, Jack. If not, keep up your spirits. Die game."

"Never fear," replied Jack. "If I get free, I'll have a bout with you at
all weapons. If not, I'll take a cheerful glass with you at the City of
Oxford, on my way to Tyburn."

"Give you the best I have in either case," replied Figg. "Good-b'ye!"
And with a cordial shake of the hand he took his departure.

Sir James Thornhill, then, rose.

"I won't trouble you further, Jack," he remarked. "I've done all I can
to the portrait here. I must finish it at home."

"Permit me to see it, Sir James!" requested Jack. "Ah!" he exclaimed, as
the painting was turned towards him. "What would my poor mother say to
it?"

"I was sorry to see that about your mother, Jack," observed Hogarth.

"What of her?" exclaimed Jack, starting up. "Is she dead?"

"No--no," answered Hogarth. "Don't alarm yourself. I saw it this morning
in the Daily Journal--an advertisement, offering a reward--"

"A reward!" echoed Jack. "For what?"

"I had the paper with me. 'Sdeath! what can I have done with it? Oh!
here it is," cried Hogarth, picking it from the ground. "I must have
dropped it when I took out my note-book. There's the paragraph. '_Mrs.