ke
any very wonderful display of his masticatory prowess with either of the
_unsubstantials_, fish or soup; but when a fine _aitch-bone_ of beef
came before the gourmand, he stuck his fork into the centre, and,
unheedful of the ravenous solicitations of those around him requesting a
slice, proceeded to demolish the whole joint, with as much celerity as
the hyena would the harmless rabbit: the company stared with
astonishment; the landlord, to whom the waiters had communicated the
fact, entered the room in breathless haste; and on observing the empty
dish, and hearing Will direct the waiter to take away the bone and bring
him a clean plate, was apparently thunder-struck: but how much was his
astonishment increased upon perceiving Will help himself to a fine young
turkey, stuffed with sausages, which he proceeded to dissect with
anatomical ability, and by this time the company understanding the joke,
he was allowed uninterruptedly to deposit it in his immense capacious
receptacle, denominated by old Tat the _fathomless vacuum_. Hitherto the
company had been so completely electrified by the extra-ordinary powers
of the glutton, that astonishment had for a short time suspended the
activity of appetite, as one great operation of nature will oftentimes
paralyze the lesser affections of the body; but, as Will became
satisfied, the remainder of the party, stimulated by certain
compunctious visitings of nature, called cravings of the stomach, gave
evident symptoms of ~103~~a very opposite nature: in vain the landlord
stated his inability to produce more viands, he had no other provisions
in the house, it was the sabbath-day, and the butchers' shops were shut,
not a chop or a steak could be had: here Will feigned to join his
affliction with the rest--he could have enjoyed a little snack more, by
way of finish. This was the climax; the party, according to previous
agreement, determined to proceed to the next inn to obtain a dinner; the
landlord's remonstrance was perfectly nugatory; they all departed,
leaving Tat and his man to settle with the infuriated host; and when the
bill was brought in they refused to pay one sixpence more than the usual
demand of three shillings each, repeating the landlord's own words, that
peck high or peck low, it was all the same price."

With the first glass of wine came the inspiring toast of "The Ladies,"
to which Mr. Philotus Wantley demurred, not on account of the sex, for
he could assure us he wa