t
business, and only think of eating and drinking and going to bed. Ha,
ha! I should have omitted the bed in quoting from the gourmands, for
they would rather fast than be obliged to eat a good dinner in a
hurry. Five hours is little enough, provided Mr. Burchard shall not in
the mean time appear and drive us away.

"This venison is delicious; none was ever better served. The Roman
Senators debated the question how a turbot should be cooked, and the
author of this dish deserves a place among such.

"Montmaur is reported to have said that Easter and Christmas were the
two best days in the year. Easter because it was farthest from Lent,
and Christmas because then you breakfasted at midnight. Who says this
is not equal to Montmaur's Christmas breakfast?"

This sort of banter, interspersed with songs and stories, was kept up
till a late hour, when all of a sudden the keepers awoke to the fact
that Malcolm had flown. The visitors laughed heartily. The company
dispersed, not standing upon the order of their going. The table was
cleared, and the office put in order. Only one of the keepers
remained, who resembled in appearance a cat that had played with her
mouse and lost it; the others were out looking for Malcolm. At an
early hour in the morning he returned, and seating himself at Mr.
Burchard's desk, wrote him this note:

MR. BURCHARD,--

I trust I did not disturb your repose. I found, this morning,
in your safe in your house this pretty little casket sent
you from your English namesake. I have seen it often before,
but wanted another squint at it, and I have brought it to
your office lest some burglar might steal it from your house.
I noticed your wife's watch lying around loose in your
sleeping-room, which is of no great value--to me,--and I
contented myself with the charms, which I will put into your
steel chest, here in the office, for safe keeping against the
time of my need. The putting a yoke on the keys of your door,
so I could not turn them with the nippers, was all useless.
The chair poised against your sleeping-room door gave me a
deal of trouble, and I could not put it back as I found it.
Please excuse me. The thread on the stairs attached to an
alarm-bell might as well have been omitted. The old-fashioned
fork against the bolt I put back as I found it, and came out
by the dining-room window. Your portfolio you will find
between