hold
of his naked arm, on which a blue tattooing of a heart and M. F. were
visible.

The ejaculation of Madame Fribsby seemed to astound and sober the
stranger. He looked down upon her, and cried out, "it's Polly, by Jove."

Mrs. Fribsby continued to exclaim, "This is not Amory. This is Johnny
Armstrong, my wicked--wicked husband, married to me in St. Martin's
Church, mate on board an Indiaman, and he left me two months after, the
wicked wretch. This is John Armstrong--here's the mark on his arm which
he made for me."

The stranger said, "I am John Armstrong, sure enough, Polly. I'm John
Armstrong, Amory, Altamont--and let 'em all come on, and try what they
can do against a British sailor. Hurray, who's for it?"

Morgan still called out, "Arrest him!" But Mrs. Lightfoot said, "Arrest
him! arrest you, you mean spy! What! stop the marriage and ruin my lady,
and take away the Clavering Arms from us?"

"Did he say he'd take away the Clavering Arms from us?" asked Mr.
Lightfoot, turning round. "Hang him, I'll throttle him."

"Keep him, darling, till the coach passes to the up train. It'll be here
now directly."

"D---- him, I'll choke him if he stirs," said Lightfoot. And so they
kept Morgan until the coach came, and Mr. Amory or Armstrong went away
back to London.

Morgan had followed him: but of this event Arthur Pendennis did not
inform Lady Clavering, and left her invoking blessings upon him at her
son's door, going to kiss him as he was asleep. It had been a busy day.

We have to chronicle the events of but one day more, and that was a day
when Mr. Arthur, attired in a new hat, a new blue frock-coat and blue
handkerchief, in a new fancy waistcoat, new boots, and new shirt-studs
(presented by the Right Honourable the Countess Dowager of Rockminster),
made his appearance at a solitary breakfast-table, in Clavering Park,
where he could scarce eat a single morsel of food. Two letters were laid
by his worship's plate; and he chose to open the first, which was in
a round clerk-like hand, in preference to the second more familiar
superscription.

Note 1 ran as follows:--

"Garbanzos Wine Company, Shepherd's Inn.--Monday.

"My Dear Pendennis,--In congratulating you heartily upon the event which
is to make you happy for life, I send my very kindest remembrances to
Mrs. Pendennis, whom I hope to know even longer than I have already
known her. And when I call her attention to the fact, that one of the
most neces