e
continued,--"By winning interest for the individuality of a gifted
quadruped, I should gradually create interest in the natural history of
its species. I should lead the audience on to listen to comparisons with
other members of the great family which once associated with Adam. I
should lay the foundation for an instructive course of natural history,
and from vertebrated mammifers who knows but we might gradually
arrive at the nervous system of the molluscous division, and produce a
sensation by the production of a limpet?"

"Theoretical," said Mr. Williams.

"Practical, sir; since I take it for granted that the Athenaeum, at
present, is rather a tax upon the richer subscribers, including Mr.
Mayor."

"Nothing to speak of," said the mild Hartopp. Williams looked towards
his master with unspeakable love, and groaned. "Nothing indeed--oh!"

"These societies should be wholly self-supporting," said the Comedian,
"and inflict no pecuniary loss upon Mr. Mayor."

"Certainly," said Williams, "that is the right principle. Mr. Mayor
should be protected."

"And if I show you how to make these societies self-supporting--"

"We should be very much obliged to you."

"I propose, then, to give an exhibition at your rooms." Mr. Williams
nudged the Mayor, and coughed, the Comedian not appearing to remark
cough nor nudge.

"Of course gratuitously. I am not a professional lecturer, gentlemen."

Mr. Williams looked charmed to hear it.

"And when I have made my first effort successful, as I feel sure it will
be, I will leave it to you, gentlemen, to continue my undertaking. But I
cannot stay long here. If the day after to-morrow--"

"That is our ordinary soiree night," said the Mayor. "But you said a
dog, sir,--dogs not admitted,-eh, Williams?"

MR. WILLIAMS.--"A mere by-law, which the subcommittee can suspend if
necessary. But would not the introduction of a live animal be less
dignified than--"

"A dead failure," put in the Comedian, gravely. The Mayor would have
smiled, but he was afraid of doing so lest he might hurt the feelings of
Mr. Williams, who did not seem to take the joke.

"We are a purely intellectual body," said the latter gentleman, "and a
dog--"

"A learned dog, I presume," observed the Mayor.

MR. WILLIAMS (nodding).--"Might form a dangerous precedent for the
introduction of other quadrupeds. We might thus descend even to the
level of a learned pig. We are not a menagerie, Mr.--Mr.--"

"Chapman," s