ls!"

"Yes," said Williams; "and though for that very reason some might think
that by the 'live example of a dog' we compromised the dignity of the
Institute, still the importance of Natural History--"

"And," added the Comedian, "the sanctifying influences of domestic
life--"

"May," concluded Mr. Williams, "carry off whatever may seem to the
higher order of minds a too familiar attraction in the--dog!"

"I do not fear the result," said Waife, "provided the audience be
sufficiently numerous; for that (which is an indispensable condition
to a fair experiment) I issue hand-bills, only where distributed by the
Mayor."

"Don't be too sanguine. I distributed bills on behalf of Professor Long,
and the audience was not numerous. How ever, I will do my best. Is there
nothing more in which I can be of use to you, Mr. Chapman?"

"Yes, later." Williams took alarm, and approached the Mayor's
breast-pocket protectingly. The Comedian withdrew him aside and
whispered, "I intend to give the Mayor a little outline of the
exhibition, and bring him into it, in order that his fellow-townsmen may
signify their regard for him by a cheer; it will please his good heart,
and be touching, you'll see--mum!" Williams shook the Comedian by the
hand, relieved, affected, and confiding.

The visitors departed; and the Comedian lighted his hand-candlestick,
whistled to Sir Isaac, and went to bed without one compunctious thought
upon the growth of his bill and the deficit in his pockets. And yet it
was true, as Sophy implied, that the Comedian had an honest horror of
incurring debt. He generally thought twice before he risked owing
even the most trifling bill; and when the bill came in, if it left him
penniless, it was paid. And, now, what reckless extravagance! The best
apartments! dinner, tea, in the first hotel of the town! half-a-crown to
a porter! That lavish mode of life renewed with the dawning sun! not a
care for the morrow; and I dare not conjecture how few the shillings
in that purse. What aggravation, too, of guilt! Bills incurred without
means under a borrowed name! I don't pretend to be a lawyer; but it
looks to me very much like swindling. Yet the wretch sleeps. But are
we sure that we are not shallow moralists? Do we carry into account the
right of genius to draw bills upon the Future? Does not the most prudent
general sometimes burn his ships? Does not the most upright merchant
sometimes take credit on the chance of his ventures