romoted to high
rank--Commissary-General of the Victualling Department, and Chancellor
of the Exchequer--I have the honour to inform you that a vote of
thanks in your favour has been proposed in this house, and carried
unanimously." Sir Isaac, looking shy, gave another lick to the plate,
and wagged his tail. "It is true that thou wert once (shall I say
it?) in fault at 'Beauty and Worth,'--thy memory deserted thee; thy
peroration was on the verge of a breakdown; but 'Nemo mortalium omnibus
horis sapit, I as the Latin grammar philosophically expresseth
it. Mortals the wisest, not only on two legs but even upon four,
occasionally stumble. The greatest general, statesman, sage, is not he
who commits no blunder, but he who best repairs a blunder and converts
it to success. This was thy merit and distinction! It hath never been
mine! I recognize thy superior genius. I place in thee unqualified
confidence; and consigning thee to the arms of Morpheus, since I see
that panegyric acts on thy nervous system as a salubrious soporific, I
now move that this House do resolve itself into a Committee of Ways and
Means for the Consideration of the Budget!"

Therewith, while Sir Isaac fell into a profound sleep the Comedian
deliberately emptied his pockets on the table; and arranging gold and
silver before him, thrice carefully counted the total, and then divided
it into sundry small heaps.

"That's for the bill," quoth he,--"Civil List!--a large item. That's
for Sophy, the darling! She shall have a teacher, and learn
Music,--Education Grant; Current Expenses for the next fortnight;
Miscellaneous Estimates; tobacco,--we'll call that Secret-service Money.
Ah, scamp, vagrant, is not Heaven kind to thee at last? A few more such
nights, and who knows but thine old age may have other roof than the
workhouse? And Sophy?--Ah, what of her? Merciful Providence, spare my
life till she has outgrown its uses!" A tear came to his eye; he brushed
it away quickly, and, recounting his money, hummed a joyous tune.

The door opened; Waife looked up in surprise, sweeping his hand over the
coins, and restoring them to his pocket. The Mayor entered.

As Mr. Hartopp walked slowly up the room, his eye fixed Waife's; and
that eye was so searching, though so mild, that the Comedian felt
himself change colour. His gay spirits fell,--falling lower and lower,
the nearer the Mayor's step came to him; and when Hartopp, without
speaking, took his hand,--not in com