lgernon
and strolled away down the walk.

"'Badcock,' said I, stepping forward and clapping a hand on his
shoulder. 'Hark to the gong calling you to the masque!'

"But the creature stood as in a trance. 'His signature!' he
answered in an awed whisper. 'The Archdeacon of Wells's own
signature, and upon Lord Algernon's card!'--and I declare to
you that he fell to kissing the pasteboard ecstatically.

"Well, he was past all reason. Luckily, having written it, I
had his part by rote; and so, snatching his Menelaus' wig and
beard, I ran towards the theatre.

"That, sir, is all my tale. The man is lost to me. He left
Venice yesterday in the Archdeacon's carriage, but in what
precise capacity--whether as valet, secretary, or courier--he
would not impart. He told me, however, that his salary was
sufficient, if not ample, and that he had undertaken as a
repentant sinner to make himself generally useful.
The Archdeacon, it appears, is collecting evidence in
particular of the horrors of a Continental Sabbath.

"Addio, sir! For me, I have now parted with the last of my
comrades, yet my resolution remains unshaken. On this sacred
soil, where so many before me have cultivated the Arts, I will
do more. I will make them pay. Meanwhile I beg you to accept
my sincere regards, and to believe me

"Your obliged, obedient servant,

"Phineas Fett."

William Priske has espoused Mrs. Nance, our good housekeeper; I
believe upon her own advice.

The Trappists (sixteen in number) yet dwell with us, and the left
wing of Constantine has been reserved for their use. They have
deserved our gratitude, though, out of respect for their rules, I
could never convey it to them in words. Indeed, it is but seldom
that I get speech even with Dom Basilio. Sometimes when his walk
leads him by the river-bank where I stand a-fishing he will seat
himself for a while and watch; and then I find a comfort in his
presence, as though we conversed together without help of speech.
Then also, though my reason disapprove of our guest's rigour, an
inward voice tells me that there is good in their religion, as
perchance there is good wherever men have found anchorage for their
souls.

I remember once listening in our summer-house, upon St. Swit