deed, Pierre Bon-Bon, from what I have been able to
understand of his disposition, was of all men the least likely to be
imposed upon by any speciousness of exterior deportment. It was
impossible that so accurate an observer of men and things should have
failed to discover, upon the moment, the real character of the
personage who had thus intruded upon his hospitality. To say no more,
the conformation of his visitor's feet was sufficiently remarkable--he
maintained lightly upon his head an inordinately tall hat--there was a
tremulous swelling about the hinder-part of his breeches--and the
vibration of his coat tail was a palpable fact. Judge, then, with what
feelings of satisfaction our hero found himself thrown thus at once
into the society of a person for whom he had at all times entertained
the most unqualified respect. He was, however, too much of the
diplomatist to let escape him any intimation of his suspicions in
regard to the true state of affairs. It was not his cue to appear at
all conscious of the high honour he thus unexpectedly enjoyed; but, by
leading his guest into conversation, to elicit some important ethical
ideas, which might, in obtaining a place in his contemplated
publication, enlighten the human race, and at the same time
immortalize himself--ideas which, I should have added, his visitor's
great age, and well-known proficiency in the science of morals, might
very well have enabled him to afford.

Actuated by these enlightened views, our hero bade the gentleman sit
down, while he himself took occasion to throw some fagots upon the
fire, and place upon the now re-established table some bottles of
Mousseaux. Having quickly completed these operations, he drew his
chair _vis-a-vis_ to his companion's, and waited until the latter
should open the conversation. But plans even the most skilfully
matured are often thwarted in the outset of their application--and
the _restaurateur_ found himself _nonplussed_ by the very first words
of his visitor's speech.

"I see you know me, Bon-Bon," said he; "ha! ha! ha!--he! he! he!--hi!
hi! hi--ho! ho! ho!--hu! hu! hu!"--and the Devil, dropping at once the
sanctity of his demeanour, opened to its fullest extent a mouth from
ear to ear, so as to display a set of jagged and fang-like teeth, and,
throwing back his head, laughed long, loudly, wickedly, and
uproariously, while the black dog, crouching down upon his haunches,
joined lustily in the chorus, and the tabby cat