t ain't. What's your name,
stranger?"

"My name is Alfred--But never mind my name; announce me as a Gentleman
from England."

"Who has lectured before the Queen and Napoleon Bonaparte."

"Nay, that I have never done."

"Well, but you might, you know; and if you didn't, the greater loss
theirs."

"Perhaps so; but I can't consent--"

"Just leave them things to me. And now, one hint for yourself: when you
're a-windin' up, dash it all with a little soft sawder, sayin' as how
you 'd rather be addressin' _them_ than the Emperor of Roosia; that the
sight of men as loves liberty, and knows how to keep it, is as good as
Peat's vegetable balsam, that warms the heart without feverin' the
blood; and that wherever you go the 'membrance of the city and its
enlightened citizens will be the same as photographed on your heart;
that there's men here ought to be in Congress, and women fit for queens!
And if you throw in a bit of the star-spangled--you know what--it 'll do
no harm."

Layton only smiled at these counsels, offered, however, in a spirit far
from jesting; and after a little further discussion of the plan, Heron
said, "Oh, if we only could get old Poll bright enough to write the
placards,--that's what he excels in; there ain't his equal for capitals
anywhere."

Though Layton felt very little desire to have the individual referred
to associated with him or his scheme, he trusted to the impossibility of
the alliance, and gave himself no trouble to repudiate it; and after a
while they parted, with a good-night and hope for the morrow.

CHAPTER XLIII. BUNKUMVILLE

"You would n't believe it,--no one would believe it," said Mr. Heron, as
he hastily broke in upon Layton the next morning, deep in preparations
for the coming event "There 's old Poll all spry and right again; he
asked for water to shave himself, an invariable sign with him that he
was a-goin' to try a new course."

Layton, not caring to open again what might bear upon this history,
merely asked some casual question upon the arrangements for the evening;
but Heron rejoined: "I told Poll to do it all. The news seemed to revive
him; and far from, as I half dreaded, any jealousy about another taking
his place, he said, 'This looks like a promise of better things down
here. If our Bunkumville folk will only encourage lecturers to come
amongst them, their tone of thinking and speaking will improve. They 'll
do their daily work in a better spirit, and enjo