London  docks  in  three  weeks."  They  had  been  on  the  watch  for  two

'*Is  Captain  O'Connor  gone  to  or  three  nights  for  some  Irish  cap-
London?"  tain  that  is  paying  his  addresses  to

'<  What  the  devil  do  I  know  ?"  the  young  lady's  fortune ;  and  if  I

"  Who  are  you  ?  "  had'nt  been  devilish  qnick  at  inventing

**  Sam  Horrox's  friend — don't  you  a  story  they  would  have  had  me  he-
know  me  ? — I'm  such  a  fellow  for  fore  the  magistrate  in  a  moment. But
meetings  and  assignations !"  At  this  I  did  them — you  won't  guess  how  Y
moment  the  lady  uttered  a  loud  I'm  a  strange  fellow,  I  must  acknow-
Bcream,  the  light   was   extinguished,  ledge."

and    the    back-door    was    suddenly  *'  Can't  possibly  guess,"    I   said,

opened. Two  or  three  men  rushed  "  you're  such  a  wonderful  person  for

out  into  the  little  green,  and  pursued  expedients."

my  friend. I  luckily  ejected  my  es-  **  Why,  I  offered  them  my  card —

cape  over  the  wall,  but  his  actions  but  I  hadn't  any  friends  in  my  pocket

were  not  quite   so    prompt. Being  — so  I  told  the  old  boy  to  take  out  his

somewhat  heavy,  and  restrained  by  note-book  and  writo   down  my  ad-

the  tightness  of  his*  clothes,  he  was  dress. And  what  do  you  think  I  told

only  able  to  jump  to  the  top  of  the  him  ?     Why,  I  gave  your  name,  old

wall,  where  he  lay  spread  across  it,  boy. Smith,  says    I,   lately  from

exposing  an  irresistible  mark  to  the  Bristol,  lodging  at  the  Saracen's  Head,

cudgels  of  his  pursuers,  who  lud  on  Wasn't  that  clever,  eh  ?*'

as  if  they  were  threshing  a  sack  of  *'  Yon  atrocious  scoundrell"  I  said,

wheat. The  struggles  of  my  friend  grasping  his  throat,  for  I  confsss  I

were  tremendous,  and  hb  bellowings  saw  so  visibly  the  probable  unpleasant

immense. 