486 THE THREE RAVENS. 



" How I have treated your poor Niobe !" cried Narcissus, starting 

 up. " What the devil I beg pardon what the deuce do you mean ? 

 I have paid her no attentions don't wish to do so don't like her 

 won't have her." 



"Oh! you won't won't you?" said Raven, approaching with a 

 malignant grin, a but you shall have her we will make you have 

 her you must have her." 



" I'll be d d if I do !" said Nonsuch, between his teeth, but- 

 toning his breeches-pockets with the air of one who mil not be over- 

 reached. 



" And I'll be d d if you don't !" retorted Raven, bearing away 



the now completed shroud towards the door. 



" Fie ! fie ! gentlemen," interposed Mrs. Raven ; " Mr. Nonsuch, 

 compose yourself. Mr. Raven Simon, my dear, be calm for 

 mercy's sake be calm." 



" What does it all mean ?" cried Nonsuch. " Raven, come back 

 explain, explain !" 



" The short and the long of it i&," said Raven, " that you must 

 marry my daughter, or let the law take its course we have your 

 own letters against you several." 



" Affectionate and tender letters," interrupted Mrs. Raven. 



" Affectionate tender letters !" and Nonsuch staggered towards 

 the door ; " letters !" he repeated, while his eyes rolled about in 

 their sockets with melodramatic rapidity, " vile counterfeits base 

 forgeries ! But Ferret shall see to this, depend upon it." 



" I thought he'd say as much," said Raven, addressing his wife, 

 " but let him prove it if he can." 



" It is a vile world, Mr. Raven j and Mr. Narcissus Nonsuch is as 

 bad as the rest," remarked the wife. 



" Well, Sir, we have nothing more to say to you," resumed Raven, 

 pointing to the door " we have these letters against you we have 

 you in black and white good evening." 



" Oh ! very well, very well," said Nonsuch with affected stoicism, 

 and muttering some unintelligible announcement respecting Ferret, 

 he retired from the house, carrying over the way a burden of anguish, 

 such as the most brawny martyr must necessarily have tottered 

 under. 



Once more within the silent secrecy of his little back parlour, did 

 Nonsuch con over the eventful proceedings of this unfortunate 

 evening. 



" To what have I been destined by a cruel and merciless fate !" he 

 apostrophised, "they say, the Ravens say, that they have got letters 

 against me; they have taken out letters patent, as it were, for the 

 purpose of making me their peculiar property they have me in 

 black and white the Ravens say they have me in black and white 

 Ha ! ha ! a magpie between three ravens a precious chance of coming 

 off with good colours. But, hilloah ! who's there ?" 



The door opened, and a head made its appearance. " Are you 

 alone ?" inquired its possessor, as the rest of his person made itself 

 visible in th? parlour. He was a short stout man, in a huge neck- 

 cloth and whiskers, with large calves upon very short legs, and small 



