THE THREE RAVENS. 48? 



feet like flat-irons, stuck at the end of them. It was Captain 

 Trigger. 



" Come to have a rubber at cribbage with you/' said he. " But 

 what's the matter ? you look ill." 



Nonsuch gazed earnestly at his visitor. " No, no ; I'm not ill," he 

 replied ; " but there's something here." And he placed his finger 

 upon the centre button of his Valencia waistcoat. 



" Take Gargles's stomach pills," cried the other, handing down the 

 cribbage-board from the mantel-piece ; " they'll set you to rights, I 

 warrant you." 



" Throw physic to the dogs !" said Nonsuch, waving his hand, and 

 tossing fretfully in his chair. 



' To the dogs, eh?" rejoined Trigger. "Bark is the thing for 

 dogs ha ! ha !" and he laughed vociferously. 



Nonsuch heaved forth a heavy sigh ; and, with much apparent de- 

 liberation, replaced the cards and cribbage-pegs into the small box, 

 which, when open, also officiated as a board. 



" Can you be secret?" said he, advancing solemnly towards the 

 captain ; " for, oh ! Trigger can you be secret ?" 



<c As dead men are ; or the watchman who helps to put them into 

 the sack," cried his friend. " But go on don't gasp in that unusual 

 manner ; you look hideous upon my soul you do. Let's have some 

 grog." 



" Mix for yourself; I know you like it cold," said Nonsuch, with 

 woeful emphasis ; and, as the captain proceeded with his agreeable 

 employment, and sucked in the congenial cordial, the linendraper im- 

 parted the full nature and extent of his present woes. 



The captain took a pinch of snuff at the conclusion of this narrative, 

 and pounced upon the spirit-bottle ; and as he gazed long and ear- 

 nestly at his friend, in like manner as long and as earnestly did his 

 friend gaze upon him. 



"It is very strange!" at length remarked Trigger. "Did you 

 never love this young Raven, Nonsuch ?" 



" Never P 



" Nor paid your addresses to her ?" 



' Never !" 



" Nor addressed letters to her ?" 



"Never!" 



" Nor to any body else?" 



Nev ha ! ha ! ha !" and now suddenly starting up, 



" Like moody Madness, laughing wild 

 Amid severest woe," 



Nonsuch discharged an unintelligible ecstasy of mirth fearfully pro- 

 longed. 



" Oh ! Trigger you good fellow," cried he, at length, capering 

 towards his companion ; "you have hit it, my boy; I have ad- 

 dressed letters to Penelope Pincroft, which " 



" They have got into their possession," interrupted Trigger. " Sit 

 down where does Pincroft live ? I'm off to her house at once d'ye 

 think she's at home ?" 



