THE MAN OF TWO LIVES. 343 



ket in her arms, " Mr. Furlong has sent us four bottles of wine, and 

 two sovereigns, and desired the messenger to assure me that he was 

 deeply grieved at your death." 



" No ! has he though ?" and a tear stole into the eye of Singe. 

 " That man, Kezia," he continued, " was the only friend I had in the 

 town. Let us, then, sincerely drink his good health.'' 



"Well, I think a drop would do you good," said the complaisant 

 wife, uncorking a bottle ; and, as the barber swallowed three or four 

 bumpers, a pleasing emotion took possession of his soul. From a fan- 

 ciful mental dream, into which he had subsided, he was too soon 

 rudely summoned by a peremptory knock, announcing the approach 

 of the undertaker ; and, leaping into the coffin, he laid himself quietly 

 down, inwardly hoping that this last trial would now speedily be got 

 over. 



After an interval, a step was heard ascending the stairs, which Singe, 

 from long experience, knew to be that of his partner. 



"What are you come for ?" said the barber, in a low whisper, and 

 as he arose his head was barely level with the side of the coffin. 



" For the corkscrew : be quiet. They are going to have a glass 

 of spirits." 



"And why shouldn't /have something too?" expostulated the bar- 

 ber. " Just hand me over a glass or two more of that wine. It is, 

 indeed, most excellent." 



Singe helped himself to three further bumpers in rapid succession. 

 " It will do me good," said he, with an oblique glance at his wife. 

 "It will give me nerve to go through this painful ceremony;" and, 

 lying silently down, he heard his wife depart, and bethought him 

 how long it might be before the funeral functionaries would be pre- 

 pared to complete their professional duties. 



*' Good fellow, that Furlong excellent man !'' he mused " well, 

 if I can ever repay him, I'll send him something from the Seven 

 Dials. I'll under another name though Simpson yes, Simpson 

 um ah ! yes " 



" Oh ! that a man should put an enemy into his mouth to stea 

 away his brains !'' This fatal habit of drinking '. What schemes has it 

 not destroyed ! what cunning contrivances has it not too surely ren- 

 dered nought ! 



"Aye, enterprises of great pith and moment, 

 With this respect their currents turn awry, 

 And lose the name of action." 



I am unwillingly compelled to state that Singe fell asleep. 



Very shortly after this most unlucky accident Pall and Grisly en- 

 tered the room. 



" Let us make short work of this business," said Pall to his assistant ; 

 " the place is infectious. Poor fellow ! how queer he looks ;" and 

 he took a hasty glance at the defunct ; " now, on with the lid.'* 



Screwing down the coffin with unwonted speed, these experienced 

 adepts whipped up the poor barber, and carried him down-stairs. 



Meanwhile, Mrs. Singe had put on the solemn dress used upon 

 such melancholy occasions, and, never doubting the alacrity of her 

 commonly active spouse in a matter that so nearly concerned hisdear- 



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