88 THE LIFE OF PETER BUFF. 



ing up, " 1 hear it again !'* The count, immediately on the mention of 

 the book-case, found a chie to the mystery ; so thinking in his dilFi- 

 culties that lionesty was the best policy, he made a clean breast. 

 " O, is that all, Thomas ?" said the governor, at the conclusion ; 

 then you had better let him out; he must be tired by this time." 

 So the count stepped nimbly up to the book-case, and gently open- 

 ing the door, said, " You can come out now, Peter ;" but peeping in, 

 he saw I was not there. This rather puzzled him ; just at this 

 moment I entered, when, finding the governor laughing, and the 

 count still kneeling against the book-case, I supposed he had been 

 tricked by Mr. Bluenose, which I found to be the case on returning 

 to our own office, where the count told me the particulars. 



During my stay at Mr. Blueskin's I joined a literary society, and 

 became quite popular with the members, from my first-rate essay 

 (though I say it myself) on " The intimate connection between the 

 roast beef of old England and its national glory." Among the mem- 

 bers were some extraordinary characters, but the limits of this aiticle 

 do not allow my giving any account of them. 



I had now been some years with Mr. Bluenose, when a heavy 

 misfortune befel me — us, I may say, for the count was also a suflferer. 

 Our dear; dear master was taken ill, and soon after breathed his last. 

 This was a serious blow to all concerned, not only because we sin- 

 cerely respected our kind employer, but further, our daily bread was 

 dependent on him ; for I had for some time before this (through the 

 death of my parents) had to shift for myself. When the day arrived 

 on which our master was to be buried, our once pleasant little office 

 bore a very sad appearance. Shutters half closed— books unopened, 

 and we in low whispered tones reminding each other of some of his 

 many acts of kindness to us. After the funeral, it was intimated to 

 us that we should have to find other situations, as soon as ever the 

 accounts could be closed, the business then ceasing. The affairs 

 were shortly after wound up, and we took our departure. 



We found it a very hard task indeed to empty our little drawers, 

 and bid farewell to our old companions ; — they were but old desks 

 and worm-eaten stools, yet still they seemed like parting with our 

 dear friends. There was my old office stool, and there was also the 



