224 A STAGE COACH. 



did choose the right number — bought it — brought it 

 home — and had it in my Ubrary table drawer-^ 

 but^'— 



" It was stolen, perhaps, Sir?" said the Winkle- 

 man's friend, in a piteous tone. 



'^ No, Sir, not that. I had it — it was mine — it 

 was in the days when lotteries lasted a month, and 

 tickets rose in value as they continued undrawn. 

 I went into the city on business — a friend, who 

 knew of my ticket, called in my absence — offered 

 my wife a hundred and twenty guineas for it ; — she 

 knew that it had cost me but five-and-twenty ; — 

 sold it him — all for my good, poor soul — she's in 

 heaven now. Sir — it's no use scolding about it — ^it 

 won't bring it back — and the very same afternoon — 

 d — n me — I 'm sure you'll excuse my swearing at 

 the recollection — it came up a thirty thousand pound 

 prize !" 



A general exclamation of horror followed the 

 announcement. 



" And now. Sir," continued the gentleman, " as 

 I walk along the streets in wet weather, because I 

 cannot afford a hackney-coach, my friend Dodman, 

 the lucky purchaser, dashes by in his carriage, and 

 splashes me with mud. He lives in a house which 

 I had all my life an anxiety to possess ; and has re- 

 fused his consent to his son's marrying my daughter, 

 on the plea of her poverty." 



It was evident the melancholy gentleman felt the 

 circumstances keenly. 



" Well," said Saville, " I don't think I could have 

 survived such a thing." 



" Only conceive. Sir," said the gentleman, seem- 

 ing to delight in aggravating all the miseries of his 

 loss, — '^ only conceive my coming home out of the 

 city — having seen my number placarded at Comhill 

 as the prize — having compared it with the memo- 

 randum in my pocket-book — having bought a neck- 

 lace and pair of earrings for my wife upon the 

 strength of it — and finding, upon my arrival, that 



