PATIENCE AT A NONPLUS. 199 



texture would precisely suit. — A fifth — no : a sixth — 

 no. A seventh, an eighth, were taken down, rolled 

 out, inspected and rejected. Still the mercer's pati- 

 ence was as inexhaustible as his stock, — consequently 

 Lewey was not satisfied. After looking over nearly 

 every piece in the booth, and heaping the counter, the 

 chairs, and other goods, with their contents — papers, 

 strings, and rollers lying about in confusion, Lewey at 

 length espied one piece, (purposely overlooked till 

 now,) which he desired to have a sight of. The obli- 

 ging mercer mounted a ladder, and with infinite 

 difficulty obtained it; naturally expecting from the 

 particularity of his customer, that he intended to pur- 

 chase the entire piece. Having placed it before him, 

 Lewey unrolled it to the very end ; and disengaging 

 the roller, took it in his right hand like a truncheon, 

 and flourishing it gravely about his head, stuck it in 

 his side, with these words — " Come, that will do ! 

 WeVe got it at last ! ''— " What will do ? " exclaimed 

 the mercer, with a stare of profound astonishment, — 

 ^^ Why, you must know, Sir,'' replied Lewey, " that 

 Fm the principal tragedian in Mr. Griffith's company, 

 and having to perform ^ Richard the Third ' to-night, 

 which, you must be aware, can never be played without 

 a good truncheon, I didn't see one in the stock to suit 

 me, and have come out to buy one. — Pray what's the 

 price of this ? " 



The mercer's virtue was of no longer being; he 

 positively foamed with rage, and jumping over the 

 counter, it is probable would have broken the roller 

 over Owen's head, had not the projectors of the plot, 

 who had watched the whole scene from the door, run 

 in to his assistance, and given an ample explanation. 

 The name of Owen was in itself no small excuse ; but 

 when his companions invited the mercer to a supper, 

 and offered their assistance to put his goods again into 

 order, the extraordinary flash of fire subsided to another 

 long sleep, — like a volcanic eruption, — harmony was 

 completely restored, and Lewey won his wager. 



Bernard. 



