The Hon, Adolphus Lightfoot 95 



great fun to ask that worthy over to dine — getting, of course, 

 some congenial spirits to meet him— fill him as full as he 

 could possibly hold of good wine, and finally instruct his 

 people to harness Satan the incorrigible to the Captain's 

 shandry-dan-rattle-trap, instead of his own respectable 

 quadruped. The pair were very much alike, and Old Charlie 

 Dabber, with his skin full of wine, would never twig the 

 difference, even if he looked, which was highly improb- 

 able. '' By Jove ! " exclaimed Dolly, '' that is a happy 

 thought, and no mistake ! " Accordingly he proceeded to 

 issue invitations to Captain Dabber and a few choice spirits 

 for one of those snug Httle bachelor dinners for which the 

 Pre was so justly celebrated. Well, the eventful evening 

 (a dark one in November) arrived, the guests came, the 

 dinner went off remarkably well, as there was every reason 

 why it should, the cooking and wines being simply perfect ; 

 and finally, at one o'clock in the morning, the venerable 

 Dabber, with fifteen pounds in his pocket (his winnings at 

 brag) and one of his host's largest cigars in his mouth, 

 got into his elegant conveyance, tucked himself com- 

 fortably in, and, giving the reins a shake, disappeared 

 into the darkness of the night. It was a dark night too, 

 dark as pitch — no moon, no stars — and a slight rain 

 falling. 



'' We'll wait here," said Dolly to his friends, as they 

 stood in the porch ; ''the first ford is at the bottom of the 

 hill, not a quarter of a mile off, and we're sure to hear 

 old Charlie shout when Satan stops short in the middle 

 (which he's safe to do), and then we'll go down and see 

 the fun. I've sent one of the men down there, too, so 

 there can be no mistake. 



Well, they waited and waited, but no shout came, and 



