THE GOLD SNUFF-BOX. 185 



entirely ; and she, \vho once only lived for whist, cannot be 

 persuaded to touch a card. By Jove, the good lady is be- 

 witched. But I have arranged with her, that the first crop- 

 eared scoundrel, or female ranter, I meet in Rutland-square, 

 shall be the signal for my final abdication to Kildare-street 

 and she knows that I am positive. Do come : not a soul 

 dines with me, but that good, fat fellow, my Colonel/' I 

 smiled as I recollected our last visit to the square, and pro- 

 mised to be punctual. 



I arrived some time before Lord L , and found the 



dowager and my fat friend, the Colonel, t&e-a-t&e. Beyond 

 the customary interchange of civilities, I did not interrupt 

 them, receiving, however, from the commander a warm 

 squeeze, and an inexpressibly comic look, that recalled a 

 volume of adventure. The old lady resumed the conversation 

 which my entree had suspended : 



"And you are six months absent, Colonel! Protect me! 

 how time passes ! it should be a lesson a tacit monitor, as 

 Mr. Hitchcock happily expresses it. Well, there was a 

 carnal-minded, noisy crowd here ; and I remember you lost 

 three rubbers. How such vain imaginations will push aside 

 the better seeds ! Your partner was a well-meaning gentle- 

 man, but never returned a lead. Oh, me ! that these vanities 

 should be remembered. That very night, Colonel, I met 

 with a serious, I may say distressing loss. My cousin, 

 General Pillau's Indian snuff-box was stolen ! I sus- 

 pected but judge not, as Mr. Heavyside said at the 

 chapel yesterday. It was in my partner's hand the last 

 time I ever saw it ; the rush to supper came she but we 

 must be charitable. But here's my nephew O that he 

 was awake to Gospel truth ! Well, my dear George, what 

 news since ?" 



"None, madam: only that our old friend's over dead 



as Julius Caesar. Mother P will never cut out another 



honour," 



" Oh, George! do stop for once be serious. Mrs. P 



dead ! and, I fear, not prepared. Ah, me ! poor Mrs. P ! 



Many a rubber she and I have played she knew my system 

 so well finessed a leetle too much but where am I running ? 

 Well, / hope she was prepared, but she stole the General's 

 fa*!" 



