"24: FACT AGAINST FICTION. 



opportunity occiirredj lie was much addicted— viz., 

 three parts of three bottles of wine — of port, of 

 claret, and sherry. He had not been left many 

 minutes alone when tlie butler chanced to go into 

 the dining-room, and coming out, labouring under 

 a bewildered look of amazement, was met in the 

 passage by the gentleman who, not five minutes 

 before, had left that apartment and the nothing- 

 like emptied bottles. 



^^ Would you wish any more wine, sir?" gasped 

 the butler. 



" More wine ! No, there is ample on the table." 



^^ I beg pardon, sir," rejoined the butler; ^'but 

 tliere 's none on the table 7ioio ; every bottle 's empty 

 except the decanter of water." 



^' Empty! Why, I left three bottles nearly full 

 with your young gentleman ! Where is he ?" 



^' Gone to the drawing-room, sir, a singing — 



• The sessions at 'sizes are all a farce, 

 And tlie judge and the jury may — ' 



He slammed the door, and I couldn't hear what it 

 was he told the ladies they was to do when the 

 sessions was over. Since then there 's been a deal 

 of liustling 'twixt him and his mamma to get him 

 uj^stairs to bed." 



