33 



action for libel, a second self-dubbed hero of my 

 tale favoured me with a call. 



" I am come, Sir, to demand an explanation." 



" Explanation, Sir ! what in the name of wonder 

 do you mean ? who are you?" 



" My name. Sir, is Jenkins. You know it well 

 enough. (I had never heard of the fellow before.) 

 You must publish an apology in the papers, or I'll 

 work it out of you." 



I immediately saw there was some mistake, and 

 became cool : too cool, for I betrayed an inclina- 

 tion to laugh. 



" You may laugh. Sir, but you shall come down 

 for it. I never showed you a horse in my life." 



*^ Allow me to ask what is the matter?" 



" Matter, forsooth ! you know that I was ac- 

 quitted ?" 



" Really I have not the honour of knowing any 

 thing about you." 



"Then who is Mr. H ?" 



The man had been tried for horse-chaunting, it 

 came out, under the name of Hall ! 



As X Y Z are understood to represent the un- 

 known quantities in an equation, the substitution 

 of these convenient initials may save me from 

 various other vexatious inuendoes. 



To proceed with my narrative ; — 



D 



