LETTER XXIV. 265 



asked Jim. ** No, he ain't," replied the indignant lac- 

 quey, " to such visitors as you — your place, if anywhere, 

 is at the back door." " I rather think not, just now, 

 Mr. Footman, and I will thank you to tell your master 

 Mr. So and So's whipper-in wishes to see him on parti- 

 cular business." " I shall do no such thing," said the 

 footman. " Very well," replied Jim, " then here I'll 

 knock and ring, if for the next hour to come, until you 

 do, my fine fellow, that's all." 



The man shut the door, thinking Jim dare not do as 

 he threatened, but he little knew the customer he had 

 to deal with. In a moment such a thundering knocking 

 at the door, and such a pull at the bell, that you would 

 have thought the Marquis of Carabas had arrived. The 

 master, who had just gone to his dressing-room for the 

 night, hearing this racket at the hall door, rang his own 

 bell violently. His valet rushed up stairs at the sum- 

 mons. " Who on earth is at the hall door at this time 

 of night ?" demanded the master. "I can't tell. Sir." 

 ** Then go this minute, and let me know ; they will 

 knock the door down." The enraged footman was 

 obliged to open the door again. " Well," said Jim, 

 *' are you going to deliver my message, or shall I knock 

 and ring a little longer?" " Confound your impudence," 

 said the footman, " I should like to twist your neck a 

 bit." " Only just try, Mr. Longshanks," rejoined Jim, 

 ** and I will soon take some of that powder out of your 

 wig for you." 



The message at last being delivered to the master of 

 the mansion, he desired Jim should be shown into his 

 study, where, in a few minutes, he made his appearance. 

 Jim apologized for his apparent rudeness in applying at 



