A GRAND COUP 21 



* Indeed ! " the old man cried in joy, 

 " I'm glad to hear of it, my boy ! 

 Your offer, I need hardly mention, 

 Will now receive my best attention." 



Epaminondas Grabyourshare 

 Thus by diplomacy most rare, 

 And somewhat half akin to lies, 

 Attained a doubled-barrelled prize ; 

 For soon a partner in the bank 

 He took the very highest rank, 

 And also to the altar led 

 The damsel he contrived to wed. 

 A cunning man indeed was he 

 And left a crafty progeny. 



Rightly or wrongly, it was at that period accepted 

 as common knowledge that Mr Labouchere's father or 

 grandfather had brought off a marriage and a bank 

 partnership in the manner indicated, and admirers of 

 Phil May's genius cannot fail to note the family like- 

 ness of the young suitor to " Labby " himself. This, 

 however, was only the causa causans of what was to 

 follow. 



This came with the remarkable correspondence 

 published in 52 Stephen's Review of 24th October 1885. 

 The paper used to go to press on Wednesday, though 

 dated for Saturday. Here is what appeared in the 

 first column of that issue : 



At half-past seven this (Wednesday) evening I have 

 received the following letter, to which my reply is sub- 

 joined. Comment is needless : 



