224 SHERIDAN 



conversation, when and wherever he came in contact with 

 him. 



Tlie wager was closed, and he met the individual 

 selected to be the object of his experiment at a grand 

 dinner-party. The cloth was cleared, and the company, 

 consisting of the greatest wits of the day, were eager to 

 witness the skill and penetration of their friend. The 

 conversation became general, and the stranger acquitted 

 himself like a man of rank and fashion, seemingly 

 possessed of every accomplishment ; every topic he dis- 

 cussed with apparent ease and eloquence — so much so, 

 that the wit, who had tried every means that the 

 shrewdest intellect could devise to extract the kernel 

 from the shell, found himself beat at his own weapons. 



As the morning advanced, all his efforts became fruit- 

 less, and he was about to give up in despair and 

 acknowledge having lost his wager, Avhen the stranger, 

 who had been made acquainted with the secret of his 

 being invited to meet this man of acute penetration, rose 

 to take leave of the company. He observed that he 

 could but testify to the pleasure he had experienced 

 in the company and conversation of so distinguished a 

 man as Mr. Sheridan, and should be most happy to 

 continue an acquaintance so pleasantly began. 



" I have," he added, " a pretty little spot on the 

 skirts of the town — " 



" Where, sir? — the d-irti^ of the town ? " cried the wit, 

 in a tone of exultation. '' A tailor, a tailor, I'll be 

 sworn ! " The truth of the guess was admitted, and 

 the wager won. 



I must confess myself to have been very much enter- 



