PISTOLS 231 



man with my finger on my lips, and slipping something 

 into his hand the better to imjDress the necessity of silence — 



'•' Take this card round to Mr. in St. Martin's Lane, 



and he will give you a case of pistols — bring them here." 



" But, sir," said he, " the j^eople of the house." 



" We can wait till they are gone to rest. Hark, they 

 are about o-oinoj now." 



" But we shall disturb them." 



" That will be of little consequence to one or both of 

 us," 1 replied. 



" Really, it is a very unusual way of settling matters." 



'' I am aware of it, sir, but I have no choice. This 

 gentleman will act as my friend, and the waiter, when he 

 returns, must do the same for you, as the shortness of the 

 time will admit of no other arrangement." 



At this he began to demur, when I said I could allow 

 of no hesitation. 



On the waiter's return he rose from his seat, and on my 

 requesting him to stop and examine the pistols, observed 

 that he Avould have no more to do with me, and made his 

 exit into the court. I at the same time made him a polite 

 but sio-nificant bow, and then followed, cono-ratulatino' 

 myself and my friend on the easy manner 1 had extricated 

 myself from so disagreeable a position. 



On the following morning the good old squire was my 

 box companion, and the account of my ^3 receding evening's 

 amusement on the journey down called forth some of his 

 hearty laughs. 



But to leave these vanities, and come at once, however 

 abruptly, to a conclusion, the close of my career was fast 

 approaching. The sun of my employment, or, more 



