56 



which we were seated by a wooden partition, and 

 heard the whole of our conversation, which, as he 

 had no company, he carefully took down in short- 

 hand, in the regular way of business, intending tD 

 interweave a few of his own graces, and show up 

 the party in a newspaper or magazine, just as he 

 might feel himself in the humour to cut down or 

 extend the article. He left betimes in the morning, 

 to save the seven o'clock coach at Hoddesdon, after 

 giving to the waiter the following note, with orders 

 to deliver it at breakfast-time, addressed, 



"To the Piscatory Trio, Rye-House." 



" G-entlemen, 



"Happening last night to occupy the small par-r 

 3our adjoining that in which you held your pisca- 

 tory session, I was an auditor, malgre moi, of the 

 whole of your conversation; of which, as I was alone 

 and had nothing better to do, I took ample notes, 

 in a professional way, with a view of furnishing 



either a quizzical report for the Newspaper, or 



a sprightly article for the Magazine, as fancy 



might suggest on re-examination of my materials. 



" I do not, however, wish to act towards you with 

 incivility, more especially as the young Scotchman, 

 when I met him at the water-side yesterday, was so 

 kind as to offer me a cigar from his box, when, seeing 

 that he had steel and tinder with him, I only asked 

 for a light an instance of liberality which, unless 



