G2 SAVAGE SVANETIA. 



' Has Mr. F. got a wife ? ' whispers the 

 Princess in my ear. ' Xo,' I return thank- 

 fully. The reply is telegraphed to the otlier 

 end of the table, and the toolambatch, rising 

 gravely in his place, proposes the health of 

 the future Mrs. F., w^hich is hailed with 

 immense applause. Mr. W.'s family, Mr. F.'s 

 future family, our united grandmothers and 

 aunts, and a host of other toasts follow with 

 amazing rapidity, and then to our intense 

 relief the Princess gives the signal, ' cease 

 firing.' ' Just one last glass before we part,' 

 she suofo-ests, and fills for each of us a laro;e 

 port wine glass full of strong liqueur, having 

 done justice to which, with a courage born of 

 despair, Frank and I make our adieux as best 

 we can, and next minute find ourselves con- 

 gratulating each other on our hajDpy release, 

 and the extraordinarily unnatural phenomenon 

 that we are still able to walk straight. 



I forgot in the rattle of the banquet to 



