mr. sponge's SPORTING TOUR. 77 



" Dear "Waffles, 



" My lawyer has seen Chousam, and deuced stiff he says he was. 

 It seems Bullfrog is indignant at being accused of a "do; " and 

 having got me in the wrong box, by not being able to return the 

 horse as claimed, he meant to work me. At first Chousam would 

 hear of nothing but ' 1 — a — w.' Bullfrog's wounded honour could 

 only be salved that way. Gradually, however, we diverged from 

 1 — a — w to £ — s. — d. ; and the upshot of it is, that he will advise 

 his lordship to take 250/. and be done with it. It's a bore; but I did 

 it for the best, and shall be glad now to know your wishes on the 

 subject. Meanwhile, I remain, 



" Yours, very truly, 



" H. Sponge. 

 " To W. .Waffles, Esq." 



Formerly a remittance by post used to speak for itself. The 

 tender-fingered clerks could detect an enclosure, however skilfully 

 folded. Few people grudged double postage in those days. Now 

 one letter is so much like another, that nothing short of opening 

 them makes one any wiser. Mr. Sponrre received Mr. Waffles' an- 

 swer from the hands of the waiter with the sort of feeling that it was 

 only the continuation of their correspondence. Judge, then, of his 

 delight, when a nice, clean, crisp promissory note, on a five-shilling 

 stamp, fell quivering to the floor. A few lines, expressive of Mr. 

 Waffles' gratitude for the trouble our hero had taken, and hopes that 

 it would not be inconvenient to take a note at two months, accom- 

 panied it. At first Mr. Sponge was overjoyed. It would set him 

 up for the season. He thought how he'd spend it. He had half a 

 mind to go to Melton. There were no heiresses there, or else he 

 would. Leamington would do, only it was rather expensive. Then 

 he thought he might as well have done Waffles a little more. 



" Confound it ! " exclaimed Sponge, u I don't do myself justice ! 

 Tw, too much of a gentleman ! I should have had five 'under'd — 

 such an ass as Waffles deserves to be done ! " 



