i62 ANGLIXG SKETCHES 



Breton ; we both smiled, and, of course, I pre- 

 sumed we smiled for the same reason. 



I happen to know, and unluckih" did it happen, 

 the very minute of the hour when we left 

 Blocksby's. It was a quarter to four o'clock — a 

 church-to\\-er was chiming the three-quarters in 

 the Strand, and I looked half mechanicalh- at 

 m\" own watch, which was fi\'e minutes fast. On 

 Sunday I went down to Oxford, and happened 

 to walk into Allen's rooms. He was lying on 

 a sofa reading the ' Spectator.' After chatting a 

 little, I said, ' You took no notice of me, nor 

 of the Bretons }-esterday, Allen, at Blocksb\-'s.' 



' I didn't see }'ou,' he said ; and as he was 

 speaking there came a knock at the door. 



' Come m ! ' cried Allen, and a man entered 

 who was a stranger to me. You \\-ould not have 

 called him a gentleman perhaps. However, I 

 admit that I am possibly no great judge of a 

 gentleman. 



Allen looked up. 



' Hullo, I\Ir. Thomas,' he said, 'have j-ou come 

 up to see Mr. Mortbj- ? ' mentioning a well-known 



