bring it to the ground.

Putting the best face I could upon the matter, and assuming the air of a Tattersall about to dispose of a two-thousand-guinea yearling, I proceeded to sell the various lots printed in the catalogue, making a few preliminary remarks to be in keeping with the style and manner of the Knightsbridge people.

But was I not an auctioneer? Not at all! That was the fun, or rather the difficulty of the thing. It was, however, a nasty scrape, and I was more than glad to see the last of Doncaster for that year. It was the infallible system of Peter Dodd which created the mischief.

"What on earth are you trying to do?" I asked him one day in the latter part of August, more years ago now than I care to remember. Ho was the sole occupant of the room, was Peter, when I entered, and seemed deeply engaged in playing roulette with himself and noting the results—the colour and the numbers—on a slate beside him.

"Studying how to make your fortune; and yet you sometimes doubt my friendship!" replied Mr. Dodd, continuing to spin the ball and add to the results on the slate.

[Pg 15]

[Pg 15]

"Fiddlesticks! what nonsense are you up to? It seems to be cheerful work. Perhaps the spell will be broken if you are disturbed."

"Don't go, old fellow; let me finish the series. I know you are an unbeliever; but I shall be able to convince the most sceptical."

I sat down much amused at my friend's earnestness and excitement, and waited patiently the end of the experiments. He was soon satisfied, and, starting up, exclaimed—

"Perfect, and a marvel of simplicity!"

"Not hereditary in the family, I hope?" I asked. "When the attack is on you, you don't fly at your best friends?"

"Yes, I bite them! While you have been gadding about town, doing no good, here have I been making my hair turn grey by testing the various chances at roulette."

"Might I suggest," I said, "that you should vary the monotony of the roulette—toujours des perdrix—with a little solitaire. I can recommend that as a lively game."

"Go to Jericho!" he rather impolitely answered. "I am the working bee; you are the drone. While you were whispering absurdities into the ear of Marie I have 

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