a sharp key.

   "Well, what the deuce of Tompkins—hic—what does he—hic—does he want? Tell—hic—tell him it's—hic—all right, or we'll make it all right—hic—

    in the morning

   ."

   Mr. Tompkins then took the liberty of stepping inside, and slipping up to Don Cæsar, assured him that himself and friends were

    a little too merry

   , but Don Cæsar assured Tompkins—

   "It's all—hic—right, mi boy, all—hic—right; these gentlemen—hic—are all

    gentlemen

   , my—hic—personal friends—hic—and it's all right—hic—all perfectly—hic—right, or we'll make it all right in the morning."

   "That we do not question, sir," says the clerk, "but there are many persons in the adjoining rooms whom you'll disturb, sir; I speak for the credit of the house."

   "O—hic—certainly, certainly, mi boy; I'll—hic—I'll speak to the gentlemen," says the Don, rising in his chair, and assuming a very solemn graveness, peculiar to men in the fifth stage of libation deep; "Gentlemen—hic—

    gentle

   men, I'm requested to state—hic—that—hic—a very

    serious

   piece of intelligence—hic—has met my ear. This

    gentle

   man—hic—says somebody's dead in the next—hic—room."

   "Not at all, sir; I did not say that, sir," says the clerk.

   "Beg—hic—your pardon, sir—hic—it's all right; if it ain't all right, I'll make it—hic—

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