"It's time to be off, George," said he; "they told me you were dressed long ago. Come up, my man, and get ready."

   I rushed up into the dressing-room, and madly dashed my head and arms into a pool of eau-de-Cologne. I drank, I believe, a tumberful of it. I called for my clothes, and, strange to say, they were gone. My servant brought them, however, saying that he had put them away—making some stupid excuse. I put them on, not heeding them much, for I was half tipsy with the excitement of the ci— of the smo— of what had taken place in Dawdley's study, and with the Maraschino and the eau-de-Cologue I had drunk.

   "What a fine odor of lavender-water!" said Dawdley, as we rode in the carriage.

   I put my head out of the window and shrieked out a laugh; but made no other reply.

   "What's the joke, George?" said Dawdley. "Did I say anything witty?"

   "No," cried I, yelling still more wildly; "nothing more witty than usual."

   "Don't be severe, George," said he, with a mortified air; and we drove on to B—— House.

   There must have been something strange and wild in my appearance, and those awful black plumes, as I passed through the crowd; for I observed people looking and making a strange nasal noise (it is called sniffing, and I have no other more delicate term for it), and making way as I pushed on. But I moved forward very fiercely, for the wine, the Maraschino, the eau-de-Cologne, and the—the excitement had rendered me almost wild; and at length I arrived at the place where my lovely Lady of the Lake and her Harper stood. How beautiful she looked,—all eyes were upon her as she stood blushing. When she saw me, however; her countenance assumed an appearance of alarm. "Good heavens, George!" she said, stretching her hand to me, "what makes you look so wild and pale?" I advanced, and was going to take her hand, when she dropped it with a scream.

   "Ah—ah—ah!" she said. "Mr. Fitz-Boodle, you've been smoking!"

   There was an immense laugh from four hundred people round about us, and the scoundrelly Dawdley joined in the yell. I rushed furiously out, and, as I passed, hurtled over the fat Hereditary Prince of Kalbsbraten-Pumpernickel.

   "Es riecht hier ungeheuer stark von Tabak!" I heard his Highness say, as I madly flung myself through the 

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