fellow-sufferers.--The poet having eyed him for some time askance, "I
told you," said he, "your stay in this place would be of short duration.
--I have sustained a small disaster on my left eye, from the hands of a
rascally cordwainer, who pretends to believe himself the King of Prussia,
and I am now in the very act of galling his majesty with keen iambics.--
If you can help me to a roll of tobacco and a bottle of geneva, so;--if
you are not so inclined, your humble servant, I shall share in the joy of
your deliverance."

The knight declined gratifying him in these particulars, which he
apprehended might be prejudicial to his health, but offered his
assistance in redressing his grievances, provided he laboured under any
cruel treatment or inconvenience. "I comprehend the full extent of your
generosity," replied the satirist; "you are willing to assist me in
everything, except the only circumstances in which assistance is
required--God b'w'ye--If you see Ben Bullock, tell him I wish he would
not dedicate any more of his works to me.--D--n the fellow, he has
changed his note, and begins to snivel.--For my part, I stick to my
former maxim, defy all the world, and will die hard, even if death should
be preceded by damnation."

The knight, finding him incorrigible, left him to the slender chance of
being one day comforted by the dram-bottle; but resolved, if possible, to
set on foot an accurate inquiry into the economy and transactions of this
private inquisition, that ample justice might be done in favour of every
injured individual confined within its walls.

In the afternoon he did not fail to visit his Aurelia; and all the
protestations of their mutual passion were once more interchanged. He
now produced the letter which had caused such fatal disquiet in his