the man. After another minute he raised his hand, and began to
finger the button on the shoulder; and to aid him in doing so, the
man of the bull-ring turned a little on one side.

"They are wonderfully well made," said Johnson, talking to me, and
still fingering the button. "They are manufactured, he says, at
Osuna, and he tells me that they make them better there than anywhere
else."

"I wonder what the whole set would cost?" said I. "An enormous deal
of money for a fellow like him, I should think!"

"Over twelve ounces," said Johnson, having asked the question; "and
that will be more than forty pounds."

"What an uncommon ass he must be!" said I.

As Johnson by this time was very closely scrutinising the whole set
of ornaments I thought I might do so also, and going up close to our
friend, I too began to handle the buttons and tags on the other side.
Nothing could have been more good-humoured than he was--so much so
that I was emboldened to hold up his arm that I might see the cut of
his coat, to take off his cap and examine the make, to stuff my
finger in beneath his sash, and at last to kneel down while I
persuaded him to hold up his legs that I might look to the clocking.
The fellow was thorough good-natured, and why should I not indulge my
curiosity?

"You'll upset him if you don't take care," said Johnson; for I had
got fast hold of him by one ankle, and was determined to finish the