opinion of his new patron. The French gentleman was very urbane,
gave Mr Chase his instructions, let him understand expense was
not to be studied, and, as he was at lunch, would not be
satisfied unless the tradesman sat down with him. This was a
great honour for the latter, as he found his employer was a
baron. Well, the foreigner was disposed to praise everything
English; he was glad he had come to live in London--Paris was
nothing to it; they had nothing in France like the English beer,
with which, in the exuberance of his hospitality, he filled and
refilled Mr Chase's glass; but that which delighted him above all
that he had seen "vos de leetle game vid de ball--vot you call--
de--de--aha! de skittel." Mr Chase assented that it was a very
nice game certainly; and the French gentleman seeming by this
time to have had quite enough beer, insisted, before they went to
the docks--which was essential--that they should see just one
game played.

'As he insisted on paying Mr Chase for all the time consumed with
him, and as his servant, of course, could not object, the party
adjourned to the "Select Subscription Ground" at once. In the
ground there was a quiet, insignificant-looking little man,
smoking a cigar; and as they were so few, he was asked to assist,
which, after considerable hesitation and many apologies for his
bad play, he did. The end is of course guessed. The French
gentleman was a foolish victim, with more money than wits, who
backed himself to do almost impossible feats, when it was evident
he could not play at all, and laid sovereigns against the best
player, who was the little stranger, doing the easiest. What
with the excitement, and what with the beer, which was probably
spiced with some unknown relish a little stronger than nutmeg, Mr