and incomparable brevities often more interesting than those
evolved by the thirteen or more dialects of my own Naples. Even
at our first breakfast I began to catch lucid glimpses of the
intention in many of his almost incomprehensible statements. I
was able, even, to penetrate his meaning when he said that
although he was "strong for aged parent," he himself had
suffered much anguish from overwork of the "earnest youth
racquette" in his late travels, and now desired to "create
considerable trouble for Paris."

Naturally, I did not wish to begin by antagonizing my pupil --
an estrangement at the commencement would only lead to his
deceiving me, or a continued quarrel, in which case I should be
of no service to my kind patron, so that after a strained
interval I considered it best to surrender.

We went to Longchamps.

That was my first mistake; the second was to yield to him
concerning the latter part of his programme; but opposition to
Mr. Poor, Jr. had a curious effect of inutility. He had not in
the least the air of obstinacy,--nothing could have been less
like rudeness; he neither frowned not smiled; no, he did not
seem even to be insisting; on the contrary, never have I beheld
a milder countenance, nor heard a pleasanter voice; yet the
young man was so completely baffling in his mysterious way that
I considered him unique to my experience.

Thus, when I urged him not to place large wagers in the pesage,
his whispered reply was strange and simple--"Watch me!" This