'Of course I shall pay you what I owe you,' said the Lord Mayor
elect, fidgeting in his chair. 'You lent me - I think it was a
shilling or some small coin - when we parted company, and that of
course I shall pay with good interest. I can pay my way with any
man, and always have done. If you look into the Mansion House the
day after to-morrow, - some time after dusk, - and ask for my
private clerk, you'll find he has a draft for you. I haven't got
time to say anything more just now, unless,' - he hesitated, for,
coupled with a strong desire to glitter for once in all his glory
in the eyes of his former companion, was a distrust of his
appearance, which might be more shabby than he could tell by that
feeble light, - 'unless you'd like to come to the dinner to-morrow.
I don't mind your having this ticket, if you like to take it. A
great many people would give their ears for it, I can tell you.'

His old friend took the card without speaking a word, and instantly
departed. His sunburnt face and gray hair were present to the
citizen's mind for a moment; but by the time he reached three
hundred and eighty-one fat capons, he had quite forgotten him.

Joe Toddyhigh had never been in the capital of Europe before, and
he wandered up and down the streets that night amazed at the number
of churches and other public buildings, the splendour of the shops,
the riches that were heaped up on every side, the glare of light in
which they were displayed, and the concourse of people who hurried
to and fro, indifferent, apparently, to all the wonders that
surrounded them. But in all the long streets and broad squares,
there were none but strangers; it was quite a relief to turn down a
by-way and hear his own footsteps on the pavement. He went home to
his inn, thought that London was a dreary, desolate place, and felt