despises _jeu de mots_, and _will not_ be satisfied under a
_jeu d'esprit_; the little doubting man alone refused to be pleased.

"I doubt the value of a pun always, sir. Dr. Johnson said, sir--"

"I know," said Murphy; "that the man who would make a pun would pick a
pocket; that's old, sir,--but is dearly remembered by all those who cannot
make puns themselves."

"Exactly," said one of the party they called Wiggins. "It is the old story
of the fox and the grapes. Did you ever hear, sir, the story of the fox
and the grapes? The fox one day was--"

"Yes, yes," said Murphy, who, fond of absurdity as he was, could
_not_ stand the fox and the grapes by way of something new.

"They're sour, said the fox."

"Yes," said Murphy, "a capital story."

"Oh, them fables is so good!" said Wiggins.

"All nonsense!" said the diminutive contradictor.

"Nonsense, nothing but nonsense; the ridiculous stuff of birds and beasts
speaking! As if any one could believe such stuff."

"I do--firmly--for one," said Murphy.

"You do?" said the little man.