dash scented water on your face, as a hired lady does on
a winder to wash it, it would make you start back, take
out your pocket-handkercher, and say, "Come, _Mister_
Slick, no nonsense, if you please." I'd do it delicate,
I know my man: I'd use a light touch, a soft brush, and
a smooth oily rouge."

"Pardon me," I said, "you overrate your own powers, and
over-estimate my vanity. You are flattering yourself now,
you can't flatter me, for I detest it."

"Creation, man," said Mr. Slick, "I have done it now
afore your face, these last five minutes, and you didn't
know it. Well, if that don't bang the bush. It's tarnation
all over that. Tellin' you, you was so knowin', so shy
if touched on the flanks; how difficult you was to take-in,
bein' a sensible, knowin' man, what's that but soft
sawder? You swallowed it all. You took it off without
winkin', and opened your mouth as wide as a young blind
robbin does for another worm, and then down went the
Bunkum about making you a Secretary of State, which was
rather a large bolus to swaller, without a draft; down,
down it went, like a greased-wad through a smooth rifle
bore; it did, upon my soul. Heavens! what a take in! what
a splendid sleight-of-hand! I never did nothin' better
in all my born days. I hope I may be shot, if I did.
Ha! ha! ha! ain't it rich? Don't it cut six inches on
the rib of clear shear, that. Oh! it's han_sum_, that's
a fact."