as I had done, in walks the porter's first leftenant;
and sais he, 'Mr. Tact will see you, Sir.'

"'He come plaguy near not seein' of me, then,' sais I;
'for I had jist commenced makin' tracks as you come in.
The next time he sends for me, tell him not to send till
he is ready, will you? For it's a rule o' mine to tag
arter no man.'

"The critter jist stopped short, and began to see whether
that spelt treason or no. He never heerd freedom o' speech
afore, that feller, I guess, unless it was somebody a
jawin' of him, up hill and down dale; so sais I, 'Lead
off, my old 'coon, and I will foller you, and no mistake,
if you blaze the line well.'

"So he led me up stairs, opened a door, and 'nounced me;
and there was Mr. Tact, sittin' at a large table, all
alone.

"'How do you do, Mr. Slick,' says he. 'I am very glad to
see you. Pray be seated.' He really was a very gentlemanlike
man, was Squire Tact, that's a fact. Sorry I kept you
waitin' so long,' sais he, 'but the Turkish Ambassador
was here at the time, and I was compelled to wait until
he went. I sent for you, Sir, a-hem!' and he rubbed his
hand acrost his mouth, and looked' up at the cornish,
and said, 'I sent for you, Sir, ahem!'--(thinks I, I see
now. All you will say for half an hour is only throw'd
up for a brush fence, to lay down behind to take aim