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is more honesty in me, and Jim Juniper, the gauger, of Belford, than all the ministers put together; and this he proves by asking us to dinner at least once a week. Fact," added he, seeing that I looked surprised; "can't do without us: that is, I don't know for Juniper, but certainly me, who, you know, have had education like himself."

I was stupified with surprise at this intimation, which I did not in the least know what to make of, though, from his talkativeness, I thought Parrot would explain it. I could not, however, help saying,

"And pray, may I ask how all this came about, that you, the son of a country lawyer, whom I remember at Queen's proud if a little country squire spoke to you, and very proud if he condescended to walk with you in the High Street, should now be the companion of a great nobleman, who, you say, cannot do without you?"

"O!" replied Parrot," the secret is a very easy one; and, as for obligation, be assured it is perfectly mutual, if indeed the balance is not on my side."

This beat all; and I asked how that could be?

"Why, how little," said he, "with all your experience, do you know of the world. When you

arrive, look at his frowning old castle, in the midst of the desert called his Park, to which the approach on any side can only be over miles and miles of barren moor, so that he has not a neighbour except myself and the gauger! And as nobody will come so far to see him for any amusement Castle Dull, as I call it, can afford, do you think he is not obliged to me for my company ? If I were not here, he would even put up with the gauger by himself. No, no; I was only right when I said the balance was on my side."

“I own,” said I, "I should not have thought this; no disparagement to you, because, as you say, you are a man of education, like himself; but as to the gauger, who, I suppose, is not so lettered"

"Lettered!” cried Parrot, "he knows no letters at all, except those he receives from the Excise Office and writes in return, and in these last I always help him with the spelling."

"But how do you account for it ?" asked I; "for I have the honour of knowing the marquess, and know that he has a most accomplished mind. I know, moreover, that he has the character of being a proud man."

"Proud enough, of all conscience," interrupted my vivacious friend; "but what is pride, when he is by himself at Castle Dull, and nobody to shew

it to, or even to converse with, but us and his servants? and, as for them, I should be much surprised if their master is half so happy, for there is a great deal of merriment in their hall, though none at all in his dining-room. Indeed, Jim Juniper says he would much rather drink punch with Simcoe, the butler, than claret with my lord.

"There is merriment then in the hall ?”

"Yes; but only when my lord is out of the way, for if within hearing he stops it all.”

"You quite amaze me," said I, "and I should be glad if you could account for it."

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Why, you see," returned he, "I can look as far into a mill-stone as another. I am sorry to say my lord marquess, though so great a man,

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"Done up. Fact, I assure you. And even if I were not his confidential lawyer-that is to say, for the Northumberland estate, which, by the bye, and between ourselves-but I hope I am safe(here he looked round the room and at the door).

"Oh, quite so," returned I; "depend upon it our conversation goes no further."

"Well, I only meant," proceeded he, “that the marquess saying all men in office are rogues, and you being one, you might

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Here I laughed so heartily, that it stopped him. After a moment he went on, by observing,

"Even if I did not know that the Northumberland, and, as I have heard, almost all his other property, is dipt beyond recovery-at least by him, which is enough to make any one look black-still it is easy to see that there is something else that gnaws him; and that is the reason why, after being not over amused alone, he likes to amuse himself with laughing at the gauger, who, I must say, is a neat article in his way."

“And you?”

"O, me! Why, he has often business to talk about, and pours out his complaints to me, not only against the country bankers for being so costive about advances, but also against the world in general, particularly the politicians in it, all of whom, he says, are fools or knaves, envious, lying, and slandering, treacherous, and I know not what besides. Hence, he says, he would rather live in woods by himself, and eat nuts like a squirrel, than receive and give feasts, as he used to do in London and Northamptonshire; and that's the reason why he has shut himself up in Castle Dull, which had not been inhabited for fifty years, till he came down to it a few months ago. But mind, you are upon honour, poz, and won't peach; for it would get me into a devil of a scrape, being a confidential agent,

you know, if, though it be true, I were to tell the world he is done up."

I again assured my trusty chum and mirror of confidants that he was safe, and thanking him for this information, which was to me very important, or might be so, in the affair I had in hand, I discharged the reckoning, and remounting my chaise, proceeded on my journey.

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