they had passed the evening. Alas! as Pilpay the eastern sage has most truly remarked, "What is human bliss ? It is like an apple cart with two wheels, extremely liable to be upset."

The next morning, after a late breakfast, at which Señor Pedro de Sidonia did not make his appearance, sending word that he had a severe head-ache, Mr. Mansfield went to the United States Bank, with credentials from his wife, to transfer some stock standing there in her name, as guardian of Miss Phœbe Black, to his own. As he entered the banking room, he was struck with the appearance of a figure standing by the counter, resembling strongly that of one familiar to his sight. As the person turned round he was no longer in doubt, though somewhat in amaze

ment.

"Why, Mr. Spratt," he said, "what brought you here?"

"Oh! just to transfer eighty shares of stock, belonging to my wife," said Spratt, rather drily.

"Your wife! why are you married?"

"Yes. I see by the papers you are too." "Who did you marry?"

"Oh! a young woman in Washington," said

Spratt, wiping his spectacles, and putting them

in his pocket. "Good morning, sir." And so saying, he walked out of the bank without further ceremony.

Phocion addressed himself to the clerk, with whom the other Member had just been transacting business, and stated what he wanted to do, and what vouchers he had to authorise him to do it. The clerk informed him that the gentleman who had just gone out, had already done precisely the same thing, having produced abundant testimonials that he was the husband of Miss Phoebe Black, who was of full age, with all the papers and certificates necessary.

Mr. Mansfield returned to his lodgings, out of humour with the world in general, and with Mr. Spratt, himself, and his wife in particular. He found that a precious cantle was thus cut out of the round whole of his anticipated wealth. He knew that he should soon want ready money, and though he had promised not to present Dr. Francia's draft for acceptance in two weeks to come, began to think of doing so immediately, in order to turn it into cash. He also resolved to make his wife give him the warrants of her Guatamala stock, and see what he could do with some of them in the market. He did not find her in the parlour on his return, and sitting down in a crusty mood, took up a newspaper. Glancing

his eyes in a wandering way over the columns, they were attracted by the following extract from an English journal:

Among the other bubbles which burst in the city yesterday, was that most transparent one of all, the Royal and Imperial Guatamala Refining Company. Mr. Twiss has hopped the twig, and it is supposed has gone to see Brother Jonathan, and dispense his political economy to the 'tarnation Yankees. The stockholders in this concern are personally liable to the creditors."

Mr. Mansfield turned pale, and felt sick at heart. He rang the bell violently, when his wife entered, in agitation, saying, "Dearest Phocion, there has been a robbery—I have lost my jewels which his Excellency—” Here a servant showed in a very gentlemanly and wellshaped looking man, who bowed first to the lady and then to the gentleman. Colonel Phocion, who was muttering between his teeth something which I am afraid sounded portentously like an execration about the jewels, was obliged to bow in return, and inquire if the stranger wished to see him. On his again bowing assent, he requested him to be seated, biting his handkerchief to prevent himself from grinding his teeth, or to

take off the edge of his vexation. The gentlemanly and well-shaped looking stranger, whom Mrs. M. recognised as the individual she had seen in the next box the night before, accordingly accommodated himself with a seat, but not till the lady had done so first, and, after a pause, said

"I took the liberty of calling upon you, sir, in relation to a little account between us, for clothes furnished by me, of some years standing. This is a copy of the bill then rendered, which you will probably remember, from the circumstance that you were then going to the Legislature. I ought to have charged interest, but it is not my practice with gentlemen. This bill, you will observe, is made out in the name of my last assignee, of whom I am only the agent, having been unfortunate in business two or three times, since I had the honour of seeing you."

"This" said Colonel Phocion, with a strange and most apocryphal expression-“This is for somebody else, sir; I know no more about it than the dead. I have never been to the Assembly here in this State. When you find the right man, I advise you to charge him compound interest, by all means."

"I hope you will pardon me, sir," said the visitor; "but the extraordinary resemblance must

have deceived me entirely, as it has others. Pray did you ever hear of a gentleman named—”

Here the door again opened, and a man entered, whose appearance was in no ways prepossessing, who did not take off his hat, and had not taken off the mud from his sprawling and patched imitations of half boots. He marched straight up to Mr. Mansfield, and fumbled under a bilious looking, weather-beaten, tavern-stained plaid cloak, and the breast of a body coat of no colour at all, until he had hauled out a vast greasy pocket-book, whose original and existing hues were equally unimaginable and unascertainable. From this he produced an oblong piece of paper, and said, "I've got a warrant agin you, Squire."

"A warrant against me!-what does all this mean?" said Colonel Mansfield. "I owe nobody here a cent-I never was here before in my life; and I wish to-but no matter. You are under a mistake, my friend, and may go about your business."

"Well now that's a good one," said the constable. "Howsumdever, my business is to sarve this here warrant. But darn my old shoes, if it do'nt make me laugh, for all. You never was here before, hay?"

"None of your impertinence, if you please,"