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156 smiles of his auditory, Mr. Robberson drew himself up to his full height (about five feet six inches), beating himself with one hand upon the breast whilst with the other he struck his hat fiercely over his brows as if he, the figurative sovereign, having had his crown recently shaken in some civil discord, was preparing to wear it at all hazards. Mr. Robberson's action, coupled with his words, had such a ludicrous effect, that the smiles of those surrounding him were lost in broad grins. These demonstrations produced anything but a soothing effect upon the excitable magistrate, who, looking round for some one on whom to vent his wrath, his eye fell on Dodge, and he forthwith fell foul of that supremely cool individual.

"This is all your doing, you Dodge: I know you. I shall remember you. You are the man that skulks from bailiffs; but I'll beat up your quarters yet. A troop of border police shall vindicate the majesty of the law before long, and rid the country of a pauper humbug."

Slinger began to grow indignant, but Dodge looked on as if it were an impossibility he could be the person alluded to: he however quietly said to a bystander, "See to the poor gentleman's head."

"Humph!" Slinger exclaimed: "a pauper, eh? Well, Mr. Robberson, it is not an uncommon thing to find men without a penny, worth their weight in gold; and others, with pockets overflowing, not worth a"

"Easy," Dodge said to Slinger, "I can fight my own battles. Let us drop this nonsense; we have our work before us: is every thing ready?" Every thing was ready. "Now, Mr. Robberson, who is going to transact this delicate piece of business, you or I?" The gentleman was silent: perhaps with indignation.

The shield was raised and tested, when it was pronounced