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 Olyssiponians to Tiberius, to give him intelligence of a Triton which had been heard playing on its shell in a certain cave; with several other authenticated facts on the subject of Tritons and Nereids.

You astonish me. I have been much on the sea-shore, in the season, but I do not think I ever saw a mermaid. (He rang, and summoned Fatout, who made his appearance, half-seas-over.) Fatout! did I ever see a mermaid?

Mermaid! mer-r-m-m-aid! Ah! merry maid! Oui, monsieur! Yes, Sir, very many. I vish dere vas von or two here in de kitchen,—ma foi! Dey be all as melancholic as so many tombstone.