Page:Passages from the Life of a Philosopher.djvu/299

Rh Smooth. I was thinking, when I saw those fine lads of yours, that another assistant to my under secretary's deputy—but (between you and me) Hume thinks that one is more than enough. We must wait a little.

[Exeunt.

Turnstile. This headache! Impossible to sleep when one goes to bed by daylight. Experiments by Arago! Ah! a paper by Cauchy, on my own subject. But here is this cursed committee in Smithfield to be attended; and it is already past eleven. (Rising).

Servant. Mr. Tripes, sir.

Turnstile. Show him in. He comes, no doubt, to say that my election is arranged. A good, fat-headed, honest fellow.

Well Mr. Tripes, I'm glad to see you. Pray take a chair.

Tripes. We hoped to have seen you at the meeting yesterday, sir. Capital speech from Mr. Smooth. You know, of course, that Mr. Highway is a candidate; and Mr. MacLeech is talked of;—very sorry, indeed, you weren't there.

Turnstile. A transit of Venus, Mr. Tripes, is a thing that does not happen every day. Besides, my friend, Stellini