Page:The London Guide and Stranger's Safeguard.djvu/82

66 set off, notwithstanding the pressing intreaties of the gallant leg and his two companions. Their arguments wanted logic. "Cui bono?" asked he, inwardly; and when he found the answer to be "a game at Whist, to-morrow evening," and the consequent delay of two days in setting out, he came to his conclusion, which nothing could move.

He went; and the two "dull friends," went their way. But our leg expected two more of the club to look in, and did not choose to wait and hear their reproaches and vexatious remarks, which he knew would follow the disappointment and expences they underwent; so whilst his groom was "putting to" he wrote the note, of which the following is a copy:—

"H.

"I am off from here: 'tis all up, the bird (pigeon!) is flown. The blo—y b—r B—d had taken his place in the mail, and would go.Your's, S."

This he wafered up, and left with the waiter; but the wafer was wet, which, as he let a significant word drop that excited much talk, the waiter resolved to open. On jumping into his gig, he incautiously ejaculated to his groom, in tones of discontent, "no do, by G—!" Such an expression "let the cat out of the bag" with a vengeance;