'You - you're a shuffler, sir,' gasped the furious doctor, 'a poltroon - a coward - a liar - a - a - will nothing induce you to give me your card, sir!'

'Oh! I see,' said the stranger, half aside, 'negus too strong here - liberal landlord - very foolish - very - lemonade much better - hot rooms - elderly gentlemen - suffer for it in the morning - cruel - cruel;' and he moved on a step or two.

'You are stopping in this house, Sir,' said the indignant little man; 'you are intoxicated now, Sir; you shall hear from me in the morning, sir. I shall find you out, sir; I shall find you out.'

'Rather you found me out than found me at home,' replied the unmoved stranger.

Doctor Slammer looked at him with unutterable ferocity as he fixed his hat on his head with an indignant knock; and the stranger and Mr Tupman ascended to the bedroom of the latter to restore the borrowed plumage to the unconscious Winkle. That gentleman was fast asleep; the restoration was soon made. The stranger was extremely jocose; and Mr Tracy Tupman, being quite bewildered with wine, negus, lights, and ladies, thought the whole affair was an exquisite joke.