a clever diplomatist in Thomas, who was one of the best brought up servants in Picadilly.  Thomas had no end of accomplishments, and as a certain vice in a servant is necessary to certain poor aristocracy and deeply involved diplomatists, so also could he lie with a facility truly incredible.  If the history of Bolt’s wealth, as related to certain tradesmen by Thomas, could be handed down to posterity, I fear my friend Cresus would find himself eclipsed.  This it must be borne in mind was before Thomas found himself dismissed for purloining the family arms of the Countess Hopenpop.  And while on the subject of purloining propensities let me here say that I fear the vice of stealing family arms did not end with Thomas, but was transmitted by some of his more fortunate brethren up stairs to certain diplomatic gentry of Mr. Pierce’s choice, else how comes it that they, notoriously plebian, made cockades and carriage doors bear strange devices.’

“My uncle continued:  ’While as many as fifty good gossipers predicted daily the marriage of Bolt to some aristocratic belle, there came along a lady of the name of Mrs. Bolt.  This person, whose name Mr. Bolt had been extremely careful not to lisp, caused a desperate sensation among his admirers.  My Lady Longblower was seen to cool away like liquid tallow, while not a few who had been equally fervent just before, said it was a very impertinent thing in Mr. Bolt.  But as that gentleman took a more philosophical view of the matter he returned the compliment by introducing his lady to several of those damsels who had but a few days before themselves hoped to win his heart.  Indeed the arrival of Mrs. Bolt, though it brought things to a more legitimate platform, did not in the least lessen his material responsibilities.  Mrs. Bolt must have more fashionable apartments; there was that splendid diamond bracelet at Peppers’? she must have that rich honitan cape and accompaniments at Stebbin’s? drawing-room day was approaching, and nothing less than one hundred and fifty guineas would suffice to purchase the dress she would be presented in; Madame Lacelooper, milliner and dressmaker to the Court, urged the necessity of her orders being in at an early day; and she must have that set of furs at Orchard’s, and Mr. Bolt must give a brilliant introduction party.  Many as were the poor fellow’s previous wants Mrs. Bolt’s arrival seemed to increase them four-fold.  Nor would it have done for him to have intimated a necessity for retrenchment, inasmuch as she was equally determined to keep up the dignity of the establishment, and would not hear a word about limitation in anything.  The poor fellow now began to think a time was coming when his diplomacy would be put to the test.  He, too, had an eye to a little popularity at home, liked to be thought well of by his fellow-citizens, who, when abroad invariably want to see all the sights and dine with their Minister, and to that end gave them dinners and sundry other little things.  Everything except