fined five pounds. For this
amount he immediately wrote an order on his bankers,--Brier, Primrose,
and Whitethorn; and then, greatly to old Leverett's chagrin, the
prisoner was discharged, and all parties left the court.

Mr. Sharpe Vulture advised instant proceedings at law. Accordingly, an
action was brought for damages; but through some _little_ informality,
the plaintiff was defeated, and had to pay his own and Mr. Chanticleer's
lawyers' costs. Mr. Sharpe Vulture advised a second action, which was
tried, I remember, at the Assizes just twelve months after the assault
complained of. Counsel were engaged on each side. Mr. Badger was for
Chanticleer, and the Hon. Mr. Muff for the Leveretts. Badger had Captain
Bulldog put into the witness-box, and the whole story of the duel was
told in court, making even the learned judge roar with laughter. Badger
proved, beyond a doubt, that Tom had well deserved castigation for his
cowardice, and that Mr. Chanticleer had only laid his whip lightly
across his shoulders; that Bob, as one of the family, was not to be
believed; and that the defendant bore the highest character for
gentleness of disposition. The Hon. Mr. Muff proved nothing, but that he
richly deserved his name, and the jury returned a verdict for the
plaintiff, damages one farthing.

Poor old Leverett! this trial completely ruined him. Sharpe Vulture
seized all his property, and the once happy little family were sent
adrift on the wide world without a home.

The last time I heard of them, the mother and the two sons were living
in an humble way not far from the sea-side; the father was dead; Tom
still continued his favourite study, but he always took great care not
to trespass in other people's fields.

[Illustration: MR. LEVERETT'S INTERVIEW WITH SHARPE VULTURE, ESQ.]

[Illustration: THE DE MOUSAS.]

THE DE MOUSAS.

A TALE.

IN one of those charming Italian villas lately built at Bayswater, live
Mr. Persian and Lady Angora De Mousa, personages of much consequence in
the society to which they belong. Late hours, and a somewhat gay life,
have a little impaired Lady Angora's beauty; but she still attracts
great admiration, and her husband is as proud of her as ever.

A highly respectable couple, but of plainer pretensions than the De
Mousas, reside in Cypress Cottage, a small house in the adjacent
Gravel-pits,--Mr. Thomas and Mrs. Tabitha Tortoshell, with a family of
one son and two daughters. Mr. De Mo