thers went into stronger exclamations.

"_Fact, by the great_ ----"

"Oh, it's all right, sir; no doubt of it now, sir," said the mover of
the business, grasping the victim's upraised arm.

"Then, of course, sir, you're well acquainted with Matty Van; on good
terms with the little Magician," continued the leading wag.

"_Me?_ me on good terms with Matty? Ha, ha! that is a good joke; never
go to Washington without cracking a bottle with the little fox, and
staying over night with him. _Me_ on good terms with Matty? _We've had
many a spree together!_ Yes, _sir!_" and the knowing one winked right
and left.

"Well, there's old Bullion," continued one of the interrogators, a fine
portly old gent, "you know him, of course?"

"What, Tom Benton? Bless your souls, I don't know my letters half as
well as I know old Tom."

"And Bill Allen, of Ohio?" asked another. "What sort of a fellow is
Bill?"

"Bill Allen? Lord O! isn't he a coon? Bill Allen? I wish I had a dime
for every horn, and game of bluff, we've had together."

"Well, there's another of 'em," inquiringly asked a fat, farmer-looking
old codger: "Dr. Duncan, how's he stand down there about Washington?"

"Oh, well, he's a pretty good sort of an old chap, but, gents, between
you and I, (with another whisper,) there is a good deal of the 'old
fogie' senna and salts about him. But then he's death and the pale hoss
on poker."

"What, Doctor Duncan?" says they.

"Why, y-e-e-s, of course. Didn't he skin me out of my watch last winter,
playing poker, at Willard's?"

"Well," continued the fat farmer-looking man, "I didn't know Duncan
_gambled_?"

"Mum, not a word out of school; ha, ha! Let's drink, gents. Gamble? Lord
bless you, it's common as dish-water down there--I've played euchre for
hours with old Tom Benton, Harry Clay and Gen. Scott, _right behind the
speaker's chair!_"

_Then_ they all _drank_, of course, and some of the party liked to have
choked. The company now proposed to adjourn to the smoking room, and
they arose and left the table accordingly. The man of all talk
promenaded out on to the steps, and in course of half an hour, says the
leading spirit of the late dinner, or wine party, to him:--

"Mr. ----a--a--?"

"Ferguson, sir; George Adolphus Ferguson is my address, sir," responded
the victim.

"Mr. Ferguson, did you know that your friend Benton was in town?"
inquired the wag.

"What, Tom Benton here?"

"And Allen," continued the wag.