ous of her than of anyone else, but such
formalities are essential. In this case they turned out to be
peculiarly necessary, for her husband was no more dead than you are.

"When she got back to him and explained that there is always 'a catch
somewhere' in the insurance business, he took alarm. A prosecution
might be awkward, and at any cost must be evaded. He therefore
played a masterly card by writing the company a personal letter of
explanation, which he pretended was despatched before his wife's
return. The original is in Chinese, but I have an English translation
in my pocket-book."

The pursuit of odd examples of the epistolary art being one of the
principal occupations of my life, I secured a copy of the document,
which in English runs thus:--

"_To the ---- Insurance Company_, _Shanghai_.

"DEAR SIR,--When I died of a disease that came on suddenly an
intelligent doctor was at once asked for. He forced some fluid
into my mouth and made some injection on my body. He thus
succeeded in bringing me to life again.

"The beneficiary came to your place yesterday. What did she say?
Everything will be discussed after her return.

"Kindly give me your valuable assistance and reply by post.

"Yours faithfully, TSIN KOH."

* * * * *

JOSHUA.

On July 1st, 1916, the regiment, in company with several other
regiments and sundry pieces of ordnance, attacked the Hun in the
neighbourhood of the river Somme. A fortnight later the officers of
B Company found themselves in a dug-out in a certain wood. It is now
time to introduce Joshua.

Joshua was at that time our junior subaltern, and we called him Joshua
after Sir JOSHUA REYNOLDS, on account of his artistic attainments,
though portraits by the hand of our Joshua tended rather more in the
direction of caricature than those I have seen by his illustrious
namesake. Upon the wall of that dug-out in that wood, for instance,
was displayed a crude though unmistakable portrait of our revered
Brigadier, a fact of which we were but too conscious when our revered
Brigadier paid us one night an unexpected visit.

A short conversation ensued, during which the Brigadier gave rein to
a reprehensible passion he had for inquiring into the _vie intime_ of
junior officers. Just as he was leaving he turned to Joshua.

"Why do they call you 'Joshua'?" he asked. Joshua hesitated. His eyes
rested for an infinitesimal mom