n the field, as might happen any day to his happy
friends, Captain Fooks and Lieutenant Cox; but he was determined
that he would accustom himself to stand fire;--and that, therefore,
he would never run away from a dun. Now there slipped very slowly
into the room, that most mysterious person who was commonly called
Herr Bawwah,--much to the astonishment of the three young gentlemen,
as the celebrated cutter of leather had never previously been seen
by either of them elsewhere than standing silent at his board in
Neefit's shop, with his knife in his hands. They looked at one
another, and the two military gentlemen thought that Mr. Neefit was
very much in earnest when he sent Bawwah to look for his money. Mr.
Neefit was very much in earnest; but on this occasion his emissary
had not come for money. "What, Herr Bawwah;--is that you?" said
Ralph, making the best he could of the name. "Is there anything wrong
at the shop?" The German looked slowly round the room, and then
handed to the owner of it a little note without a word.

Ralph read the note,--to himself. It was written on one of the shop
bills, and ran as follows:--"Have you thought of what I was saying?
If so, I should be happy to see Mr. Newton either in Conduit Street
or at Alexandrina Cottage." There was neither signature nor date.
Ralph knew what he was called upon to do, as well as though four
pages of an elaborate epistle had been indited to him. And he knew,
too, that he was bound to give an answer. He asked the "Herr" to sit
down, and prepared to write an answer at once. He offered the Herr a
glass of brandy, which the Herr swallowed at a gulp. He handed the
Herr a cigar, which the Herr pocketed;--and in gratitude for the
latter favour some inarticulate grunt of thanks was uttered. Ralph at
once wrote his reply, while the two friends smoked, looked on, and
wondered. "Dear Mr. Neefit,--I will be with you at eleven to-morrow
morning. Yours most truly, RALPH NEWTON." This he handed, with
another glass of brandy, to the Herr. The Herr swallowed the second
glass,--as he would have done a third had it been offered to
him,--and then took his departure.

"That was another dun;--eh, Newton?" asked the lieutenant.

"What a conjuror you are?" said Ralph.

"I never heard of his sending Bawwah out before," said the captain.

"He never does under two hundred and fifty pounds," said Ralph. "It's
a mark of the greatest respect. If I wore nothing but brown cords,
like yo