moderate
compensation he furnished Mrs. Candee with a yard and a half of literary
celebrities, three yards of 'Shanghaes,' five yards and a quarter of
polka dancers, and about fourteen feet of foreigners, with beards and
moustaches for show-pieces, and to give the thing a 'researcha' look.

"But, not to be too tiresome, Dropper, I am on Brown's list of
eligibles, and can get your name added also."

Remington eagerly accepted the offer, and three days after they found on
their table two huge envelopes, addressed respectively to "Mr. John
Spout," and "Mr. Remington Dropper." Remington, trembling with haste,
broke open his at once, and discovered a card about the size of a
washboard, on which was a communication to the effect that Mrs.
Throughby Daylight requested the pleasure of the company of Mr.
Remington Dropper, and that it was to be a fancy dress party, and he was
requested to appear in costume, all of which he only discovered by
calling John Spout to his assistance, who condescendingly explained
everything.

Remington was overjoyed, but in answer to all his anxious inquiries
concerning the manner of procuring the invitation, he only elicited from
John Spout the mysterious monosyllable, BROWN!

"What does it mean by coming 'in _costume_?' How am I to dress? What
shall I put on, and where shall I get it?" inquired he.

John explained. "It means that you are to disguise yourself in an
un-Christian attire of some description, making yourself look as unlike
a 'human gentleman' as possible--call yourself a 'Gondolier,' a
'Brigand,' a 'Minstrel Boy,' or some other sentimental or romantic name,
and cut as big a splurge in your borrowed clothes as possible. If you
know anybody who belongs to the theatre, you can easily borrow a rig; if
not, you'll have to hire it of a Jew, and give security that you'll
bring it back."

For four days Mr. Dropper was in a state of feverish undecision
respecting his choice of a character. At the end of that time he was
still wavering between a "Turk," a "Monk," and "Jack Sheppard." By John
Spout's suggestion he resolved to decide the matter by a throw of the
dice, which method made a "Turk" of him for the eventful evening, the
"Monk" getting deuce, ace, and a five, "Jack Sheppard" scoring but
eleven, while his oriental highness came off victorious, by means of two
fours and a six. John Spout was going as a Choctaw Indian, so that he
could smoke all the time and no one would find fault a