ion among
plaintiffs, executors, administrators, and assigns.

At the end of that time, Mr. Roundjacket raised his head, uttered a
prolonged whistle, and, wiping his pen upon the sleeve of his old
office coat, which bore a striking resemblance to the gaberdine of a
beggar, addressed himself to speech--

"Now, that was not wanted till to-morrow evening," he observed,
confidentially, to the pigeon-holes; "but, to-morrow evening, I may be
paying my addresses to some angelic lady, or be engaged upon my epic.
I have done well; it is true philosophy to 'make assurance doubly
sure, and to take a bond of fate.' Now for a revisal of that last
stanza; and, I think, I'll read it aloud to that young cub, as Rushton
calls him. No doubt his forest character, primitive and poetical, will
cause him to appreciate its beauties. Hallo!"

Verty replied by a snore.

"What, asleep!" cried Mr. Roundjacket. "Now, you young sluggard! do
you mean to say that the atmosphere of this mansion, this temple of
Chancery, is not enlivening, sprightly, and anti-slumbrous? Ho, there!
do you presume to fall asleep over that beautiful and entertaining
conveyance, you young savage! Wake up!"

And Mr. Roundjacket hurled his ruler at Verty's desk, with the
accuracy of an experienced hand. The ruler came down with a crash, and
aroused the sleeper. Longears also started erect, looked around, and
then laid down again.

"Ah!" murmured Verty, who woke like a bird upon the boughs, "what was
that, _ma mere_?"

"There's his outlandish lingo--Delaware or Shawnee, I have no doubt!"
said Mr. Roundjacket.

Verty rose erect.

"Was I asleep? he said, smiling.

"I think you were."

"This place makes me go to sleep," said the boy. "How dull it is!"

"Dull! do you call this office dull? No, sir, as long as I am here
this place is sprightly and even poetical."

"Anan?" said Verty.

"Which means, in Iroquois or some barbarous language, that you don't
understand," replied Mr. Roundjacket. "Listen, then, young man, I mean
that the divine spirit of poesy dwells here--that nothing, therefore,
is dull or wearisome about this mansion--that all is lively and
inspiring. Trust me, my dear young friend, it was copying that
miserable deed which put you to sleep, and I can easily understand how
that happened. The said indenture was written by the within."

And Mr. Roundjacket pointed toward the sanctum of Mr. Rushton.

Verty only smiled.

Mr. Roundjacket descended fr