ng in the wine a full week; I was
convinced that the liquid was pretty thoroughly impregnated with the
flavor of my scientific improvement; and even my stomach revolted at
the idea of drinking wine tainted and reeking with the dead flesh and
blood of the man I had murdered.

"I placed the wine on the table before my lady and the Captain; and I
am free to confess that I trembled somewhat, in view of the
possibility of their detecting, at the first taste, the trick which I
had played them. Very nervous was I, when the Captain slowly poured
out a wine glass full, and raised it to his lips; but how delighted
was I, when he drained every drop of it with evident satisfaction,
smacked his lips, and said to the lady--

"'By my faith, Adelaide, 'tis a drink for the gods! How that wine
improves by age! Never before has it tasted so rich, so fruity, so
delicious! Observe what a firm body it has--what deep, rich color--a
fitting hue for a soldier's beverage, for 'tis red as blood. Allow me
to fill your ladyship's glass, that you may judge of its improved and
wonderful merits.'

"Her ladyship drank, and pronounced it excellent. I was in silent
extacies. 'Drink the blood and essence of the murdered dead, ye fools,
and call it sweet as honey to your taste!' I mentally said--'ere many
days your souls shall be made sick with the knowledge of _what_ ye
have drank!'

"The guilty pair were not in the slightest degree reserved in my
presence; on the contrary they jested, they talked, they indulged in
familiarities before my face, in a manner that astonished me not a
little. Comrades, none of you have seen much of fashionable life, I
take it; for although you all belong to the very best society in Ann
street, you can't reasonably be supposed to have much of an idea of
society as 'tis seen in the mansion of an English nobleman. Therefore,
if you don't think my yarn already too tedious, (it's as true as
gospel, every word of it, upon the unsullied honor of a gentleman!)
and if you'd like to know something of the capers of rich and
fashionable people in high life, I'll tell you, in as few words as
possible, some of the sayings and doings of my lady Hawley and her
handsome lover, Captain St. Clair, as witnessed by me, at the time of
which I have been speaking, in London."

Jew Mike paused to take breath and "wet his whistle;" while all his
listeners eagerly requested h