nsequences if you
let him escape." The watchman answered, sullenly, that he did not want
to be threatened, and he knew how to discharge his duty.

"Don't answer me, fellow!" said the gentleman, haughtily; "do as I tell
you!" And after a little colloquy, Paul found himself suddenly marched
off between two tall fellows, who looked prodigiously inclined to eat
him. By this time he had recovered his surprise and dismay. He did not
want the penetration to see that his companion had really committed
the offence for which he was charged; and he also foresaw that the
circumstance might be attended with disagreeable consequences to
himself. Under all the features of the case, he thought that an attempt
to escape would not be an imprudent proceeding on his part; accordingly,
after moving a few paces very quietly and very passively, he watched
his opportunity, wrenched himself from the gripe of the gentleman on
his left, and brought the hand thus released against the cheek of the
gentleman on his right with so hearty a good will as to cause him to
relinquish his hold, and retreat several paces towards the areas in a
slanting position. But that roundabout sort of blow with the left fist
is very unfavourable towards the preservation of a firm balance; and
before Paul had recovered sufficiently to make an effectual bolt, he was
prostrated to the earth by a blow from the other and undamaged watchman,
which utterly deprived him of his senses; and when he recovered those
useful possessions (which a man may reasonably boast of losing, since it
is only the minority who have them to lose), he found himself stretched
on a bench in the watchhouse.

CHAPTER VII.

Begirt with many a gallant slave,
Apparelled as becomes the brave,
Old Giaffir sat in his divan:
. . . . . . .
Much I misdoubt this wayward boy
Will one day work me more annoy.
Bride of Abydos.

The learned and ingenious John Schweighaeuser (a name facile to spell
and mellifluous to pronounce) hath been pleased, in that Appendix
continens particulam doctrinae de mente humana, which closeth the volume
of his "Opuscula Academica," to observe (we translate from memory) that,
"in the infinite variety of things which in the theatre of the world
occur to a man's survey, or in some manner or another affect his body
or his mind, by far the greater part are so contrived as to bring to him
rather some sense of pleasure than of pain or discomf