g Englishman, who spoke
to him as easily and pleasantly as if he was speaking to a friend--who
heard him relate his little grievances, and never took advantage of that
circumstance to turn him into ridicule--who said kindly, "I hope you
don't mind my calling you by your nickname," when he ventured to explain
that his Christian name was "Theophile," and that his English fellow
servants had facetiously altered and shortened it to "Toff," to suit
their insular convenience. "For the first time, sir," he had hastened
to add, "I feel it an honour to be Toff, when _you_ speak to me." Asking
everybody whom he met if they could recommend a servant to him, Amelius
had put the question, when Toff came in one morning with the hot water.
The old Frenchman made a low bow, expressive of devotion. "I know of
but one man, sir, whom I can safely recommend," he answered--"take me."
Amelius was delighted; he had only one objection to make. "I don't want
to keep two servants," he said, while Toff was helping him on with his
dressing-gown. "Why should you keep two servants, sir?" the Frenchman
inquired. Amelius answered, "I can't ask you to make the beds." "Why
not?" said Toff--and made the bed, then and there, in five minutes. He
ran out of the room, and came back with one of the chambermaid's brooms.
"Judge for yourself, sir--can I sweep a carpet?" He placed a chair for
Amelius. "Permit me to save you the trouble of shaving yourself. Are
you satisfied? Very good. I am equally capable of cutting your hair, and
attending to your corns (if you suffer, sir, from that inconvenience).
Will you allow me to propose something which you have not had yet for
your breakfast?" In half an hour more, he brought in the new dish.
"Oeufs a la Tripe. An elementary specimen, sir, of what I can do for you
as a cook. Be pleased to taste it." Amelius ate it all up on the spot;
and Toff applied the moral, with the neatest choice of language. "Thank
you, sir, for a gratifying expression of approval. One more specimen
of my poor capabilities, and I have done. It is barely possible--God
forbid!--that you may fall ill. Honour me by reading that document." He
handed a written paper to Amelius, dated some years since in Paris, and
signed in an English name. "I testify with gratitude and pleasure
that Theophile Leblond has nursed me through a long illness, with an
intelligence and devotion which I cannot too highly praise." "May you
never employ me, sir, in that capacity,