nything farther that evening in regard to Brevet
Brigadier General John A. B. C. Smith.

Still I consoled myself with the reflection that the tide of ill luck
would not run against me forever, and so determined to make a bold
push for information at the rout of that bewitching little angel, the
graceful Mrs. Pirouette.

"Smith?" said Mrs. P., as we twirled about together in a _pas de
zephyr_, "Smith?--why, not General John A. B. C.? Dreadful business that
of the Bugaboos, wasn't it?--dreadful creatures, those Indians!--_do_
turn out your toes! I really am ashamed of you--man of great courage,
poor fellow!--but this is a wonderful age for invention--O dear me,
I'm out of breath--quite a desperado--prodigies of valor--_never
heard!!_--can't believe it--I shall have to sit down and enlighten
you--Smith! why, he's the man"--

"Man-_Fred_, I tell you!" here bawled out Miss Bas-Bleu, as I led Mrs.
Pirouette to a seat. "Did ever anybody hear the like? It's Man-_Fred_,
I say, and not at all by any means Man-_Friday_." Here Miss Bas-Bleu
beckoned to me in a very peremptory manner; and I was obliged, will I
nill I, to leave Mrs. P. for the purpose of deciding a dispute touching
the title of a certain poetical drama of Lord Byron's. Although I
pronounced, with great promptness, that the true title was Man-_Friday_,
and not by any means Man-_Fred_, yet when I returned to seek Mrs.
Pirouette she was not to be discovered, and I made my retreat from the
house in a very bitter spirit of animosity against the whole race of the
Bas-Bleus.

Matters had now assumed a really serious aspect, and I resolved to call
at once upon my particular friend, Mr. Theodore Sinivate; for I knew
that here at least I should get something like definite information.

"Smith?" said he, in his well-known peculiar way of drawling out his
syllables; "Smith?--why, not General John A. B. C.? Savage affair that
with the Kickapo-o-o-os, wasn't it? Say! don't you think so?--perfect
despera-a-ado--great pity, 'pon my honor!--wonderfully inventive
age!--pro-o-odigies of valor! By the by, did you ever hear about Captain
Ma-a-a-a-n?"

"Captain Mann be d--d!" said I; "please to go on with your story."

"Hem!--oh well!--quite _la meme cho-o-ose_, as we say in France. Smith,
eh? Brigadier-General John A. B. C.? I say"--[here Mr. S. thought proper
to put his finger to the side of his nose]--"I say, you don't mean to
insinuate now, really and truly, and conscientiousl