CHAPTER VII.

but to stick to my route

'Twill be hard, if some novelty can't be struck out.
Is there no Algerine, no Kamschatkan arrived?
No plenipo-pacha, three tailed and three wived?
No Russian, whose dissonant, consonant name
Almost rattles to fragments the trumpet of fame?

POSTSCRIPT.

By the by, have you found any friend who can construe
That Latin account, t'other day, of a monster?
If we can't get a Russian-and that story in Latin
Be not too improper, I think I'll bring that in.

MOORE.

A FEW mornings after this colloquy with his uncle, Newton was very busy perambulating the streets of London, in search of various requisites for his trip to India, when his hand was seized before he had time to call to mind the features

of the party who shook it with such apparent warmth.

My dear Mr. Forster, I am so delighted to see you, so happy to hear of your gallant adventure with the French squadron. Mrs. Plausible will be quite pleased at meeting her old shipmate; she often talks about you. I must make sure of you," continued the doctor, drawing from his pocket a large packet of cards, and inserting at the top of one, Newton Forster's name with his pencil. "This is an invitation to our conversazione of to-morrow night, which you must do us the honor to accept. We shall have all the scientific men of the day, and a very pretty sprinkling of nobility, if not something more. However, you will see. Shall I tell Mrs. Plausible that you will come, or will you disappoint her?"

Why," replied Newton, "if I possibly can I will. I presume the hour is not very precise?" "O no, from nine until two or three; but,

if

you wish to see great people, about eleven is the exact time."

"Well, then," replied Newton, "the time

which suits great people also suits me.

Mrs. Plausible is quite well."

66

I hope

Quite well, I thank you, Good-by;" and Dr. Plausible hurried off so quickly, that Newton was induced to look after him, to ascertain what could induce such precipitation. He perceived Dr. Plausible shaking hands warmly with another gentleman, and after a few seconds, the packet of cards was again pulled out of his pocket, and the pencil in requisition. It will be necessary to go back a little, to acquaint the reader with what had occurred since the acceptation of Dr. Plausible by Miss Tavistock, when they were on board of the Bombay Castle. On their arrival at Madras, Miss Tavistock's early and dearest friend, who resided in the up-country, had commissioned an acquaintance to receive Miss Tavistock until they could make arrangements for her journey to the interior. By this female acquaintance Miss Tavistock was kindly welcomed, and received into her house; but Miss

Tavistock's prospects having altered, so had all her devoted attachments to the friend of her early years. She wrote, announcing her intended change of condition, and regretting that Dr. Plausible's affairs, requiring his immediate presence in England, would prevent her having the delight of embracing one, who was so entwined round her heart. The letter was nevertheless very cold, and Miss Tavistock was very much abused by her dearest friend, who, disappointed in her expectations, did not even condescend an answer. In a week Miss Tavistock was united to Dr. Plausible, and in less than a fortnight afterwards they were on their passage home. Dr. Plausible found that his wife's report of her circumstances was correct, and that now he had the means of keeping his carriage and of seeing company, in moderation. Shortly after their return Dr. Plausible took the lease of a house in a betwixt and between fashionable street, and not wishing to remain idle, attempted to get into practice as an accoucheur; for although the for

tune brought by his wife was considerable, still, to keep his carriage in London, he was obliged "to sail nearer to the wind," in other points than he found agreeable: moreover, he was ambitious. A night-bell, with "night-bell" in capital letters over it, that people might be aware in the broad day that it was a night-bell, which of course they could not read in the dark, was attached to one side of the street door. It was as loud as an alarum-bell, and when rung, was to be heard from No. 12 to No. 44, in the street where Dr. Plausible resided.

There are little secrets in all trades; and one is, how to obtain practice as a medical man, which whole mystery consists in that you have a great deal. practice immediately follows; sible was aware of the fact.

making people believe When this is credited and Doctor PlauAt first setting off

his carriage drew up to the door occasionally, and stood there for some time, when the doctor made his appearance, and stepped in. He then took a round of about three hours through every