MAYOR (impatiently).--"Proper quarter! Well, since there is so much humbug in this old country of ours, that one must go through all the forms and get at the job regularly, just tell me whom I ought to go to." MR.

EGERTON (beginning to be amused as well as indignant).--"If you want a knighthood, Mr.Mayor, you must ask the Prime Minister; if you want to give the Government information relative to seats in parliament, you must introduce yourself to Mr .------, the Secretary of the Treasury." MR.

MAYOR.--"And if I go to the last chap, what do you think he'll say ?" MR.

EGERTON (the amusement preponderating over the indignation).--"He will say, I suppose, that you must not put the thing in the light in which you have put it to me; that the Government will be very proud to have the confidence of yourself and your brother electors; and that a gentleman like you, in the proud position of mayor, may well hope to be knighted on some fitting occasion; but that you must not talk about the knighthood just at present, and must confine yourself to converting the unfortunate political opinions of the town." MR.

MAYOR.--"Well, I guess that chap there would want to do me! Not quite so green, Mr.Egerton.Perhaps I'd better go at once to the fountain-head.