Yet so keen was his appetite for the sport that the veteran appropriator absolutely burst into tears at not having "forked more." "I love a warm-hearted enthusiasm," cried Clifford, handling the movables, while he gazed lovingly on the ancient purloiner.

"May new cases never teach us to forget Old Bags!" As soon as this "sentiment" had been duly drunk, and Mr.Bagshot had dried his tears and applied himself to his favourite drink,--which, by the way, was "blue ruin,"-- the work of division took place.

The discretion and impartiality of the captain in this arduous part of his duty attracted universal admiration; and each gentleman having carefully pouched his share, the youthful president hemmed thrice, and the society became aware of a purposed speech.
"Gentlemen!" began Clifford,--and his main supporter, the sapient Augustus, shouted out, "Hear!"-- "gentlemen, you all know that when some months ago you were pleased, partly at the instigation of Gentleman George--God bless him!--partly from the exaggerated good opinion expressed of me by my friends, to elect me to the high honour of the command of this district, I myself was by no means ambitious to assume that rank, which I knew well was far beyond my merits, and that responsibility which I knew with equal certainty was too weighty for my powers.

Your voices, however, overruled my own; and as Mr.Muddlepud, the great metaphysician, in that excellent paper, 'The Asinaeum,' was wont to observe, 'the susceptibilities, innate, extensible, incomprehensible, and eternal,' existing in my bosom, were infinitely more powerful than the shallow suggestions of reason,--that ridiculous thing which all wise men and judicious Asinaeans sedulously stifle." "Plague take the man! what is he talking about ?" said Long Ned, who we have seen was of an envious temper, in a whisper to Old Bags.

Old Bags shook his head.
"In a word, gentlemen," renewed Clifford, "your kindness overpowered me; and despite my cooler inclinations, I accepted your flattering proposal.
Since then I have endeavoured, so far as I have been able, to advance your interests; I have kept a vigilant eye upon all my neighbours; I have, from county to county, established numerous correspondents; and our exertions have been carried on with a promptitude that has ensured success.
"Gentlemen, I do not wish to boast; but on these nights of periodical meetings, when every quarter brings us to go halves,--when we meet in private to discuss the affairs of the public, show our earnings as it were in privy council, and divide them amicably as it were in the Cabinet ['Hear! hear!' from Mr.Tomlinson],--it is customary for your captain for the time being to remind you of his services, engage your pardon for his deficiencies, and your good wishes for his future exertions.