'
"'And was that your sole objection to the match?' inquired Pigeon
solemnly.
"'I give you my honour as a gentleman that I had no other motive
for breaking off the marriage. Sir, I should have despised myself,
if I had; for, as I observed, we were both gone--very far gone
indeed.'
"'No doubt, sir,' answered Pigeon, burning to avow himself. 'But as
a friend of Mr. Pigeon, allow me to assure you that the lady was
not found too far gone to admit of a perfect recovery.'
"'I'm glad of it; hope it is so. By the way what sort of a fellow
is Pigeon? Had I been in London--I only came up yesterday--I should
have looked into the match before it took place. Lotty could expect
no less of me. What kind of an animal is this Pigeon?'
"'Kind of an animal, sir?' stammered Pigeon. 'Why, sir, he----'
"'Ha! that will do,' said the abrupt Tomata, 'as you're his friend
I'll not press you on that point. Poor Lotty--sacrificed I see!'"
After more amusing dialogue he throws his card on the table and says he
shall call, adding,
"'If Pigeon makes my Lotty a good husband, I'll take him by the
hand; if, however, I find him no gentleman--find that he shall use
the girl of my heart with harshness, or even with the least
unkindness--'
"'Well, sir!'--Pigeon thrusting his hands into his pockets
swaggered to Tomata--'what will you do then, sir?'
"'Then, sir.
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