Hereupon my new acquaintance put into my hand one of his visiting-cards, which contained as follows:—
General-Commodore-Judge-Colonel PEOPLE’S FRIEND:
Envoy-Extraordinary and Minister-Plenipotentiary from the Republic of Leaplow, near his Majesty the King of Leaphigh.
“Sir,” said I, pulling off my hat with a profound reverence, “I was not aware to whom I had the honor of speaking. You appear to fill a variety of employments, and I make no doubt, with equal skill.”
“Yes, sir, I believe I am about as good at one of my professions as at another.”
“You will permit me to observe, however, General—a—a Judge—a—a—I scarcely know, dear sir, which of these titles is the most to your taste?”
“Use which you please, sir—I began with General, but had got as low as Colonel before I left home. People’s Friend is the only appellation of which I am at all tenacious. Call me People’s Friend, sir, and you may call me anything else you find most convenient.”
“Sir, you are only too obliging. May I venture to ask if you have really, propria persona, filled all these different stations in life?”
“Certainly, sir—I hope you do not mistake me for an impostor!”
“As far from it as possible.—But a judge and a commodore, for instance, are characters whose duties are so utterly at variance in human affairs, that I will allow I find the conjunction, even in a monikin, a little extraordinary.”