“Just the contrary;—an acre that formerly could be bought for one promise, would now bring a thousand.”
“This, certainly, is a great improvement, unless frequent failures—”
“Not at all; there has not been a bankruptcy in Leaphigh since the law was passed making promises a legal tender.”
“I wonder no chancellor of the exchequer ever thought of this, at home!”
“So much for your Great Breeches, Chatterino!” And then there was another and a very general laugh. I never before felt so deep a sense of national humility.
“As they have universities,” cried another coxcomb, “perhaps this person has attended one of them.”
“Indeed, sir,” I answered, “I am regularly graduated.”
“It is not easy to see what he has done with his knowledge—for, though my sight is none of the worst, I cannot trace the smallest sign of a cauda about him.”
“Ah!” Lord Chatterino good-naturedly exclaimed, “the inhabitants of Great Breeches carry their brains in their heads.”
“Their heads!”