Having divested himself of the dust with which he was covered, and having restored himself to his personal comforts, his lordship joined our little party, and partook of some dinner which the khansamah had prepared for him. His repast concluded, his lordship moistened his throat with a glass of cool claret, and proceeded, in his own manner, to interrogate his host, who was not only an accomplished scholar, but a ready and refined wit. It was thus that the dialogue was commenced and continued:—
"What is the number of inhabitants in this district?" asked the noble guest.
"Upon my word I don't know; I have never counted them," said the host.
"But have you no idea? Can't you give a guess?"
"Oh, yes; some hundreds of thousands."
"Ah! And crime—much crime!" his lordship persevered.
"Very much. But we are going to reduce it, during the ensuing half-year, exactly thirty-three and a-half per cent.," answered the magistrate, looking uncommonly statistical.
"How?"
"Well, that is what my assistant and myself have decided upon."