"No, sir," replied Hook, rising and bowing respectfully. "Pray, sir, are you?"
A little disconcerted at the extreme gravity of the other, the Proctor held out his ample sleeve—"You see this, sir?"
"Ah," returned Hook, having examined the fabric with great earnestness for a few seconds, "yes; I perceive—Manchester velvet—and may I take the liberty, sir, of inquiring how much you might have paid per yard for the article?"
The quiet imperturbability of manner with which this was uttered was more than the Rev. gentleman could stand; and, muttering something about "supposing it was a mistake," he effected a retreat, amid shouts of laughter from Hook's companions, in which the other occupants of the coffee-room, the waiters, and even his own "bull-dogs" were constrained to join.—Barham.
SUMMARY PROCEEDINGS OF WINTER.
Of Hook's improvisations, while at the Mauritius, a stanza of one, in which the names of the company seem to have furnished, each, the subject of an epigram, is extant; it runs as follows:—
"We have next Mr. Winter, assessor of taxes,
I'd advise you to pay him whatever he axes,