"Pshaw!' answered his companion, who, by the by, was known to pride himself upon his own memory for dates, 'I can state where I went and what I did on every day in the year. That may not embrace what you call "notable events," but the memory required is all the more remarkable, is it not?'
"'Pooh!' was his friend's provoking reply, 'you are bluffing, Ben; I will never believe that.'
"Mr. T——, who had passed by this time into that state of intoxication which makes persistence in an assertion a duty as well as a pleasure, threw back his head, and as the wreaths of smoke rose in airy spirals from his lips, reiterated his statement, and offered to submit to any test of his vaunted powers which the other might dictate.
"'You have a diary—' began Joe.
"'Which is at home,' completed the other.
"'Will you allow me to refer to it to-morrow, if I am suspicious of the accuracy of your recollections?'
"'Undoubtedly,' returned the other.
"'Very well, then, I will wager you a cool fifty that you can not tell where you were between the hours of ten and eleven on a certain night which I will name.'
"'Done!' cried the other, bringing out his pocket-book and laying it on the table before him.
"Joe followed his example and then summoned me.