The card, madam" (and he drew it as doth a theatrical fop his rapier) "of him who, to all these qualifications adds a prouder still--that of being, "Madam, "Your humble, devoted and grateful servant, "JAMES TRIPLET." He bowed in a line from his right shoulder to his left toe, and moved off.

But Triplet could not go all at one time out of such company; he was given to return in real life, he had played this trick so often on the stage.

He came back, exuberant with gratitude.
"The fact is, madam," said he, "strange as it may appear to you, a kind hand has not so often been held out to me, that I should forget it, especially when that hand is so fair and gracious.

May I be permitted, madam--you will impute it to gratitude rather than audacity--I--I--" (whimper), "madam" (with sudden severity), "I am gone!" These last words he pronounced with the right arm at an angle of forty-five degrees, and the fingers pointing horizontally.

The stage had taught him this grace also.