Hence all the mischief.

Had I written at the left-hand desk, nothing would have happened.

But no; I had just set down as legibly as possible the title, author, and size of a certain work on Roman Antiquities, when, in replacing the penholder, which is attached there by a small brass chain, some inattentiveness, some want of care, my ill-luck, in short, led me to set it down in unstable equilibrium on the edge of the desk.

It tumbled-I heard the little chain rattle-it tumbled farther-then stopped short.

The mischief was done.