I'll bet a pair of gloves that my adventure was more out of the common than yours, though I have nothing so nice to show at the end of it." "Come, I'll take that, and Robert here shall be the judge." "State your cases." The young artist shut up his sketch-book, and rested his head upon his hands with a face of mock solemnity.

"Ladies first! Go along Laura, though I think I know something of your adventure already." "It was this morning, Hector," she said.

"Oh, by the way, the story will make you wild.

I had forgotten that.

However, you mustn't mind, because, really, the poor fellow was perfectly mad." "What on earth was it ?" asked the young officer, his eyes travelling from the bank-note to his _fiancee_.
"Oh, it was harmless enough, and yet you will confess it was very queer.
I had gone out for a walk, but as the snow began to fall I took shelter under the shed which the workmen have built at the near end of the great new house.