Pipes, of course, and boxes of choice cigars, were at hand, and in a convenient closet such a beautiful set of English cut glass for the use of a gentleman! It was no wonder that the rooms of Abel Newt became a kind of club-room and elegant lounge for the gay gentlemen about town.

He even gave little dinners there to quiet parties, sometimes including two or three extremely vivacious and pretty, as well as fashionably dressed, young women, whom he was not in the habit of meeting in society, but who were known quite familiarly to Abel and his friends.
Upon other occasions these little dinners took place out of town, whither the gentlemen drove alone in their buggies by daylight, and, meeting the ladies there, had the pleasure of driving them back to the city in the evening.

The "buggy" of Abel's day was an open gig without a top, very easy upon its springs, but dangerous with stumbling horses.

The drive was along the old Boston road, and the rendezvous, Cato's--Cato Alexander's--near the present shot-tower.

If the gentlemen returned alone, they finished the evening at Benton's, in Ann Street, where they played a game of billiards; or at Thiel's retired rooms over the celebrated Stewart's, opposite the Park, where they indulged in faro.
Abel Newt lost and won his money with careless grace--always a little glad when he won, for somebody had to pay for all this luxurious life.
Boniface Newt remonstrated.