'I wonder,' he said, 'I wonder (since I see your hands are occupied) whether it might not interest you--' 'Why, of course it would,' cried Julia.

'Read me one of your nice stories, there's a dear.' He had the volume down and his spectacles upon his nose instanter, as though to forestall some possible retractation.

'What I propose to read to you,' said he, skimming through the pages, 'is the notes of a highly important conversation with a Dutch courier of the name of David Abbas, which is the Latin for abbot.

Its results are well worth the money it cost me, for, as Abbas at first appeared somewhat impatient, I was induced to (what is, I believe, singularly called) stand him drink.

It runs only to about five-and-twenty pages.