We give him a fright, or we treat him to a joke.

I treated Mr.Frank to a joke.
"Ah!" says I, "I know what he did.

He had a signature to write; and, by the most natural mistake in the world, he wrote another gentleman's name instead of his own--eh ?" "It was to a bill," says Mr.Frank, looking very crestfallen, instead of taking the joke.

"His principal creditor wouldn't wait till he could raise the money, or the greater part of it.

But he was resolved, if he sold off everything, to get the amount and repay--" "Of course," says I, "drop that.