'You must get a grammar,' said he, rubbing his hands.

'Have you not one ?' said I.

'No,' he replied, 'but any bookseller can procure you one.' As I was taking my departure, he told me that as he was about to leave the neighbourhood, the bowl at the window, which bore the inscription, besides some other pieces of porcelain of a similar description, were at my service provided I chose to purchase them.

I consented, and two or three days afterwards took from off his hands all the china in his possession which bore inscriptions, paying what he demanded.

Had I waited till the sale of his effects, which occurred within a few weeks, I could probably have procured it for a fifth part of the sum which I paid, the other pieces realising very little.