was trained to fill the lofty position which was to have been my lot.  But ‘necessitas,’ Sir, as you are aware, ‘necessitas non abat lejim,’ and such I found it.  While still receiving a classical education at Cambridge College—­(praps you are yourself an alumbus of Halma Mater?  No?  I apologise, Sir, I’m sure)—­but while preparing to take my honorary degree, my Father suddenly enounced, the horful news that he was a bankrup’.  Strip of all we possessed, we were turned out of our sumchuous ’ome upon the cold world, my Father’s grey ’airs were brought down sorrowing to sangwidge boards, though he is still sangwin of paying off his creditors in time out of what he can put by from his scanty hearnings.  My poor dear Mother—­a lady born and bred—­sank by slow degrees to a cawfy-stall, which is now morgidged to the ’ilt, and my eldest Sister, a lovely and accomplished gairl, was artlessly thrown over by a nobleman, to ’oom she was engaged to be married, before our reverses overtook us.  His name the delikit hinstinks of a gentleman will forbid you to inquire, as likewise me to mention—­enough to ’int that he occupies a prominent position amongst the hupper circles of Society, and is frequently to be met with in the papers.  His faithlessness preyed on my Sister’s mind to that degree, that she is now in the Asylum, a nopeless maniac!  My honely Brother was withdrawn from ’Arrow, and now ’as the yumiliation of selling penny toys on the kerbstone to his former playfellers. ’Tantee nannymice salestibus hirae,’ indeed, Sir!

“But you ask what befell myself.” (You have not—­for the simple reason that, even if you desired information, he has given you no chance, as yet, of putting in a word.) “Ah, Sir, there you ’ave me on a tender point. ‘Hakew tetigisti,’ if I may venture once more upon a scholarly illusion.  But I ’ave resolved to conceal nothing—­and you shall ’ear.  For a time I obtained employment as Seckertary and Imanuensis to a young baranit, ’oo had been the bosom friend of my College days.  He would, I know, have used his influence with Government to obtain me a lucritive post; but, alas, ’ere he could do so, unaired sheets, coupled with deliket ’elth, took him off premature, and I was once more thrown on my own resources.

“In conclusion, Sir, you ’ave doubtless done me the hinjustice to expect, from all I ’ave said, that my hobjick in obtaining this interview was to ask you for pecuniary assistance?” (Here you reflect with remorse that a suspicion to this effect has certainly crossed your mind).  “Nothing of the sort or kind, I do assure you.  A little ’uming sympathy, the relief of pouring out my sorrers upon a feeling art, a few kind encouraging words, is all I arsk, and that, Sir, the first sight of your kind friendly face told me I should not lack.  Pore as I am, I still ’ave my pride, the pride of a English gentleman, and if you was to orfer me a sovereign as you sit there, I should fling it in