‘I have,’ said I.

‘What?’ said Taggart.

‘Why,’ said I, ‘there are those ballads.’

Taggart took snuff.

‘And those wonderful versions from Ab Gwilym.’

Taggart took snuff again.

‘You seem to be very fond of snuff,’ said I, looking at him angrily.

Taggart tapped his box.

‘Have you taken it long?’

‘Three-and-twenty years.’

‘What snuff do you take?’

‘Universal mixture.’

’And you find it of use?

Taggart tapped his box.

‘In what respect?’ said I.

’In many—­there is nothing like it to get a man through; but for snuff I should scarcely be where I am now.’

‘Have you been long here?’

‘Three-and-twenty years.’

‘Dear me,’ said I; ’and snuff brought you through?  Give me a pinch—­pah, I don’t like it,’ and I sneezed.

‘Take another pinch,’ said Taggart.

‘No,’ said I, ‘I don’t like snuff.’

‘Then you will never do for authorship; at least for this kind.’

‘So I begin to think—­what shall I do?’

Taggart took snuff.

‘You were talking of a great work—­what shall it be?’

Taggart took snuff.

‘Do you think I could write one?’

Taggart uplifted his two forefingers as if to tap, he did not however.

‘It would require time,’ said I, with a half sigh.

Taggart tapped his box.

‘A great deal of time; I really think that my ballads—­’

Taggart took snuff.

’If published, would do me credit.  I’ll make an effort, and offer them to some other publisher.’

Taggart took a double quantity of snuff.

CHAPTER XLII

Francis Ardry—­That won’t do, sir—­Observe my gestures—­I think you improve—­Better than politics—­Delightful young Frenchwoman—­A burning shame—­Magnificent impudence—­Paunch—­Voltaire—­Lump of sugar.

Occasionally I called on Francis Ardry.  This young gentleman resided in handsome apartments in the neighbourhood of a fashionable square, kept a livery servant, and, upon the whole, lived in very good style.  Going to see him one day, between one and two, I was informed by the servant that his master was engaged for the moment, but that, if I pleased to wait a few minutes, I should find him at liberty.  Having told the man that I had no objection, he conducted me into a small apartment which served as antechamber to a drawing-room; the door of this last being half open, I could see Francis Ardry at the farther end, speechifying and gesticulating in a very impressive manner.  The servant, in some confusion, was hastening to close the door; but, ere he could effect his purpose, Francis Ardry, who had caught a glimpse of me, exclaimed, ’Come in—­come in by all means’; and then proceeded, as before, speechifying and gesticulating.  Filled with some surprise, I obeyed his summons.