Slipping the price of a criticism into his own pocket, the adroit Tickler returned to the general, swore the host was the most generous fellow within his knowledge, and said, “See here, sir! faith of my father! but he would only take three dollars for it all.  And he passed the divil knows how many compliments on your valor, for I couldn’t count them.”  He now proffered the remaining two, but was not slow in acting upon the general’s admonition to put them in his own pocket.  “And now, sir,” resumed Mr. Tickler, with an air of great anxiety, “let us hasten home to your lodgings, and to-morrow I will write this generous man a note for you, thanking him for such rare disinterestedness.  And it shall be such a note!” The general, however, was not quite sure whether such an act would become a man of courtesy, and expressed a desire to see so generous a landlord and tell him how much he thanked him.  But as this would seriously disturb Mr. Tickler’s arrangements, that gentleman got him out of the house as speedily as possible, assuring him that such a proceeding would be contrary to all the established rules of etiquette.  Quietly then, they proceeded down Broadway together, suspicious that they were seen by every passer by, and entered the St. Nicholas by a private door.  And so unobserved was this achievement, that the host was, on the following morning, surprised and astonished at the return of his guest, whom he would have sworn was lying a corpse at the New York Hotel.

CHAPTER XXXVIII.

General Potter receives A letter from his wife Polly; he engages to fight the king of the Kaloramas; prepares to leave for Washington; and various things curious and interesting.

When Tickler parted company with the general, it was with the understanding that they meet again in a day or two, and consummate the agreement whereby the adroit critic was to follow the fortunes of his master through politics and war.  He therefore went directly to his home, and returned thanks for the mercy of this opportune deliverance from his dire necessities.  A shilling he had not had in his pocket for several days; and as to the five dollars, it would enable him to assume a position of no small importance among his friends at the opera.

As to the general, he awoke early in the morning, and began to contemplate his honors.  There could not be the slightest doubt of his fame in politics, seeing how many distinguished persons had sought to pay him homage.  Indeed, he had been carried by a process known only to politicians to an incredible height of popularity, which, being vain of, he bore with a patience and cheerfulness equaled only by the docility of old Battle, his horse.  The city fathers,