Now this, conscientiously speaking, I did not
think he could do. The best pigeon-winger over all kinds of style
was my friend Mr. Carlyle, and as I knew he could not do it, I would
not believe that it could be done by Toby Dammit. I therefore told
him, in so many words, that he was a braggadocio, and could not do
what he said. For this I had reason to be sorry afterward;- for he
straightway offered to bet the Devil his head that he could.
I was about to reply, notwithstanding my previous resolutions,
with some remonstrance against his impiety, when I heard, close at
my elbow, a slight cough, which sounded very much like the ejaculation
"ahem!" I started, and looked about me in surprise. My glance at
length fell into a nook of the frame- work of the bridge, and upon the
figure of a little lame old gentleman of venerable aspect. Nothing
could be more reverend than his whole appearance; for he not only
had on a full suit of black, but his shirt was perfectly clean and the
collar turned very neatly down over a white cravat, while his hair was
parted in front like a girl's.
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