Plymouth weekly banner. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1855-1856, 1855-10-25
MIR. PETER PUNCTILLIO.
THE GENTLEMAN IN BLACK.
BY HENRY MAYHEM.
(coNcLUDED.)
CHAPTER LII.

T rial uOA W tuat JOuihdl, lSNuIlltu Will d II
speed 10 his o.t;r in ihe Bell Hotel. when
what was bis surprise to ind letter Up
on the table bearing his address, aud con
tanning small slip of paper commenc-
ing, Victoria, by the grace of God of the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland. Queen, Defender Of the Faith to
Frank Forage. greeting-' Need we in
form the learned reader. it was a-writ!
'Egad;' said the incorrigible Frank, 1T
is astonishing how formidable an instru
ment can be cpncocted out of such sim
pie materials as he quill of goose and
the skin of sheep. Here / am, poor
devil! served with what the rascally at
torneys call mesne process-and par
ticularly mean process il is, most assured
ly.'
However, slta thief to catch n thief,
says the old adage, and, in conformity
with the reverend maxim, our jocose
friend despatched an envoy foI .he imme-
date attendance OF one of The profession,
20 consult him as 10 the best means Of
resisting Cor putting off until such times
as he could arrange his marriage with the
fair Cecelia) This mos. corteous and Du-
val.like attack uDca your money or your
liberty.
Our lively friend Frank was anxiously
expecting q ,isit from his legal adviser,
when Mr.. Peter Punctilio. following the
rougish directions Of Miss Sally. tap
ped at The door of Mr.. Foroge's apart
ment; Frank 40 sooner saw the sombre
suit OF Mr.. Punciilio than he inwardly
exclaimed.
a gentleman in black this must be
TIE very mani believe sir. said he to
Mr. Punctilio. you have come about this
suit
Now, unfo tuna tely for Mr. Punctilio
the term ussd jy Mr. Frank Forage was
very ambiguous one. so thai while our
lively irienl was alluding 10 one kind of
suit. our sombFe friend naturally irnsg IN
ed his interrogation referred to another.
and accoEdingly grew rather poetical and
said,
Certainly. sir, as O,hel!o says. it is he
- e-ssass.s-n~s-s ze.sair-i.-i--->- cauee.
True replied Frank. taking the word
the worst is the id causes are so init.
rnately connected with your effects, the
one is sure 10 90 with the olher-ha! ha!
ha. Not so coarse. that, I'm thinking
eb. Old fellowl
Mr.. Peter Punciilio was astonished; he
could not understand the joke. and NUT
tered to himself, Very strange. What
can he mean. wonder?'
But you are tired, sir, no doubt; pray
be seated said Frank. offering the gen
lleman in black chair, of which he had
no sooner avaied himself than the eier.
nal punster added, ease of rest as they
say in the law. Come, I've heard worse
than that in my time.
The supposed limb Of that profession
laughed-not at the joke. but because
his companion did.
Touching the present business con-
tinued the facetious Mr.. Forage, Il be-
lieve you are aware ho,f far matters have
gone already
why. if | mistake not. returned Mr..
PunctilIo. '.here is an attachmen; at pres
ent existing
returned Frank in an undertone. per
fectly right, sir Now, | presume. the
first step you intend to take will be to
enter an appearance.
Enter an appearance!-tha. is, make
my debut before the lady, said the gentle
man in black, aside. Certainly, SIR he
added. addressing the punster, the first
- I 10 ha
pearance--and, thought he. as he took a
glance at bis habiliments, "a very impo-
sing appearance l shall make when l do
enter
'Ay.' responded Frank, and then sup
pose will come the declaration
Mr.. Punctilio init mated by nod ol
the head that such was the course he in.
tended 10 adopt.
And ate. the declaration.' continued
Mr.. Forage, Il presume you will then GO
on TO plead; but for that he added, j
suppose you will require some counsel
Sir replied Nh. Punctiio, Il am al.
ways happy TO have counsel upon any sub
jec,. Have you any to offer?'
why. sir. think now it would mate
rally assist the case. if you could man
age to get Wilde
Get Wild Oh. he means to throw in
bit of passion thought Mr.. Punctil-
10. Truly sir. said he. 'that, | have nc
doubt. would be grand point
But that rests entirely with you. And
then, sir. having pleaded, l suppose. you
will proceed to join
Such is certainly my Intentions
And having joined. the issue will
come as q matter Of course
The issuer exclaimed the sstonished
Mr.. Punctilio, shocked at the mere men
tion of such a subject.
'And about what time after joining dc
you think we shall have the issueF con
tinued Mr.. Forage.
why, the usual time, replied the per
picked Mr.. Punctilie.
The usual time--ay. but, unfortunate
ly. l am SO ignorant upon these matters
thai. hang me. if know what is ths
usual time in such cases.