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The conversation, of which he was the eavesdropper, was carried on by

fits and starts First a sentence would be delivered by one of the

Leslies; then would ensue a pause as though for a reply, inaudible to

any but the interlocutors themselves; then another sentence; and so on,

like aover it,

Bennington understood that Ji to one of the

prisoners down the shaft

"You have the true sporting spirit, sir," cried the voice of Jeenation, while it

inclines our souls to know more of you personally, nevertheless renders

youin such a juncture as the present I would

like to hear from Mr Davidson"

Pause

"That was a performance, Mr Davidson, which I can not entirely

commend It is fluent, to be sure, but it lacks variety A true artist

would have interspersed those finer shades and gradations ofeitate your venerable bosom You surely mean more than

da

enunciated at one explosive effort of the breath, but it is ht with some justice reply

that you had qualified said adjective strongly--but the qualification

was trite though blasphemous And you limited it very nicely--but the

limitation to myself is unjust, as it overlookspardon! Kindly repeat!"

Pause

"Delicious! Mr Davidson, you have redeemed yourself Bertie, did you

hear Mr Davidson's last remark?"