am not half dressed to-night. I want to get as near that corner of the platform as possible when I come." "I understand." "Good night!" "Good night! madam." At this moment, or a moment after, Daniel closed the door upon the last remaining visitors, and I stepped out from behind a green curtain at one end of the platform, forming a little retreat into which I was in the habit of withdrawing myself to avoid the crowd at the close of the exhibition. Owing to this little accident, therefore, the reader is in possession of the above ejaculatory conversation between the "jolly fat lady" and Daniel; for as, in taking him to the "other side of the room," she had most fortunately placed her back within a few inches of the screen that was before me, bringing poor Daniel's eye to mine directly over her shoulder, I was enabled to record, _verbatim et literatim_ (which it might have puzzled poor Daniel to have done from recollection, after the excitement of her jolly fat arm), precisely all that was said and done on the occasion, as above related. "Why," said I, "Daniel, that lady seems to be quite 'taken' with Cadotte." "Taken! she's more than that--she's dead _in love_ with him. I'll be shot if ever I saw the like in my life--the woman is perfectly mad after him--and she's the same lady that used to come to the _tableaux_ so often when you gave them in the Egyptian Hall, and was repeatedly asking (as you'll recollect I told you) whether you were actually married; and when I told her you were, she wouldn't believe it. She's the same identical woman. I knew her in a moment, for I have talked hours with her in the exhibition rooms; and didn't you hear her call me Daniel when she spoke to me to-night? She appears to be quite a lady. She used to come in quite a respectable carriage; and I'll venture to say it has been standing at the door all the evening, and I'll be shot but it will be there every night for a fortnight to come." "Well, it is quite a curious case; but let us treat her respectfully, and with politeness, on all occasions." "Oh, yes, certainly; she is very civil and polite, and you may be sure, Mr. Catlin, that she will receive no other treatment from me."