"Yes, yes; good-by"--and the woman, who was dressed with a quiet neatness, that seemed to stamp her profession as that of an abigail, (black cloak, with long cape--of that peculiar silk which seems spun on purpose for ladies'-maids--bonnet to match, with red and black ribbons,) hastened once more away, and in another moment the cab drove off furiously. What could all this mean? By this time the waiter brought Mr Peacock the half-and-half. He despatched it hastily, and then strode on towards a neighbouring stand of cabriolets. I followed him; and just as, after beckoning one of the vehicles from the stand, he had ensconced himself therein, I sprang up the steps and placed myself by his side. "Now, Mr Peacock," said I, "you will tell me at once how you come to wear that livery, or I shall order the cabman to drive to Lady Ellinor Trevanion's, and ask her that question myself." "And who the devil!--Ah, you're the young gentleman that came to me behind the scenes--I remember." "Where to, sir?" asked the cabman. "To--to London Bridge," said Mr Peacock. The man mounted the box, and drove on. "Well, Mr Peacock, I wait your answer. I guess by your face that you are about to tell me a lie; I advise you to speak the truth." "I don't know what business you have to question me," said Mr Peacock sullenly; and, raising his glance from his own clenched fists, he suffered it to wander over my form with so vindictive a significance that I interrupted the survey by saying, "Will you encounter the house? as the Swan interrogatively puts it--shall I order the cabman to drive to St James's Square?" "Oh, you know my weak point, sir; any man who can quote Will--sweet Will--has me on the hip," rejoined Mr Peacock, smoothing his countenance, and spreading his palms on his knees. "But if a man does fall in the world, and, after keeping servants of his own, is obliged to be himself a servant, ---- 'I will not shame To tell you what I am.'" "The Swan says, 'To tell you what I _was_,' Mr Peacock. But enough of this trifling: who placed you with Mr Trevanion?" Mr Peacock looked down for a moment, and then, fixing his eyes on me, said--"Well, I'll tell you: you asked me, when we met last, about a young gentleman--Mr--Mr Vivian." PISISTRATUS.--Proceed. PEACOCK.--I know you don't want to harm him. Besides, "He hath a prosperous art," and one day or other,--mark my words, or rather my friend Will's-- "He will bestride this narrow world Like a Colossus." Upon my life he will--like a Colossus, "And we petty men--" PISISTRATUS (_savagely_.)--Go on with your story. PEACOCK (_snappishly_.)--I am going on with it! You put me out; where was I--oh--ah yes. I had just been sold up--not a penny in my pocket; and if you could have seen my coat--yet that was better than the small-clothes! Well, it was in Oxford Street--no, it was in the Strand, near the Lowther--