_The Rev. Dr. Folliott_.—Very true; we will dine and discuss. We will sing with Robin Hood, “If I drink water while this doth last;” and while it lasts we will have no adjournment, if not to the Athenian theatre. _Mr. Trillo_.—Well, gentlemen, I hope this chorus at least will please you:— If I drink water while this doth last, May I never again drink wine: For how can a man, in his life of a span, Do anything better than dine? We'll dine and drink, and say if we think That anything better can be, And when we have dined, wish all mankind May dine as well as we. And though a good wish will fill no dish And brim no cup with sack, Yet thoughts will spring as the glasses ring, To illume our studious track. On the brilliant dreams of our hopeful schemes The light of the flask shall shine; And we’ll sit till day, but we’ll find the way To drench the world with wine. The schemes for the world’s regeneration evaporated in a tumult of voices. CHAPTER VII. THE SLEEPING VENUS. Quoth he: In all my life till now, I ne’er saw so profane a show.—BUTLER. THE library of Crotchet Castle was a large and well-furnished apartment, opening on one side into an ante-room, on the other into a music-room. It had several tables stationed at convenient distances; one consecrated to the novelties of literature, another to the novelties of embellishment; others unoccupied, and at the disposal of the company. The walls were covered with a copious collection of ancient and modern books; the ancient having been selected and arranged by the Reverend Doctor Folliott. In the ante-room were card-tables; in the music-room were various instruments, all popular operas, and all fashionable music. In this suite of apartments, and not in the drawing-room, were the evenings of Crotchet Castle usually passed. The young ladies were in the music-room; Miss Crotchet at the piano, Lady Clarinda at the harp, playing and occasionally singing, at the suggestion of Mr. Trillo, portions of _Matilde di Shabran_. Lord Bossnowl was turning over the leaves for Miss Crotchet; the Captain was performing the same office for Lady Clarinda, but with so much more attention to the lady than the book, that he often made sad work with the harmony, by turnover of two leaves together. On these occasions Miss Crotchet paused, Lady Clarinda laughed, Mr. Trillo scolded, Lord Bossnowl yawned, the Captain apologised, and the performance proceeded. In the library Mr. Mac Quedy was expounding political economy to the Reverend Doctor Folliott, who was _pro more_ demolishing its doctrines _seriatim_.