Mrs. Chainmail was introduced to the company. Young Crotchet felt some revulsion of feeling at the unexpected sight of one whom he had forsaken, but not forgotten, in a condition apparently so much happier than his own. The lady held out her hand to him with a cordial look of more than forgiveness; it seemed to say that she had much to thank him for. She was the picture of a happy bride, _rayonnante de joie et d’amour_. Mr. Crotchet told the Reverend Doctor Folliott the news of the morning. “As you predicted,” he said, “your friend, the learned friend, is in office; he has also a title; he is now Sir Guy de Vaux.” _The Rev. Dr. Folliott_.—Thank heaven for that! he is disarmed from further mischief. It is something, at any rate, to have that hollow and wind-shaken reed rooted up for ever from the field of public delusion. _Mr. Crotchet_.—I suppose, Doctor, you do not like to see a great reformer in office; you are afraid for your vested interests. _The Rev. Dr. Folliott_.—Not I, indeed, sir; my vested interests are very safe from all such reformers as the learned friend. I vaticinate what will be the upshot of all his schemes of reform. He will make a speech of seven hours’ duration, and this will be its quintessence: that, seeing the exceeding difficulty of putting salt on the bird’s tail, it will be expedient to consider the best method of throwing dust in the bird’s eyes. All the rest will be Τιτιτιτιτιμπρο. Ποποποί, ποποποί Τιοτιοτιοτιοτιοτίγξ. Κικκαβαῦ, κικκαβαῦ. Τοροτοροτοροτορολιλιλίγξ, as Aristophanes has it; and so I leave him, in Nephelococcygia. Mr. Mac Quedy came up to the divine as Mr. Crotchet left him, and said: “There is one piece of news which the old gentleman has not told you. The great firm of Catchflat and Company, in which young Crotchet is a partner, has stopped payment.” _The Rev. Dr. Folliott_.—Bless me! that accounts for the young gentleman’s melancholy. I thought they would overreach themselves with their own tricks. The day of reckoning, Mr. Mac Quedy, is the point which your paper-money science always leaves out of view. _Mr. Mac Quedy_.—I do not see, sir, that the failure of Catchflat and Company has anything to do with my science. _The Rev. Dr. Folliott_.—It has this to do with it, sir, that you would turn the whole nation into a great paper-money shop, and take no thought of the day of reckoning. But the dinner is coming. I think you, who are so fond of paper promises, should dine on the bill of fare. The harper at the head of the hall struck up an ancient march, and the dishes were brought in, in grand procession.