"I was just finishing my breakfast one morning," said he, "when my servant entered and announced a visitor. It was Captain P. B. of ours, who came to invite me to a game of billiards. Our billiard-room was situated about a mile beyond my quarter, and Captain B., who lived at the other extremity, had to pass my residence to go to it. "'Are you going up there now?' I said. "'Yes,' said he; 'will you come?' "'Why, I can't come directly,' I answered; 'for I have a letter to write first; but if you'll go on, I'll join you presently.' "He left me, and as soon as I had written my letter, I started for the billiard-room. When I entered it, Captain P. B. was not there, nor, indeed, anybody but the marker--which was not surprising, as it was earlier than we usually went there. "'Where's Captain B?' I said. "'Don't know, sir; he has not been here yet.' "'Not been here?' "'No, sir, not to-day.' "Thinking, that as I was not ready, he had filled up the interval by going somewhere else, I began knocking about the balls; every now and then looking out of the window, expecting to see him approach; but when this had lasted upwards of two hours, I began to be rather impatient, and was just thinking of going away, when I saw him approaching with his wife in an open carriage from an opposite direction. "'A pretty fellow you are, to keep me kicking my heels here waiting for you,' said I, as he entered the room. "'Keep you waiting!' he said; 'I have not kept you waiting.' "'Why, I've been here these two hours and more.' "'How was I to know that; I did not know you were coming up here.' "'Why, I told you I'd come as soon as I had finished my letter.' "'My dear fellow, what are you talking about?' exclaimed my friend, in evident surprise; 'when did you tell me so? I don't recollect making any appointment to meet you to-day.' "'What! not this morning, as you were passing my quarter?' said I, amazed in my turn. 'Didn't you ask me to come and play a game at billiards; and didn't I tell you I'd come as soon as I had finished my letter? and I did.' "P. B. looked at me as if he thought I'd suddenly become insane; but as I suppose my countenance did not confirm that impression, he said, 'Here's some mistake; when do you suppose I made this appointment with you?' "'Suppose!' I answered, rather indignant; 'what do you mean by _suppose_? Didn't you come into my quarter about three hours ago, just as I was finishing breakfast, and ask me to come up here and play a game at billiards with you?' "'No; it must have been somebody else. Who gave you the message?' "'Message! there was no message,' I answered, quite bewildered. 'You came in yourself--you know you did. What's the use of trying to hoax one?'