"Can't, 'pon honor," replied the colonel, who probably thought that it was not becoming in him to be more ingenious than his feeder. The colonel indeed was willing to do whatever he might be bid, to say whatever might be put into his mouth, to write whatever might be dictated to him, and to go wherever he might be sent. But he was by no means a self-acting machine. He would do anything for any body, but he required to be told explicitly what to do. After a pause of some minutes, Lord Spoonbill observed; "Perhaps some use might be made of the stoppage of Mr Primrose's banker. I forget the name; have you any recollection of it?" "Can't say I have, 'pon honor;" replied the colonel. To proceed much farther in narrating this lively dialogue which took place between the Right Honorable Lord Spoonbill and Colonel Crop, as to the most likely means of forwarding the designs which his lordship meditated against Miss Primrose, would contribute more to the reader's weariness than to his amusement or edification. It will be enough in the present state of affairs to say, that this notable colloquy terminated in the determination on the part of his lordship to take no immediate steps in the affair till he had ascertained what effect the anonymous letter had produced upon Robert Darnley. For this purpose, Colonel Crop might render himself useful. Instructions were therefore given him accordingly, and he was ordered to ride over to Neverden Hall, where he might be most likely to gain some information. Early therefore, on the following morning, the gallant colonel found his way to the mansion of the worthy baronet and able magistrate, Sir George Aimwell. The unpaid one was mightily well pleased at the visit, and he shook the hand of the half-paid one till his fingers ached. "Well, Colonel, I am glad to see you. So you are tired of the gaieties of London already, and you are coming to relieve our dullness in the country. How are our noble neighbours?" "Quite well, I thank you," replied the colonel, who felt himself one of great importance in being able to speak so readily and assuredly concerning nobility. And here we will take the opportunity, and a very fit one it is, of observing on a very curious fact, namely, that the reverence for nobility and high rank is not felt so acutely and powerfully by simple and unmixed plebeians, as it is by those who have some remote affinity to nobility, or who fancy themselves to be a shadow or two of a caste above the mere plebeian. Colonel Crop was not of noble family, but he was the last of a mighty puissant race of insignificant attenuated gentry in a country town; and as nobility was a scarce article in the neighbourhood where he was born and brought up, he was mightily proud of his intimacy with the noble family of the Spoonbills. But to proceed. "Now, colonel, as you are here," said the worthy baronet, "I hope you will stay and spend the day with me."