No sooner had Mr. Seymour put the card in motion, than the vicar, in a tone of the greatest surprise, exclaimed, “Magic! magic! I declare the rat is in the cage!!” “And what is the motto?” asked Louisa. “Why is this rat like an opposition member in the House of Commons, who joins the ministry?” replied Mr. Seymour. “Ha, ha, ha!--excellent!” cried the major, as he read the following answer: “because by _turning round_ he gains a snug berth, but ceases to be free.” “The very reverse to what occurred in ancient Rome, where the slave became free by turning round,” observed the vicar. The vicar, no doubt, alluded to the custom of making a freeman, as described by Persius; from which it appears, that the clapping a cap on the head, and giving him a turn on the heel, were necessary circumstances. A slave thus qualified became a citizen of Rome, and was honoured with a name more than belonged to any of his forefathers, which Persius has repeated with a great deal of humour in his 5th satire:-- “----Heu steriles veri, quibus una Quiritem  Vertigo facit!” “That false enfranchisement with ease is found;  Slaves are made citizens by turning round.” DRYDEN. “Show us another card,” said Tom, eagerly. “Here then is a watch-box; when I turn it round, you will see the watchman comfortably sleeping at his post.” “Very good! It is very surprising,” said the vicar. “Yes,” observed the major; “and to carry on your political joke, it may be said that, like most worthies who gain a post, by _turning round_, he sleeps over his duty.” “The epigram which accompanies it is not deficient in point,” said Mr. Seymour. “The caprice of this watchman surpasses all bound  He ne’er sits in his box, but when going his _round_  While he no sooner rests, ’tis a strange paradox!  Than he flies from his post, and _turns_ out of his box.” “What have you there?” exclaimed the vicar; “arms and legs, without a body?” “Yes,” replied Mr. Seymour; “and which, on turning round, will present the figure of a king, invested with all the insignia of royalty.” “It is indeed a king. Look at his crown and sceptre!” cried Louisa. “Now for the epigram,” said the major, who then read the following lines:-- “Head, legs, and arms, alone appear;  Observe that _nobody_ is here;  Napoleon-like I undertake  Of nobody a king to make.” The next card presented a laughing face, which on being turned round, was instantly changed into a weeping one. The motto--_The sweetest things turn sour_. “The device is capital!” exclaimed the vicar, “I question whether Peter of Cortona ever produced a more striking metamorphosis.”[64]