doubtful ground, intimated merely that the essence of true fashion was _simplicity_--but here Titmouse grew fidgety, and his Mentor ceased. During the night which ushered in the eventful day on which Titmouse dined with the Earl of Dreddlington, our friend got but very little sleep. Early in the morning he engaged a most respectable glass-coach to convey him westward in the evening, in something like style; and before noon, his anxieties were set at rest by the punctual arrival of various articles of dress, decoration, and scent--for Titmouse had a great idea of scents. As for his new watch and its brilliant gold guard-chain--ambitious reader! you should have seen them! About half-past four o'clock Titmouse retired to his bedroom, and resigned himself into the hands of Mr. Twirl, the tip-top hairdresser from the Strand, whose agreeable manipulations, and still more agreeable small-talk, occupied upwards of an hour; Titmouse, from time to time, giving the anxious operator abundant notice of the high quarter in which his handiwork was likely soon to be scrutinized. "Pray-a, can you tell me," quoth Titmouse, drawlingly, shortly after Twirl had commenced his operations, "how long it will take me to get from this infernal part of the town to Grosvenor Square? _Dem_ long way, isn't it, Mr. What's-your-name?" "Grosvenor Square, sir?" said Twirl, glibly, but with a perceptible dash of deference in his tone; "why it _is_ as one might say a tolerable way off, certainly; but you can't well miss your way _there_, sir, of all places in town"---- "My coachman," interrupted Titmouse, with a fine air, "of course, had I thought of it, _he_ must know, dem him, of course!" "Oh! to be sure, sir. There's none but people of the most _highest_ rank lives in that quarter, sir. Excuse me, sir, but I've a brother-in-law that's valet to the Duke of Dunderwhistle there"---- "Indeed! How far off is that from Lord Dreddlington's?" inquired Titmouse, carelessly. "Lord Dreddlington's, sir?--Well, I never! Isn't it particular strange, if that's where you're going, sir--it's next door to the Duke's--the very next door, sir!" "'Pon my life, is it indeed? How devilish odd!" "Know the Earl of Dreddlington then, I presume, sir?" "Ya-as, I should think so; he's my--my--relation, that's all; and devilish near too!" Mr. Twirl instantly conceived a kind of reverence for the gentleman upon whom he was operating.