"To hear that man talk," said George Lamb, "one might almost be led to believe he was a very fine fellow!" On our arrival at Livius's lodgings in Dover Street, we found an elegant, cold supper laid out, with plenty of champagne on the side-board. "Your master is gone to the watch-house," said Elliston, "and has requested me to do the honours. Ah! ah!" continued he, taking up one of the soup plates, "we have white soup, I presume. I am very fond of white soup, and am very hungry. Pray, bring it up directly." The young lady and I declare that it was a shame and a sin to sit down without Livius. George Lamb begged leave to differ in opinion; because he wanted his supper. Elliston insisted, and the white soup made its appearance. In about a quarter of an hour after we were seated, Livius entered the room quite out of breath. "Did not I tell you he would soon join us?" said Elliston. "Sit down, my dear Livius. Your white soup was so excellent, that there is none left. You used my name, of course, at the watch-house?" "If he had, he would have been kept there for a week," observed George Lamb, and Elliston laughed heartily, though very slily. "This," said Elliston, drawing out a small unbound volume from his pocket, "this is the French farce from which Kemble has taken the new piece he is to bring out next Thursday. What think you of our getting it up the same evening?" "Let me see it," said Livius. Elliston desired that he would translate a few lines. George Lamb and Elliston together, after they had listened to a page or two, with one voice exclaimed, "Very stupid." "Mine is but mere literal translation," said Livius. "Harriette, no doubt, could make something of it." "Will you oblige me by undertaking it, madam?" inquired Elliston, "and completing it in two days?" "If anybody can be found to accomplish the songs," I observed, "I won't be behindhand." "I will rhyme them in English," said George Lamb, "if you really wish it." "And I will set them to music," added Livius, "provided Mr. Lamb will sit up all night to get them done in time for me." "I think it wont answer," said George, "and be only tiring the poor performers, as well as ourselves, to no purpose; but, if you really have fixed your heart upon the thing, I will devote a night, and finish the songs." Elliston waxed more generous as he waxed more drunk, and suddenly throwing the farce behind the fire, exclaimed, "This competition with the other house is paltry and ungentlemanlike. I will have none of it. It is in too bad a taste; besides," said he, half in mockery, "Mr. Livius's piece is to have such a run, we shall want nothing else all the season!" "Apropos of that little piece," said I, "I wish Livius would play the songs, and sing them to us."