"Mr. Vane, madam, is a gentleman of taste," said he, pompously.
"Well, sir," said the lady, languidly, "she is not here." Triplet took
the hint and rose. "Good-by," said she, sweetly; and thank you kindly for
your company,
"Triplet, madam--James Triplet, of 10, Hercules Buildings, Lambeth.
Occasional verses, odes, epithalamia, elegies, dedications, squibs,
impromptus and hymns executed with spirit, punctuality and secrecy.
Portraits painted, and instruction in declamation, sacred, profane and
dramatic. The card, madam" (and he drew it as doth a theatrical fop his
rapier) "of him who, to all these qualifications adds a prouder
still--that of being,
"Madam,
"Your humble, devoted and grateful servant,
JAMES TRIPLET."
He bowed in a line from his right shoulder to his left toe, and moved
off. But Triplet could not go all at one time out of such company; he was
given to return in real life, he had played this trick so often on the
stage. He came back, exuberant with gratitude.
"The fact is, madam," said he, "strange as it may appear to you, a kind
hand has not so often been held out to me, that I should forget it,
especially when that hand is so fair and gracious. May I be permitted,
madam--you will impute it to gratitude rather than audacity--I--I--"
(whimper), "madam" (with sudden severity), "I am gone!"
These last words he pronounced with the right arm at an angle of
forty-five degrees, and the fingers pointing horizontally.
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