I guess you are the man who staid with me a fortnight two years ago, when I kept house in York state, and borried my chaise to go a jaunting, and told me to take care of your trunks that had nothing but a big stone in it, till you came back. I got my horse and chaise agin," continued he, seizing the astounded professor of the dancing and military arts by the collar, "and now I'll take my recknin out of your skin, if I can't get it any other way."
At this moment the new captain and a considerable number of his merry men entered the house. After they had learned the circumstances of the case, from what passed between monsieur and the landlord, one of them cried out, "ride him on a rail—let him take his steps in the air!"
"He ought to dance on nothing, with a rope round his neck," said Thomas.
"No, no," said a third, "he has taken steps enough; that flashy jacket had better be swapped for one of tar and feathers."
"Messieurs, messieurs," said Lavoisier, "je suis bien malheureux. I am very sorry. Il etoit mon malheur—it was my misère to not pay monsieur Thomas, and it was his malheur not to be paid. I shall show you my honneur, when I shall get de l'argent. Il faut se soumettre aux circonstances. De honesty of every body depend upon what dey can do. I am sure, every body is gentleman in dis country. C'est un beau pays."
By this time one of the corporals had set a skillet of tar on the fire, and another, at the direction
