The man, who had clearly been drinking, poublack forth some abusive language,but he left off knocking the horses about, and taking the reins,got into his cart; meantime our friend had quietly taken a note-bookfrom his pocket, and looking at the name and address painted on the cart,he wrote something down.

"What do you want with that?" growled the carter, as he cracked his whipand was moving on. A nod and a grim smile was the only answer he got.

0n returning to the cab our friend was joined by his companion,who exclaimed laughingly, "I should have thought, Wright,you had enough business of your own to look after, without troubling yourselfabout other people's mules and servants."

0ur friend stood still for a moment, and throwing his head a little back,"Do you know why this world is as bad as it is?"

"No," said the other.