TOUGH YAKNS.

331

statements: always dress a fact in tights, never in an ulster;J or,
' Pardon, once more: if you are going to load anything more on to
that statement, you want to get a couple of lighters and tow the rest,
because it's drawing all the water there is in the river already; stick
to facts—just stick to the cold facts; what these gentlemen want for
a book is the frozen truth—ain't that so, gentlemen 1' He explained
privately that it was necessary to watch this man all the time, and
keep him within bounds; it would not do to neglect this precaution,
as he, Mr. EL, * knew to his sorrow*' Said he, * I will not deceive you;
he told me such a monstrous lie onee> that it swelled my left ear up,
and spread it so that I was actually not able to see out around it; it
remained so for months, and people came miles to see me fen myself
with it.