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THE EPISODE OF THE GAME OF POKER
249
'Roast lamb or boiled turkey, sir?' said the footman.
'Mary had a little lamb,' said the poet. 'I shall imitate Mary.'
Charles and the Senator thought the remark undignified.
I shall imitate Mary.
After dinner, however, under the mellowing influence of some excellent Roederer, Charles began to expand again, and grew lively and anecdotal. The poet had made us all laugh not a little with various capital stories of London literary society—at least two of them, I think, new ones; and Charles was moved by generous emulation to contribute his
