" A very honest
gentleman, remarkable for the gravity of his deportment, was one
day in a certain coffee-house accosted by one of his particular
friends, who, taking him by the hand, expressed uncommon satisfaction
in seeing him abroad, and in good health, after the dangerous and
portentous malady he had undergone. Surprised at this salutation,
the gentleman replied, it was true he had been a little out of
order overnight, but there was nothing at all extraordinary in his
indisposition. "Jesu! not extraordinary!" cried the other, "when
you vomited three black crows." This strange exclamation the grave
gentleman at first mistook for raillery, though his friend was
no joker; but, perceiving in him all the marks of sincerity and
astonishment, he suddenly changed his opinion, and, after a short
reverie, taking him aside, expressed himself in these words: "Sir,
it is not unknown to you that I am at present engaged in a treaty
of marriage, which would have been settled long ago, had it not
been retarded by the repeated machinations of a certain person
who professed himself my rival.
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