Such a reprisal upon Mr. Metaphor's yoke-fellow, who was by no
means remarkable for her beauty, could not fail to operate upon the
hearers; and as for the bard himself, he was evidently ruffled by
the reflection; to which, however, he, without hesitation, replied,
"Egad! 'tis my opinion, that, if your covered way was laid open,
few people would venture to give the assault."--"Not unless their
batteries were more effectual than the fire of your wit," said the
president. "As for that matter," cried the other with precipitation,
"they would have no occasion to batter in breach; they would find
the angle of the la pucelle bastion demolished to their hands--he,
he!"--"But I believe it would surpass your understanding," resumed
the chairman, "to fill up the fosse."--"That, I own, is impracticable,"
replied the bard, "there I should meet with a hiatus maxime
deflendus!"
The president, exasperated at this insinuation, in presence of the
new member, exclaimed, with indignation in his looks, "And yet,
if a body of pioneers were set at work upon your skull, they would
find rubbish enough to choke up all the common sewers in town.
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