"
Mr. Brimberly cleared his throat vigorously and thereafter emitted
certain rumbling noises, whereat Mr. Jenkins cocked a knowing head.
"C sharp, I think?" he announced.
"Not much, Jenk!" said Mr. Stevens decidedly, "it was D flat--as flat a
D as ever I heard!"
"It was C!" Mr. Jenkins said, "I appeal to Brim."
"Well," said Mr. Brimberly ponderously, "I'm reether inclined to think I
made it a D--if it wasn't D it was F nat'ral. But if it's all the same
to you, I'll accompany myself at the piano-forty."
"What," exclaimed Mr. Stevens, emptying and refilling his glass, seeing
which Mr. Jenkins did the same, "what--do you play, Brim?"
"By hear, sir--only by hear," said Mr. Brimberly modestly, as, having
placed bottle and glass upon the piano within convenient reach, he
seated himself upon the stool, struck three or four stumbling chords and
then, vamping an accompaniment a trifle monotonous as to bass, burst
forth into song:
"It was a rich merchant that in London did dwell,
He had but one daughter, a beautiful gell,
Which her name it was Dinah, scarce sixteen years old,
She'd a very large fortune in silver and gold.
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