Edgar Poe - Bon-Bon

"Only think - hiccup! - of a fricasseed shadow!" exclaimed our hero, whose faculties were becoming much illuminated by the profundity of his Majesty's discourse.

"Only think of a hiccup! - fricasseed shadow!! Now, damme! - hiccup! - humph! If I would have been such a - hiccup! - nincompoop! My soul, Mr. - humph!"

"Your soul, Monsieur Bon-Bon?"

"Yes, sir - hiccup! - my soul is - "

"What, sir?"

"No shadow, damme!"

"Did you mean to say - "

"Yes, sir, my soul is - hiccup! - humph! - yes, sir."

"Did you not intend to assert - "

"My soul is - hiccup! - peculiarly qualified for - hiccup! - a - "

"What, sir?"

"Stew."

"Ha!"

"Soufflee."

"Eh!"

"Fricassee."

"Indeed!"

"Ragout and fricandeau - and see here, my good fellow! I'll let you have it - hiccup! - a bargain." Here the philosopher slapped his Majesty upon the back.

"Couldn't think of such a thing," said the latter calmly, at the same time rising from his seat. The metaphysician stared.

"Am supplied at present," said his Majesty.

"Hiccup - e-h?" said the philosopher.

"Have no funds on hand."

"What?"

"Besides, very unhandsome in me - "

"Sir!"

"To take advantage of - "

"Hiccup!"

"Your present disgusting and ungentlemanly situation."

Here the visiter bowed and withdrew - in what manner could not precisely be ascertained - but in a well-concerted effort to discharge a bottle at "the villain," the slender chain was severed that depended from the ceiling, and the metaphysician prostrated by the downfall of the lamp.