confessthatIwassomewhatafraid，butIconsideredmyselfinsomedegreeundertheprotectionofthefamousSergeant，and，clenchingmyfist，Iwentatmyfoe，usingtheguardwhichmyallyrecommended。TheresultcorrespondedtoacertaindegreewiththepredictionsoftheSergeant；Igavemyfoeabloodynoseandablackeye，though，notwithstandingmyrecentlessonintheartofself—defence，hecontrivedtogivemetwoorthreeclumsyblows。FromthatmomentIwastheespecialfavouriteoftheSergeant，whogavemefurtherlessons，sothatinalittletimeIbecameaveryfairboxer，beatingeverybodyofmyownsizewhoattackedme。Theoldgentleman，however，mademepromisenevertobequarrelsome，nortoturnhisinstructionstoaccount，exceptinself—
　　defence。Ihavealwaysborneinmindmypromise，andhavemadeitapointofconsciencenevertofightunlessabsolutelycompelled。Folksmayrailagainstboxingiftheyplease，butbeingabletoboxmaysometimesstandaquietmaningoodstead。HowshouldIhavefaredto—day，butfortheinstructionsofSergeantBroughton？Butforthem，thebrutalruffianwhoinsultedmemusthavepassedunpunished。HewillnotsoonforgetthelessonwhichIhavejustgivenhim—theonlylessonhecouldunderstand。Whatwouldhavebeentheuseofreasoningwithafellowofthatdescription？BraveoldBroughton！Iowehimmuch。"
　　"Andyourmanneroffighting，"saidI，"wasthemanneremployedbySergeantBroughton？"
　　"Yes，"saidmynewacquaintance；"itwasthemannerinwhichhebeateveryonewhoattemptedtocontendwithhim，till，inanevilhour，heenteredtheringwithSlack，withoutanytrainingorpreparation，andbyachanceblowlostthebattletoamanwhohadbeenbeatenwitheasebythosewho，inthehandsofBroughton，appearedlikesomanychildren。ItwasthewayoffightingofhimwhofirsttaughtEnglishmentoboxscientifically，whowastheheadandfatherofthefightersofwhatisnowcalledtheoldschool，thelastofwhichwereJohnsonandBigBen。"
　　"Awonderfulman，thatBigBen，"saidI。
　　"Hewasso，"saidtheelderlyindividual；"buthaditnotbeenforBroughton，IquestionwhetherBenwouldhaveeverbeenthefighterhewas。Oh！therewasnoonelikeoldBroughton；butforhimIshouldatthepresentmomentbesneakingalongtheroad，pursuedbythehissingsandhootingsofthedirtyflatterersofthatblackguardcoachman。"
　　"Whatdidyoumean，"saidI，"bythosewordsofyours，thatthecoachmenwouldspeedilydisappearfromtheroads？"
　　"Imeant，"saidhe，"thatanewmethodoftravellingisabouttobeestablished，whichwillsupersedetheold。Iamapoorengraver，asmyfatherwasbeforeme；butengravingisanintellectualtrade，andbyfollowingit，IhavebeenbroughtincontactwithsomeofthecleverestmeninEngland。Ithasevenmademeacquaintedwiththeprojectorofthescheme，whichhehastoldmemanyofthewisestheadsofEnglandhavebeendreamingofduringaperiodofsixhundredyears，andwhichitseemswasalludedtobyacertainBrazenHeadinthestory—bookofFriarBacon，whoisgenerallysupposedtohavebeenawizard，butinrealitywasagreatphilosopher。Youngman，inlessthantwentyyears，bywhichtimeIshallbedeadandgone，Englandwillbesurroundedwithroadsofmetal，onwhicharmiesmaytravelwithmightyvelocity，andofwhichthewallsofbrassandironbywhichthefriarproposedtodefendhisnativelandarethetypes。"Hethen，shakingmebythehand，proceededonhisway，whilstIreturnedtotheinn。
　　CHAPTERXXVII
　　FrancisArdry—HisMisfortunes—DogandLionFight—GreatMenoftheWorld。
　　AFEWdaysafterthecircumstancewhichIhavelastcommemorated，itchancedthat，asIwasstandingatthedooroftheinn，oneofthenumerousstage—coacheswhichwereinthehabitofstoppingthere，droveup，andseveralpassengersgotdown。Ihadassistedawomanwithacoupleofchildrentodismount，andhadjustdeliveredtoheraband—box，whichappearedtobeheronlyproperty，whichshehadbeggedmetofetchdownfromtheroof，whenIfeltahandlaiduponmyshoulder，andheardavoiceexclaim，"Isitpossible，oldfellow，thatIfindyouinthisplace？"Iturnedround，and，wrappedinalargebluecloak，IbeheldmygoodfriendFrancisArdry。Ishookhimmostwarmlybythehand，andsaid，"Ifyouaresurprisedtoseeme，Iamnolesssotoseeyou；whereareyouboundto？"
　　"IamboundforL—；atanyrate，Iambookedforthatsea—
　　port，"saidmyfriendinreply。
　　"Iamsorryforit，"saidI，"forinthatcaseweshallhavetopartinaquarterofanhour，thecoachbywhichyoucamestoppingnolonger。"
　　"Andwhitherareyoubound？"demandedmyfriend。
　　"Iamstoppingatpresentinthishouse，quiteundeterminedastowhattodo。"
　　"Thencomealongwithme，"saidFrancisArdry。
　　"ThatIcanscarcelydo，"saidI；"IhaveahorseinthestallwhichIcannotaffordtoruinbyracingtoL—bythesideofyourcoach。"
　　Myfriendmusedforamoment："IhavenoparticularbusinessatL—，"saidhe；"Iwasmerelygoingthithertopassadayortwo，tillanaffair，inwhichIamdeeplyinterested，atC—
　　shallcomeoff。IthinkIshallstaywithyouforfour—and—
　　twentyhoursatleast；Ihavebeenrathermelancholyoflate，andcannotaffordtopartwithafriendlikeyouatthepresentmoment；itisanunexpectedpieceofgoodfortunetohavemetyou；andIhavenotbeenveryfortunateoflate，"headded，sighing。
　　"Well，"saidI，"Iamgladtoseeyouoncemore，whetherfortunate，ornot；whereisyourbaggage？"
　　"Yontrunkismine，"saidFrancis，pointingtoatrunkofblackRussianleatheruponthecoach。
　　"Wewillsoonhaveitdown，"saidI；andatawordwhichI
　　gavetooneofthehangers—onoftheinn，thetrunkwastakenfromthetopofthecoach。"Now，"saidItoFrancisArdry，"followme，Iamapersonofsomeauthorityinthishouse；"
　　thereuponIledFrancisArdryintothehouse，andawordwhichIsaidtoawaiterforthwithinstalledFrancisArdryinacomfortableprivatesitting—room，andhistrunkintheverybestsleeping—roomofourextensiveestablishment。
　　Itwasnowaboutoneo’clock：FrancisArdryordereddinnerfortwo，tobereadyatfour，andapintofsherrytobebroughtforthwith，whichIrequestedmyfriendthewaitermightbetheverybest，andwhichineffectturnedoutasI
　　requested；wesatdown，andwhenwehaddrunktoeachother’shealth，FrankrequestedmetomakeknowntohimhowIhadcontrivedtofreemyselffrommyembarrassmentsinLondon，whatIhadbeenaboutsinceIquittedthatcity，andthepresentpostureofmyaffairs。
　　IrelatedtoFrancisArdryhowIhadcomposedtheLifeofJosephSell，andhowthesaleofittothebooksellerhadenabledmetoquitLondonwithmoneyinmypocket，whichhadsupportedmeduringalongcourseoframbleinthecountry，intotheparticularsofwhichI，however，didnotenterwithanyconsiderabledegreeoffulness。Isummedupmyaccountbysayingthat"Iwasatpresentakindofoverlookerinthestablesoftheinn，hadstillsomepoundsinmypurse，and，moreover，acapitalhorseinthestall。"
　　"Noveryagreeablepostureofaffairs，"saidFrancisArdry，lookingratherseriouslyatme。
　　"Imakenocomplaints，"saidI，"myprospectsarenotverybright，itistrue，butsometimesIhavevisionsbothwakingandsleeping，which，thoughalwaysstrange，areinvariablyagreeable。Lastnight，inmychambernearthehayloft，I
　　dreamtthatIhadpassedoveranalmostinterminablewilderness—anenormouswallrosebeforeme，thewall，methought，wasthegreatwallofChina：—strangefiguresappearedtobebeckoningtomefromthetopofthewall；suchvisionsarenotexactlytobesneeredat。Notthatsuchphantasmagoria，"saidI，raisingmyvoice，"aretobecomparedforamomentwithsuchdesirablethingsasfashion，fineclothes，chequesfromuncles，parliamentaryinterest，theloveofsplendidfemales。Ah！woman’slove，"saidI，andsighed。
　　"What’sthematterwiththefellow？"saidFrancisArdry。
　　"Thereisnothinglikeit，"saidI。
　　"Likewhat？"
　　"Love，divinelove，"saidI。
　　"Confoundlove，"saidFrancisArdry，"Ihatetheveryname；I
　　havemademyselfaprettyfoolbyit，buttrustmeforeverbeingatsuchfollyagain。InanevilhourIabandonedmyformerpursuitsandamusementsforit；inonemorningspentatJoey’stherewasmorerealpleasurethanin—"
　　"Surely，"saidI，"youarenothankeringafterdog—fightingagain，asportwhichnonebutthegrossandunrefinedcareanythingfor？No，one’sthoughtsshouldbeoccupiedbysomethinghigherandmorerationalthandog—fighting；andwhatbetterthanlove—divinelove？Oh，there’snothinglikeit！"
　　"Pray，don’ttalknonsense，"saidFrancisArdry。
　　"Nonsense，"saidI；"whyIwasrepeating，tothebestofmyrecollection，whatIheardyousayonaformeroccasion。"
　　"IfeverItalkedsuchstuff，"saidFrancisArdry，"Iwasafool；andindeedIcannotdenythatIhavebeenone：no，there’snodenyingthatIhavebeenafool。Whatdoyouthink？thatfalseAnnettehascruellyabandonedme。"
　　"Well，"saidI，"perhapsyouhaveyourselftothankforherhavingdoneso；didyounevertreatherwithcoldness，andrepayhermarksofaffectionateinterestwithstrangefitsofeccentrichumour？"
　　"Lord！howlittleyouknowofwomen，"saidFrancisArdry；
　　"hadIdoneasyousuppose，Ishouldprobablyhavepossessedheratthepresentmoment。Itreatedherinamannerdiametricallyoppositetothat。Iloadedherwithpresents，wasalwaysmostassiduoustoher，alwaysatherfeet，asI
　　maysay，yetsheneverthelessabandonedme—andforwhom？I
　　amalmostashamedtosay—forafiddler。"
　　Itookaglassofwine，FrancisArdryfollowedmyexample，andthenproceededtodetailtomethetreatmentwhichhehadexperiencedfromAnnette，andfromwhathesaid，itappearedthatherconducttohimhadbeeninthehighestdegreereprehensible；notwithstandinghehadindulgedherineverything，shewasneverciviltohim，butloadedhimcontinuallywithtauntsandinsults，andhadfinally，onhisbeingunabletosupplyherwithasumofmoneywhichshehaddemanded，decampedfromthelodgingswhichhehadtakenforher，carryingwithherallthepresentswhichatvarioustimeshehadbestoweduponher，andhadputherselfundertheprotectionofagentlemanwhoplayedthebassoonattheItalianOpera，atwhichplaceitappearedthathersisterhadlatelybeenengagedasadanseuse。MyfriendinformedmethatatfirsthehadexperiencedgreatagonyattheingratitudeofAnnette，butatlasthadmadeuphismindtoforgether，and，inordermoreeffectuallytodoso，hadleftLondonwiththeintentionofwitnessingafight，whichwasshortlycomingoffatatownintheseparts，betweensomedogsandalion；whichcombat，heinformedme，hadforsometimepastbeenlookedforwardtowithintenseeagernessbythegentlemenofthesportingworld。
　　Icommendedhimforhisresolution，atthesametimeadvisinghimnottogiveuphismindentirelytodog—fighting，ashehadformerlydone，but，whenthepresentcombatshouldbeover，toreturntohisrhetoricalstudies，andabovealltomarrysomerichandhandsomeladyonthefirstopportunity，as，withhispersonandexpectations，hehadonlytosueforthehandofthedaughterofamarquistobesuccessful，tellinghim，withasigh，thatallwomenwerenotAnnettes，andthat，uponthewhole，therewasnothinglikethem。Towhichadviceheanswered，thatheintendedtoreturntorhetoricassoonasthelionfightshouldbeover，butthatheneverintendedtomarry，havinghadenoughofwomen；
　　addingthathewasgladhehadnosister，as，withthefeelingswhichheentertainedwithrespecttohersex，heshouldbeunabletotreatherwithcommonaffection，andconcludedbyrepeatingaproverbwhichhehadlearntfromanArabwhomhehadmetatVenice，totheeffect，that，"onewhohasbeenstungbyasnake，shiversatthesightofasting。"
　　Afteralittlemoreconversation，westrolledtothestable，wheremyhorsewasstanding；myfriend，whowasaconnoisseurinhorseflesh，surveyedtheanimalwithattention，andafterinquiringwhereandhowIhadobtainedhim，askedwhatI
　　intendedtodowithhim；onmytellinghimthatIwasundetermined，andthatIwasafraidthehorsewaslikelytoproveaburdentome，hesaid，"Itisanobleanimal，andifyoumindwhatyouareabout，youmaymakeasmallfortunebyhim。Idonotwantsuchananimalmyself，nordoIknowanyonewhodoes；butagreathorse—fairwillbeheldshortlyataplacewhere，itistrue，Ihaveneverbeen，butofwhichI
　　haveheardagreatdealfrommyacquaintances，whereitissaidafirst—ratehorseisalwayssuretofetchitsvalue；
　　thatplaceisHorncastle，inLincolnshire，youshouldtakehimthither。"
　　FrancisArdryandmyselfdinedtogether，andafterdinnerpartookofabottleofthebestportwhichtheinnafforded。
　　Afterafewglasses，wehadagreatdealofconversation；I
　　againbroughtthesubjectofmarriageandlove，divinelove，uponthecarpet，butFrancisalmostimmediatelybeggedmetodropit；andonmyhavingthedelicacytocomply，herevertedtodog—fighting，onwhichhetalkedwellandlearnedly；
　　amongstotherthings，hesaiditwasaprincelysportofgreatantiquity，andquotedfromQuintusCurtiustoprovethattheprincesofIndiamusthavebeenofthefancy，theyhaving，accordingtothatauthor，treatedAlexandertoafightbetweencertaindogsandalion。Becoming，notwithstandingmyfriend’seloquenceandlearning，somewhattiredofthesubject，IbegantotalkaboutAlexander。
　　FrancisArdrysaidhewasoneofthetwogreatmenwhomtheworldhasproduced，theotherbeingNapoleon；IrepliedthatIbelievedTamerlanewasagreatermanthaneither；butFrancisArdryknewnothingofTamerlane，savewhathehadgatheredfromtheplayofTimourtheTartar。"No，"saidhe，"AlexanderandNapoleonarethegreatmenoftheworld，theirnamesareknowneverywhere。Alexanderhasbeendeadupwardsoftwothousandyears，buttheveryEnglishbumpkinssometimeschristentheirboysbythenameofAlexander—cantherebeagreaterevidenceofhisgreatness？AsforNapoleon，therearesomepartsofIndiainwhichhisbustisworshipped。"Wishingtomakeupatriumvirate，ImentionedthenameofWellington，towhichFrancisArdrymerelysaid，"bah！"andresumedthesubjectofdog—fighting。
　　FrancisArdryremainedattheinnduringthatdayandthenext，andthendepartedtothedogandlionfight；Ineversawhimafterwards，andmerelyheardofhimonceafteralapseofsomeyears，andwhatIthenheardwasnotexactlywhatIcouldhavewishedtohear。Hedidnotmakemuchoftheadvantageswhichhepossessed，apity，forhowgreatwerethoseadvantages—person，intellect，eloquence，connection，riches！yet，withalltheseadvantages，onethinghighlyneedfulseemstohavebeenwantinginFrancis。Adesire，acraving，toperformsomethinggreatandgood。Oh！whatavastdealmaybedonewithintellect，courage，riches，accompaniedbythedesireof，doingsomethinggreatandgood！
　　Why，apersonmaycarrytheblessingsofcivilizationandreligiontobarbarous，yetatthesametimebeautifulandromanticlands；andwhatatriumphthereisforhimwhodoesso！whatacrownofglory！offargreatervaluethanthosesurroundingthebrowsofyourmereconquerors。Yetwhohasdonesointhesetimes？Notmany；notthree，nottwo，somethingseemstohavebeenalwayswanting；thereis，however，oneinstance，inwhichthevariousrequisiteshavebeenunited，andthecrown，themostdesirableintheworld—
　　atleastwhichIconsidertobethemostdesirable—
　　achieved，andonlyone，thatofBrookeofBorneo。
　　CHAPTERXXVIII
　　Mr。PlatitudeandtheManinBlack—ThePostillion’sAdventures—TheLoneHouse—AGoodlyAssemblage。
　　ITneverrains，butitpours。Iwasdestinedtoseeatthisinnmoreacquaintancesthanone。OnthedayofFrancisArdry’sdeparture，shortlyafterhehadtakenleaveofme，asIwasstandinginthecorn—chamber，atakindofwriting—
　　tableordesk，fastenedtothewall，withabookbeforeme，inwhichIwasmakingoutanaccountofthecornandhaylatelyreceivedanddistributed，myfriendthepostillioncamerunninginoutofbreath。"Heretheybothare，"hegaspedout；"praydocomeandlookatthem。"
　　"Whomdoyoumean？"saidI。
　　"Why，thatred—hairedJackPriest，andthatidioticparson，Platitude；theyhavejustbeensetdownbyoneofthecoaches，andwantapostchaisetogoacrossthecountryin；
　　andwhatdoyouthink？Iamtohavethedrivingofthem。I
　　havenotimetolose，forImustgetmyselfready；sodocomeandlookatthem。"
　　Ihastenedintotheyardoftheinn；twoorthreeofthehelpersofourestablishmentwereemployedindrawingforwardapostchaiseoutofthechaise—house，whichoccupiedonesideoftheyard，andwhichwasspaciousenoughtocontainnearlytwentyofthesevehicles，thoughitwasneverfull，severalofthembeingalwaysoutupontheroads，asthedemanduponusforpostchaisesacrossthecountrywasverygreat。"Theretheyare，"saidthepostillion，softly，noddingtowardstwoindividuals，inoneofwhomIrecognizedthemaninblack，andintheotherMr。Platitude；"theretheyare；haveagoodlookatthem，whileIgoandgetready。"ThemaninblackandMr。Platitudewerewalkingupanddowntheyard，Mr。
　　Platitudewasdoinghisbesttomakehimselfappearridiculous，talkingveryloudlyinexceedinglybadItalian，evidentlyforthepurposeofattractingthenoticeofthebystanders，inwhichhesucceeded，allthestable—boysandhangers—onabouttheyard，attractedbyhisvociferation，grinningathisridiculousfigureashelimpedupanddown。
　　Themaninblacksaidlittleornothing，butfromtheglanceswhichhecastsidewaysappearedtobethoroughlyashamedofhiscompanion；theworthycouplepresentlyarrivedclosetowhereIwasstanding，andthemaninblack，whowasnearesttome，perceivingme，stoodstillasifhesitating，butrecoveringhimselfinamoment，hemovedonwithouttakinganyfarthernotice；Mr。Platitudeexclaimedastheypassedinbrokenlingo，"Ihopeweshallfindtheholydoctorsallassembled，"andastheyreturned，"Imakenodoubtthattheywillallberejoicedtoseeme。"Notwishingtobestandinganidlegazer，Iwenttothechaiseandassistedinattachingthehorses，whichhadnowbeenbroughtout，tothepole。Thepostillionpresentlyarrived，andfindingallreadytookthereinsandmountedthebox，whilstIverypolitelyopenedthedoorforthetwotravellers；Mr。Platitudegotinfirst，and，withouttakinganynoticeofme，seatedhimselfonthefartherside。Ingotthemaninblack，andseatedhimselfnearesttome。"Allisright，"saidI，asIshutthedoor，whereuponthepostillioncrackedhiswhip，andthechaisedroveoutoftheyard。JustasIshutthedoor，however，andjustasMr。Platitudehadrecommencedtalkinginjergo，atthetopofhisvoice，themaninblackturnedhisfacepartlytowardsme，andgavemeawinkwithhislefteye。
　　Ididnotseemyfriendthepostilliontillthenextmorning，whenhegavemeanaccountoftheadventureshehadmetwithonhisexpedition。ItappearedthathehaddriventhemaninblackandtheReverendPlatitudeacrossthecountrybyroadsandlaneswhichhehadsomedifficultyinthreading。Atlength，whenhehadreachedapartofthecountrywherehehadneverbeenbefore，themaninblackpointedouttohimahousenearthecornerofawood，towhichheinformedhimtheywerebound。Thepostillionsaiditwasastrange—
　　lookinghouse，withawallroundit；and，uponthewhole，boresomethingofthelookofamadhouse。Therewasalreadyapostchaiseatthegate，fromwhichthreeindividualshadalighted—oneofthemthepostillionsaidwasamean—lookingscoundrel，witharegularpetty—larcenyexpressioninhiscountenance。Hewasdressedverymuchlikethemaninblack，andthepostillionsaidthathecouldalmosthavetakenhisBibleoaththattheywerebothofthesameprofession。Theothertwohesaidwereparsons，hecouldswearthat，thoughhehadneverseenthembefore；therecouldbenomistakeaboutthem。ChurchofEnglandparsonsthepostillionsworetheywere，withtheirblackcoats，whitecravats，andairs，inwhichclumsinessandconceitweremostfunnilyblended—
　　ChurchofEnglandparsonsofthePlatitudedescription，whohadbeeninItaly，andseenthePope，andkissedhistoe，andpickedupalittlebrokenItalian，andcomehomegreaterfoolsthantheywentforth。ItappearedthattheywereallacquaintancesofMr。Platitude，forwhenthepostillionhadalightedandletMr。Platitudeandhiscompanionoutofthechaise，Mr。Platitudeshookthewholethreebythehand，conversedwithhistwobrothersinalittlebrokenjergo，andaddressedthepetty—larcenylookingindividualbythetitleofReverendDoctor。Inthemidstofthesegreetings，however，thepostillionsaidthemaninblackcameuptohim，andproceededtosettlewithhimforthechaise；hehadshakenhandswithnobody，andhadmerelynoddedtotheothers；"andnow，"saidthepostillion，"heevidentlywishedtogetridofme，fearing，probably，thatIshouldseetoomuchofthenonsensethatwasgoingon。Itwaswhilstsettlingwithmethatheseemedtorecognizemeforthefirsttime，forhestaredhardatme，andatlastaskedwhetherI
　　hadnotbeeninItaly；towhichquestion，withanodandalaugh，IrepliedthatIhad。IwasthengoingtoaskhimaboutthehealthoftheimageofHolyMary，andtosaythatI
　　hopedithadrecoveredfromitshorsewhipping；butheinterruptedme，paidmethemoneyforthefare，andgavemeacrownformyself，sayinghewouldnotdetainmeanylonger。
　　Isay，partner，Iamapoorpostillion，butwhenhegavemethecrownIhadagoodmindtoflingitinhisface。I
　　reflected，however，thatitwasnotmeregift—money，butcoinwhichIhadearned，andhardlytoo，soIputitinmypocket，andIbethoughtme，moreover，that，knaveasIknewhimtobe，hehadalwaystreatedmewithcivility；soInoddedtohim，andhesaidsomethingwhich，perhaps，hemeantforLatin，butwhichsoundedverymuchlike’vails，’andbywhichhedoubtlessalludedtothemoneywhichhehadgivenme。Hethenwentintothehousewiththerest，thecoachdroveawaywhichhadbroughttheothers，andIwasabouttogetontheboxandfollow；observing，however，twomorechaisesdrivingup，IthoughtIwouldbeinnohurry，soIjustledmyhorsesandchaisealittleoutoftheway，andpretendingtobeoccupiedabouttheharness，Ikeptatolerablysharplook—outatthenewarrivals。Well，partner，thenextvehiclethatdroveupwasagentleman’scarriagewhichIknewverywell，aswellasthosewithinit，whowereafatherandson，thefatheragoodkindoldgentleman，andajusticeofthepeace，thereforenotverywise，asyoumaysuppose；thesonapuppywhohasbeenabroad，wherehecontrivedtoforgethisownlanguage，thoughonlyninemonthsabsent，andnowrulestheroastoverhisfatherandmother，whoseonlychildheis，andbywhomheisthoughtwondrousclever。Sothisforeigneeringchapbringshispooroldfathertothisout—of—the—wayhousetomeetthesePlatitudesandpetty—larcenyvillains，andperhapswouldhavebroughthismothertoo，only，simplething，bygoodfortuneshehappenstobelaidupwiththerheumatic。Well，thefatherandson，Ibegpardon，Imeanthesonandfather，gotdownandwentin，andthenaftertheircarriagewasgone，thechaisebehinddroveup，inwhichwasahugefatfellow，weighingtwentystoneatleast，butwithsomethingofaforeignlook，andwithhim—whodoyouthink？Why，arascallyUnitarianminister，thatis，afellowwhohadbeensuchaminister，butwho，someyearsagoleavinghisownpeople，whohadbredhimupandsenthimtotheircollegeatYork，wentovertotheHighChurch，andisnow，I
　　suppose，goingovertosomeotherchurch，forhewastalking，ashegotdown，wondrousfastinLatin，orwhatsoundedsomethinglikeLatin，tothefatfellow，whoappearedtotakethingswonderfullyeasy，andmerelygruntedtothedogLatinwhichthescoundrelhadlearntattheexpenseofthepoorUnitariansatYork。Sotheywentintothehouse，andpresentlyarrivedanotherchaise，butereIcouldmakeanyfurtherobservations，theporteroftheout—of—the—wayhousecameuptome，askingwhatIwasstoppingtherefor？biddingmegoaway，andnotpryintootherpeople’sbusiness。
　　’Prettybusiness，’saidItohim，’thatisbeingtransactedinaplacelikethis，’andthenIwasgoingtosaysomethinguncivil，buthewenttoattendtothenewcorners，andItookmyselfawayonmyownbusinessashebademe，not，however，beforeobservingthatthesetwolastwereacoupleofblackcoats。"
　　Thepostillionthenproceededtorelatehowhemadethebestofhiswaytoasmallpublic—house，aboutamileoff，wherehehadintendedtobait，andhowhemetonthewayalandauandpair，belongingtoaScotchcoxcombwhomhehadknowninLondon，aboutwhomherelatedsomecuriousparticulars，andthencontinued："Well，afterIhadpassedhimandhisturn—