All of a sudden it occurred to our obtuse countryman that the question might relate to his sleeping accommodation.
“Oh, in, if you please, sir,” said Joe.
“All right, young man. Fourpence to pay, if you please. You’d like a bed to yourself, I s’pose.”
“Oh dear me—yes,” returned Doughty.
“Very well—down with the browns. Sharp’s the word.”
Joe took out his fourpence, and placed them on the table all in halfpence.
“Oh, that’s it—is it?” said the landlord, as he discovered three harps on the reverse side of the halfpennies.
“Harp’s the word this time it would seem,” said he.
Joe Doughty did not know what he meant by this last observation.
“I thought harping had gone out of fashion in these parts,” said the landlord as he walked away, “but it appears I am mistaken. Dick Baynton was nabbed yesterday, as was a month at Jecks, the grocer’s, and now’s in the lock-up for the ‘’sizes.’”