“Who are the happy souls about to travel thus enjoy-ably?” thought I, as I saw the waiter and the courier discussing the most convenient spot to deposit a small hamper with eatables for the road; and then I heard the landlady's voice call out:
“Take up the bill to No. 8.”
So, then, this was No. 8 who was fast getting ready to depart,—No. 8 who had interposed in my favor the evening before, and towards whom a night's rest and some reflection had modified my feelings and changed my sentiments very remarkably.
“Will you ask the gentleman at No. 8 if I may be permitted to speak with him?” said I to the man who took in the bill.
“He 'll scarcely see you now,—he's just going off.”
“Give the message as I speak it,” said I; and he disappeared.
There was a long interval before he issued forth again, and when he did so he was flurried and excited. Some overcharges had been taken off and some bad money in change to be replaced by honest coin, and it was evident that various little well-intended rogueries had not achieved their usual success.
“Go in, you 'll find him there,” said the waiter, insolently, as he went down to have the bill rectified.
I knocked, a full round voice cried, “Come in!” and I entered.