“Clean impossible, sir! utterly impossible!” returned the host.
“All right; then it shall be done.”
“Sir!”
“I say, because it is impossible, it shall be done.”
“Eh!”
“Here is a hundred dollars,” said the stranger, laying down two bank-notes of fifty dollars each. “I will give you this money if you can induce any of your guests to give up a room for me to-night.”
“Why, really, sir, I should be delighted to accommodate such a very liberal gentleman, but—”
“You must decide at once. Now, or never,” said the stranger, firmly, for he saw the game was now in his own hands.
“Well, yes, sir; I will find you a room. The two young college gents who took a room between them may be induced to give it up.”
“Must give it up, you mean,” amended the stranger.