"Give you good day, my dear Tom!"
Sir Asinus bowed, with a laugh which seemed to indicate familiarity with the occupant of the carriage, and said:
"Good morning, your Excellency—a delightful day."
"Yes," returned the voice, "especially for a race! What were you scampering from? Come into the chariot and tell me all about it. I am dying of weariness."
The movement was soon accomplished. His Excellency's footman mounted the horse, and Sir Asinus entered the chariot and found himself opposite an elderly gentleman, very richly clad, and with a smiling and rubicund face which seemed to indicate a love of the best living. This gentleman was Francis Fauquier, Governor of his Majesty's loyal colony of Virginia; and he seemed to be no stranger to the young man.
"Now, what was it all about?" asked the Governor, laughing.
And when our friend related the mode of his escape from the worthy Doctor, his Excellency shook the whole carriage in the excess of his mirth.
They came thus to the "Raleigh Tavern," before the door of which the Governor stopped a moment to say a word to the landlord, who, cap in hand, listened. The Governor's conversation related to a great ball which was to be held in the "Apollo room" at the Raleigh very soon; and the chariot was delayed fully half an hour.
At last it drove on, and at the same moment his Excellency inclined his head courteously to a gentleman mounted on horseback who was passing.
"Ah, worthy Doctor Small!" he said, "a delightful day for a ride!"