“That,” said Ben, quietly, “is very thoughtful of him.”
The man nodded.
“Ay; and he’ll continue to be thoughtful, unless I am much mistaken in him. He is a man who, when he once becomes interested in any one, seldom lets him slip his mind. And in your case,” the man gestured admiringly, “he has gone so far as to provide against his forgetting. He has desired me to also remember you; and you may depend,” with a laugh that made the good landlady shudder, “that no matter what he may do, I shall not forget.”
And with that the door slapped to, and the man was gone.
CHAPTER VII
IN WHICH THE HOSTLER SEES TWO SHADOWS IN
THE ROAD
There was a complete silence for a moment after the man had gone; then the landlady spoke.
“Well, of all the knaves that ever turned a decent inn topsyturvy, that one is the worst.”
The old gentleman approached Ben, his stick thumping the floor with each step.
“Young sir,” said he, in his piping voice, “I am thankful to you for the service you have rendered us.”
Ben nodded his head and smiled in his usual good-natured way.