"And I'll try and be sober, sir, and ready for it. Now, then, I've been here a good many minutes; you'd better let me take a look at the corpse, and be off."
CHAPTER XXXVIII.
BELKNAP OUTWITTED.
"If you please, Mr. Lamotte," said that gentleman's coachman, appearing before his master, less than an hour before the time appointed for the moving of the funeral cortege, and looking much confused. "If you please, sir, I've had a misfortune with my hand, sir; at least, my wrist; it's sort of sprained, and I most fear I can't handle the reins proper, for the horses is mighty full of life, bein' so little used of late."
"Well, well," broke in Mr. Lamotte. "I suppose you can get a man to fill your place?"
The man's countenance brightened at once.
"Oh, yes, sir; I've the very man right on hand. A friend of mine, and a master one with horses."
"Let him take your place then, and see that every thing is in proper order."
"It's all right," said the coachman, returning to the stables, and addressing a man who leaned against the loose box, where two blooded carriage horses were undergoing the currying process. "It's all right; you can drive the horses."