‘You have papers, of course, showing you are the proper owner?’ he inquired.
‘There is the bill, stamped and receipted,’ said I, tossing it across to him.
He looked at it.
‘This all you have?’ he asked.
‘It is enough, at least,’ said I. ‘It shows you where I bought and what I paid for it.’
‘Well, I don’t know,’ he said. ‘You want some paper of identification.’
‘To identify the chaise?’ I inquired.
‘Not at all: to identify you,’ said he.
‘My good sir, remember yourself!’ said I. ‘The title-deeds of my estate are in that despatch-box; but you do not seriously suppose that I should allow you to examine them?’
‘Well, you see, this paper proves that some Mr. Ramornie paid seventy guineas for a chaise,’ said the fellow. ‘That’s all well and good; but who’s to prove to me that you are Mr. Ramornie?’