He did not get out of the tilbury; the ostler who brought the oats suddenly stooped down and examined the left wheel.
"Are you going far in this state?" the man said.
He answered almost without emerging from his reverie,—
"Why do you ask?"
"Have you come any distance?" the ostler continued.
"Five leagues."
"Ah!"
"Why do you say, 'Ah'?"
The ostler bent down again, remained silent for a moment, with his eye fixed on the wheel, and then said as he drew himself up,—
"Because this wheel, which may have gone five leagues, cannot possibly go another mile."