In less than an hour, the young gentleman alighted at the wagon-office. Assuming as cool and unconcerned an air as he possibly could, he observed, in a careless tone, to a clerk in the office,—“I am looking for a trunk of mine, but I do not see it: I suppose we must have passed your wagon on the road.”
“All our wagons are in, sir,” replied the clerk: “we don't expect another arrival till to-morrow morning.”
“Oh! very good: then my chest must be here. I hope you have taken particular precautions in unloading it: I wrote 'with care—this side upwards,' on it, in very large letters.”
“Who was it addressed to, sir?”
“Why, to me, certainly;—Godfrey Fairfax, Esquire, Demrara—”
“To be left at the office till called for?”
“Exactly;—where is it? I've not much time to lose.”
“Why, sir, it has been gone away from here—”
“Gone away!”
“Yes, sir; about,—let me see,” continued the clerk, lazily turning to look at the office clock; “why, about, as near as may be, nine or ten,—ay, say ten,—about ten minutes ago, sir.”