Hardly had I touched the door, when a hoarse growl showed me that Rover was still alive and capable of doing active duty. I heard the hound spring from his sleeping place, cross the floor, and throw his solid form against the door with a subdued yell, which, after a moment's snuffing changed from rage to joy. He uttered cry after cry of welcome, yet still Fred did not seem to take the hint. At length I heard him shuffling along the floor in his slippers, and presently he inquired,—
"Who's there?"
"A friend," I replied, disguising my voice as much as possible.
"What is wanting?" he asked.
"A cup of coffee and something to eat," I replied.
"You can get neither here. Go to one of the coffee-houses."
"But suppose we want to trade?" I asked.
"Then come during trading hours," was the brief rejoinder.
"O, don't stand there talking all day, but let us in," cried Mr. Brown, who, like all Englishmen, couldn't bear to joke on an empty stomach.