418 THE MAN WITH THE -. 



about him, though he comes this road very often so we calls him 

 the man with the " 



11 Here, coachman," interrupted a fellow, puffing and blowing, 

 " deliver this parcel the moment you reach Dover," thrusting a pack- 

 age into his hand. 



" Yes, sir/' said Jehu, touching his hat, and immediately after- 

 wards three or four came on the same errand, and effectually cut 

 short my inquiries. Positive that it would prove of no avail to seek 

 further information just then, I entered the inn, and pursued my way 

 into the parlour, where I found all the passengers assembled, except 

 the man in canvas, and, oil inquiring for him, was told that he had 

 preferred taking his glass in the tap-room, as it would cost him a 

 penny less there than in the parlour. I thereupon left the room to 

 join him, and in the passage met a waiter with some liquor in his 

 hand ; thinking this to be what I had ordered as I went in, I offered 

 to take it myself. 



" This en't yours, sir ; it is for the gentleman in the tap," said lie ; 

 " I must serve him before any one else ?" 



" Indeed ! is he a man of such importance, then ?" I inquired. 



" Isn't he, by jingo ?" was the laconic and comprehensive reply. 



(C Then who may he be ?" 



" Why, d'ye see, every body knows him, and yet nobody don't 

 know him, if you can make that out: but from the circumstance 

 of " 



(e Aye, that's what I want to know, the circumstance of " 



" John, make haste with that brandy-and-water ; what are you 

 waiting there for ?" interrupted the landlady, in a treble squeak. 



" Directly ma'am and so you see, sir, on that account we calls him 

 the indiwidual with the " 



Tingle, tingle, tingle, chimed the accursed bell. 



" Coming, coming," responded the waiter, starting off, and leaving 

 me in an agony. However, I made all speed to the tap, and found 

 my oil of tar friend drinking a glass of ale, and gravely rebuking the 

 waiter for detaining it so long. " You are of the right kidney," said 

 he, on seeing me enter. ' ' ' A penny saved is a penny got ;" and a 

 clean deal table is as wholesome as a mahogany one, though the latter 

 does grace a parlour." 



I confess that I felt a little mortified to find my motive for joining 

 him so completely misconstrued, but I let it pass, and seated myself 

 on a hard wooden bench. He smiled, and seemed pleased ; then' 

 turning to the waiter, inquired what was to pay. 



" Nineteen and twopence," returned the knight of the napkin. 



" Man alive, how you talk ! Nineteen and twopence for a glass of 

 ale ? stuff and nonsense!" exclaimed my mysterious friend of the 



" You forget, sir, the nineteen shillings you borrowed last May-day 

 to distribute amongst the village girls," said the water. 



" But did'nt I give you a sovereign afterwards ?" 



" Yes you gived me a sovereign, which, you says, says you, keep 

 for yourself Jem, says you; but that warnt paying me the nineteen 

 shillings you owed me, you know." 



" True," said the man in canvas, " I forgot that ; I shan't be here 



