NOTES OF A TOWN TRAVELLER. ^29 



"•Whv not very,' I replied, endeavouring to ma1<e the best of the 

 matter, now that I'had got safe through the night with my life, and 

 even without the loss of a shilling. ' And yet, I added, there was 

 something rather strange' — 



" ' True, sir,' interrupted Gregory. ' we are honest enough with our 

 travellers and customers, and try to serve them well, and I hope, sir, the 

 brandy and water you tasted last night was to your liking. 1 replied in 



the affirmative. 



" ' Well, sir,' he continued, ' that's the way we live ; we do a little 

 in the smuggling wav, and if any one's robbed— it's only the king.' 



" I expostulated with him ori his want of judgment, m not having in- 

 formed of this ere I went to bed ; for, had I been provided with fire- 

 arms, I should certainly have been inclined to have had a pop at one 



of them. 



" ' You see, sir,' he replied, ' it happened very unfortunately tor me, 

 for Black Sam and his two mates had got a long keg of svhiskey, of the 

 first sort, on shore yesterday, and had agreed with me in the afternoon 

 about price ; and you know', sir, it is necessary for the safety of all parties, 

 that such an article should be off their hands as soon as possible, and 

 if I didn't yield prettv quickly to their fancies, they would soon find a 

 ready customer for their goods, and ten to one if they'd ever bring me 

 another keg of whiskev or brandy. Now, you see, sir, that little cellar in 

 vour room is the only place in my house where I can stow any thing of the 

 kind away,— for I don't even let my boy, Lukin, know of our little trade, 

 for it's dangerous, as the old saying is, " to let too many cooks make the 

 broth." I tried to persuade them to leave it somewhere till you were 

 gone ; but no, they were obliged to be off to another place to-day. 

 However, sir, I hope you'll forget the circumstance, and pardon my 

 boldness.' 



" Saying which, he made a low bow and withdrew. 



" Gentlemen, I could have brought forward many arguments against 

 the impropriety of the affair,— but J was so satisfied with finding myself 

 in propria persona again, that I freely forgave them all. and there was 

 a frankness of manner about the fellow which pleased me vastly. He 

 was certainly not that wretch I at first thought him to be. One only 

 thought threw a momentary damp upon my joy. Where was Bessy ? 

 Her lovely image was still wandering in my mind. I had not seen her, 

 and from motives of prudence, did not dare ask for her. 



" ' Chaise is ready, sir — ' exclaimed a shrill little voice, and Lukin en- 

 tered the apartment, bowing and scraping. 'Every thing's ready, 

 your honour, — the wheels were main dirty,— but I've made 'em look 

 as bright as a looking-glass, and the harness too, your honour.' 



" I took the hint, and threw him a shilling for himself, with which he 

 appeared delighted. 



" 'The old gentleman is not so well this morning, your honour,' he 

 continued, as he was leaving the room, ' and Master Gregory thinks 

 as how he'd better not attempt the journey. Mainly obliged at the 

 Eamc time, your honour." 



"This last speech brought to my recollection the last night's roastiny, 

 and I was glad to see the back of him. 



" ' Here's a .small keg of branilv. sir,' iaid the landlowl, in a hall 



M. M.— No. 2. K 



