THE MAN IN BLACK. 91 



I shall soon have a harder pillow, so it will do very well." 

 " No, no," he replied, and without another word left 

 the room. Shortly after his exit I heard two people 

 coming up-stairs, and Easton threw open my door, fol 

 lowed by the now civil and excellently well-mannered 

 gentleman to whom I had first addressed myself behind 

 his oivn bar, when Easton presented him to me, and in 

 troduced us to each other in due form. Mine host at 

 once advanced, and, shaking me by the hand and offer 

 ing his congratulations on my safe arrival, concluded his 

 gentlemanly address by saying, " Have the goodness, 

 sir, to follow me. There has been a mistake. Apart 

 ments much more suitable to your rank are awaiting you 

 below." 



I followed him, and very soon found myself in a bed 

 room and sitting-room nearly equal to an hotel in Lon 

 don. Mine host having left the room, I exclaimed to 

 Easton, " Now, do tell me what on earth is the meaning 

 of all this ? I telegraphed in my name in full to this 

 man, and on my arrival here I gave him my name in 

 full ; but he paid not the slightest attention to the tele 

 graphic message, and when I entered he received me 

 with a brusqueness and rude manner, much as if I had 

 insulted him by entering his house to pay for the com 

 modities he exchanged for money. Now, you have 

 turned him into gentility of manner and urbanity itself. 

 How is this?" 



" Why, thus," Mr Easton replied. " No traveller 

 through the United States is believed to be what he indi 

 vidually represents himself. He must have a known 

 man to introduce him. The President himself, when 

 not personally known, is not paid any attention to unless 

 he is thus verified ; and when Mr Cobden was here, he 



