NEIGHBORHOOD NUISANCE 221 



and I began my lecture. I was thoroughly keyed 

 up to the occasion, and so filled with laughter 

 as the possibilities of the situation dawned on 

 me, that my lecture was really very funny, and, 

 as the audience said, exceedingly entertaining. 

 Indeed, at its close they crowded about me with 

 offers of bail or assistance of any kind. 



I thanked them most heartily, and, accom- 

 panied by the deputy, went to my hotel, where I 

 engaged a room with two beds, he having very 

 indulgently agreed to stay with me at a hotel 

 rather than to load me with chains and incar- 

 cerate me in the local lock-up, which was in- 

 deed very good of him. I chuckled to myself to 

 see the care with which he chose the bed nearer 

 the door, looked at the fastenings of the win- 

 dows, locked the door, and put the key under his 

 pillow. 



And so, after undressing, I lay down peace- 

 ably on the other bed, and having no guilty con- 

 science, fell asleep. I am afraid my keeper did 

 not sleep as soundly as I did, for I have a vague 

 recollection of his lighting the gas several times 

 during the night, and peering at my recumbent 

 form, to see if I was really there. 



And thus did we spend the night. 



