CROSS KEYS. 191 



always stopped to breakfast at St. Albans." 

 There being no one on the box, he di- 

 rectly occupied that seat, and soon entered 

 into conversation. Finding he had re- 

 cently been at Portsmouth, I took the 

 opportunity of asking after many of my 

 former familiar acquaintances, most of 

 whom he seemed to know perfectly well. 

 From many circumstances he related of 

 them, it struck me that he might have 

 heard of the individual to whom he was 

 speaking, although I could not recall the 

 slightest knowledge of him. 



However, as he seemed to be very com- 

 municative, I presently said to him, "You 

 seem to know many of the Portsmouth 

 people, did you ever know of a young 

 man ? " naming my own name. 



" Oh, very well," he replied " a dash- 

 ing young fellow used to carry himself 

 rather high, a cut above the others, as he 

 thought himself." 



