TRAVELLERS' EXPERIENCES 211 



him into the House of Commons." The only satis- 

 factory thing about the matter was that both would 

 for a certainty be defeated. The second passenger 

 sincerely hoped it might be so, but at the same time 

 he had an uneasy suspicion that Monckton had increased 

 rather than decreased his popularity by his coalition 

 with Sheridan. 



"Who is the man?" drawled the third man. 



Passenger number one immediately volunteered the 

 information: "A low fellow, a fit companion for horse 

 jockeys and grooms, so I hear:/of / don't know him, and 

 don't wish to know him — a fellow full of quips, jokes and 

 jests and vulgar jocularities." 



Sheridan, taken aback at this conception of himself, 

 remained silent, and escaped further enlightenment 

 as to his charadler by the stoppage of the coach and 

 the appearance of the guard with the agreeable intima- 

 tion: "Sup here, gentlemen." 



Food and drink loosened restraint, and Sheridan 

 entered into conversation with his companions, causing 

 them much merriment by his ready wit. All too soon 

 came the hated "Coach is ready," and as they left the 

 inn Sheridan took one of the gentlemen aside and 

 inquired the name of the man who had so bitterly 

 denounced him. 



"That gentleman, sir, is Mr. Richard Wilson, the 

 eminent solicitor of Lincoln's Inn Fields." 



The passengers resumed their seats, and began to 

 question Sheridan, whom they termed a "devilish 

 agreeable fellow." 



