DOWN THE ROAD IN DAYS OF YORE 93 



Avhich tlie gentleman rejoins by saying that, so 

 long as the coachman drives and performs tlie 

 duty for which he is paid by his proprietors, lie 

 himself is not concerned to teach him proper 

 respect ; l)iit he cannot refrain from pointing out, 

 to the coachman in especial, and to the passengers 

 generally, that it would have been the policy of 

 an informer to allow the illegal act to be com- 

 mitted and then to lay an information. He was 

 really protecting the coachman as well as the 

 passengers, because it was Avell known that the 

 road swarmed with informers, and continued 

 infractions of the law could not always hope to 

 go unj)unished. 



Every one murmurs approval, except the 

 coachman and his friend, and the guard. The 

 guard, as an official, is silent ; the amateur coach- 

 man has a hot flush uj^on his face. The coachman, 

 however, clearly sees himself to be in the Avrons;, 

 and awkwardly apologises. Still, Ave all feel 

 somcAvhat constrained, and, passing Croft Spa 

 and coming to Darlington, exj^erience an ungrate- 

 ful relief Avlien the champion of our necks and 

 limbs leaves us there. 



He is no sooner ffone than tonsrues are Avasrorini? 

 about him. " Who is he ? What is he ? Do you 

 know him ? " 



" Talks like a Hact o' Parlymint," says the 

 coachman to his friend. 



" And a very good reason, too," says a man 

 Avith knowledge : "he is a Justice of the Peace 

 and Chairman of the Bench of Magistrates at 



