ROBBERY AND ADVENTURE 157 



Ijut it was expensive in its OAvn way. It involved 

 tea or supper, cliambermaid and l)oots, as well as 

 l)ed and breakfast. Breakfast, with ham and eggs, 

 three shillings ; tea, with a few slices of thin 

 bread-and-butter, eighteenpence or tAvo shillings ; 

 a soda and brandy, eighteenpence. ■ 



" Once, in the depth of winter, I left Braniham 

 Park, the seat of George Lane-Eox, on the Great 

 North Road, to proceed to London, with a journey 

 before me of 190 miles. I was well wrapped up, 

 Avitli enouarh straw round my feet to conceal a 

 covey of partridges; still, after going about 37 

 miles, I felt myself so benumbed that I began 

 to think whether it would Ije wise to go on, or 

 get off and sacrifice my fare to London. Upon 

 reachini? Bawtry I felt more comfortable, the 

 guard at Doncaster having lent me a tarpaulin 

 lined with sheepskin ; so I resolutely determined 

 to brave the pitiless storm of snow, now whitening 

 the ground. 



" ' Half an hour for supper,' exclaimed the 

 waiter, as we pulled up at the ' CroAvn.' Down 

 I got, entered the room, where there was a l)right 

 fire blazing, devoured some cold l)eef, drank a 

 glass of hot brandy-and-water, and bravely Avent 

 forth to face the elements. By this time the snow 

 had increased, the Avind had got up, and my heart 

 failed. Back I rushed to the bar, ordered a bed, 

 and remained there for the night, finishing my 

 journey the folloAving day. 



"Again, in coming from Bath by a night- 

 coach, I Avas so saturated Avith Avet and shivering 



