222 STAGE-COACH AND MAIL IN DAYS OF YOKE 



was generally to be seen eating his lunch out 

 of a paper hag as he swung furiously along the 

 streets. " There's Home," said one of those many 

 who did not love him, " with the devil at his 

 elbow, as nsual ! " 



It Avas, perhaj)s, well for him that Chaplin, 

 calm and level-headed, came and entered into 

 discussion on the railway question at that critical 

 time vv'hen the fortunes of coach-proprietors Avere 

 to be saA^ed or lost by a simple declaration of 

 policy. The time Avas 1837, the occasion the 

 approaching opening of the first section of the 

 London and Birmingham Raihvay. Should they 

 hold out against the ncAV order of things, as 

 Sherman Avas bent upon doing, or should they 

 enter into that alliance Avith the railway for 

 Avliich the railway people themselves Averc diplo- 

 matically angling ? Chaplin thought they should, 

 and proposed an amalgamation of their tAVO inter- 

 ests. Ilorne Avas not so sure of raihvay success, 

 and might liaA e continued on his OAvn Avay, but 

 Chaplin, Avho Avas an old friend, urged his own 

 views. " We shall lose £10,000 apiece if Ave 

 don't Avork Avitli them," he said, " and you Avon't 

 like that, Benny, my boy." Eventually Ilorne 

 agreed, and the firm of Cha2)lin & Ilorne Avas 

 founded. 



Dark rumours Avere current at the time that 

 to this ncAvly constituted firm a sum of scA'eral 

 thousands of pounds was paid by the London and 

 Birmingham directors as the price of tlieir friend- 

 ship ; but,, liowever that may l)e, tlie allied coach- 



