74 PROMISES 



the old-established concerns, he had not at all benefited 

 himself. Indeed it was inconvenient for him to remain 

 in a place where he was now too well known, and Avhere 

 there were too many claims upon him. So, after recover- 

 ing from the effects of a recent encounter with an 

 opponent at Stokenchurch Hill, where he had, technically 

 speaking, floored his drag, and come off with a broken 

 skull and the loss of an eye, he, on abandoning his wife 

 and family, had come up to town. 



It was some time after this that I met him on my return 

 from Hampshire — like myself, soliciting employment from 

 the same establishment ; but there was this difference in 

 our manner of seeking it — he considered that he was con- 

 ferring a favour in offering his services to the head and 

 owner of the establishment ; I deemed an appointment 

 only a right I was entitled to from former promises and 

 from the treatment I had lately received from the same 

 individual. However, we both met with the same success, 

 or, more justly speaking, the same disappointment ; and 

 the manner in which our applications were received and 

 the effect they had upon each of us Avere equally 

 remarkable. 



He Avas consulted and his advice asked as to the policy 

 and the time of putting on a coach on this or that road, 

 and what country proprietors he could get to join. This 

 pleased his self-importance as well as his inclination, for 

 Harry ^ was never so happy as when in opposition, and 

 was ready to be the instrument in the hands of any un- 

 scrupulous London man, in endeavouring, by whatever 



^ Charlton was killed by the overturn of Mr. Costar's Hereford 

 coach, near Eoss. 



