146 A DILEMMA 



I had been made acquainted with the error prior to 

 my mounting the box, and earnestly entreated by the 

 delinquent to do all I could to save him from the 

 penalty. 



Accordingly I got down, and, knowing that with 

 rational j^ieople a plain statement of facts has always the 

 best effect, I explained, in as few words as possible, the 

 nature of the dilemma we were in. 



" You are bound to find a conveyance, coachman," 

 said a crusty old limb of the law, who sat muffled up in 

 one corner. 



"I am aware of that, sir," I replied; "but I was 

 about to submit to you the hardship that one poor 

 subordinate of the establishment will have to suffer if 

 you are all determined to take advantage of this error 

 and keep your seats." 



" How do you propose to remedy it ? " asked the 

 Baronet. 



" It can only be remedied in one way," said I, '' and 

 that is, by one getting out." 



" And which of us is that to be ? — are we to cast 

 lots ? " he inquired. 



" Why," I replied, " in common fairness, it ought to 

 be the last who was booked. This lady and gentleman " 

 (who were standing at the coach-door — I knew them to 

 be the widow of Buonaparte's General, Drouet, and her 

 son) " have been booked a week." 



" And who was the last, pray ? " 



" You, Sir William." 



Without another word or further delay, he got out, 

 and, taking the seat beside me, which I had purposely 



