LOCOMOTIVE IMPOSITION. 263 



or war ; " had any person trodden on him, he would 

 have fastened on his leg, so I dared not trust him 

 in the omnibus. The young Frenchman also declined 

 to get in, and joined me in asking " where the 

 carriage was that we had ordered ? " 



The only reply we again received was, that '* No 

 private carriage could be obtained ; if we did not get 

 into the omnibus, we could not go at all." 



Detesting the overbearing manner of the conceited 

 puppy wearing the moustache, I said, '* Then the 

 omnibus might go without me, for I would succumb 

 to no such dishonest dictation," when, at that moment, 

 and just as the omnibus was driving off, the young 

 French gentleman came back to me, saying, " It is 

 false what that man," pointing to the conductor, 

 *^ and those porters say, that no carriages can be got ! 

 Do not let us put up with such imposition ; here is 

 a boy outside, who says that there are plenty on the 

 stand, and he can bring one up in five minutes." 



On hearing this, I accompanied my young friend 

 to the outside of the station, where there were four 

 or five cads or errand-boys, standing together. 

 Laying my hand on the shoulder of the boy who had 

 stated this fact as to the carriages, and assisted too in 

 giving the order by the French gentleman, I said, 

 '^ You go to the stand and bring me back a carriage ; 



S 4 



