the term, wanted his snuff-box. It was in his
bed-room, and his bed-room was locked by the servant, who had taken the
key and gone out. The consequence was, that B-- had to wait some time,
and until the man came back. I have always had a great aversion to a
valet when constantly moving about on the Continent, as a single man;
and, although I do not now, as I used to do when a midshipman, brush my
own clothes and black my own shoes, yet I like independence, in every
thing, and infinitely prefer doing anything myself, to being waited
upon; for, generally speaking, it is the master who waits and not the
man.

"I wonder you bother yourself with such a travelling appendage, B--,"
observed I, giving him a pinch of snuff to quiet his impatience. "I
have never lately travelled with one."

"My dear fellow--the comfort of it--you have no idea. It would be
impossible to get on without one."

"Quite impossible," observed W--, my other acquaintance.

"I have been brought up in a school in which the word impossible has
been erased from the language."

"Well, but the comfort of it. When you arrive, dirty and dusty, your
portmanteau opened, all your articles of dress laid out."

"I can do all that myself sooner than he can; and, as I must wait till
it be done, I may as well do it myself."

"Yes, so you may, but then the security; every thing locked up, which,
in a strange hotel, is so necessary."

I lock my own room, and know where to find the key when I come in.

"Very likely; but still it is impossible to travel comfortably without a
valet."

"Quite impossible," rejoined W--.

"Be it so," replied I; "we differ in opinion. All I can say is, that
necessary as a valet is when stationary, he is a nuisance when you
travel _en garcon_."

The conversation dropped, and we sat down to dinner; the time passed
away, as it always does, when old friends, who respect and like each
other, meet, after an absence of some months. After dinner we smoked
cigars; and, as the evening advanced, there were none left on the table.
B-- rang the bell for his servant to procure others; the servant had
gone out and was no where to be found, and for _security_ had locked the
bed-room door and taken the key with him. So we drank our claret, and
waited for his return. "Thinks I to myself"--but I said nothing. At
last, we waited till past twelve o'clock; but the gentleman's gentleman
was no where to be found. B-- was angry with the man, W