f there was any place in which I could sleep, I was informed
that there was a bed at my service, provided I chose to sleep in a two-
bedded room, one of the beds of which was engaged by another gentleman. I
expressed my satisfaction at this arrangement, and was conducted by a
maid-servant up many pairs of stairs to a garret, in which were two small
beds, in one of which she gave me to understand another gentleman slept;
he had, however, not yet retired to rest; I asked who he was, but the
maid-servant could give me no information about him, save that he was a
highly respectable gentleman, and a friend of her master's. Presently,
bidding me good night, she left me with a candle; and I, having undressed
myself and extinguished the light, went to bed. Notwithstanding the
noises which sounded from every part of the house, I was not slow in
falling asleep, being thoroughly tired. I know not how long I might have
been in bed, perhaps two hours, when I was partially awakened by a light
shining upon my face, whereupon, unclosing my eyes, I perceived the
figure of a man, with a candle in one hand, staring at my face, whilst
with the other hand, he held back the curtain of the bed. As I have said
before, I was only partially awakened, my power of conception was
consequently very confused; it appeared to me, however, that the man was
dressed in a green coat; that he had curly brown or black hair, and that
there was something peculiar in his look. Just as I was beginning to
recollect myself, the curtain dropped, and I heard, or thought I heard, a
voice say, "Don't know the cove." Then there was a rustling like a
person undressing, whereupon being satisfied that it was my
fellow-lodger, I dropped asleep, but was awakened again by a kind of
heavy plunge upon the other bed, which caused it to rock and creak, when
I observed that the light had been extinguished, probably blown out, if I
might judge from a rather disagreeable smell of burnt wick which remained
in the room, and which kept me awake till I heard my companion breathing
hard, when, turning on the other side, I was again once more speedily in
the arms of slumber.

CHAPTER XXXVII

Horncastle Fair.

It had been my intention to be up and doing early on the following
morning, but my slumbers proved so profound, that I did not wake until
about eight; on arising, I again found myself the sole occupant of the
apartment, my more alert companion having probably risen