e it, until they reached the ordinary where the young gentleman was
to dine.

Here he expected to find the beau whose acquaintance he had made a few
hours before at his aunt's lodging, and who had indicated to Harry that
the White Horse was the most modish place for dining at the Wells, and
he mentioned his friend's name to the host: but the landlord and waiters
leading him into the room with many smiles and bows assured his honour
that his honour did not need any other introduction than his own, helped
him to hang up his coat and sword on a peg, asked him whether he would
drink Burgundy, Pontac, or champagne to his dinner, and led him to a
table.

Though the most fashionable ordinary in the village, the White Horse did
not happen to be crowded on this day. Monsieur Barbeau, the landlord,
informed Harry that there was a great entertainment at Summer Hill,
which had taken away most of the company; indeed, when Harry entered
the room, there were but four other gentlemen in it. Two of these guests
were drinking wine, and had finished their dinner: the other two were
young men in the midst of their meal, to whom the landlord, as he
passed, must have whispered the name of the new-comer, for they looked
at him with some appearance of interest, and made him a slight bow
across the table as the smiling host bustled away for Harry's dinner.

Mr. Warrington returned the salute of the two gentlemen, who bade him
welcome to Tunbridge, and hoped he would like the place upon better
acquaintance. Then they smiled and exchanged waggish looks with each
other, of which Harry did not understand the meaning, nor why they cast
knowing glances at the two other guests over their wine.

One of these persons was in a somewhat tarnished velvet coat with a huge
queue and bag, and voluminous ruffles and embroidery. The other was a
little beetle-browed, hook-nosed, high-shouldered gentleman, whom his
opposite companion addressed as milor, or my lord, in a very high voice.
My lord, who was sipping the wine before him, barely glanced at the
new-comer, and then addressed himself to his own companion.

"And so you know the nephew of the old woman--the Croesus who comes to
arrive?"

"You're thrown out there, Jack!" says one young gentleman to the other.

"Never could manage the lingo," said Jack. The two elders had begun to
speak in the French language.

"But assuredly, my dear lord!" says the gentleman with the long queue.

"You have shown en