ng something great and good! Why, a
person may carry the blessings of civilisation and religion to barbarous,
yet at the same time beautiful and romantic lands; and what a triumph
there is for him who does so! what a crown of glory! of far greater value
than those surrounding the brows of your mere conquerors. Yet who has
done so in these times? Not many; not three, not two, something seems to
have been always wanting; there is, however, one instance, in which the
various requisites have been united, and the crown, the most desirable in
the world--at least which I consider to be the most desirable--achieved,
and only one, that of Brooke of Borneo.

CHAPTER XXVIII.

MR. PLATITUDE AND THE MAN IN BLACK--THE POSTILLION'S ADVENTURES--THE LONE
HOUSE--A GOODLY ASSEMBLAGE.

It never rains, but it pours. I was destined to see at this inn more
acquaintances than one. On the day of Francis Ardry's departure, shortly
after he had taken leave of me, as I was standing in the corn-chamber at
a kind of writing-table or desk, fastened to the wall, with a book before
me, in which I was making out an account of the corn and hay lately
received and distributed, my friend the postillion came running in out of
breath. "Here they both are," he gasped out; "pray do come and look at
them!"

"Whom do you mean?" said I.

"Why, that red-haired Jack Priest, and that idiotic parson, Platitude;
they have just been set down by one of the coaches, and want a
post-chaise to go across the country in; and what do you think? I am to
have the driving of them. I have no time to lose, for I must get myself
ready; so do come and look at them."

I hastened into the yard of the inn; two or three of the helpers of our
establishment were employed in drawing forward a post-chaise out of the
chaise-house, which occupied one side of the yard, and which was spacious
enough to contain nearly twenty of these vehicles, though it was never
full, several of them being always out upon the roads, as the demand upon
us for post-chaises across the country was very great. "There they are,"
said the postillion, softly, nodding towards two individuals, in one of
whom I recognized the man in black, and in the other Mr. Platitude;
"there they are; have a good look at them, while I go and get ready." The
man in black and Mr. Platitude were walking up and down the yard, Mr.
Platitude was doing his best to make himself appear ridiculous, talking
very loudly in