and showed her a handful of bank-bills. "I
think, madam, that these are unexceptionable," said I.

"Ye'll be wantin' breakfast late?" was her reply.

"Madam, we want breakfast at whatever hour it suits you to give it, from
four in the morning till four in the afternoon!" I cried. "Only tell us
your figure, if your mouth be large enough to let it out!"

"I couldna give ye supper the nicht," came the echo.

"We shall go out to supper, you incorrigible female!" I vowed, between
laughter and tears. "Here--this is going to end! I want you for a
landlady--let me tell you that!--and I am going to have my way. You
won't tell me what you charge? Very well; I will do without! I can trust
you! You don't seem to know when you have a good lodger; but I know
perfectly when I have an honest landlady! Rowley, unstrap the valises!"

Will it be credited? The monomaniac fell to rating me for my
indiscretion! But the battle was over; these were her last guns, and
more in the nature of a salute than of renewed hostilities. And
presently she condescended on very moderate terms, and Rowley and I were
able to escape in quest of supper. Much time had, however, been lost;
the sun was long down, the lamps glimmered along the streets, and the
voice of a watchman already resounded in the neighbouring Leith Road. On
our first arrival I had observed a place of entertainment not far off,
in a street behind the Register House. Thither we found our way, and sat
down to a late dinner alone. But we had scarce given our orders before
the door opened, and a tall young fellow entered with something of a
lurch, looked about him, and approached the same table.

"Give you good evening, most grave and reverend seniors!" said he. "Will
you permit a wanderer, a pilgrim--the pilgrim of love, in short--to come
to temporary anchor under your lee? I care not who knows it, but I have
a passionate aversion from the bestial practice of solitary feeding!"

"You are welcome, sir," said I, "if I may take upon me so far to play
the host in a public place."

He looked startled, and fixed a hazy eye on me, as he sat down.

"Sir," said he, "you are a man not without some tincture of letters, I
perceive! What shall we drink, sir?"

I mentioned I had already called for a pot of porter.

"A modest pot--the seasonable quencher?" said he. "Well, I do not know
but what I could look at a modest pot myself! I am, for the moment, in
precarious health. Much study hath heated m