servations, Robin laid hold of the skirt of the old
man's coat just when the light from the open door and windows of a
barber's shop fell upon both their figures.

"Good evening to you, honored sir," said he, making a low bow, and
still retaining his hold of the skirt. "I pray you tell me whereabouts
is the dwelling of my kinsman, Major Molineux."

The youth's question was uttered very loudly; and one of the barbers,
whose razor was descending on a well-soaped chin, and another who was
dressing a Ramillies wig, left their occupations, and came to the door.
The citizen, in the mean time, turned a long-favored countenance upon
Robin, and answered him in a tone of excessive anger and annoyance. His
two sepulchral hems, however, broke into the very centre of his rebuke,
with most singular effect, like a thought of the cold grave obtruding
among wrathful passions.

"Let go my garment, fellow! I tell you, I know not the man you speak
of. What! I have authority, I have--hem, hem--authority; and if this be
the respect you show for your betters, your feet shall be brought
acquainted with the stocks by daylight, tomorrow morning!"

Robin released the old man's skirt, and hastened away, pursued by an
ill-mannered roar of laughter from the barber's shop. He was at first
considerably surprised by the result of his question, but, being a
shrewd youth, soon thought himself able to account for the mystery.

"This is some country representative," was his conclusion, "who has
never seen the inside of my kinsman's door, and lacks the breeding to
answer a stranger civilly. The man is old, or verily--I might be
tempted to turn back and smite him on the nose. Ah, Robin, Robin! even
the barber's boys laugh at you for choosing such a guide! You will be
wiser in time, friend Robin."

He now became entangled in a succession of crooked and narrow streets,
which crossed each other, and meandered at no great distance from the
water-side. The smell of tar was obvious to his nostrils, the masts of
vessels pierced the moonlight above the tops of the buildings, and the
numerous signs, which Robin paused to read, informed him that he was
near the centre of business. But the streets were empty, the shops were
closed, and lights were visible only in the second stories of a few
dwelling-houses. At length, on the corner of a narrow lane, through
which he was passing, he beheld the broad countenance of a British hero
swinging before the door of an inn,