unhappy: I should have no visions then.' 'Have you any relations?'
said the landlord, looking at me compassionately. 'Excuse me, but I
don't think you are exactly fit to take care of yourself.' 'There you
are mistaken,' said I, 'I can take precious good care of myself; ay, and
can drive a precious hard bargain when I have occasion, but driving
bargains is a widely different thing from receiving gifts. I am going to
take my horse to Horncastle, and when there I shall endeavour to obtain
his full value--ay, to the last penny.'

'Horncastle!' said the landlord, 'I have heard of that place; you mustn't
be dreaming visions when you get there, or they'll steal the horse from
under you. Well,' said he, rising, 'I shall not press you farther on the
subject of the cheque. I intend, however, to put you under an obligation
to me.' He then rang the bell, and having ordered two fresh glasses to
be brought, he went out and presently returned with a small pint bottle,
which he uncorked with his own hand; then sitting down, he said: 'The
wine that I bring here, is port of eighteen hundred and eleven, the year
of the comet, the best vintage on record; the wine which we have been
drinking,' he added, 'is good, but not to be compared with this, which I
never sell, and which I am chary of. When you have drank some of it, I
think you will own that I have conferred an obligation upon you;' he then
filled the glasses, the wine which he poured out diffusing an aroma
through the room; then motioning me to drink, he raised his own glass to
his lips, saying: 'Come, friend, I drink to your success at Horncastle.'

CHAPTER XXX

TRIUMPHAL DEPARTURE--NO SEASON LIKE YOUTH--EXTREME OLD AGE--BEAUTIFUL
ENGLAND--THE RATCATCHER--A MISADVENTURE

I departed from the inn much in the same fashion as I had come to it,
mounted on a splendid horse indifferently well caparisoned, with the
small valise attached to my crupper, in which, besides the few things I
had brought with me, was a small book of roads with a map, which had been
presented to me by the landlord. I must not forget to state that I did
not ride out of the yard, but that my horse was brought to me at the
front door by old Bill, who insisted upon doing so, and who refused a
five-shilling piece which I offered him; and it will be as well to let
the reader know that the landlord shook me by the hand as I mounted, and
that the people attached to the inn, male and female--my friend the