ismounting, but there seemed a thousand stable-boys. A dozen flung
themselves at my horse's head. They quite lifted me out of the saddle
in their great care that I should be put to no trouble. At the door of
the inn a smirking landlord met me, bowing his head on the floor at
every backward pace, and humbly beseeching me to tell how he could
best serve me. I told him, and at once there was a most pretentious
hubbub. Six or eight servants began to run hither and yon. I was
delighted with my reception, but several days later I discovered they
had mistaken me for a nobleman of Italy or France, and I was expected
to pay extravagantly for graceful empty attentions rather than for
sound food and warm beds.

This inn was so grand that I saw it would no longer do for Paddy and
Jem to be sleeping in front of my fire like big dogs, so I nodded
assent when the landlord asked if he should provide lodgings for my
two servants. He packed them off somewhere, and I was left lonely in a
great chamber. I had some fears having Paddy long out of my sight, but
I assured myself that London had such terrors for him he would not
dare any Irish mischief. I could trust Jem Bottles to be discreet, for
he had learned discretion in a notable school.

Toward the close of the afternoon, the rain ceased, and, attiring
myself for the street and going to the landlord, I desired him to tell
me what interesting or amusing walk could now conveniently be taken by
a gentleman who was a stranger to the sights of London. The man wagged
his head in disapproval.

"'Twill be dark presently, sir," he answered, "and I would be an ill
host if I did not dissuade a perfect stranger from venturing abroad in
the streets of London of a night-time."

"And is it as bad as that?" I cried, surprised.

"For strangers, yes," said he. "For they be for ever wandering, and
will not keep to the three or four streets which be as safe as the
King's palace. But if you wish, sir, I will provide one man with a
lantern and staff to go before you, and another man with lantern and
staff to follow. Then, with two more stout lads and your own servants,
I would venture--"

"No, no!" I cried, "I will not head an army on a night march when I
intended merely an evening stroll. But how, pray you, am I to be
entertained otherwise than by going forth?"

The innkeeper smiled with something like pity.

"Sir, every night there meets here such a company of gay gentlemen,
wits and poets, as wo