g in
with a bundle of papers waving over his head.

'Three guesses, Clarke!' he cried. 'What would you most desire?'

'Letters from Havant,' said I eagerly.

'Right,' he answered, throwing them into my lap. 'Three of them, and not
a woman's hand among them. Sink me, if I can understand what you have
been doing all your life.

"How can youthful heart resign
Lovely woman, sparkling wine?"

But you are so lost in your news that you have not observed my
transformation.'

'Why, wherever did you get these?' I asked in astonishment, for he
was attired in a delicate plum-coloured suit with gold buttons and
trimmings, set off by silken hosen and Spanish leather shoes with roses
on the instep.

'It smacks more of the court than of the camp,' quoth Sir Gervas,
rubbing his hands and glancing down at himself with some satisfaction.
'I am also revictualled in the matter of ratafia and orange-flower
water, together with two new wigs, a bob and a court, a pound of the
Imperial snuff from the sign of the Black Man, a box of De Crepigny's
hair powder, my foxskin muff, and several other necessaries. But I
hinder you in your reading.'

'I have seen enough to tell me that all is well at home,' I answered,
glancing over my father's letter. 'But how came these things?'

'Some horsemen have come in from Petersfield, bearing them with them. As
to my little box, which a fair friend of mine in town packed for me,
it was to be forwarded to Bristol, where I am now supposed to be, and
should be were it not for my good fortune in meeting your party. It
chanced to find its way, however, to the Bruton inn, and the good woman
there, whom I had conciliated, found means to send it after me. It is a
good rule to go upon, Clarke, in this earthly pilgrimage, always to
kiss the landlady. It may seem a small thing, and yet life is made up
of small things. I have few fixed principles, I fear, but two there are
which I can say from my heart that I never transgress. I always carry a
corkscrew, and I never forget to kiss the landlady.'

'From what I have seen of you,' said I, laughing, 'I could be warranty
that those two duties are ever fulfilled.'

'I have letters, too,' said he, sitting on the side of the bed and
turning over a sheaf of papers. '"Your broken-hearted Araminta." Hum!
The wench cannot know that I am ruined or her heart would speedily be
restored. What's this? A challenge to match my bird Julius against my
Lord Do