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midland counties to make all the born squires in his neighbourhood
thoroughly envious of him。 Arthur was his only son； possessor in
prospect of the great estate and the great business after his father's death；
well supplied with money； and not too rigidly looked after； during his
father's lifetime。 Report； or scandal； whichever you please； said that the
old gentleman had been rather wild in his youthful days； and that； unlike
most parents； he was not disposed to be violently indignant when he found
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that his son took after him。 This may be true or not。 I myself only
knew the elder Mr。 Holliday when he was getting on in years； and then he
was as quiet and as respectable a gentleman as ever I met with。
Well； one September； as I told you； young Arthur comes to Doncaster；
having decided all of a sudden； in his harebrained way； that he would go to
the races。 He did not reach the town till towards the close of the evening；
and he went at once to see about his dinner and bed at the principal hotel。
Dinner they were ready enough to give him； but as for a bed； they laughed
when he mentioned it。 In the race…week at Doncaster； it is no uncommon
thing for visitors who have not bespoken apartments； to pass the night in
their carriages at the inn doors。 As for the lower sort of strangers； I
myself have often seen them； at that full time； sleeping out on the
doorsteps for want of a covered place to creep under。 Rich as he was；
Arthur's chance of getting a night's lodging （seeing that he had not written
beforehand to secure one） was more than doubtful。 He tried the second
hotel； and the third hotel； and two of the inferior inns after that； and was
met everywhere by the same form of answer。 No accommodation for the
night of any sort was left。 All the bright golden sovereigns in his pocket
would not buy him a bed at Doncaster in the race…week。
To a young fellow of Arthur's temperament； the novelty of being
turned away into the street； like a penniless vagabond； at every house
where he asked for a lodging； presented itself in the light of a new and
highly amusing piece of experience。 He went on； with his carpet…bag in
his hand； applying for a bed at every place of entertainment for travellers
that he could find in Doncaster； until he wandered into the outskirts of the
town。 By this time； the last glimmer of twilight had faded out； the moon
was rising dimly in a mist； the wind was getting cold； the clouds were
gathering heavily； and there was every prospect that it was soon going to
rain。
The look of the night had rather a lowering effect on young Holliday's
good spirits。 He began to contemplate the houseless situation in which
he was placed； from the serious rather than the humorous point of view；
and he looked about him； for another public…house to inquire at； with
something very like downright anxiety in his mind on the subject of a
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lodging for the night。 The suburban part of the town towards which he
had now strayed was hardly lighted at all； and he could see nothing of the
houses as he passed them； except that they got progressively smaller and
dirtier； the farther he went。 Down the winding road before him shone the
dull gleam of an oil lamp； the one faint； lonely light that struggled
ineffectually with the foggy darkness all round him。 He resolved to go on
as far as this lamp； and then； if it showed him nothing in the shape of an
Inn； to return to the central part of the town and to try if he could not at
least secure a chair to sit down on； through the night； at one of the
principal Hotels。
As he got near the lamp； he heard voices； and； walking close under it；
found that it lighted the entrance to a narrow court； on the wall of which
was painted a long hand in faded flesh…colour； pointing with a lean
forefinger； to this inscription：…
THE TWO ROBINS。
Arthur turned into the court without hesitation； to see what The Two
Robins could do for him。 Four or five men were standing together round
the door of the house which was at the bottom of the court； facing the
entrance from the street。 The men were all listening to one other man；
better dressed than the rest； who was telling his audience something； in a
low voice； in which they were apparently very much interested。
On entering the passage； Arthur was passed by a stranger with a
knapsack in his hand； who was evidently leaving the house。
'No；' said the traveller with the knapsack； turning round and addressing
himself cheerfully to a fat； sly…looking； bald…headed man； with a dirty
white apron on； who had followed him down the passage。 'No； Mr。
landlord； I am not easily scared by trifles； but； I don't mind confessing that
I can't quite stand THAT。'
It occurred to young Holliday； the moment he heard these words； that
the stranger had been asked an exorbitant price for a bed at The Two
Robins； and that he was unable or unwilling to pay it。 The moment his
back was turned； Arthur； comfortably conscious of his own well…filled
pockets； addressed himself in a great hurry； for fear any other benighted
traveller should slip in and forestall him； to the sly…looking landlord with
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the dirty apron and the bald head。
'If you have got a bed to let；' he said； 'and if that gentleman who has
just gone out won't pay your price for it； I will。'
The sly landlord looked hard at Arthur。
'Will you； sir？' he asked； in a meditative； doubtful way。
'Name your price；' said young Holliday； thinking that the landlord's
hesitation sprang from some boorish distrust of him。 'Name your price；
and I'll give you the money at once if you like？'
'Are you game for five shillings？' inquired the landlord； rubbing his
stubbly double chin； and looking up thoughtfully at the ceiling above him。
Arthur nearly laughed in the man's face； but thinking it prudent to
control himself； offered the five shillings as seriously as he could。 The
sly landlord held out his hand； then suddenly drew it back again。
'You're acting all fair and above…board by me；' he said： 'and； before I
take your money； I'll do the same by you。 Look here； this is how it stands。
You can have a bed all to yourself for five shillings； but you can't have
more than a half…share of the room it stands in。 Do you see what I mean；
young gentleman？'
'Of course I do；' returned Arthur； a little irritably。 'You mean that it is
a double…bedded room； and that one of the beds is occupied？'
The landlord nodded his head； and rubbed his double chin harder than
ever。 Arthur hesitated； and mechanically moved back a step or two
towards the door。 The idea of sleeping in the same room with a total
stranger； did not present an attractive prospect to him。 He felt more than
half inclined to drop his five shillings into his pocket； and to go out into
the street once more。
'Is it yes； or no？' asked the landlord。 'Settle it as quick as you can；
because there's lots of people wanting a bed at Doncaster to… night； besides
you。'
Arthur looked towards the court； and heard the rain falling heavily in
the street outside。 He thought he would ask a question or two before he
rashly decided on leaving the shelter of The Two Robins。
'What sort of a man is it who has got the other bed？' he inquired。 'Is he
a gentleman？ I mean； is he a quiet； well…behaved person？'
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'The quietest man I ever came across；' s