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moment he was perfectly sensible； and it was then that； clasping
his hands； he uttered another name clearly； distinctly … it was the
name of Christ。 With that name upon his lips； the brave old
soldier sank back upon my bosom； and； with his hands still clasped；
yielded up his soul。
CHAPTER XXIX
The greeting … Queer figure … Cheer up … The cheerful fire … It
will do … The sally forth … Trepidation … Let him come in。
'ONE…AND…NINEPENCE； sir； or the things which you have brought with
you will be taken away from you！'
Such were the first words which greeted my ears； one damp misty
morning in March； as I dismounted from the top of a coach in the
yard of a London inn。
I turned round； for I felt that the words were addressed to myself。
Plenty of people were in the yard … porters； passengers； coachmen；
hostlers； and others； who appeared to be intent on anything but
myself； with the exception of one individual； whose business
appeared to lie with me； and who now confronted me at the distance
of about two yards。
I looked hard at the man … and a queer kind of individual he was to
look at … a rakish figure； about thirty； and of the middle size；
dressed in a coat smartly cut； but threadbare； very tight
pantaloons of blue stuff； tied at the ankles； dirty white stockings
and thin shoes； like those of a dancing…master； his features were
not ugly； but rather haggard； and he appeared to owe his complexion
less to nature than carmine； in fact； in every respect； a very
queer figure。
'One…and…ninepence； sir； or your things will be taken away from
you！' he said； in a kind of lisping tone； coming yet nearer to me。
I still remained staring fixedly at him； but never a word answered。
Our eyes met； whereupon he suddenly lost the easy impudent air
which he before wore。 He glanced； for a moment； at my fist； which
I had by this time clenched； and his features became yet more
haggard； he faltered； a fresh 'one…and…ninepence；' which he was
about to utter； died on his lips； he shrank back； disappeared
behind a coach； and I saw no more of him。
'One…and…ninepence； or my things will be taken away from me！' said
I to myself； musingly； as I followed the porter to whom I had
delivered my scanty baggage； 'am I to expect many of these
greetings in the big world？ Well； never mind！ I think I know the
counter…sign！' And I clenched my fist yet harder than before。
So I followed the porter； through the streets of London； to a
lodging which had been prepared for me by an acquaintance。 The
morning； as I have before said； was gloomy； and the streets through
which I passed were dank and filthy； the people； also； looked dank
and filthy； and so； probably； did I； for the night had been rainy；
and I had come upwards of a hundred miles on the top of a coach； my
heart had sunk within me； by the time we reached a dark narrow
street； in which was the lodging。
'Cheer up； young man；' said the porter； 'we shall have a fine
afternoon！'
And presently I found myself in the lodging which had been prepared
for me。 It consisted of a small room； up two pair of stairs； in
which I was to sit； and another still smaller above it； in which I
was to sleep。 I remember that I sat down； and looked disconsolate
about me … everything seemed so cold and dingy。 Yet how little is
required to make a situation … however cheerless at first sight …
cheerful and comfortable。 The people of the house； who looked
kindly upon me； lighted a fire in the dingy grate； and； then； what
a change！ … the dingy room seemed dingy no more！ Oh the luxury of
a cheerful fire after a chill night's journey！ I drew near to the
blazing grate； rubbed my hands； and felt glad。
And； when I had warmed myself； I turned to the table； on which； by
this time； the people of the house had placed my breakfast； and I
ate and I drank； and； as I ate and drank； I mused within myself；
and my eyes were frequently directed to a small green box； which
constituted part of my luggage； and which； with the rest of my
things； stood in one corner of the room； till at last； leaving my
breakfast unfinished； I rose； and； going to the box； unlocked it；
and took out two or three bundles of papers tied with red tape；
and； placing them on the table； I resumed my seat and my breakfast；
my eyes intently fixed upon the bundles of papers all the time。
And when I had drained the last cup of tea out of a dingy teapot；
and ate the last slice of the dingy loaf； I untied one of the
bundles； and proceeded to look over the papers； which were closely
written over in a singular hand； and I read for some time； till at
last I said to myself； 'It will do。' And then I looked at the
other bundle for some time without untying it； and at last I said；
'It will do also。' And then I turned to the fire； and； putting my
feet against the sides of the grate； I leaned back on my chair；
and； with my eyes upon the fire； fell into deep thought。
And there I continued in thought before the fire； until my eyes
closed； and I fell asleep； which was not to be wondered at； after
the fatigue and cold which I had lately undergone on the coach…top；
and； in my sleep； I imagined myself still there； amidst darkness
and rain； hurrying now over wild heaths； and now along roads
overhung with thick and umbrageous trees； and sometimes methought I
heard the horn of the guard； and sometimes the voice of the
coachman； now chiding； now encouraging his horses； as they toiled
through the deep and miry ways。 At length a tremendous crack of a
whip saluted the tympanum of my ear； and I started up broad awake；
nearly oversetting the chair on which I reclined … and lo！ I was in
the dingy room before the fire； which was by this time half
extinguished。 In my dream I had confounded the noise of the street
with those of my night journey； the crack which had aroused me I
soon found proceeded from the whip of a carter； who； with many
oaths； was flogging his team below the window。
Looking at a clock which stood upon the mantelpiece； I perceived
that it was past eleven； whereupon I said to myself； 'I am wasting
my time foolishly and unprofitably； forgetting that I am now in the
big world； without anything to depend upon save my own exertions'；
and then I adjusted my dress； and； locking up the bundle of papers
which I had not read； I tied up the other； and； taking it under my
arm； I went downstairs； and； after asking a question or two of the
people of the house； I sallied forth into the street with a
determined look； though at heart I felt somewhat timorous at the
idea of venturing out alone into the mazes of the mighty city； of
which I had heard much； but of which； of my own knowledge； I knew
nothing。
I had； however； no great cause for anxiety in the present instance；
I easily found my way to the place which I was in quest of … one of
the many new squares on the northern side of the metropolis； and
which was scarcely ten minutes' walk from the street in which I had
taken up my abode。 Arriving before the door of a tolerably large
house which bore a certain number； I stood still for a moment in a
kind of trepidation； looking anxiously at the door； I then slowly
passed on till I came to the end of the square； where I stood
still； and pondered for a while。 Suddenly； however； like one who
has formed a resolution； I clenched my right hand； flinging my hat
somewhat on one side； and； turning back with haste to the door
before which I had stopped； I sprang up the steps； and gave a loud
rap； ringing at the same time the bell of the area。 After the
lapse of a minute the door was opened by a maid…servant of no very
cleanly or prepossessing appearance； of whom I demanded； in a tone
of some hauteur； whether the master of the house was at home。
Glancing for a moment at the white paper bundle beneath my arm； the
handmaid made no reply in words； but； with a kind of toss of her
head； flung the door open； standing on one side as if to let me
enter。 I did enter； and the hand…maid； having opened another door
on the right hand； went in； and said something which I could not
hear： after a considerable pause； however； I heard the voice of a
man say； 'Let him come in'； whereupon the handmaid； coming out；
motioned me to enter； and； on my obeying； instantly closed the door
behind me。
CHAPTER XXX
The sinister glance … Excellent correspondent … Quite original … My
system … A losing trade … Merit … Starting a Review … What have you
got？ … Stop！ … DAIRYMAN'S DAUGHTER … Oxford principles … More
conversation … How is this？
THERE were two individuals in the room in which I now found myself；
it was a small study； surrounded with bookcases； the window looking
out upon the square。 Of these individuals he who appear