espectable, that my
friend felt almost ashamed of the suspicion which at first he had
entertained of him, though, at the same time, he felt an unaccountable
unwillingness to let the man depart without some further interrogation.
The landlord, however, who did not wish to disoblige one who had been,
and might probably be again, a profitable customer, declared that he was
perfectly satisfied; and that he had no wish to detain the note, which he
made no doubt the gentleman had received in the way of business, and that
as the matter concerned him alone, he would leave it to him to make the
necessary inquiries. 'Just as you please, friend,' said the Quaker,
pocketing the suspicious note, 'I will now pay my bill.' Thereupon he
discharged the bill with a five-pound note, which he begged the landlord
to inspect carefully, and with two pieces of gold.

"The landlord had just taken the money, receipted the bill, and was
bowing to his customer, when the door opened, and a lad, dressed in a
kind of grey livery, appeared, and informed the Quaker that the chaise
was ready. 'Is that boy your servant?' said the surgeon. 'He is,
friend,' said the Quaker. 'Hast thou any reason for asking me that
question?' 'And has he been long in your service?' 'Several years,'
replied the Quaker, 'I took him into my house out of compassion, he being
an orphan, but as the chaise is waiting, I will bid thee farewell.' 'I
am afraid I must stop your journey for the present,' said the surgeon;
'that boy has exactly the same blemish in the eye which a boy had who was
in company with the man at Horncastle, from whom my friend received the
forged notes, and who there passed for his son.' 'I know nothing about
that,' said the Quaker, 'but I am determined to be detained here no
longer, after the satisfactory account which I have given as to the
note's coming into my possession.' He then attempted to leave the room,
but my friend detained him, a struggle ensued, during which a wig which
the Quaker wore fell off, whereupon he instantly appeared to lose some
twenty years of his age. 'Knock the fellow down, father,' said the boy,
'I'll help you.'

"And, forsooth, the pretended Quaker took the boy's advice, and knocked
my friend down in a twinkling. The landlord, however, and waiter, seeing
how matters stood, instantly laid hold of him; but there can be no doubt
that he would have escaped from the whole three, had not certain guests
who were in the house