tt's situation a little less insupportable; but, when even these
ceased, and nothing was heard beyond the occasional rattling of a
post-chaise as it drove up the yard to change horses, and then drove away
again, or the clattering of horses' hoofs in the stables behind, it
became almost unbearable. The boots occasionally moved an inch or two,
to knock superfluous bits of wax off the candles, which were burning low,
but instantaneously resumed his former position; and as he remembered to
have heard, somewhere or other, that the human eye had an unfailing
effect in controlling mad people, he kept his solitary organ of vision
constantly fixed on Mr. Alexander Trott. That unfortunate individual
stared at his companion in his turn, until his features grew more and
more indistinct--his hair gradually less red--and the room more misty and
obscure. Mr. Alexander Trott fell into a sound sleep, from which he was
awakened by a rumbling in the street, and a cry of 'Chaise-and-four for
number twenty-five!' A bustle on the stairs succeeded; the room door was
hastily thrown open; and Mr. Joseph Overton entered, followed by four
stout waiters, and Mrs. Williamson, the stout landlady of the Winglebury
Arms.

'Mr. Overton!' exclaimed Mr. Alexander Trott, jumping up in a frenzy.
'Look at this man, sir; consider the situation in which I have been
placed for three hours past--the person you sent to guard me, sir, was a
madman--a madman--a raging, ravaging, furious madman.'

'Bravo!' whispered Mr. Overton.

'Poor dear!' said the compassionate Mrs. Williamson, 'mad people always
thinks other people's mad.'

'Poor dear!' ejaculated Mr. Alexander Trott. 'What the devil do you mean
by poor dear! Are you the landlady of this house?'

'Yes, yes,' replied the stout old lady, 'don't exert yourself, there's a
dear! Consider your health, now; do.'

'Exert myself!' shouted Mr. Alexander Trott; 'it's a mercy, ma'am, that I
have any breath to exert myself with! I might have been assassinated
three hours ago by that one-eyed monster with the oakum head. How dare
you have a madman, ma'am--how dare you have a madman, to assault and
terrify the visitors to your house?'

'I'll never have another,' said Mrs. Williamson, casting a look of
reproach at the mayor.

'Capital, capital,' whispered Overton again, as he enveloped Mr.
Alexander Trott in a thick travelling-cloak.

'Capital, sir!' exclaimed Trott, aloud; 'it's horrible. The very
recoll