for the first time, he broke
off, and lowered his voice into the confidential. "Why, now that I see
you are a gentleman," said he, "I'll tell you what! If you like to
_buy_, I have the article to fit you. Second-'and shay by Lycett, of
London. Latest style; good as new. Superior fittin's, net on the roof,
baggage platform, pistol 'olsters--the most com-plete and the most
gen-teel turn-out I ever see! The 'ole for seventy-five pound! It's as
good as givin' her away!"

"Do you propose I should trundle it myself, like a hawker's barrow?"
said I. "Why, my good man, if I had to stop here, anyway, I should
prefer to buy a house and garden!"

"Come and look at her!" he cried; and, with the word, links his arm in
mine and carries me to the outhouse where the chaise was on view.

It was just the sort of chaise that I had dreamed of for my purpose:
eminently rich, inconspicuous, and genteel; for, though I thought the
postmaster no great authority, I was bound to agree with him so far. The
body was painted a dark claret, and the wheels an invisible green. The
lamp and glasses were bright as silver; and the whole equipage had an
air of privacy and reserve that seemed to repel inquiry and disarm
suspicion. With a servant like Rowley, and a chaise like this, I felt
that I could go from the Land's End to John o' Groat's House amid a
population of bowing ostlers. And I suppose I betrayed in my manner the
degree in which the bargain tempted me.

"Come," cried the postmaster--"I'll make it seventy, to oblige a
friend!"

"The point is: the horses," said I.

"Well," said he, consulting his watch, "it's now gone the 'alf after
eight. What time do you want her at the door?"

"Horses and all?" said I.

"'Osses and all!" says he. "One good turn deserves another. You give me
seventy pound for the shay, and I'll 'oss it for you. I told you I
didn't _make_ 'osses; but I _can_ make 'em, to oblige a friend."

What would you have? It was not the wisest thing in the world to buy a
chaise within a dozen miles of my uncle's house; but in this way I got
my horses for the next stage. And by any other it appeared that I should
have to wait. Accordingly I paid the money down--perhaps twenty pounds
too much, though it was certainly a well-made and well-appointed
vehicle--ordered it round in half an hour, and proceeded to refresh
myself with breakfast.

The table to which I sat down occupied the recess of a bay-window, and
commanded a view of th