an
once, somewhat suspiciously at myself; at last his countenance cleared,
and, with a good grace, he said, "Well, you have done me a great service,
and you have my consent to let him go; but the rascal shall not escape
with impunity," he exclaimed suddenly, as I let the man go, and starting
forward, before the fellow could escape, he struck him a violent blow on
the face. The man staggered, and had nearly fallen; recovering himself,
however, he said, "I tell you what, my fellow; if I ever meet you in this
street in a dark night, and I have a knife about me, it shall be the
worse for you; as for you, young man," said he to me; but, observing that
the other was making towards him, he left whatever he was about to say
unfinished, and, taking to his heels, was out of sight in a moment.

The stranger and myself walked in the direction of Cheapside, the way in
which he had been originally proceeding; he was silent for a few moments,
at length he said, "You have really done me a great service, and I should
be ungrateful not to acknowledge it. I am a merchant; and a merchant's
pocket-book, as you perhaps know, contains many things of importance;
but, young man," he exclaimed, "I think I have seen you before; I thought
so at first, but where I cannot exactly say: where was it?" I mentioned
London Bridge and the old apple-woman. "Oh," said he, and smiled, and
there was something peculiar in his smile, "I remember now. Do you
frequently sit on London Bridge?" "Occasionally," said I; "that old
woman is an old friend of mine." "Friend?" said the stranger, "I am glad
of it, for I shall know where to find you. At present I am going to
'Change; time, you know, is precious to a merchant." We were by this
time close to Cheapside. "Farewell," said he, "I shall not forget this
service. I trust we shall soon meet again." He then shook me by the
hand and went his way.

The next day, as I was seated beside the old woman in the booth, the
stranger again made his appearance, and, after a word or two, sat down
beside me; the old woman was sometimes reading the Bible, which she had
already had two or three days in her possession, and sometimes
discoursing with me. Our discourse rolled chiefly on philological
matters.

"What do you call bread in your language?" said I.

"You mean the language of those who bring me things to buy, or who did;
for, as I told you before, I sha'n't buy any more, it's no language of
mine, dear--they ca