ns, forego that rude, uncivil touch!

The Two Gentlemen of Verona.

On leaving the scene in which he had been so unwelcome a guest, Clifford
hastened to the little inn where he had left his horse. He mounted
and returned to Bath. His thoughts were absent, and he unconsciously
suffered the horse to direct its course whither it pleased. This was
naturally towards the nearest halting-place which the animal remembered;
and this halting-place was at that illustrious tavern, in the suburbs of
the town, in which we have before commemorated Clifford's re-election to
the dignity of chief. It was a house of long-established reputation; and
here news of any of the absent confederates was always to be obtained.
This circumstance, added to the excellence of its drink, its ease, and
the electric chain of early habits, rendered it a favourite haunt,
even despite their present gay and modish pursuits, with Tomlinson and
Pepper; and here, when Clifford sought the pair at unseasonable hours,
was he for the most part sure to find them. As his meditations were
interrupted by the sudden stopping of his horse beneath the well-known
sign, Clifford, muttering an angry malediction on the animal, spurred it
onward in the direction of his own home. He had already reached the end
of the street, when his resolution seemed to change, and muttering
to himself, "Ay, I might as well arrange this very night for our
departure!" he turned his horse's head backward, and was once more at
the tavern door. He threw the bridle over an iron railing, and knocking
with a peculiar sound at the door, was soon admitted.

"Are ------ and ------- here?" asked he of the old woman, as he entered,
mentioning the cant words by which, among friends, Tomlinson and Pepper
were usually known.

"They are both gone on the sharps to-night," replied the old lady,
lifting her unsnuffed candle to the face of the speaker with an
intelligent look; "Oliver (the moon) is sleepy, and the lads will take
advantage of his nap."

"Do you mean," answered Clifford, replying in the same key, which
we take the liberty to paraphrase, "that they are out on any actual
expedition?"

"To be sure," rejoined the dame. "They who lag late on the road may want
money for supper!"

"Ha! which road?"

"You are a pretty fellow for captain!" rejoined the dame, with a
good-natured sarcasm in her tone. "Why, Captain Gloak, poor fellow! knew
every turn of his men to a