After a little conversation he asked me what I intended to do, and I told
him frankly that I did not know, whereupon he observed that, provided I
had no objection, he had little doubt that I could be accommodated for
some time at his inn. 'Our upper ostler,' said he, 'died about a week
ago; he was a clever fellow, and besides his trade understood reading and
accounts.'

'Dear me,' said I, interrupting him, 'I am not fitted for the place of
ostler--moreover, I refused the place of ostler at a public-house, which
was offered to me only a few days ago.' The postillion burst into a
laugh. 'Ostler at a public-house, indeed! Why, you would not compare a
berth at a place like that with the situation of ostler at my inn, the
first road-house in England! However, I was not thinking of the place of
ostler for you; you are, as you say, not fitted for it, at any rate, not
at a house like this. We have, moreover, the best under-ostler in all
England--old Bill, with the drawback that he is rather fond of drink. We
could make shift with him very well provided we could fall in with a man
of writing and figures, who could give an account of the hay and corn
which comes in and goes out, and wouldn't object to give a look
occasionally at the yard. Now it appears to me that you are just such a
kind of man, and if you will allow me to speak to the governor, I don't
doubt that he will gladly take you, as he feels kindly disposed towards
you from what he has heard me say concerning you.'

'And what should I do with my horse?' said I.

'The horse need give you no uneasiness,' said the postillion: 'I know he
will be welcome here both for bed and manger, and perhaps in a little
time you may find a purchaser, as a vast number of sporting people
frequent this house.' I offered two or three more objections, which the
postillion overcame with great force of argument, and the pot being
nearly empty, he drained it to the bottom drop, and then starting up,
left me alone.

In about twenty minutes he returned, accompanied by a highly intelligent
looking individual dressed in blue and black, with a particularly white
cravat, and without a hat on his head; this individual, whom I should
have mistaken for a gentleman but for the intelligence depicted in his
face, he introduced to me as the master of the inn. The master of the
inn shook me warmly by the hand, told me that he was happy to see me in
his house, and thanked me in the handsomest te