ommunicate, and likewise his own, which he said was
James, and that he was a merchant residing at Liverpool; that he would
write to his friend at ---, requesting him to make inquiries on the
subject; that just at that moment he was in a hurry to depart, having
some particular business at a town about ten miles off, to go to which he
had bespoken a post-chaise of the landlord; that with respect to the
note, it was doubtless a very disagreeable thing to have a suspicious one
in his possession, but that it would make little difference to him, as he
had plenty of other money, and thereupon he pulled out a purse,
containing various other notes, and some gold, observing, "that his only
motive for wishing to change the other note was a desire to be well
provided with change;" and finally, that if they had any suspicion with
respect to him, he was perfectly willing to leave the note in their
possession till he should return, which he intended to do in about a
fortnight. There was so much plausibility in the speech of the Quaker,
and his appearance and behaviour were so perfectly respectable, that my
friend felt almost ashamed of the suspicion which at first he had
entertained of him, though, at the same time, he felt an unaccountable
unwillingness to let the man depart without some farther interrogation.
The landlord, however, who did not wish to disoblige one who had been,
and might probably be again, a profitable customer, declared that he was
perfectly satisfied; that he had no wish to detain the note, which he
made no doubt the gentleman had received in the way of business, and that
as the matter concerned him alone, he would leave it to him to make the
necessary inquiries. "Just as you please, friend," said the Quaker,
pocketing the suspicious note, "I will now pay my bill." Thereupon he
discharged the bill with a five-pound note, which he begged the landlord
to inspect carefully, and with two pieces of gold.

'The landlord had just taken the money, receipted the bill, and was
bowing to his customer, when the door opened, and a lad, dressed in a
kind of grey livery, appeared, and informed the Quaker that the chaise
was ready. "Is that boy your servant?" asked the surgeon. "He is,
friend," said the Quaker. "Hast thou any reason for asking me that
question?" "And has he been long in your service?" "Several years,"
replied the Quaker. "I took him into my house out of compassion, he
being an orphan, but as the chaise i