iction that himself and partners could afford to offer me summut for
the horse; and at a later hour when, in compliance with his invitation, I
took a glass of summut with himself and partners, in a little room
surrounded with corn-chests, on which we sat, both himself and partners
endeavoured to impress upon me, chiefly by means of nods and winks, their
conviction that they could afford to give me summut for the horse,
provided I were disposed to sell him; in return for which intimation,
with as many nods and winks as they had all collectively used, I
endeavoured to impress upon them my conviction that I could get summut
handsomer in the fair than they might be disposed to offer me, seeing as
how--which how I followed by a wink and a nod, which they seemed
perfectly to understand, one or two of them declaring that if the case
was so, it made a great deal of difference, and that they did not wish to
be any hindrance to me, more particularly as it was quite clear I had
been an ostler like themselves.

It was late at night when I began to think of retiring to rest. On
inquiring if there was any place in which I could sleep, I was informed
that there was a bed at my service, provided I chose to sleep in a
two-bedded room, one of the beds of which was engaged by another
gentleman. I expressed my satisfaction at this arrangement, and was
conducted by a maid-servant up many pairs of stairs to a garret, in which
were two small beds, in one of which she gave me to understand another
gentleman slept; he had, however, not yet retired to rest; I asked who he
was, but the maid-servant could give me no information about him, save
that he was a highly respectable gentleman, and a friend of her master's.
Presently, bidding me good night, she left me with a candle; and I,
having undressed myself and extinguished the light, went to bed.
Notwithstanding the noises which sounded from every part of the house, I
was not slow in falling asleep, being thoroughly tired. I know not how
long I might have been in bed, perhaps two hours, when I was partially
awakened by a light shining upon my face, whereupon, unclosing my eyes, I
perceived the figure of a man, with a candle in one hand, staring at my
face, whilst with the other hand he held back the curtain of the bed. As
I have said before, I was only partially awakened, my power of perception
was consequently very confused; it appeared to me, however, that the man
was dressed in a green coat;