e the care of this business. And," added
he, with embarrassed manner, "this mixture is full strange; but--I
feel sure--any how, I salute you, sir." And in his bow he paid a
sensible tribute to my conduct.

Afterward there was nought to do but gather in Paddy and return to the
inn. I found my countryman swaggering to and fro before the crowd.
Some ignoramus, or some wit, had dubbed him the King of Ireland, and
he was playing to the part.

"Paddy, you red-headed scandal," said I, "come along now!"

When he heard me, he came well enough; but I could not help but feel
from his manner that he had made a great concession.

"And so they would be taking me for the King of Ireland, and, sure,
'tis an advantage to be thought a king whatever, and if your honour
would be easy 'tis you and me that would sleep in the finest beds in
Bristol the night, and nothing to do but take the drink as it was
handed and--I'll say no more."

A rabble followed us on our way to the inn, but I turned on them so
fiercely from time to time that ultimately they ran off. We made
direct for my chamber, where I ordered food and drink immediately to
be served. Once alone there with Paddy I allowed my joy to take hold
on me. "Eh, Paddy, my boy," said I, walking before him, "I have done
grand. I am, indeed, one of the finest gentlemen in the world."

"Aye, that's true," he answered, "but there was a man at your back
throughout who--"

To his extreme astonishment I buffeted him heavily upon the cheek.
"And we'll have no more of that talk," said I.

CHAPTER III

"Aye!" said Paddy, holding his jowl; "'tis what one gets for serving a
gentleman. 'Tis the service of a good truthful blackguard I'd be
looking for, and that's true for me."

"Be quiet and mind what I tell you," I cried to him. "I'm uplifted
with my success in England, and I won't be hearing anything from you
while I am saying that I am one of the grandest gentlemen in all the
world. I came over here with papers--papers!" said I; and then I
bethought me that I would take the papers and wave them in my hand. I
don't know why people wish to wave important documents in their hands,
but the impulse came to me. Above all things I wished to take these
papers and wave them defiantly, exultantly, in the air. They were my
inheritance and my land of promise; they were everything. I must wave
them even to the chamber, empty save for Paddy.

When I reached for them in the proper place in my lu