but you
can't have more than a half share of the room it stands in. Do you see
what I mean, young gentleman?"

"Of course I do," returned Arthur, a little irritably. "You mean that it
is a double-bedded room, and that one of the beds is occupied?"

The land lord nodded his head, and rubbed his double chin harder than
ever. Arthur hesitated, and mechanically moved back a step or two toward
the door. The idea of sleeping in the same room with a total stranger
did not present an attractive prospect to him. He felt more than half
inclined to drop his five shillings into his pocket and to go out into
the street once more.

"Is it yes or no?" asked the landlord. "Settle it as quick as you can,
because there's lots of people wanting a bed at Doncaster to-night
besides you."

Arthur looked toward the court and heard the rain falling heavily in
the street outside. He thought he would ask a question or two before he
rashly decided on leaving the shelter of The Two Robins.

"What sort of man is it who has got the other bed?" he inquired. "Is he
a gentleman? I mean, is he a quiet, well-behaved person?"

"The quietest man I ever came across," said the landlord, rubbing his
fat hands stealthily one over the other. "As sober as a judge, and as
regular as clock-work in his habits. It hasn't struck nine, not ten
minutes ago, and he's in his bed already. I don't know whether that
comes up to your notion of a quiet man: it goes a long way ahead of
mine, I can tell you."

"Is he asleep, do you think?" asked Arthur.

"I know he's asleep," returned the landlord; "and, what's more, he's
gone off so fast that I'll warrant you don't wake him. This way, sir,"
said the landlord, speaking over young Holliday's shoulder, as if he was
addressing some new guest who was approaching the house.

"Here you are," said Arthur, determined to be beforehand with the
stranger, whoever he might be. "I'll take the bed." And he handed the
five shillings to the landlord, who nodded, dropped the money carelessly
into his waistcoat pocket, and lighted a candle.

"Come up and see the room," said the host of The Two Robins, leading the
way to the staircase quite briskly, considering how fat he was.

They mounted to the second floor of the house. The landlord half opened
a door fronting the landing, then stopped, and turned round to Arthur.

"It's a fair bargain, mind, on my side as well as on yours," he
said. "You give me five shillings, and I give you i