A loud tramping of post-horses, and the cracking of whips, drew me to the window, and I saw beneath in the court-yard, a handsome travelling britschka getting ready for the road. Oh, how suggestive is a well cushioned calèche, with its many appliances of ease and luxury, its trim imperials, its scattered litter of wrappers and guide-books,--all little episodes of those who are to journey in it! “Who are the happy souls about to travel thus enjoy-ably?” thought I, as I saw the waiter and the courier discussing the most convenient spot to deposit a small hamper with eatables for the road; and then I heard the landlady's voice call out: “Take up the bill to No. 8.” So, then, this was No. 8 who was fast getting ready to depart,--No. 8 who had interposed in my favor the evening before, and towards whom a night's rest and some reflection had modified my feelings and changed my sentiments very remarkably. “Will you ask the gentleman at No. 8 if I may be permitted to speak with him?” said I to the man who took in the bill. “He 'll scarcely see you now,--he's just going off.” “Give the message as I speak it,” said I; and he disappeared. There was a long interval before he issued forth again, and when he did so he was flurried and excited. Some overcharges had been taken off and some bad money in change to be replaced by honest coin, and it was evident that various little well-intended rogueries had not achieved their usual success. “Go in, you 'll find him there,” said the waiter, insolently, as he went down to have the bill rectified. I knocked, a full round voice cried, “Come in!” and I entered. CHAPTER XXXV. HART CROFTON'S COMMISSION “Well, what next? Have you bethought you of anything more to charge me with?” cried a large full man, whose angry look and manner showed how he resented these cheatings. I staggered back sick and faint, for the individual before me was Crofton, my kind host of long ago in Ireland, and from whose hospitable roof I had taken such an unceremonious departure. “Who are you?” cried he, again. “I had hoped to have paid everything and everybody. Who are you?” Wishing to retire unrecognized, I stammered out something very unintelligibly indeed about my gratitude, and my hope for a pleasant journey to him, retreating all the while towards the door.