The Corporal, having seen his master conduct himself respectably toward the viands with which he supplied him--having set his room to rights, brought him the candles, borrowed him a book, and left him for the present in extremely good spirits, and prepared for the flight of the morrow; the Corporal, I say, now lighting his pipe, stationed himself at the door of the inn, and waited for Mr. Pertinax Fillgrave. Presently the Doctor, who was a little thin man, came bustling across the street, and was about, with a familiar "Good evening," to pass by the Corporal, when that worthy, dropping his pipe, said respectfully, "Beg pardon, Sir--want to speak to you--a little favour. Will your honour walk in the back- parlour?" "Oh! another patient," thought the Doctor; "these soldiers are careless fellows--often get into scrapes. Yes, friend, I'm at your service." The Corporal showed the man of phials into the back-parlour, and, hemming thrice, looked sheepish, as if in doubt how to begin. It was the Doctor's business to encourage the bashful. "Well, my good man," said he, brushing off, with the arm of his coat, some dust that had settled on his inexpressibles, "so you want to consult me?" "Indeed, your honour, I do; but--feel a little awkward in doing so--a stranger and all." "Pooh!--medical men are never strangers. I am the friend of every man who requires my assistance." "Augh!--and I do require your honour's assistance very sadly." "Well--well--speak out. Any thing of long standing?" "Why, only since we have been here, Sir." "Oh, that's all! Well." "Your honour's so good--that--won't scruple in telling you all. You sees as how we were robbed--master at least was--had some little in my pockets--but we poor servants are never too rich. You seems such a kind gentleman--so attentive to master--though you must have felt how disinterested it was to 'tend a man what had been robbed--that I have no hesitation in making bold to ask you to lend us a few guineas, just to help us out with the bill here,--bother!" "Fellow!" said the Doctor, rising, "I don't know what you mean; but I'd have you to learn that I am not to be cheated out of my time and property. I shall insist upon being paid my bill instantly, before I dress your master's wound once more." "Augh!" said the Corporal, who was delighted to find the Doctor come so immediately into the snare;--"won't be so cruel surely,--why, you'll leave us without a shiner to pay my host here." "Nonsense!--Your master, if he's a gentleman, can write home for money."