In a few moments, a rosy cheeked chambermaid came in with a coal box and et ceteras, for a fire. This was what I wanted,--I drew a chair near, and after some observations on the weather, passed on to the probable numbers putting up at the house for last night's ball. "Lots of pretty girls from the country," I concluded. "Yes, sir, we are still very full, though a good many left this morning." "Indeed! I danced with a young lady last night, who was staying here, but I cannot remember her name, I want very much to find it out,--do you think if I were to describe her to you, you could tell me?" "P'raps I might, sir; though often we don't know the names of the people who stop here occasionally." "Well, this young lady was tall, and very fair, with brown hair, and a very pleasant smile." "I scarcely think I know any particular young lady like that, sir; there's Miss Jones, and Miss Mary Peters, and Miss Majoribanks, Squire Majoribanks' daughter, all just like that, sir." Confound it, my description would have suited three-fifths of the young ladies of great Britain. "Yes, yes, but the lady I mean was with an old fattish man, black eyes, and thick voice, and a little elderly woman, who--" "Oh, I think I know, sir: she had a little brown mole on her cheek, near the chin. A beautiful young lady!" "Exactly," I exclaimed in delight. "They were only here two nights, and I don't know the name at all; they were quite strangers." How intensely annoying! "But is there no one in the house has an idea?" "Well, I can't say, sir; you see we have been so busy; if it is any one it will be Bill, one of the cabmen, sir, he took them somewhere this morning; and I think they come from A----, but I'm not sure." Here she began to gather her sticks and coals, and the waiter entered to lay the cloth. "Is Bill in?" said I--"If so, send him up without fail immediately after dinner." "He is out just now, sir." "Well, the moment he comes in, whether I have finished dinner or not." "Yes, sir," said both in chorus, and excited. I had dined, and was languidly examining the interior of a tart, when the waiter entered again, announcing that "Bill was there, if I wanted him." "Show him in, by all means:" and Bill made his appearance, hat in hand, and stroking down his hair. "Oh, good evening: your name is Bill, I understand, and I fancy you can tell me something I want to find out:--You drove a party from this hotel somewhere this morning, and I want to know their names: there was a little old lady, and a tall young one, with a short fat man, twinkling black eyes, eh! do you remember them?" "Yes, I think I does," said Bill, slowly, as if confused by my rapid description, "fat short gen'lman, spoke thickish, I remember; called my horse a rough sketch--not filled up." "Precisely; that's him, I am sure: what was the name?" "Can't say, sir; I tuck 'em to the railway station: they was a-goin' to A----."