“What train do you want to catch?” “The half-past five, to be sure. I told you so.” “Oh, we ain’t got no omnibus to catch that train.” “But, man, you said that you had one to each train.” “I told you it was all down in writing on that there board, and you ought to have seen for yourself there ain’t no omnibus for the half-past five.” The traveller again turned to the board, and after glancing at it, declared angrily, “There’s nothing of the kind stated here!” The official pointed to a small cross against the 5.30 train, and said triumphantly, “This here mark means there ain’t no omnibus.” “Well, how was I to know that?” “Most gentlemen, when they sees it, asks me what the deuce it means, and I tells them.” “But what do the others do?” The clerk did not condescend to answer, but took out his pocket-knife and busied himself in peeling an apple. While the public was busily denouncing the behaviour of ’busmen, a quaint vehicle, named the “equirotal omnibus,” was placed on the streets. The inventor, Mr. W. B. Adams, maintained that all vehicles should have four large wheels, instead of two large and two small, and his omnibus was constructed on that principle. It was built in two parts, which were joined together in the middle by a flexible leather passage, to enable it to turn easily. “It will turn with facility in the narrowest streets, without impeding the passage along the interior,” Mr. Adams declared, “as the flexible sides move in a circle. With this omnibus two horses will do the work of three; there will be great facility of access and egress; perfect command over the horses; increased ease to the passengers; greater head-room and more perfect ventilation; greater general durability and absence of the usual rattling noise, accompanied by entire safety against overturning.” In spite of Mr. Adams’s recommendation, the “equirotal omnibus” did not become popular, and had but a short career. [Illustration: ADAMS’S EQUIROTAL OMNIBUS.] CHAPTER VI Twopenny fares introduced--The first omnibus with advertisements--Penny fares tried--Omnibus improvements--Longitudinal seats objected to by the police--Omnibus associations--Newspapers on the “Favorites”--Foreigners in omnibuses--Fat and thin passengers--Thomas Tilling starts the “Times” omnibuses--Mr. Tilling at the Derby--Tilling’s gallery of photographs.