So returning to the sidewalk, without debate, he paid the hackman an exorbitant fare, who, anxious to secure such illegal gains beyond all hope of recovery, quickly mounted his box and drove off at a gallop. "Will you step into the office, sir, now?" said the man, slightly flourishing with his brush--"this way, sir, if you please." Pierre followed him, into an almost deserted, dimly lit room with a stand in it. Going behind the stand, the man turned round to him a large ledger-like book, thickly inscribed with names, like any directory, and offered him a pen ready dipped in ink. Understanding the general hint, though secretly irritated at something in the manner of the man, Pierre drew the book to him, and wrote in a firm hand, at the bottom of the last-named column,-- "Mr. and Mrs. Pierre Glendinning, and Miss Ulver." The man glanced at the writing inquiringly, and then said--"The other column, sir--where from." "True," said Pierre, and wrote "Saddle Meadows." The very intelligent-looking man re-examined the page, and then slowly stroking his shaven chin, with a fork, made of his thumb for one tine, and his united four fingers for the other, said softly and whisperingly--"Anywheres in this country, sir?" "Yes, in the country," said Pierre, evasively, and bridling his ire. "But now show me to two chambers, will you; the one for myself and wife, I desire to have opening into another, a third one, never mind how small; but I must have a dressing-room." "Dressing-room," repeated the man, in an ironically deliberative voice--"Dressing-room;--Hem!--You will have your luggage taken into the dressing-room, then, I suppose.--Oh, I forgot--your luggage aint come yet--ah, yes, yes, yes--luggage is coming to-morrow--Oh, yes, yes,--certainly--to-morrow--of course. By the way, sir; I dislike to seem at all uncivil, and I am sure you will not deem me so; but--" "Well," said Pierre, mustering all his self-command for the coming impertinence. "When stranger gentlemen come to this house without luggage, we think ourselves bound to ask them to pay their bills in advance, sir; that is all, sir." "I shall stay here to-night and the whole of to-morrow, at any rate," rejoined Pierre, thankful that this was all; "how much will it be?" and he drew out his purse.