An animated conversation ensued, which ended by Tom being asked to dine, and when the gong proclaimed the table spread, in walked the stranger and Tom, arm-in-arm, large as life and twice as natural. He called the waiters with an air of ease, passed the stranger's wine with friendly freedom, laughed musically, jested with spirit, wiped his mouth with grace, and, in short, completely captivated the southerner. During the period of Tom's luxuriating, he was observed by the landlord, who, indignant, sent a servant to order him from the table. Tom had “come it” over him for so many odd dinners, without a shadow of prospect for pay, that he would stand it no longer. The servant approached, whispered in his ear, and stood off to give him room to _move_. Tom clutched the wine bottle, with the intention of hurling it at his head, but altered his purpose, and poured out another glass, drank it off, looked daggers at the servant, and in a moment more smiled confidence upon his friend. “Would you believe it,” said Tom, to the southerner, “that since my absence from the city for a few days past, a rival house of our _shipping firm_ has whispered the possibility of our failure, and this rascally landlord, having heard the calumny, has insulted me here at table by sending a servant to demand the trifling sum I owe him.” The southerner was burning with indignation. “It is too humiliating;” added Tom, “not dreaming of such an outrage, I am entirely unprovided at the moment.” “Here, my dear fellow,” promptly proffered his friend, “here is my pocket-book, make use of it without hesitation.” “You're very kind,” said Tom, “very, I will but borrow this thousand dollar bill for a moment--I know the rascal can't change it!” With an air of offended dignity, Tom approached the office of the hotel, the landlord, frowning with anger, stood at the desk, the offended “diner out,” put his hand to his eyes, as if hiding deep emotion, and then addressing the landlord in a grief-stricken voice, he said: “I never dreamed of such an insult from _you_, sir, at such a time, too, just as my uncle in the south has expired,--and his agent with me to deliver up the portion bequeathed to me--it is--it--sir, I cannot express in language my feelings. Take out of that the paltry sum I owe you,”--throwing down the thousand dollar bill,--“and henceforth I never will enter your door. Just at a time too,” he further added, “when I had intended to make your house my home, and endeavor to make some return for your forbearance. It is too much--my feelings are lacerated,” and here he became almost overpowered by emotion.