Vol.1 f.025 recto

of March, one thousand seven hundred and fifty-three. On the nineteenth
of March in some year no matter when -- I know it, I am sure of
it, for we have always, in some strange way or other, been brought
back to the subject on that day ever since -- on the nineteenth of
March in some year, sooner or later, that man will be discovered."

[Chapter 2]

"A strange story!" said the man who had been the cause of
the narration. -- " Stranger still if it comes about as you predict. Is
that the whole of it? that all?"
A question so unexpected, nettled Solomon Daisy not a little. By dint
of relating the story very often, and ???????? ???? ornamenting it (according to
village report) with a few ornamental flourishes suggested by the schoolmaster, various hearers from time to time he had
come in course of time by degrees to tell it with great effect; and " is that all?" after
the climax, was not what he was ??? was accustomed to.

"Is that all?" he repeated, "yes, that's all, sir. And enough too, I think."
"I think so too. My horse, young man! He is but a hack hired from a roadside posting house, but he must carry me to London to-night."
" To-night!" said Joe.
"To-night," returned the other. "What do you stare at? This tavern would seem to be a house of call for all the gaping idlers of the neighbourhood!"
At this remark, which evidently had reference to the scrutiny he had undergone, as mentioned in the foregoing chapter, the eyes of John Willet and his friends were diverted with marvellous rapidity to the copper boiler again. Not so with Joe, who, being a mettlesome fellow, returned the stranger's angry glance with a steady look, and rejoined:
"It is not a very bold thing to wonder at your going on to-night. Surely you have been asked such a harmless question in an inn before, and in better weather than this. I thought you mightn't know the way, as you seem strange to this part."
" The way --" repeated the other, irritably.
"Yes.[1Do]1 you know it?"
"I'll -- humph! -- I'll find it," replied the man, waving his hand and turning on his heel. "Landlord, take the reckoning here."
John Willet did as he was desired; for on that point he was seldom slow, except in