Well, we are growing grievous:  it is time to go out and have some cider.  There are many other admirable inns we might soliloquize—­The Seven Stars in Rotterdam (Molensteeg 19, “nabij het Postkantoor"); Gibson’s Hotel, Rutland Square, Edinburgh ("Well adapted for Marriages,” says its card); the Hotel Davenport, Stamford, Connecticut, where so many palpitating playwrights have sat nervously waiting for the opening performance; the Tannhaeuser Hotel in Heidelberg, notable for the affability of the chambermaids.  Perhaps you will permit us to close by quoting a description of an old Irish tavern, from that queer book “The Life of John Buncle, Esq.” (1756).  This inn bore the curious name The Conniving House: 

The Conniving-House (as the gentlemen of Trinity called it in my time, and long after) was a little public house, kept by Jack Macklean, about a quarter of a mile beyond Rings-end, on the top of the beach, within a few yards of the sea.  Here we used to have the finest fish at all times; and in the season, green peas, and all the most excellent vegetables.  The ale here was always extraordinary, and everything the best; which, with its delightful situation, rendered it a delightful place of a summer’s evening.  Many a delightful evening have I passed in this pretty thatched house with the famous Larrey Grogan, who played on the bagpipes extreme well; dear Jack Lattin, matchless on the fiddle, and the most agreeable of companions; that ever charming young fellow, Jack Wall ... and many other delightful fellows; who went in the days of their youth to the shades of eternity.  When I think of them and their evening songs—­We will go to Johnny Macklean’s—­to try if his ale be good or no, etc., and that years and infirmities begin to oppress me—­What is life!

There is a fine, easy, mellow manner of writing, worthy the subject.  And we—­we conclude with honest regret.  Even to write down the names of all the inns where we have been happy would be the pleasantest possible way of spending an afternoon.  But we advise you to be cautious in adopting our favourites as stopping places.  Some of them are very humble.

      [Illustration]

THE CLUB IN HOBOKEN

The advertisement ran as follows: 

Schooner Hauppauge FOR SALE By U.S.  Marshal, April 26, 1 P.M., Pier G, Erie R.R., Weehawken, N.J.  Built at Wilmington, N.C., 1918; net tonnage 1,295; length 228; equipped with sails, tackle, etc.

This had taken the eye of the Three Hours for Lunch Club.  The club’s interest in nautical matters is well known and it is always looking forward to the day when it will be able to command a vessel of its own.  Now it would be too much to say that the club expected to be able to buy the Hauppauge (the first thing it would have done, in that case,