‘The towers of Fallow field; heigho!’

And Andrew said: 

’Now then, Van:  if Old Tom’s anywhere, he’s here.  You get down at the Dragon, and don’t you talk to me, but let me go in.  It’ll be just the hour he dines in the country.  Isn’t it a shame of him to make me face every man of the creditors—­eh?’

Evan gave Andrew’s hand an affectionate squeeze, at which Andrew had to gulp down something—­reciprocal emotion, doubtless.

‘Hark,’ said Raikes, as the horn of the guard was heard.  ’Once that sound used to set me caracoling before an abject multitude.  I did wonders.  All London looked on me!  It had more effect on me than champagne.  Now I hear it—­the whole charm has vanished!  I can’t see a single old castle.  Would you have thought it possible that a small circular bit of tin on a man’s person could produce such changes in him?’

‘You are a donkey to wear it,’ said Evan.

‘I pledged my word as a gentleman, and thought it small, for the money!’ said Raikes.  ’This is the first coach I ever travelled on, without making the old whip burst with laughing.  I’m not myself.  I’m haunted.  I’m somebody else.’

The three passengers having descended, a controversy commenced between Evan and Andrew as to which should pay.  Evan had his money out; Andrew dashed it behind him; Evan remonstrated.

’Well, you mustn’t pay for us two, Andrew.  I would have let you do it once, but—­’

‘Stuff!’ cried Andrew.  ’I ain’t paying—­it ’s the creditors of the estate, my boy!’

Evan looked so ingenuously surprised and hurt at his lack of principle, that Andrew chucked a sixpence at a small boy, saying,

’If you don’t let me have my own way, Van, I ’ll shy my purse after it.  What do you mean, sir, by treating me like a beggar?’

‘Our friend Harrington can’t humour us,’ quoth Raikes.  ’For myself, I candidly confess I prefer being paid for’; and he leaned contentedly against one of the posts of the inn till the filthy dispute was arranged to the satisfaction of the ignobler mind.  There Andrew left them, and went to Mrs. Sockley, who, recovered from her illness, smiled her usual placid welcome to a guest.

‘You know me, ma’am?’

‘Oh, yes!  The London Mr. Cogglesby!’

’Now, ma’am, look here.  I’ve come for my brother.  Don’t be alarmed.  No danger as yet.  But, mind! if you attempt to conceal him from his lawful brother, I’ll summon here the myrmidons of the law.’

Mrs. Sockley showed a serious face.

’You know his habits, Mr. Cogglesby; and one doesn’t go against any one of his whimsies, or there’s consequences:  but the house is open to you, sir.  I don’t wish to hide him.’

Andrew accepted this intelligent evasion of Tom Cogglesby’s orders as sufficient, and immediately proceeded upstairs.  A door shut on the first landing.  Andrew went to this door and knocked.  No answer.  He tried to open it, but found that he had been forestalled.  After threatening to talk business through the key-hole, the door was unlocked, and Old Tom appeared.