On the morning of which we are speaking, two Englishmen had just made good their claim, each independently of the other, each without having heard or seen the other, when two American ladies, coming up very tardily, endeavoured to prove their rights.  The ladies were without other companions, and were not fluent with their French, but were clearly entitled to their seats.  They were told that the conveyance was all coupe, but perversely would not believe the statement.  The official shrugged his shoulders and signified that his ultimatum had been pronounced.  What can an official do in such circumstances, when more coupe passengers are sent to him than the coupes at his command will hold?  ‘But we have paid for the coupe,’ said the elder American lady, with considerable indignation, though her French was imperfect, for American ladies understand their rights.  ’Bah; yes; you have paid and you shall go.  What would you have?’ ’We would have what we have paid for,’ said the American lady.  Then the official rose from his stool and shrugged his shoulders again, and made a motion with both his hands, intended to shew that the thing was finished.  ‘It is a robbery,’ said the elder American lady to the younger.  ’I should not mind, only you are so unwell.’  ‘It will not kill me, I dare say,’ said the younger.  Then one of the English gentlemen declared that his place was very much at the service of the invalid and the other Englishman declared that his also was at the service of the invalid’s companion.  Then, and not till then, the two men recognised each other.  One was Mr Glascock, on his way to Naples, and the other was Mr Trevelyan, on his way he knew not whither.

Upon this, of course, they spoke to each other.  In London they had been well acquainted, each having been an intimate guest at the house of old Lady Milborough.  And each knew something of the other’s recent history.  Mr Glascock was aware, as was all the world, that Trevelyan had quarrelled with his wife; and Trevelyan was aware that Mr Glascock had been spoken of as a suitor to his own sister-in-law.  Of that visit which Mr Glascock had made to Nuncombe Putney, and of the manner in which Nora had behaved to her lover, Trevelyan knew nothing.  Their greetings spoken, their first topic of conversation was, of course, the injury proposed to be done to the American ladies, and which would now fall upon them.  They went into the waiting-room together, and during such toilet as they could make there, grumbled furiously.  They would take post horses over the mountain, not from any love of solitary grandeur, but in order that they might make the company pay for its iniquity.  But it was soon apparent to them that they themselves had no ground of complaint, and as everybody was very civil, and as a seat in the banquette over the heads of the American ladies was provided for them, and as the man from the bureau came and apologised, they consented to be pacified, and ended, of course, by tipping half-a-dozen of the servants about the yard.  Mr Glascock had a man of his own with him, who was very nearly being put on to the same seat with his master as an extra civility; but this inconvenience was at last avoided.  Having settled these little difficulties, they went into breakfast in the buffet.