Arrival at Horncastle - The Inn and Ostlers - The Garret -Figure of a Man with a Candle.
LEAVING the house of the old man who knew Chinese, but could not tell what was o'clock, I wended my way to Horncastle, which I reached in the evening of the same day, without having met any adventure on the way worthy of being marked down in this very remarkable history.
The town was a small one, seemingly ancient, and was crowded with people and horses.I proceeded, without delay, to the inn to which my friend the surgeon had directed me."It is of no use coming here," said two or three ostlers, as Ientered the yard - "all full - no room whatever;" whilst one added in an undertone, "That ere a'n't a bad-looking horse.""I want to see the master of this inn," said I, as Idismounted from the horse."See the master," said an ostler - the same who had paid the negative kind of compliment to the horse - "a likely thing, truly; my master is drinking wine with some of the grand gentry, and can't be disturbed for the sake of the like of you." "I bring a letter to him,"said I, pulling out the surgeon's epistle."I wish you would deliver it to him," I added, offering a half-crown."Oh, it's you, is it?" said the ostler, taking the letter and the half-crown; "my master will be right glad to see you; why, you ha'n't been here for many a year; I'll carry the note to him at once." And with these words he hurried into the house."That's a nice horse, young man," said another ostler, "what will you take for it?" to which interrogation Imade no answer."If you wish to sell him," said the ostler, coming up to me, and winking knowingly, "I think I and my partners might offer you a summut under seventy pounds;" to which kind and half-insinuated offer I made no reply, save by winking in the same kind of knowing manner in which Iobserved him wink."Rather leary!" said a third ostler.
"Well, young man, perhaps you will drink tonight with me and my partners, when we can talk the matter over." Before I had time to answer, the landlord, a well-dressed, good-looking man, made his appearance with the ostler; he bore the letter in his hand.Without glancing at me, he betook himself at once to consider the horse, going round him, and observing every point with the utmost minuteness.At last, having gone round the horse three times, he stopped beside me, and keeping his eyes on the horse, bent his head towards his right shoulder."That horse is worth some money," said he, turning towards me suddenly, and slightly touching me on the arm with the letter which he held in his hand; to which observation I made no reply, save by bending my head towards the right shoulder as I had seen him do."The young man is going to talk to me and my partners about it tonight," said the ostler who had expressed an opinion that he and his friends might offer me somewhat under seventy pounds for the animal."Pooh!" said the landlord, "the young man' knows what he is about; in the meantime lead the horse to the reserved stall, and see well after him.My friend," said he, taking me aside after the ostler had led the animal away, "recommends you to me in the strongest manner, on which account alone I take you and your horse in.I need not advise you not to be taken in, as I should say, by your look, that you are tolerably awake; but there are queer hands at Horncastle at this time, and those fellows of mine, you understand me - ; but I have a great deal to do at present, so you must excuse me." And thereupon went into the house.
