"
"Lost hees br-?" and he opened his eyes wide, and looked at me with
astonishment.
"Yes, yes, exactly so," said I, interrupting him. "Most astonishing
thing, isn't it? But it's quite true."
"Vas hees money in de pocket?" asked my auspicious landlord.
"No, no, no. It's not so bad as that, his money is all right. I
had the money, luckily."
"Ah! dat is better. But he have lost hees b-?"
"Yes, yes;" I was now getting rather impatient. "There is no
mistake about it. He has lost them as sure as you stand there."
And then I proceeded to explain that as the gentleman in question
was very stout, and as he, the landlord, was stoat also, he might
assist us in this great calamity by a loan from his own wardrobe.
When he found that the money was not in the pocket, and that his
bill therefore would be paid, he was not indisposed to be gracious.
He would, he said, desire his servant to take up what was required
to Mr. Horne's chamber. I endeavoured to make him understand that a
sombre colour would be preferable; but he only answered that he
would put the best that he had at the gentleman's disposal. He
could not think of offering anything less than his best on such an
occasion.
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