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'Mr。 Goodchild；' said Doctor Speddie； in a low voice； and with his
former troubled expression of face； 'I have seen that your attention has
been concentrated on my friend。'
'He fascinates me。 I must apologise to you； but he has quite
bewildered and mastered me。'
'I find that a lonely existence and a long secret；' said the Doctor；
drawing his chair a little nearer to Mr。 Goodchild's； 'become in the course
of time very heavy。 I will tell you something。 You may make what use
you will of it； under fictitious names。 I know I may trust you。 I am the
more inclined to confidence to…night； through having been unexpectedly
led back； by the current of our conversation at the Inn； to scenes in my
early life。 Will you please to draw a little nearer？'
Mr。 Goodchild drew a little nearer； and the Doctor went on thus：
speaking； for the most part； in so cautious a voice； that the wind； though it
was far from high； occasionally got the better of him。
When this present nineteenth century was younger by a good many
years than it is now； a certain friend of mine； named Arthur Holliday；
happened to arrive in the town of Doncaster； exactly in the middle of a
race…week； or； in other words； in the middle of the month of September。
He was one of those reckless； rattle…pated； open…hearted； and open…
mouthed young gentlemen； who possess the gift of familiarity in its
highest perfection； and who scramble carelessly along the journey of life
making friends； as the phrase is； wherever they go。 His father was a rich
manufacturer； and had bought landed property enough in one of the
midland counties to make all the born squires in his neighbourhood
thoroughly envious of him。 Arthur was his only son； possessor in
prospect of the great estate and the great business after his father's death；
well supplied with money； and not too rigidly looked after； during his
father's lifetime。 Report； or scandal； whichever you please； said that the
old gentleman had been rather wild in his youthful days； and that； unlike
most parents； he was not disposed to be violently indignant when he found
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THE LAZY TOUR OF TWO IDLE APPRENTICES
that his son took after him。 This may be true or not。 I myself only
knew the elder Mr。 Holliday when he was getting on in years； and then he
was as quiet and as respectable a gentleman as ever I met with。
Well； one September； as I told you； young Arthur comes to Doncaster；
having decided all of a sudden； in his harebrained way； that he would go to
the races。 He did not reach the town till towards the close of the evening；
and he went at once to see about his dinner and bed at the principal hotel。
Dinner they were ready enough to give him； but as for a bed； they laughed
when he mentioned it。 In the race…week at Doncaster； it is no uncommon
thing for visitors who have not bespoken apartments； to pass the night in
their carriages at the inn doors。 As for the lower sort of strangers； I
myself have often seen them； at that full time； sleeping out on the
doorsteps for want of a covered place to creep under。 Rich as he was；
Arthur's chance of getting a night's lodging （seeing that he had not written
beforehand to secure one） was more than doubtful。 He tried the second
hotel； and the third hotel； and two of the inferior inns after that； and was
met everywhere by the same form of answer。 No accommodation for the
night of any sort was left。 All the bright golden sovereigns in his pocket
would not buy him a bed at Doncaster in the race…week。
To a young fellow of Arthur's temperament； the novelty of being
turned away into the street； like a penniless vagabond； at every house
where he asked for a lodging； presented itself in the light of a new and
highly amusing piece of experience。 He went on； with his carpet…bag in
his hand； applying for a bed at every place of entertainment for travellers
that he could find in Doncaster； until he wandered into the outskirts of the
town。 By this time； the last glimmer of twilight had faded out； the moon
was rising dimly in a mist； the wind was getting cold； the clouds were
gathering heavily； and there was every prospect that it was soon going to
rain。
The look of the night had rather a lowering effect on young Holliday's
good spirits。 He began to contemplate the houseless situation in which
he was placed； from the serious rather than the humorous point of view；
and he looked about him； for another public…house to inquire at； with
something very like downright anxiety in his mind on the subject of a
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THE LAZY TOUR OF TWO IDLE APPRENTICES
lodging for the night。 The suburban part of the town towards which he
had now strayed was hardly lighted at all； and he could see nothing of the
houses as he passed them； except that they got progressively smaller and
dirtier； the farther he went。 Down the winding road before him shone the
dull gleam of an oil lamp； the one faint； lonely light that struggled
ineffectually with the foggy darkness all round him。 He resolved to go on
as far as this lamp； and then； if it showed him nothing in the shape of an
Inn； to return to the central part of the town and to try if he could not at
least secure a chair to sit down on； through the night； at one of the
principal Hotels。
As he got near the lamp； he heard voices； and； walking close under it；
found that it lighted the entrance to a narrow court； on the wall of which
was painted a long hand in faded flesh…colour； pointing with a lean
forefinger； to this inscription：…
THE TWO ROBINS。
Arthur turned into the court without hesitation； to see what The Two
Robins could do for him。 Four or five men were standing together round
the door of the house which was at the bottom of the court； facing the
entrance from the street。 The men were all listening to one othe