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entrance from the street。 The men were all listening to one other man；
better dressed than the rest； who was telling his audience something； in a
low voice； in which they were apparently very much interested。
On entering the passage； Arthur was passed by a stranger with a
knapsack in his hand； who was evidently leaving the house。
'No；' said the traveller with the knapsack； turning round and addressing
himself cheerfully to a fat； sly…looking； bald…headed man； with a dirty
white apron on； who had followed him down the passage。 'No； Mr。
landlord； I am not easily scared by trifles； but； I don't mind confessing that
I can't quite stand THAT。'
It occurred to young Holliday； the moment he heard these words； that
the stranger had been asked an exorbitant price for a bed at The Two
Robins； and that he was unable or unwilling to pay it。 The moment his
back was turned； Arthur； comfortably conscious of his own well…filled
pockets； addressed himself in a great hurry； for fear any other benighted
traveller should slip in and forestall him； to the sly…looking landlord with
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the dirty apron and the bald head。
'If you have got a bed to let；' he said； 'and if that gentleman who has
just gone out won't pay your price for it； I will。'
The sly landlord looked hard at Arthur。
'Will you； sir？' he asked； in a meditative； doubtful way。
'Name your price；' said young Holliday； thinking that the landlord's
hesitation sprang from some boorish distrust of him。 'Name your price；
and I'll give you the money at once if you like？'
'Are you game for five shillings？' inquired the landlord； rubbing his
stubbly double chin； and looking up thoughtfully at the ceiling above him。
Arthur nearly laughed in the man's face； but thinking it prudent to
control himself； offered the five shillings as seriously as he could。 The
sly landlord held out his hand； then suddenly drew it back again。
'You're acting all fair and above…board by me；' he said： 'and； before I
take your money； I'll do the same by you。 Look here； this is how it stands。
You can have a bed all to yourself for five shillings； but you can't have
more than a half…share of the room it stands in。 Do you see what I mean；
young gentleman？'
'Of course I do；' returned Arthur； a little irritably。 'You mean that it is
a double…bedded room； and that one of the beds is occupied？'
The landlord nodded his head； and rubbed his double chin harder than
ever。 Arthur hesitated； and mechanically moved back a step or two
towards the door。 The idea of sleeping in the same room with a total
stranger； did not present an attractive prospect to him。 He felt more than
half inclined to drop his five shillings into his pocket； and to go out into
the street once more。
'Is it yes； or no？' asked the landlord。 'Settle it as quick as you can；
because there's lots of people wanting a bed at Doncaster to… night； besides
you。'
Arthur looked towards the court； and heard the rain falling heavily in
the street outside。 He thought he would ask a question or two before he
rashly decided on leaving the shelter of The Two Robins。
'What sort of a man is it who has got the other bed？' he inquired。 'Is he
a gentleman？ I mean； is he a quiet； well…behaved person？'
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'The quietest man I ever came across；' said the landlord； rubbing his fat
hands stealthily one over the other。 'As sober as a judge； and as regular
as clock…work in his habits。 It hasn't struck nine； not ten minutes ago；
and he's in his bed already。 I don't know whether that comes up to your
notion of a quiet man： it goes a long way ahead of mine； I can tell you。'
'Is he asleep； do you think？' asked Arthur。
'I know he's asleep；' returned the landlord。 'And what's more； he's
gone off so fast； that I'll warrant you don't wake him。 This way； sir；' said
the landlord； speaking over young Holliday's shoulder； as if he was
addressing some new guest who was approaching the house。
'Here you are；' said Arthur； determined to be beforehand with the
stranger； whoever he might be。 'I'll take the bed。' And he handed the
five shillings to the landlord； who nodded； dropped the money carelessly
into his waistcoat…pocket； and lighted the candle。
'Come up and see the room；' said the host of The Two Robins； leading
the way to the staircase quite briskly； considering how fat he was。
They mounted to the second…floor of the house。 The landlord half
opened a door； fronting the landing； then stopped； and turned round to
Arthur。
'It's a fair bargain； mind； on my side as well as on yours；' he said。
'You give me five shillings； I give you in return a clean； comfortable bed；
and I warrant； beforehand； that you won't be interfered with； or annoyed in
any way； by the man who sleeps in the same room as you。' Saying those
words； he looked hard； for a moment； in young Holliday's face； and then
led the way into the room。
It was larger and cleaner than Arthur had expected it would be。 The
two beds stood parallel with each other … a space of about six feet
intervening between them。 They were both of the same medium size；
and both had the same plain white curtains； made to draw； if necessary； all
round them。 The occupied bed was the bed nearest the window。 The
curtains were all drawn round this； except the half curtain at the bottom；
on the side of the bed farthest from the window。 Arthur saw the feet of
the sleeping man raising the scanty clothes into a sharp little eminence； as
if he was lying flat on his back。 He took the candle； and advanced softly
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to draw the curtain … stopped half…way； and listened for a moment … then
turned to the landlord。
'He's a very quiet sleeper；' said Arthur。
'Yes