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tops of the buildings； and the numerous signs； which Robin paused
to read； informed him that he was near the centre of business。
But the streets were empty； the shops were closed； and lights
were visible only in the second stories of a few dwelling…houses。
At length； on the corner of a narrow lane； through which he was
passing； he beheld the broad countenance of a British hero
swinging before the door of an inn； whence proceeded the voices
of many guests。 The casement of one of the lower windows was
thrown back； and a very thin curtain permitted Robin to
distinguish a party at supper； round a well…furnished table。 The
fragrance of the good cheer steamed forth into the outer air； and
the youth could not fail to recollect that the last remnant of
his travelling stock of provision had yielded to his morning
appetite； and that noon had found and left him dinnerless。
〃Oh； that a parchment three…penny might give me a right to sit
down at yonder table！〃 said Robin； with a sigh。 〃But the Major
will make me welcome to the best of his victuals； so I will even
step boldly in； and inquire my way to his dwelling。〃
He entered the tavern； and was guided by the murmur of voices and
the fumes of tobacco to the public…room。 It was a long and low
apartment； with oaken walls； grown dark in the continual smoke；
and a floor which was thickly sanded； but of no immaculate
purity。 A number of personsthe larger part of whom appeared to
be mariners； or in some way connected with the seaoccupied the
wooden benches； or leatherbottomed chairs； conversing on various
matters； and occasionally lending their attention to some topic
of general interest。 Three or four little groups were draining as
many bowls of punch； which the West India trade had long since
made a familiar drink in the colony。 Others； who had the
appearance of men who lived by regular and laborious handicraft；
preferred the insulated bliss of an unshared potation； and became
more taciturn under its influence。 Nearly all； in short； evinced
a predilection for the Good Creature in some of its various
shapes； for this is a vice to which； as Fast Day sermons of a
hundred years ago will testify； we have a long hereditary claim。
The only guests to whom Robin's sympathies inclined him were two
or three sheepish countrymen； who were using the inn somewhat
after the fashion of a Turkish caravansary； they had gotten
themselves into the darkest corner of the room； and heedless of
the Nicotian atmosphere； were supping on the bread of their own
ovens； and the bacon cured in their own chimney…smoke。 But though
Robin felt a sort of brotherhood with these strangers； his eyes
were attracted from them to a person who stood near the door；
holding whispered conversation with a group of ill…dressed
associates。 His features were separately striking almost to
grotesqueness； and the whole face left a deep impression on the
memory。 The forehead bulged out into a double prominence； with a
vale between； the nose came boldly forth in an irregular curve；
and its bridge was of more than a finger's breadth； the eyebrows
were deep and shaggy； and the eyes glowed beneath them like fire
in a cave。
While Robin deliberated of whom to inquire respecting his
kinsman's dwelling； he was accosted by the innkeeper； a little
man in a stained white apron； who had come to pay his
professional welcome to the stranger。 Being in the second
generation from a French Protestant； he seemed to have inherited
the courtesy of his parent nation； but no variety of
circumstances was ever known to change his voice from the one
shrill note in which he now addressed Robin。
〃From the country； I presume； sir？〃 said he； with a profound bow。
〃Beg leave to congratulate you on your arrival； and trust you
intend a long stay with us。 Fine town here； sir； beautiful
buildings； and much that may interest a stranger。 May I hope for
the honor of your commands in respect to supper？〃
〃The man sees a family likeness！ the rogue has guessed that I am
related to the Major！〃 thought Robin； who had hitherto
experienced little superfluous civility。
All eyes were now turned on the country lad； standing at the
door； in his worn three…cornered hat； gray coat； leather
breeches； and blue yarn stockings； leaning on an oaken cudgel；
and bearing a wallet on his back。
Robin replied to the courteous innkeeper； with such an assumption
of confidence as befitted the Major's relative。 〃My honest
friend；〃 he said； 〃I shall make it a point to patronize your
house on some occasion； when〃here he could not help lowering
his voice〃when I may have more than a parchment three…pence in
my pocket。 My present business；〃 continued he； speaking with
lofty confidence； 〃is merely to inquire my way to the dwelling of
my kinsman； Major Molineux。〃
There was a sudden and general movement in the room； which Robin
interpreted as expressing the eagerness of each individual to
become his guide。 But the innkeeper turned his eyes to a written
paper on the wall； which he read； or seemed to read； with
occasional recurrences to the young man's figure。
〃What have we here？〃 said he； breaking his speech into little dry
fragments。 〃 'Left the house of the subscriber； bounden servant；
Hezekiah Mudge；had on； when he went away； gray coat； leather
breeches； master's third…best hat。 One pound currency reward to
whosoever shall lodge him in any jail of the providence。' Better
trudge； boy； better trudge！〃
Robin had begun to draw his hand towards the lighter end of the
oak cudgel； but a strange hostility in every countenance induced
him to relinquish his purpose of breaking the courteous
innkeeper's head。 As he turned to leave the room； he encountered
a sneering glance from the bold…featured personage whom he had
before noticed； and no sooner was he beyond the door； than he
heard a general laugh； in which the innkeeper's voice might be
distinguished； like the dropping of small stones into a kettle。
〃Now； is it not strange；〃 thought Robin； with his usual
shrewdness； 〃is it not strange that the confession of an empty
pocket should outweigh the name of my kinsman； Major Molineux？
Oh； if I had one of those grinning rascals in the woods； where I
and my oak sapling grew up together； I would teach him that my
arm is heavy though my purse be light！〃
On turning the corner of the narrow lane； Robin found himself in
a spacious street； with an unbroken line of lofty houses on each
side； and a steepled building at the upper end； whence the
ringing of a bell announced the hour of nine。 The light of the
moon； and the lamps from the numerous shop…windows； discovered
people promenading on the pavement； and amongst them Robin had
hoped to recognize his hitherto inscrutable relative。 The result
of his former inquiries made him unwilling to hazard another； in
a scene of such publicity； and he determined to walk slowly and
silently up the street； thrusting his face close