saw in the street paid no heed to us, but took us doubtless for some carter and his boy who had brought corn in from the country for the Southampton packet, and were about early to lead the team home again. 'Tis a little place enough this Newport, and we soon found the Bugle; but Elzevir made so good a carter that the landlord did not know him, though he had his acquaintance before. So they fenced a little with one another.
"Have you bed and victuals for a plain countryman and his boy?" says Elzevir.
"Nay, that I have not," says the landlord, looking him up and down, and not liking to take in strangers who might use their eyes inside, and perhaps get on the trail of the Contraband. "'Tis near the Summer Statute and the place over-full already. I cannot move my gentlemen, and would bid you try the Wheatsheaf, which is a good house, and not so full as this."
"Ay, 'tis a busy time, and 'tis these fairs that make things prosper," and Elzevir marked the last word a little as he said it.
The man looked harder at him, and asked, "Prosper what?" as if he were hard of hearing.
"Prosper the Bonaventure," was the answer, and then the landlord caught Elzevir by the hand, shaking it hard, and saying, "Why, you are Master Block, and I expecting you this morn, and never knew you." He laughed as he stared at us again, and Elzevir smiled too. Then the landlord led us in. "And this is?" he said, looking at me.
"This is a well-licked whelp," replied Elzevir, "who got a bullet in the leg two months ago in that touch
