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'A deep what； dear？'
'A … but no matter； I will give you a crown for this volume。'
'No； dear； I will not sell the volume for a crown。'
'I am poor；' said I； 'but I will give you two silver crowns for
your volume。'
'No； dear； I will not sell my volume for two silver crowns； no； nor
for the golden one in the king's tower down there； without my book
I should mope and pine； and perhaps fling myself into the river；
but I am glad you like it； which shows that I was right about you；
after all； you are one of our party； and you have a flash about
that eye of yours which puts me just in mind of my dear son。 No；
dear； I won't sell you my book； but； if you like； you may have a
peep into it whenever you come this way。 I shall be glad to see
you； you are one of the right sort； for； if you had been a common
one； you would have run away with the thing； but you scorn such
behaviour； and； as you are so flash of your money； though you say
you are poor； you may give me a tanner to buy a little baccy with；
I love baccy； dear； more by token that it comes from the
plantations to which the blessed woman was sent。'
'What's a tanner？' said I。
'Lor！ don't you know； dear？ Why； a tanner is sixpence； and； as you
were talking just now about crowns； it will be as well to tell you
that those of our trade never calls them crowns； but bulls； but I
am talking nonsense； just as if you did not know all that already；
as well as myself； you are only shamming … I'm no trap； dear； nor
more was the blessed woman in the book。 Thank you； dear … thank
you for the tanner； if I don't spend it； I'll keep it in
remembrance of your sweet face。 What； you are going？ … well； first
let me whisper a word to you。 If you have any clies to sell at any
time； I'll buy them of you； all safe with me； I never peach； and
scores a trap； so now； dear； God bless you！ and give you good luck。
Thank you for your pleasant company； and thank you for the tanner。'
CHAPTER XXXII
The tanner … The hotel … Drinking claret … London journal … New
field … Commonplaceness … The three individuals … Botheration …
Frank and ardent。
'TANNER！' said I musingly； as I left the bridge； 'Tanner！ what can
the man who cures raw skins by means of a preparation of oak bark
and other materials have to do with the name which these fakers； as
they call themselves； bestow on the smallest silver coin in these
dominions？ Tanner！ I can't trace the connection between the man
of bark and the silver coin； unless journeymen tanners are in the
habit of working for sixpence a day。 But I have it；' I continued；
flourishing my hat over my head； 'tanner； in this instance； is not
an English word。' Is it not surprising that the language of Mr。
Petulengro and of Tawno Chikno is continually coming to my
assistance whenever I appear to be at a nonplus with respect to the
derivation of crabbed words？ I have made out crabbed words in
AEschylus by means of the speech of Chikno and Petulengro； and even
in my Biblical researches I have derived no slight assistance from
it。 It appears to be a kind of picklock； an open sesame； Tanner …
Tawno！ the one is but a modification of the other； they were
originally identical； and have still much the same signification。
Tanner； in the language of the apple…woman； meaneth the smallest of
English silver coins； and Tawno； in the language of the
Petulengres； though bestowed upon the biggest of the Romans；
according to strict interpretation signifieth a little child。
So I left the bridge； retracing my steps for a considerable way； as
I thought I had seen enough in the direction in which I had
hitherto been wandering； I should say that I scarcely walked less
than thirty miles about the big city on the day of my first
arrival。 Night came on； but still I was walking about； my eyes
wide open； and admiring everything that presented itself to them。
Everything was new to me； for everything is different in London
from what it is elsewhere … the people； their language； the horses；
the TOUT ENSEMBLE … even the stones of London are different from
others … at least it appeared to me that I had never walked with
the same case and facility on the flagstones of a country town as
on those of London； so I continued roving about till night came on；
and then the splendour of some of the shops particularly struck me。
'A regular Arabian Nights entertainment！' said I； as I looked into
one on Cornhill； gorgeous with precious merchandise； and lighted up
with lustres； the rays of which were reflected from a hundred
mirrors。
But； notwithstanding the excellence of the London pavement； I began
about nine o'clock to feel myself thoroughly tired； painfully and
slowly did I drag my feet along。 I also felt very much in want of
some refreshment； and I remembered that since breakfast I had taken
nothing。 I was now in the Strand； and； glancing about； I perceived
that I was close by an hotel； which bore over the door the somewhat
remarkable name of Holy Lands。 Without a moment's hesitation I
entered a well…lighted passage； and； turning to the left； I found
myself in a well…lighted coffee…room； with a well…dressed and
frizzled waiter before me； 'Bring me some claret；' said I； for I
was rather faint than hungry； and I felt ashamed to give a humbler
order to so well…dressed an individual。 The waiter looked at me
for a moment； then； making a low bow； he bustled off； and I sat
myself down in the box nearest to the window。 Presently the waiter
returned； bearing beneath his left arm a long bottle； and between
the fingers of his right hand two large purple glasses； placing the
latter on the table； he produced a corkscrew； drew the cork in a
twinkling； set the bottle down before me with a bang； and then；
standing still； appeared to watch my movements。 You think I don't
know how to drink a glass of claret； thought I to myself。 I'll
soon show you how we drink claret where I come from； and； filling
one of the glasses to the brim； I flickered it for a moment between
my eyes and the lustre； and then held it to my nose； having given
that organ full time to test the bouquet of the wine； I applied the
glass to my lips； taking a large mouthful of the wine； which I
swallowed slowly and by degrees； that the palate might likewise
have an opportunity of performing its functions。 A second mouthful
I disposed of more summarily； then； placing the empty glass upon
the table； I fixed my eyes upon the bottle； and said … nothing；
whereupon the waiter； who had been observing the whole process with
considerable attention； made me a bow yet more low than before；
and； turning on his heel； retired with a smart chuck of his head；
as much as to say； It is all right： the young man is used to
claret。
And when the waiter had retired I took a second glass of the wine；
which I found e