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fearful and querulous； cold； and rather cross。 When； forgetting his
size； I offered him my own； he thought that I was laughing at him。
He began to be afraid that the story would get abroad； and he then
and there exacted a promise that I would never tell it during his
lifetime。 I have kept my word； but now my old friend has been
gathered to his fathers； full of years。
At last I got him to the hotel。 It was long before he would leave
the castle； cloaked though he was；not； indeed； till the shades of
evening had dimmed the outlines of men and things； and made
indistinct the outward garniture of those who passed to and fro in
the streets。 Then； wrapped in his cloak； Mr。 Horne followed me
along the quays and through the narrowest of the streets； and at
length； without venturing to return the gaze of any one in the hotel
court； he made his way up to his own bedroom。
Dinnerless and supperless he went to his couch。 But when there he
did consent to receive some consolation in the shape of mutton
cutlets and fried potatoes； a savory omelet； and a bottle of claret。
The mutton cutlets and fried potatoes at the Golden Fleece at
Antwerp areor were then； for I am speaking now of well…nigh thirty
years sinceremarkably good； the claret； also； was of the best； and
so； by degrees； the look of despairing dismay passed from his face；
and some scintillations of the old fire returned to his eyes。
〃I wonder whether they find themselves much happier for what they
have got？〃 said he。
〃A great deal happier；〃 said I。 〃They'll boast of those things to
all their friends at home； and we shall doubtless see some account
of their success in the newspapers。〃
〃It would be delightful to expose their blunder；to show them up。
Would it not； George？ To turn the tables on them？〃
〃Yes；〃 said I； 〃I should like to have the laugh against them。〃
〃So would I； only that I should compromise myself by telling the
story。 It wouldn't do at all to have it told at Oxford with my name
attached to it。〃
To this also I assented。 To what would I not have assented in my
anxiety to make him happy after his misery？
But all was not over yet。 He was in bed now； but it was necessary
that he should rise again on the morrow。 At home； in England； what
was required might perhaps have been made during the night； but
here； among the slow Flemings； any such exertion would have been
impossible。 Mr。 Horne； moreover； had no desire to be troubled in
his retirement by a tailor。
Now the landlord of the Golden Fleece was a very stout man；a very
stout man indeed。 Looking at him as he stood with his hands in his
pockets at the portal of his own establishment； I could not but
think that he was stouter even than Mr。 Horne。 But then he was
certainly much shorter； and the want of due proportion probably
added to his unwieldy appearance。 I walked round him once or twice
wishfully； measuring him in my eye； and thinking of what texture
might be the Sunday best of such a man。 The clothes which he then
had on were certainly not exactly suited to Mr。 Horne's tastes。
He saw that I was observing him； and appeared uneasy and offended。
I had already ascertained that he spoke a little English。 Of
Flemish I knew literally nothing； and in French； with which probably
he was also acquainted； I was by no means voluble。 The business
which I had to transact was intricate； and I required the use of my
mother…tongue。
It was intricate and delicate； and difficult withal。 I began by
remarking on the weather； but he did not take my remarks kindly。 I
am inclined to fancy that he thought I was desirous of borrowing
money from him。 At any rate he gave me no encouragement in my first
advances。
〃Vat misfortune？〃 at last he asked； when I had succeeded in making
him understand that a gentleman up stairs required his assistance。
〃He has lost these things；〃 and I took hold of my own garments。
〃It's a long story； or I'd tell you how； but he has not a pair in
the world till he gets back to Brussels；unless you can lend him
one。〃
〃Lost hees br…？〃 and he opened his eyes wide； and looked at me with
astonishment。
〃Yes； yes； exactly so；〃 said I； interrupting him。 〃Most astonishing
thing； isn't it？ But it's quite true。〃
〃Vas hees money in de pocket？〃 asked my auspicious landlord。
〃No； no； no。 It's not so bad as that； his money is all right。 I
had the money； luckily。〃
〃Ah！ dat is better。 But he have lost hees b…？〃
〃Yes； yes；〃 I was now getting rather impatient。 〃There is no
mistake about it。 He has lost them as sure as you stand there。〃
And then I proceeded to explain that as the gentleman in question
was very stout； and as he； the landlord； was stoat also； he might
assist us in this great calamity by a loan from his own wardrobe。
When he found that the money was not in the pocket； and that his
bill therefore would be paid； he was not indisposed to be gracious。
He would； he said； desire his servant to take up what was required
to Mr。 Horne's chamber。 I endeavoured to make him understand that a
sombre colour would be preferable； but he only answered that he
would put the best that he had at the gentleman's disposal。 He
could not think of offering anything less than his best on such an
occasion。 And then he turned his back and went his way； muttering
as he went something in Flemish； which I believed to be an
exclamation of astonishment that any man should； under any
circumstances； lose such an article。
It was now getting late； so when I had taken a short stroll by
myself； I went to bed without disturbing Mr。 Horne again that night。
On the following morning I thought it best not to go to him unless
he sent for me； so I desired the boots to let him know that I had
ordered breakfast in a private room； and that I would await him
there unless he wished to see me。 He sent me word back to say that
he would be with me very shortly。
He did not keep me waiting above half an hour； but I confess that
that half hour was not pleasantly spent。 I feared that his temper
would be tried in dressing； and that he would not be able to eat his
breakfast in a happy state of mind。 So that when I heard his heavy
footstep advancing along the passage my heart did misgive me； and I
felt that I was trembling。
That step was certainly slower and more ponderous than usual。 There
was always a certain dignity in the very sound of his movements； but
now this seemed to have been enhanced。 To judge merely by the step
one would have said that a bishop was coming that way instead of a
prebendary。
And then he entered。 In the upper half of his august person no
alteration was perceptible。 The hair was as regular and as graceful
as ever； the handkerchief as white； the coat as immaculate； but
below his well…filled waistcoat a pair of red plush began to shine
in unmitigated splendour； and continued from thence down to within
an inch above his knee； nor； as it appeared； could any pulling
induce them to descend lower。 Mr。 Horne always wore black silk
stockings；at least so the world supposed； but it was now apparent
that the world had been wrong in presuming him to be guilty of such
extravagance。 Those；