A more agreeable place of abode, during my stay
in the neighbourhood, I could not have wished to find.
"Are the rooms to let?" I inquired.
"Mrs. Hotherstone herself, sir, asked for my good word to recommend the
rooms, yesterday."
"I'll take them, Betteredge, with the greatest pleasure."
We went back to the yard, in which I had left my travelling-bag. After
putting a stick through the handle, and swinging the bag over his
shoulder, Betteredge appeared to relapse into the bewilderment which my
sudden appearance had caused, when I surprised him in the beehive chair.
He looked incredulously at the house, and then he wheeled about, and
looked more incredulously still at me.
"I've lived a goodish long time in the world," said this best and
dearest of all old servants--"but the like of this, I never did expect
to see. There stands the house, and here stands Mr. Franklin Blake--and,
Damme, if one of them isn't turning his back on the other, and going to
sleep in a lodging!"
He led the way out, wagging his head and growling ominously. "There's
only one more miracle that CAN happen," he said to me, over his
shoulder. "The next thing you'll do, Mr.
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