This is some of the finest and purest claret that I have tasted for many a long day past." An alarming suspicion disturbed the serenity of the landlady's mind.
Was his extraordinary opinion of the wine sincere?
Or was it Mr.
Mountjoy's wicked design to entrap her into praising her claret and then to imply that she was a cheat by declaring what he really thought of it?
She took refuge in a cautious reply: "You are the first gentleman, sir, who has not found fault with it." "In that case, perhaps you would like to get rid of the wine ?" Mr.
Mountjoy suggested.
The landlady was still cautious.

"Who will buy it of me, sir ?" "I will.

How much do you charge for it by the bottle ?" It was, by this time, clear that he was not mischievous--only a little crazy.

The worldly-wise hostess took advantage of that circumstance to double the price.

Without hesitation, she said: "Five shillings a bottle, sir." Often, too often, the irony of circumstances brings together, on this earthly scene, the opposite types of vice and virtue.