I smelt the fragrance, and saw the red spark of a cigar; the dusk outline of a man, too, bent towards me over the wicket.
"You see I am meditating in the field at eventide," continued this shade.

"God knows it's cool work! especially as instead of Rebecca on a camel's hump, with bracelets on her arms and a ring in her nose, Fate sends me only a counting-house clerk, in a grey tweed wrapper." The voice was familiar to me--its second utterance enabled me to seize the speaker's identity.
"Mr.Hunsden! good evening." "Good evening, indeed! yes, but you would have passed me without recognition if I had not been so civil as to speak first." "I did not know you." "A famous excuse! You ought to have known me; I knew you, though you were going ahead like a steam-engine.

Are the police after you ?" "It wouldn't be worth their while; I'm not of consequence enough to attract them.
"Alas, poor shepherd! Alack and well-a-day! What a theme for regret, and how down in the mouth you must be, judging from the sound of your voice! But since you're not running from the police, from whom are you running?
the devil ?" "On the contrary, I am going post to him." "That is well--you're just in luck: this is Tuesday evening; there are scores of market gigs and carts returning to Dinneford to-night; and he, or some of his, have a seat in all regularly; so, if you'll step in and sit half-an-hour in my bachelor's parlour, you may catch him as he passes without much trouble.

I think though you'd better let him alone to-night, he'll have so many customers to serve; Tuesday is his busy day in X---- and Dinneford; come in at all events." He swung the wicket open as he spoke.
"Do you really wish me to go in ?" I asked.
"As you please--I'm alone; your company for an hour or two would be agreeable to me; but, if you don't choose to favour me so far, I'll not press the point.

I hate to bore any one." It suited me to accept the invitation as it suited Hunsden to give it.
I passed through the gate, and followed him to the front door, which he opened; thence we traversed a passage, and entered his parlour; the door being shut, he pointed me to an arm-chair by the hearth; I sat down, and glanced round me.
It was a comfortable room, at once snug and handsome; the bright grate was filled with a genuine -- --shire fire, red, clear, and generous, no penurious South-of-England embers heaped in the corner of a grate.