Here, thought I, is the very man for me.

He is of both country and town; here is a chamber of which he seems lord--for he ordered the maid about royally, and cursed her once or twice--and it is a chamber apart from the rest.

So I thought this a very proper place to hear some talk in, and a very proper fellow to hear it from.

For a while I thought he had something of the look of an old soldier about him; but then I thought no more of it.
When the others were gone out, and there was a little delay, I too--( God forgive me!)--cursed the poor maid for a slut once or twice, and bade her make haste with my dinner; and my manner had its effect, for the fellow warmed to me presently and told me that he was Mr.Rumbald, and I said on my part that my name was Mallock; and we shook hands upon it, for that was the mood of the ale that was in him.

(But he had other moods, too, I learned later, when he was very repentant for his drink.) I began then, to speak of Hare Street, and said that I lodged there sometimes; and then began to speak of the parson there, and of what a Churchman he was.
"Of Hare Street, eh ?" said he.