Summoning all his courage, he stopped a porter, and asked him if he remembered receiving a barrel by the morning train.

He was anxious to get information, for the barrel belonged to a friend.

'It is a matter of some moment,' he added, 'for it contains specimens.' 'I was not here this morning, sir,' responded the porter, somewhat reluctantly, 'but I'll ask Bill.

Do you recollect, Bill, to have got a barrel from Bournemouth this morning containing specimens ?' 'I don't know about specimens,' replied Bill; 'but the party as received the barrel I mean raised a sight of trouble.' 'What's that ?' cried Morris, in the agitation of the moment pressing a penny into the man's hand.
'You see, sir, the barrel arrived at one-thirty.

No one claimed it till about three, when a small, sickly--looking gentleman (probably a curate) came up, and sez he, "Have you got anything for Pitman ?" or "Wili'm Bent Pitman," if I recollect right.