Controlling his astonishment, Richard greeted the man as though they were old friends.

They were not old friends, and the effect of Richard's greeting was to lead the man of lamps to think him drunk.
"Got his load early!" quoth the one of lamps.

He tippled himself, and was versed in cup proprieties, which forbade drunkenness prior to ten o'clock.
Richard continued down the street.

It was as if he were translated, and had quitted earth to walk the clouds.

And to think that not two hours before he had come swinging along this identical thoroughfare, never dreaming of the heaven of those loving arms into which he was walking! Blessed be Bess! He should never forget that sorceress, who to his weakness added her strength, and to his ignorance her wisdom.