." then, looking at me, he added, "have you anything to say against him, young man ?" "Not a word," said I, "save that he regularly puts me out." "He'll put any one out," said the man, "any one out of conceit with himself;" then, lifting a mug to his mouth, he added, with a hiccough, "I drink his health." Presently the landlord, as he moved about, observing me, stopped short: "Ah!" said he, "are you here?
I am glad to see you, come this way." "Stand back," said he to his company, as I followed him to the bar, "stand back for me and his gentleman." Two or three young fellows were in the bar, seemingly sporting yokels, drinking sherry and smoking.

"Come, gentlemen," said the landlord, "clear the bar, I must have a clear bar for me and my friend here." "Landlord, what will you take," said one, "a glass of sherry?
I know you like it." ".

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sherry and you too," said the landlord, "I want neither sherry nor yourself; didn't you hear what I told you ?" "All right, old fellow," said the other, shaking the landlord by the hand, "all right, don't wish to intrude--but I suppose when you and your friend have done, I may come in again;" then, with "a sarvant, sir," to me, he took himself into the kitchen, followed by the rest of the sporting yokels.
Thereupon the landlord, taking a bottle of ale from a basket, uncorked it, and pouring the contents into two large glasses, handed me one, and motioning me to sit down, placed himself by me; then, emptying his own glass at a draught, he gave a kind of grunt of satisfaction, and fixing his eyes upon the opposite side of the bar, remained motionless, without saying a word, buried apparently in important cogitations.