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All that the crafty traveller had been saying to his host, was but a fresh piece of roguery on his part; for, in luring the innkeeper with such ostentation of generosity, he only meant to trick him as he had already done the beggars.
Just at that moment the parish-bell was ringing to prayers. He asked who was to perform the service; they told him it was their parson.
"As he is your pastor, master Nicholas," he further said, "you are most probably acquainted with him?"
"Yes, Sir."
"And if he would engage to pay the fifteen-pence that I owe you, would you not acknowledge us quit?"
"Undoubtedly, Sir, if it were thirty, and you desired it."
"Well, then, come along with me to the church, and we will speak to him."
They went out together; but first the eeelestiastie direeted his valet to saddle the horses, and to keep them in readiness.
The priest, as they entered the church, had just put on his sacerdotal habit, and was going to read prayers.
"This will keep us very long," said the traveller to his host; "I have not time to wait, but must proceed immediately upon my journey. It will satisfy you, I should imagine, to have the parson's word for the money?"
Nieholas having nodded assent, the other went up to the parson, and dexterously slipping into his hand twelve deniers, said:—
"Sir, you will pardon my coming so near the pulpit to speak to you; but much eeremony need not be observed between persons of the same condition. I am travelling through your town, and lodged last night at one of your parishioners', whom in all probability you know, and whom you may see hard by. He is a well-meaning man, honest, and entirely exempt from vice; but, unfortunately, his head is not so sound as his heart; his brain is somewhat cracked. Last night one of his fits of madness prevented us all from sleeping. He is a good deal better, thank God, this morning; nevertheless, as his head is still affeeted, and full of religion, he begged we would eonduct him to ehureh, and that he might hear you say a prayer, that the Lord may, in his goodness, restore him to perfect health." "Most eheerfully," answered the parson. He then turned to his parishioner, and said to him, "Friend, wait till I have done the serviee, when I'll take care that you shall have what you desire."
Nicholas, who thought this an ample assuranee of what he went for, said no more; but attended the traveller back to
