Containing some particulars relative to the double knock, and other matters: among which certain interesting disclosures relative to Mr. Snodgrass and a young lady are by no means irrelevant to this history.
The object that presented itself to the eyes of the astonished clerk, was a boy—a wonderfully fat boy—habited as a serving lad, standing upright on the mat, with his eyes closed as if in sleep. He had never seen such a fat boy, in or out of a travelling caravan; and this, coupled with the calmness and repose of his appearance, so very different from what was reasonably to have been expected of the inflicter of such knocks, smote him with wonder.
“What’s the matter?” inquired the clerk.
The extraordinary boy replied not a word; but he nodded once, and seemed, to the clerk’s imagination, to snore feebly.
“Where do you come from?” inquired the clerk.