Page:Life of Daniel Dancer Esq..pdf/22

 movements of the latter were regulated by a halter instead of a bridle, while a sack fastened round him served instead of a saddle: as for shoes, this was a luxury that Daniel's Rosinante had never been accustomed to.

On their arrival at Aylesbury, having stopped at an inn of decent appearance, Dancer addressed his companion in the following manner:—"Pray, Sir, do you go into the house, order what you please, and live like a gentleman, I will settle for it readily; but as for myself I must go on in my old way." He accordingly did so, for he bought a pennyworth of bread for himself, slept under his horse's manger, and paid fifteen shillings, being the amount of his companion's bill, with the utmost cheerfulness.

His house, which at his death devolved to Captain Holmes, was a most miserable building, not having been repaired for half a century: though poor in external appearance, it was, however, discovered to be very rich within; at different times Captain Holmes found large bowels filled with guineas and half-guineas, and parcels of bank-notes stuffed under the covers of old chairs. Large jugs of dollars and shillings were found in the stable. At the dead of night Mr Dancer was known to go to this place, but for what purpose no one could tell. It afterwards appeared that he used to rob one jug, to add to a bowl which