I told him that
though I was not particularly well supplied with money, I had
sufficient for the expenses of my journey, at the end of which I
hoped to procure more. He then hemmed again, and said that since I
had been at the inn I had rendered him a great deal of service in
more ways than one, and that he should not think of permitting me
to depart without making me some remuneration; then putting his
hand into his waistcoat pocket, he handed me a cheque for ten
pounds, which he had prepared beforehand, the value of which he
said I could receive at the next town, or that, if I wished it, any
waiter in the house would cash it for me. I thanked him for his
generosity in the best terms I could select, but, handing him back
the cheque, I told him that I could not accept it, saying, that, so
far from his being my debtor, I believed myself to be indebted to
him, as not only myself but my horse had been living at his house
for several weeks. He replied, that as for my board at a house
like his it amounted to nothing, and as for the little corn and hay
which the horse had consumed it was of no consequence, and that he
must insist upon my taking the cheque. But I again declined,
telling him that doing so would be a violation of a rule which I
had determined to follow, and which nothing but the greatest
necessity would ever compel me to break through--never to incur
obligations.
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