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pointing with a lean forefinger； to this inscription：…
THE TWO ROBINS。
Arthur turned into the court without hesitation； to see what The
Two Robins could do for him。 Four or five men were standing
together round the door of the house which was at the bottom of the
court； facing the entrance from the street。 The men were all
listening to one other man； better dressed than the rest； who was
telling his audience something； in a low voice； in which they were
apparently very much interested。
On entering the passage； Arthur was passed by a stranger with a
knapsack in his hand； who was evidently leaving the house。
'No；' said the traveller with the knapsack； turning round and
addressing himself cheerfully to a fat； sly…looking； bald…headed
man； with a dirty white apron on； who had followed him down the
passage。 'No； Mr。 landlord； I am not easily scared by trifles；
but； I don't mind confessing that I can't quite stand THAT。'
It occurred to young Holliday； the moment he heard these words；
that the stranger had been asked an exorbitant price for a bed at
The Two Robins； and that he was unable or unwilling to pay it。 The
moment his back was turned； Arthur； comfortably conscious of his
own well…filled pockets； addressed himself in a great hurry； for
fear any other benighted traveller should slip in and forestall
him； to the sly…looking landlord with the dirty apron and the bald
head。
'If you have got a bed to let；' he said； 'and if that gentleman who
has just gone out won't pay your price for it； I will。'
The sly landlord looked hard at Arthur。
'Will you； sir？' he asked； in a meditative； doubtful way。
'Name your price；' said young Holliday； thinking that the
landlord's hesitation sprang from some boorish distrust of him。
'Name your price； and I'll give you the money at once if you like？'
'Are you game for five shillings？' inquired the landlord； rubbing
his stubbly double chin； and looking up thoughtfully at the ceiling
above him。
Arthur nearly laughed in the man's face； but thinking it prudent to
control himself； offered the five shillings as seriously as he
could。 The sly landlord held out his hand； then suddenly drew it
back again。
'You're acting all fair and above…board by me；' he said： 'and；
before I take your money； I'll do the same by you。 Look here； this
is how it stands。 You can have a bed all to yourself for five
shillings； but you can't have more than a half…share of the room it
stands in。 Do you see what I mean； young gentleman？'
'Of course I do；' returned Arthur； a little irritably。 'You mean
that it is a double…bedded room； and that one of the beds is
occupied？'
The landlord nodded his head； and rubbed his double chin harder
than ever。 Arthur hesitated； and mechanically moved back a step or
two towards the door。 The idea of sleeping in the same room with a
total stranger； did not present an attractive prospect to him。 He
felt more than half inclined to drop his five shillings into his
pocket； and to go out into the street once more。
'Is it yes； or no？' asked the landlord。 'Settle it as quick as you
can； because there's lots of people wanting a bed at Doncaster to…
night； besides you。'
Arthur looked towards the court； and heard the rain falling heavily
in the street outside。 He thought he would ask a question or two
before he rashly decided on leaving the shelter of The Two Robins。
'What sort of a man is it who has got the other bed？' he inquired。
'Is he a gentleman？ I mean； is he a quiet； well…behaved person？'
'The quietest man I ever came across；' said the landlord； rubbing
his fat hands stealthily one over the other。 'As sober as a judge；
and as regular as clock…work in his habits。 It hasn't struck nine；
not ten minutes ago； and he's in his bed already。 I don't know
whether that comes up to your notion of a quiet man： it goes a
long way ahead of mine； I can tell you。'
'Is he asleep； do you think？' asked Arthur。
'I know he's asleep；' returned the landlord。 'And what's more；
he's gone off so fast； that I'll warrant you don't wake him。 This
way； sir；' said the landlord； speaking over young Holliday's
shoulder； as if he was addressing some new guest who was
approaching the house。
'Here you are；' said Arthur； determined to be beforehand with the
stranger； whoever he might be。 'I'll take the bed。' And he handed
the five shillings to the landlord； who nodded； dropped the money
carelessly into his waistcoat…pocket； and lighted the candle。
'Come up and see the room；' said the host of The Two Robins；
leading the way to the staircase quite briskly； considering how fat
he was。
They mounted to the second…floor of the house。 The landlord half
opened a door； fronting the landing； then stopped； and turned round
to Arthur。
'It's a fair bargain； mind； on my side as well as on yours；' he
said。 'You give me five shillings； I give you in return a clean；
comfortable bed； and I warrant； beforehand； that you won't be
interfered with； or annoyed in any way； by the man who sleeps in
the same room as you。' Saying those words； he looked hard； for a
moment； in young Holliday's face； and then led the way into the
room。
It was larger and cleaner than Arthur had expected it would be。
The two beds stood parallel with each other … a space of about six
feet intervening between them。 They were both of the same medium
size； and both had the same plain white curtains； made to draw； if
necessary； all round them。 The occupied bed was the bed nearest
the window。 The curtains were all drawn round this； except the
half curtain at the bottom； on the side of the bed farthest from
the window。 Arthur saw the feet of the sleeping man raising the
scanty clothes into a sharp little eminence； as if he was lying
flat on his back。 He took the candle； and advanced softly to draw
the curtain … stopped half…way； and listened for a moment … then
turned to the landlord。
'He's a very quiet sleeper；' said Arthur。
'Yes；' said the landlord； 'very quiet。'
Young Holliday advanced with the candle； and looked in at the man
cautiously。
'How pale he is！' said Arthur。
'Yes；' returned the landlord； 'pale enough； isn't he？'
Arthur looked closer at the man。 The bedclothes were drawn up to
his chin； and they lay perfectly still over the region of his
chest。 Surprised and vaguely startled； as he noticed this； Arthur
stooped down closer over the stranger； looked at his ashy； parted
lips； listened breathlessly for an instant； looked again at the
strangely still face； and the motionless lips and chest； and turned
round suddenly on the landlord； with his own cheeks as pale for the
moment as the hollow cheeks of the man on the bed。
'Come here；' he whispered； under his breath。 'Come here； for God's
sake！ The man's not asleep … he is dead！'
'You have found that out sooner than I thought you would；' said the
landlord； composedly。 'Yes； he's dead； sure enough。 He died at
five o'clock to…day。'
'How did he die？ Who is he？' asked Arthur； staggered； for a
moment； by the audacious coolness of the answer。
'As to who is he；' rejoined the landlord； 'I know no more about him
than you do。 There are his books and letters and things； all
sealed up in that brown…paper parcel； for the Coroner's inquest to
open to…morrow or next day。 He's been here a week； paying his way
fairly enough； and stopping in…doors； for the most part； as if he
was ailing。 My girl brought him up his tea at five to…day； and as
he was pouring of it out； he fell down in a faint； or a fit； or a
compound of both； for anything I know。 We could not bring him to …
and I said he was dead。 And the doctor couldn't bring him to … and
the doctor said he was dead。 And there he is。 And the Coroner's
inquest's coming as soon as it can。 And that's as much as I know
about it。'
Arthur held the candle close to the man's lips。 The flame still
burnt straight up； as steadily as before。 There was a moment of
silence； and the rain pattered drearily through it against the
panes of the window。
'If you haven't got nothing more to say to me；' continued the
landlord； 'I suppose I may go。 You don't expect your five
shillings back； do you？ There's the bed I promised you； clean and
comfortable。 There's the man I warranted not to disturb you； quiet
in this world for ever。 If you're frightened to stop alone with
him； that's not my look out。 I've kept my part of the bargain； and
I mean to keep the money。 I'm not Yorkshire； myself； young
gentleman； but I've lived long enough in these parts to have my
wits sharpened； and I shouldn't wonder if you found out the way to
brighten up yours； next time you come amongst us。' With these
words； the landlord turned towards the door； and laughed to himself
softly； in high satisfaction at his own sharpness。