"Oh yes, have seen plenty when I have been up in London."
"Have you been much in London?"
"Oh yes; when I was a drover was up in London every month."
"And were you much in the society of English gentlemen when you
were there?"
"Oh yes; a great deal."
"Whereabouts in London did you chiefly meet them?"
"Whereabouts? Oh, in Smithfield."
"Dear me!" said I; "I thought that was rather a place for butchers
than gentlemen."
"Great place for gentlemen, I assure you," said the figure; "met
there the finest gentleman I ever saw in my life; very grand, but
kind and affable, like every true gentleman. Talked to me a great
deal about Anglesey runts, and Welsh legs of mutton, and at parting
shook me by the hand, and asked me to look in upon him, if I was
ever down in his parts, and see his sheep and taste his ale."
"Do you know who he was?" said I.
"Oh yes; know all about him; Earl of Leicester, from county of
Norfolk; fine old man indeed - you very much like him - speak just
in same way."
"Have you given up the business of drover long?" said I.
"Oh yes; given him up a long time, ever since domm'd railroad came
into fashion."
"And what do you do now?" said I.
"Oh, not much; live upon my means; picked up a little property, a
few sticks, just enough for old crow to build him nest with -
sometimes, however, undertake a little job for neighbouring people
and get a little money.
