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plainly animated by the spirit of derision。 The racier of
the two cartoons displayed； indeed； no symptom of attractive
merit； and though it had a certain share of that success
called scandalous； failed utterly of its effect。 On the day；
however； of the second appearance of the companion work； a
real inquirer did actually present himself before the eyes of
Somerset。
This was a gentlemanly man； with some marks of recent
merriment； and his voice under inadequate control。
'I beg your pardon；' said he； 'but what is the meaning of
your extraordinary bill？'
'I beg yours；' returned Somerset hotly。 'Its meaning is
sufficiently explicit。' And being now； from dire experience；
fearful of ridicule； he was preparing to close the door； when
the gentleman thrust his cane into the aperture。
'Not so fast； I beg of you；' said he。 'If you really let
apartments； here is a possible tenant at your door； and
nothing would give me greater pleasure than to see the
accommodation and to learn your terms。'
His heart joyously beating； Somerset admitted the visitor；
showed him over the various apartments； and； with some return
of his persuasive eloquence； expounded their attractions。
The gentleman was particularly pleased by the elegant
proportions of the drawing…room。
'This；' he said； 'would suit me very well。 What； may I ask；
would be your terms a week； for this floor and the one above
it？'
'I was thinking；' returned Somerset； 'of a hundred pounds。'
'Surely not；' exclaimed the gentleman。
'Well； then；' returned Somerset； 'fifty。'
The gentleman regarded him with an air of some amazement。
'You seem to be strangely elastic in your demands；' said he。
'What if I were to proceed on your own principle of division；
and offer twenty…five？'
'Done！' cried Somerset； and then； overcome by a sudden
embarrassment； 'You see；' he added apologetically； 'it is all
found money for me。'
'Really？' said the stranger； looking at him all the while
with growing wonder。 'Without extras； then？'
'I … I suppose so；' stammered the keeper of the lodging…
house。
'Service included？' pursued the gentleman。
'Service？' cried Somerset。 'Do you mean that you expect me
to empty your slops？'
The gentleman regarded him with a very friendly interest。
'My dear fellow；' said he； 'if you take my advice； you will
give up this business。' And thereupon he resumed his hat and
took himself away。
This smarting disappointment produced a strong effect on the
artist of the cartoons； and he began with shame to eat up his
rosier illusions。 First one and then the other of his great
works was condemned； withdrawn from exhibition； and
relegated； as a mere wall…picture； to the decoration of the
dining…room。 Their place was taken by a replica of the
original wafered announcement； to which； in particularly
large letters； he had added the pithy rubric： 'NO SERVICE。'
Meanwhile he had fallen into something as nearly bordering on
low spirits as was consistent with his disposition；
depressed； at once by the failure of his scheme； the
laughable turn of his late interview； and the judicial
blindness of the public to the merit of the twin cartoons。
Perhaps a week had passed before he was again startled by the
note of the knocker。 A gentleman of a somewhat foreign and
somewhat military air； yet closely shaven and wearing a soft
hat； desired in the politest terms to visit the apartments。
He had （he explained） a friend； a gentleman in tender health；
desirous of a sedate and solitary life； apart from
interruptions and the noises of the common lodging…house。
'The unusual clause；' he continued； 'in your announcement；
particularly struck me。 〃This；〃 I said； 〃is the place for
Mr。 Jones。〃 You are yourself； sir； a professional
gentleman？' concluded the visitor； looking keenly in
Somerset's face。
'I am an artist；' replied the young man lightly。
'And these；' observed the other； taking a side glance through
the open door of the dining…room； which they were then
passing； 'these are some of your works。 Very remarkable。'
And he again and still more sharply peered into the
countenance of the young man。
Somerset； unable to suppress a blush； made the more haste to
lead his visitor upstairs and to display the apartments。
'Excellent；' observed the stranger； as he looked from one of
the back windows。 'Is that a mews behind； sir？ Very good。
Well； sir： see here。 My friend will take your drawing…room
floor； he will sleep in the back drawing…room； his nurse； an
excellent Irish widow； will attend on all his wants and
occupy a garret； he will pay you the round sum of ten dollars
a week； and you； on your part； will engage to receive no
other lodger？ I think that fair。'
Somerset had scarcely words in which to clothe his gratitude
and joy。
'Agreed；' said the other； 'and to spare you trouble； my
friend will bring some men with him to make the changes。 You
will find him a retiring inmate； sir； receives but few； and
rarely leaves the house； except at night。'
'Since I have been in this house；' returned Somerset； 'I have
myself； unless it were to fetch beer； rarely gone abroad
except in the evening。 But a man；' he added； 'must have some
amusement。'
An hour was then agreed on； the gentleman departed； and
Somerset sat down to compute in English money the value of
the figure named。 The result of this investigation filled
him with amazement and disgust； but it was now too late；
nothing remained but to endure； and he awaited the arrival of
his tenant； still trying； by various arithmetical expedients；
to obtain a more favourable quotation for the dollar。 With
the approach of dusk； however； his impatience drove him once
more to the front balcony。 The night fell； mild and airless；
the lamps shone around the central darkness of the garden；
and through the tall grove of trees that intervened； many
warmly illuminated windows on the farther side of the square；
told their tale of white napery； choice wine； and genial
hospitality。 The stars were already thickening overhead；
when the young man's eyes alighted on a procession of three
four…wheelers； coasting round the garden railing and bound
for the Superfluous Mansion。 They were laden with formidable
boxes； moved in a military order； one following another； and；
by the extreme slowness of their advance； inspired Somerset
with the most serious ideas of his tenant's malady。
By the time he had the door open； the cabs had drawn up
beside the pavement； and from the two first； there had
alighted the military gentleman of the morning and two very
stalwart porters。 These proceeded instantly to take
possession of the house； with their own hands； and firmly
rejecting Somerset's assistance； they carried in the various
crates and boxes； with their own hands dismounted and
transferred to the back drawing…room the bed in which the
tenant was to sleep； and it was not until the bustle of
arrival had subsided； and the arrangements were complete；
that there descended； from the third of the three vehicles； a
gentleman of great sta