 the charge for the distance we've
come?«
    There are gentlemen-screws: there are conscientious gentlemen. They
calculate, and remonstrating or not, they pay. The postillion would rather have
had to do with the gentleman royal, who is above base computation; but he knew
the humanity in the class he served, and with his conception of Evan only
partially dimmed, he remarked:
    »Oh-h-h! that won't hurt you, sir. Jump along in, - settle that by-and-by.«
    But when my gentleman stood fast, and renewed the demand to know the exact
charge for the distance already traversed, the postillion dismounted, glanced
him over, and speculated with his fingers tipping up his hat. Meantime Evan drew
out his purse, a long one, certainly, but limp. Out of this drowned-looking
wretch the last spark of life was taken by the sum the postillion ventured to
name; and if paying your utmost farthing without examination of the charge, and
cheerfully stepping out to walk fifty miles, penniless, constituted a
postillion's gentleman, Evan would have passed the test. The sight of poverty,
however, provokes familiar feelings in poor men, if you have not had occasion to
show them you possess particular qualities. The postillion's eye was more on the
purse than on the sum it surrendered.
    »There,« said Evan, »I shall walk. Good-night.« And he flung his cloak to
step forward.
    »Stop a bit, sir!« arrested him.
    The postillion rallied up sideways, with an assumption of genial respect. »I
didn't calc'late myself in that there amount.«
    Were these words, think you, of a character to strike a young man hard on
the breast, send the blood to his head, and set up in his heart a derisive
chorus? My gentleman could pay his money, and keep his footing gallantly; but to
be asked for a penny beyond what he possessed; to be seen beggared, and to be
claimed a debtor - alack! Pride was the one developed faculty of Evan's nature.
The Fates who mould us, always work from the main-spring. I will not say that
the postillion stripped off the mask for him, at that instant completely; but he
gave him the first true glimpse of his condition. From the vague sense of being
an impostor, Evan awoke to the clear fact that he was likewise a fool.
    It was impossible for him to deny the man's claim,
