After this the landlord returned to his bar-room, from which the merry farmers had not yet withdrawn, but were endeavoring to penetrate the mystery that hung around the stranger. “Well, landlord,” said the arch Hopkins, “what do you make him out to be?” “That is a question I dare hardly answer. He is a gentleman, for he does not grudge his money.” “I would not think he should,” replied Hopkins, shaking his head mysteriously. “And why not?” exclaimed several of the company. “Ah, just as I thought,” returned Hopkins, with another shake of the head and significant look at the landlord. “What, in the name of all that’s silly, is the matter with you, Hopkins?” exclaimed the landlord. “What on earth can you know?” “I know what I know,” was his reply.
“Rather doubtful, that,” rejoined the landlord.
“You doubt it,” returned Hopkins, rather warmly; “then I will tell you what I think him to be; he is nothing more or less than a pirate; and you will all be murdered in your beds, Smith, (which was the landlord’s name,) you and your whole family, before morning. Now what think you of your guest?”
All the company stood aghast, and stared at each other in silence for some time, until the landlord again ventured to interrupt the silence by asking Hopkins “How do you know all that?” Hopkins answered, in rather a silly manner, “I guessed at it,” which did away with the effect produced by his previous assertions; and the landlord dismissing his fears, exclaimed, “As long as he pays well, be he man or devil, he shall stay here.” “A praiseworthy conclusion,” proceeded from a voice at the back part of the room, and at that instant the mysterious stranger stood before them. All started to their feet, seized their hats and waited to ask no questions, nor make additional comments, but went home and told their wives of Smith’s guest, and Hopkins’ opinion of his character.
Every woman fastened her door that night with suspicious care, and the mysterious stranger, and the delineation of his real character by Hopkins, became a subject of general conversation and comment throughout the village, and gradually became the received opinion among all the settlers, so that they set down the mysterious stranger for what Hopkins guessed him to be, and concluded that the articles which composed his baggage could not have been obtained honestly.