"Now sit down," he said, authoritatively, but in a whisper; and I took my place in the middle of the long seat.

He stood back and looked at me with an artistic squint.
"You look so proper," he said, "that I am sure nobody will think of trying the door while you sit there.

Will you remain till I come back ?" "Like Saint Peter in his chair," I whispered, for I wanted to get rid of him.
"Well, then, I must risk whatever may happen, and leave you here." So he went away.

Now I ask you if this was not a ridiculous position.

But I had discovered, in the course of my fortnight's wanderings, that I was really something of a philosopher in practice, and I am proud to say that on this occasion I smoked in absolute indifference to the absurdity of the thing.