CHAPTER XL.
THE HORNCASTLE WELCOME--TZERNEBOCK AND BIELEBOCK.
The pipe of the Hungarian had, for some time past, exhibited considerable symptoms of exhaustion, little or no ruttling having been heard in the tube, and scarcely a particle of smoke, drawn through the syphon, having been emitted from the lips of the tall possessor.

He now rose from his seat, and going to a corner of the room, placed his pipe against the wall, then striding up and down the room, he cracked his fingers several times, exclaiming, in a half-musing manner, "Oh, the deep nation, which, in order to display its sympathy for Hungary, sends its fool to Vienna to drink the sweet wine of Tokay!" The jockey, having looked for some time at the tall figure with evident approbation, winked at me with that brilliant eye of his on which there was no speck, saying, "Did you ever see a taller fellow ?" "Never," said I.
"Or a finer ?" "That's another question," said I, "which I am not so willing to answer; however, as I am fond of truth, and scorn to flatter, I will take the liberty of saying that I think I have seen a finer." "A finer! where ?" said the jockey; whilst the Hungarian, who appeared to understand what we said, stood still, and looked full at me.
"Amongst a strange set of people," said I, "whom if I were to name, you would, I dare say, only laugh at me." "Who be they ?" said the jockey.

"Come, don't be ashamed; I have occasionally kept queerish company myself." "The people whom we call gypsies," said I; "whom the Germans call Zigeuner, and who call themselves Romany chals.' "Zigeuner!" said the Hungarian; "by Isten! I do know those people." "Romany chals!" said the jockey; "whew! I begin to smell a rat." "What do you mean by smelling a rat ?" said I.
"I'll bet a crown," said the jockey, "that you be the young chap what certain folks call 'The Romany Rye.'" "Ah!" said I, "how came you to know that name ?" "Be not you he ?" said the jockey.
"Why, I certainly have been called by that name." "I could have sworn it," said the jockey; then rising from his chair, he laid his pipe on the table, took a large hand-bell which stood on a sideboard, and going to the door, opened it, and commenced ringing in a most tremendous manner on the staircase.

The noise presently brought up a waiter, to whom the jockey vociferated, "Go to your master, and tell him to send immediately three bottles of champagne, of the pink kind, mind you, which is twelve guineas a dozen." The waiter hurried away, and the jockey resumed his seat and his pipe.

I sat in silent astonishment till the waiter returned with a basket containing the wine, which, with three long glasses, he placed on the table.