While he his bony fist can bend;
And, though averse to broil and strife,
Will fight a Dutchman with a knife;
O that is just the lad for me,
And such is honest six-foot-three." {42a}


It was through the Kerrisons that Borrow went to 16 Milman Street,
where Roger was lodging. His apartments seem to have been dismal
enough, consisting of "a small room, up two pair of stairs, in which
I was to sit, and another, still smaller, above it, in which I was to
sleep." After the first feeling of loneliness had passed, dispelled
largely by a bright fire and breakfast, he sallied forth, the
contents of the green box under his arm, to present his letter of
introduction to Sir Richard Phillips, {42b} in whom centred his hopes
of employment.

On arriving at the publisher's house in Tavistock Square, he was
immediately shown into Sir Richard's study, where he found "a tall,
stout man, about sixty, dressed in a loose morning gown," and with
him his confidential clerk Bartlett (the Taggart of Lavengro). Sir
Richard was at first enthusiastic and cordial, but when he learned
from William Taylor's letter that Borrow had come up to earn his
livelihood by authorship, his manner underwent a marked change. The
bluff, hearty expression gave place to "a sinister glance," and
Borrow found that within that loose morning gown there was a second
Sir Richard.

He learned two things--first, that Sir Richard Phillips had retired
from publishing and had reserved only The Monthly Magazine; {43a}