[Kransha]

The aged hobbit suddenly realized that he was being spoken to. He responded as quickly as he could by turning and continuing to search his person for something to bargain with. He only had one commodity of any value with him and had no idea how much it was worth.

“Pipe-weed,” he said very bluntly, “and lots of it. I’ve got best of the Halfling’s leaf in all the Southfarthing that I’d be willing to give up for some food and rest. I don’t know how much t’would be worth to you, but I assure you, there are many frequents of this fine establishment who would pay well to have some.”

Tobias Hornblower swelled with pride as he spoke, still fishing out various satchels filled with different varieties of pipe-weed. That, he supposed, was the one advantage of being a respectable member of the Hornblower family. His family back in Longbottom were the leading producers of Longbottom Leaf in the Shire, and he always carried around a surplus. He had roughly five or six small sacks filled with each kind of pipe-weed for every occasion and was known in the Southfarthing as someone who smoked at least a little too much, if not more.

He continued on before the woman could respond, “If that doesn’t work, I’m sure I have credit enough to serve for a one-night stay. A Hornblower never goes back on his word, after all.” Another lie, but he didn’t falter. Honesty wasn’t a virtue of his, but he was telling the truth about his word, which he valued (even though he often tried to find some loophole that would allow him to honestly shirk his bill).