kenilworth-第30部分

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follow　me　for　a　short　time；　till　thy　pranks　here　are　forgotten。
Thou　hast；　I　think；　both　address　and　courage；　and　I　have　matter
to　do　that　may　require　both。〃

Wayland　Smith　eagerly　embraced　the　proposal；　and　protested　his
devotion　to　his　new　master。　　In　a　very　few　minutes　he　had　made　so
great　an　alteration　in　his　original　appearance；　by　change　of
dress；　trimming　his　beard　and　hair；　and　so　forth；　that　Tressilian
could　not　help　remarking　that　he　thought　he　would　stand　in　little
need　of　a　protector；　since　none　of　his　old　acquaintance　were
likely　to　recognize　him。

〃My　debtors　would　not　pay　me　money；〃　said　Wayland；　shaking　his
head；　〃but　my　creditors　of　every　kind　would　be　less　easily
blinded。　　And；　in　truth；　I　hold　myself　not　safe；　unless　under　the
protection　of　a　gentleman　of　birth　and　character；　as　is　your
worship。〃

So　saying；　he　led　the　way　out　of　the　cavern。　　He　then　called
loudly　for　Hobgoblin；　who；　after　lingering　for　an　instant；
appeared　with　the　horse　furniture；　when　Wayland　closed　and
sedulously　covered　up　the　trap…door；　observing　it　might　again
serve　him　at　his　need；　besides　that　the　tools　were　worth
somewhat。　　A　whistle　from　the　owner　brought　to　his　side　a　nag
that　fed　quietly　on　the　common；　and　was　accustomed　to　the　signal。

While　he　accoutred　him　for　the　journey；　Tressilian　drew　his　own
girths　tighter；　and　in　a　few　minutes　both　were　ready　to　mount。

At　this　moment　Sludge　approached　to　bid　them　farewell。

〃You　are　going　to　leave　me；　then；　my　old　playfellow；〃　said　the
boy；　〃and　there　is　an　end　of　all　our　game　at　bo…peep　with　the
cowardly　lubbards　whom　I　brought　hither　to　have　their　broad…
footed　nags　shed　by　the　devil　and　his　imps？〃

〃It　is　even　so；〃　said　Wayland　Smith；　〃the　best　friends　must　part；
Flibbertigibbet；　but　thou；　my　boy；　art　the　only　thing　in　the　Vale
of　Whitehorse　which　I　shall　regret　to　leave　behind　me。〃

〃Well；　I　bid　thee　not　farewell；〃　said　Dickie　Sludge；　〃for　you
will　be　at　these　revels；　I　judge；　and　so　shall　I；　for　if　Dominie
Holiday　take　me　not　thither；　by　the　light　of　day；　which　we　see
not　in　yonder　dark　hole；　I　will　take　myself　there！〃

〃In　good　time；〃　said　Wayland；　〃but　I　pray　you　to　do　nought
rashly。〃

〃Nay；　now　you　would　make　a　child；　a　common　child　of　me；　and　tell
me　of　the　risk　of　walking　without　leading…strings。　　But　before
you　are　a　mile　from　these　stones；　you　shall　know　by　a　sure　token
that　I　have　more　of　the　hobgoblin　about　me　than　you　credit；　and　I
will　so　manage　that；　if　you　take　advantage；　you　may　profit　by　my
prank。〃

〃What　dost　thou　mean；　boy？〃　　said　Tressilian；　but　Flibbertigibbet
only　answered　with　a　grin　and　a　caper；　and　bidding　both　of　them
farewell；　and；　at　the　same　time；　exhorting　them　to　make　the　best
of　their　way　from　the　place；　he　set　them　the　example　by　running
homeward　with　the　same　uncommon　velocity　with　which　he　had
baffled　Tressilian's　former　attempts　to　get　hold　of　him。

〃It　is　in　vain　to　chase　him；〃　said　Wayland　Smith；　〃for　unless
your　worship　is　expert　in　lark…hunting；　we　should　never　catch
hold　of　himand　besides；　what　would　it　avail？　　Better　make　the
best　of　our　way　hence；　as　he　advises。〃

They　mounted　their　horses　accordingly；　and　began　to　proceed　at　a
round　pace；　as　soon　as　Tressilian　had　explained　to　his　guide　the
direction　in　which　he　desired　to　travel。

After　they　had　trotted　nearly　a　mile；　Tressilian　could　not　help
observing　to　his　companion　that　his　horse　felt　more　lively　under
him　than　even　when　he　mounted　in　the　morning。

〃Are　you　avised　of　that？〃　　said　Wayland　Smith；　smiling。　　〃That　is
owing　to　a　little　secret　of　mine。　　I　mixed　that　with　an　handful
of　oats　which　shall　save　your　worship's　heels　the　trouble　of
spurring　these　six　hours　at　least。　　Nay；　I　have　not　studied
medicine　and　pharmacy　for　nought。〃

〃I　trust；〃　said　Tressilian；　〃your　drugs　will　do　my　horse　no
harm？〃

〃No　more　than　the　mare's　milk；　which　foaled　him；〃　answered　the
artist；　and　was　proceeding　to　dilate　on　the　excellence　of　his
recipe　when　he　was　interrupted　by　an　explosion　as　loud　and
tremendous　as　the　mine　which　blows　up　the　rampart　of　a
beleaguered　city。　　The　horses　started；　and　the　riders　were
equally　surprised。　　They　turned　to　gaze　in　the　direction　from
which　the　thunder…clap　was　heard；　and　beheld；　just　over　the　spot
they　had　left　so　recently；　a　huge　pillar　of　dark　smoke　rising
high　into　the　clear；　blue　atmosphere。　　〃My　habitation　is　gone　to
wreck；〃　said　Wayland；　immediately　conjecturing　the　cause　of　the
explosion。　　〃I　was　a　fool　to　mention　the　doctor's　kind　intentions
towards　my　mansion　before　that　limb　of　mischief；　Flibbertigibbet；
I　might　have　guessed　he　would　long　to　put　so　rare　a　frolic　into
execution。　　But　let　us　hasten　on；　for　the　sound　will　collect　the
country　to　the　spot。〃

So　saying；　he　spurred　his　horse；　and　Tressilian　also　quickening
his　speed；　they　rode　briskly　forward。

〃This；　then；　was　the　meaning　of　the　little　imp's　token　which　he
promised　us？〃　　said　Tressilian。　　〃Had　we　lingered　near　the　spot；
we　had　found　it　a　love…token　with　a　vengeance。〃

〃He　would　have　given　us　warning；〃　said　the　smith。　　〃I　saw　him
look　back　more　than　once　to　see　if　we　were　off'tis　a　very
devil　for　mischief；　yet　not　an　ill…natured　devil　either。　　It　were
long　to　tell　your　honour　how　I　became　first　acquainted　with　him；
and　how　many　tricks　he　played　me。　　Many　a　good　turn　he　did　me
too；　especially　in　bringing　me　customers；　for　his　great　delight
was　to　see　them　sit　shivering　behind　the　bushes　when　they　heard
the　click　of　my　hammer。　　I　think　Dame　Nature；　when　she　lodged　a
double　quantity　of　brains　in　that　misshapen　head　of　his；　gave　him
the　power　of　enjoying　other　people's　distresses；　as　she　gave　them
the　pleasure　of　laughing　at　his　ugliness。〃

〃It　may　be　so；〃　said　Tressilian；　〃those　who　find　themselves
severed　from　society　by　peculiarities　of　form；　if　they　do　not
hate　the　common　bulk　of　mankind；　are　at　least　not　altogether
indisposed　to　enjoy　their　mishaps　and　calamities。〃

〃But　Flibbertigibbet；〃　answered　Wayland；　〃hath　that　about　him
which　may　redeem　his　turn　for　mischievous　frolic；　for　he　is　as
faithful　when　attached　as　he　is　tricky　and　malignant　to
strangers；　and；　as　I　said　before；　I　have　cause　to　say　so。〃

Tressilian　pursued　the　conversation　no　further；　and　they
continued　their　journey　towards　Devonshire　without　further
adventure；　until　they　alighted　at　an　inn　in　the　town　of
Marlborough；　since　celebrated　for　having　given　title　to　the
greatest　general　（excepting　one）　whom　Britain　ever　produced。
Here　the　travellers　received；　in　the　same　breath；　an　example　of
the　truth　of　two　old　proverbsnamely；　that　ILL　NEWS　FLY　FAST；
and　that　LISTENERS　SELDOM　HEAR　A　GOOD　TALE　OF　THEMSELVES。

The　inn…yard　was　in　a　sort　of　combustion　when　they　alighted；
insomuch；　that　they　could　scarce　get　man　or　boy　to　take　care　of
their　horses；　so　full　were　the　whole　household　of　some　news　which
flew　from　tongue　to　tongue；　the　import　of　which　they　were　for
some　time　unable　to　discover。　　At　length；　indeed；　they　found　it
respected　matters　which　touched　them　nearly。

〃What　is　the　matter；　say　you；　master？〃　　answered；　at　length；　the
head　hostler；　in　reply　to　Tressilian's　repeated　questions。〃Why；
truly；　I　scarce　know　myself。　　But　here　was　a　rider　but　now；　who
says　that　the　devil　hath　flown　away　with　him　they　called　Wayland
Smith；　that　won'd　about　three　miles　from　the　Whitehorse　of
Berkshire；　this　very　blessed　morning；　in　a　flash　of　fire　and　a
pillar　of　smoke；　and　rooted　up　the　place　he　dwelt　in；　near　that
old　cockpit　of　upright　stones；　as　cleanly　as　if　it　had　all　been
delved　up　for　a　cropping。〃

〃Why；　then；〃　said　an　old　farmer；　〃the　more　is　the　pity；　for　that
Wayland　Smith　（whether　he　was　the　devil's　crony　or　no　I　skill
not）　had　a　good　notion　of　horses'　diseases；　and　it's　to　be
thought　the　bots　will　spread　in　the　country　far　and　near；　an
Satan　has　not　gien　un　time　to　leave　his　secret　behind　un。〃

〃You　may　say　that；　Gaffer　Grimesby；〃　said　the　hostler　in　return；
〃I　have　carried　a　horse　to　Wayland　Smith　myself；　for　he　passed
all　farriers　in　this　country。〃

〃Did　you　see　him？〃　　said　Dame　Alison　Crane；　mistress　of　the　inn
bearing　that　sign；　and　deigning　to　term　HUSBAND　the　owner
thereof；　a　mean…looking　hop…o'…my…thumb　sort　or　person；　whose
halting　gait；　and　long　neck；　and　meddling；　henpecked
insignificance　are　supposed　to　have　given　origin　to　the
celebrated　old　English　tune　of　〃My　name　hath　a　lame　tame　Crane。〃

On　this　occasion　he　chirped　out　a　repetition　of　his　wife's
question；　〃Didst　see　the　devil；　Jack　Hostler；　I　say？〃

〃And　what　if　I　did　see　un；　Master　Crane？〃　　replied　Jack　Hostler；
for；　like　all　the　rest　of　the　household；　he　paid　as　little
respect　to　his　master　as　his　mistress　herself　did。

〃Nay；　nought；　Jack　Hostler；〃　replied　the　pacific　Master　Crane；
〃only　if　you　saw　the　devil；　methinks　I　would　like　to　know　what
un's　like？〃

〃You　will　know　that　one　day；　Master　Crane；〃　said　his　helpmate；
〃an　ye　mend　not　your　manners；　and　mind　your　business；　leaving　off
such　idle　palabras。But　truly；　Jack　Hostler；　I　should　be　glad　to
know　myself　what　like　the　fellow　was。〃

〃Why；　dame；〃　said　the　hostler；　more　respectfully；　〃as　for　what　he
was　like　I　cannot　tell；　nor　no　man　else；　for　why　I　never　saw　un。〃

〃And　how　didst　thou　get　thine　errand　done；〃　said　Gaffer　Grimesby；
〃if　thou　seedst　him　not？〃

〃Why；　I　had　schoolmaster　to　write　down　ailment　o'　nag；〃　said　Jack
Hostler；　〃and　I　went　wi'　the　ugliest　slip　of　a　boy　for　my　guide
as　ever　man　cut　out　o'　lime…tree　root　to　please　a　child　withal。〃

〃And　what　was　it？and　did　it　cure　your　nag；　Jack　Hostler？〃　　was
uttered　and　echoed　by　all　who　stood　around。

〃Why；　how　can　I　tell　you　what　it　was？〃　　said　the　hostler；　〃simply
it　smelled　and　tastedfor　I　did　make　bold　to　put　a　pea's
substance　into　my　mouthlike　hartshorn　and　savin　mixed　with
vinegar；　but　then　no　hartshorn　and　savin　ever　wrought　so　speedy　a
cure。　　And　I　am　dreading　that　if　Wayland　Smith　be　gone；　the　bots
will　have　more　power　over　horse　and　cattle。〃

The　pride　of　art；　which　is　certainly　not　inferior　in　its
influence　to　any　other　pride　whatever；　here　so　far　operated　on
Wayland　Smith；　that；　notwithstanding　the　obvious　danger　of　his
being　recognized；　he　could　not　help　winking　to