kenilworth-第34部分

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artist。　　〃What　would　it　avail　me　to　harm　the　poor　old　man　for
whom　you　are　interested？you；　to　whom　I　owe　it　that　Gaffer
Pinniewinks　is　not　even　now　rending　my　flesh　and　sinews　with　his
accursed　pincers；　and　probing　every　mole　in　my　body　with　his
sharpened　awl　（a　murrain　on　the　hands　which　forged　it！）　in　order
to　find　out　the　witch's　mark？I　trust　to　yoke　myself　as　a　humble
follower　to　your　worship's　train；　and　I　only　wish　to　have　my
faith　judged　of　by　the　result　of　the　good　knight's　slumbers。〃

Wayland　Smith　was　right　in　his　prognostication。　　The　sedative
draught　which　his　skill　had　prepared；　and　Will　Badger's
confidence　had　administered；　was　attended　with　the　most
beneficial　effects。　　The　patient's　sleep　was　long　and　healthful；
and　the　poor　old　knight　awoke；　humbled　indeed　in　thought　and　weak
in　frame；　yet　a　much　better　judge　of　whatever　was　subjected　to
his　intellect　than　he　had　been　for　some　time　past。　　He　resisted
for　a　while　the　proposal　made　by　his　friends　that　Tressilian
should　undertake　a　journey　to　court；　to　attempt　the　recovery　of
his　daughter；　and　the　redress　of　her　wrongs；　in　so　far　as　they
might　yet　be　repaired。　　〃Let　her　go；〃　he　said；　〃she　is　but　a　hawk
that　goes　down　the　wind；　I　would　not　bestow　even　a　whistle　to
reclaim　her。〃　　But　though　he　for　some　time　maintained　this
argument；　he　was　at　length　convinced　it　was　his　duty　to　take　the
part　to　which　natural　affection　inclined　him；　and　consent　that
such　efforts　as　could　yet　be　made　should　be　used　by　Tressilian　in
behalf　of　his　daughter。　　He　subscribed；　therefore；　a　warrant　of
attorney；　such　as　the　curate's　skill　enabled　him　to　draw　up；　for
in　those　simple　days　the　clergy　were　often　the　advisers　of　their
flock　in　law　as　well　as　in　gospel。

All　matters　were　prepared　for　Tressilian's　second　departure；
within　twenty…four　hours　after　he　had　returned　to　Lidcote　Hall；
but　one　material　circumstance　had　been　forgotten；　which　was　first
called　to　the　remembrance　of　Tressilian　by　Master　Mumblazen。
〃You　are　going　to　court；　Master　Tressilian；〃　said　he；　〃you　will
please　remember　that　your　blazonry　must　be　ARGENT　and　ORno
other　tinctures　will　pass　current。〃　　The　remark　was　equally　just
and　embarrassing。　　To　prosecute　a　suit　at　court；　ready　money　was
as　indispensable　even　in　the　golden　days　of　Elizabeth　as　at　any
succeeding　period；　and　it　was　a　commodity　little　at　the　command
of　the　inhabitants　of　Lidcote　Hall。　　Tressilian　was　himself　poor；
the　revenues　of　good　Sir　Hugh　Robsart　were　consumed；　and　even
anticipated；　in　his　hospitable　mode　of　living；　and　it　was　finally
necessary　that　the　herald　who　started　the　doubt　should　himself
solve　it。　　Master　Michael　Mumblazen　did　so　by　producing　a　bag　of
money；　containing　nearly　three　hundred　pounds　in　gold　and　silver
of　various　coinage；　the　savings　of　twenty　years；　which　he　now；
without　speaking　a　syllable　upon　the　subject；　dedicated　to　the
service　of　the　patron　whose　shelter　and　protection　had　given　him
the　means　of　making　this　little　hoard。　　Tressilian　accepted　it
without　affecting　a　moment's　hesitation；　and　a　mutual　grasp　of
the　hand　was　all　that　passed　betwixt　them；　to　express　the
pleasure　which　the　one　felt　in　dedicating　his　all　to　such　a
purpose；　and　that　which　the　other　received　from　finding　so
material　an　obstacle　to　the　success　of　his　journey　so　suddenly
removed；　and　in　a　manner　so　unexpected。

While　Tressilian　was　making　preparations　for　his　departure　early
the　ensuing　morning；　Wayland　Smith　desired　to　speak　with　him；
and；　expressing　his　hope　that　he　had　been　pleased　with　the
operation　of　his　medicine　in　behalf　of　Sir　Hugh　Robsart；　added
his　desire　to　accompany　him　to　court。　　This　was　indeed　what
Tressilian　himself　had　several　times　thought　of；　for　the
shrewdness；　alertness　of　understanding；　and　variety　of　resource
which　this　fellow　had　exhibited　during　the　time　they　had
travelled　together；　had　made　him　sensible　that　his　assistance
might　be　of　importance。　　But　then　Wayland　was　in　danger　from　the
grasp　of　law；　and　of　this　Tressilian　reminded　him；　mentioning
something；　at　the　same　time；　of　the　pincers　of　Pinniewinks　and
the　warrant　of　Master　Justice　Blindas。　　Wayland　Smith　laughed
both　to　scorn。

〃See　you；　sir！〃　　said　he；　〃I　have　changed　my　garb　from　that　of　a
farrier　to　a　serving…man；　but　were　it　still　as　it　was；　look　at　my
moustaches。　　They　now　hang　down；　I　will　but　turn　them　up；　and　dye
them　with　a　tincture　that　I　know　of；　and　the　devil　would　scarce
know　me　again。〃

He　accompanied　these　words　with　the　appropriate　action；　and　in
less　than　a　minute；　by　setting　up；　his　moustaches　and　his　hair；
he　seemed　a　different　person　from　him　that　had　but　now　entered
the　room。　　Still；　however；　Tressilian　hesitated　to　accept　his
services；　and　the　artist　became　proportionably　urgent。

〃I　owe　you　life　and　limb；〃　he　said；　〃and　I　would　fain　pay　a　part
of　the　debt；　especially　as　I　know　from　Will　Badger　on　what
dangerous　service　your　worship　is　bound。　　I　do　not；　indeed；
pretend　to　be　what　is　called　a　man　of　mettle；　one　of　those
ruffling　tear…cats　who　maintain　their　master's　quarrel　with　sword
and　buckler。　　Nay；　I　am　even　one　of　those　who　hold　the　end　of　a
feast　better　than　the　beginning　of　a　fray。　　But　I　know　that　I　can
serve　your　worship　better；　in　such　quest　as　yours；　than　any　of
these　sword…and…dagger　men；　and　that　my　head　will　be　worth　an
hundred　of　their　hands。〃

Tressilian　still　hesitated。　　He　knew　not　much　of　this　strange
fellow；　and　was　doubtful　how　far　he　could　repose　in　him　the
confidence　necessary　to　render　him　a　useful　attendant　upon　the
present　emergency。　　Ere　he　had　come　to　a　determination；　the
trampling　of　a　horse　was　heard　in　the　courtyard；　and　Master
Mumblazen　and　Will　Badger　both　entered　hastily　into　Tressilian's
chamber；　speaking　almost　at　the　same　moment。

〃Here　is　a　serving…man　on　the　bonniest　grey　tit　I　ever　see'd　in
my　life；〃　said　Will　Badger；　who　got　the　start〃having　on　his
arm　a　silver　cognizance；　being　a　fire…drake　holding　in　his　mouth
a　brickbat；　under　a　coronet　of　an　Earl's　degree；〃　said　Master
Mumblazen；　〃and　bearing　a　letter　sealed　of　the　same。〃

Tressilian　took　the　letter；　which　was　addressed　〃To　the
worshipful　Master　Edmund　Tressilian；　our　loving　kinsmanThese
ride；　ride；　ridefor　thy　life；　for　thy　life；　for　thy　life。　　〃He
then　opened　it；　and　found　the　following　contents：

〃MASTER　TRESSILIAN；　OUR　GOOD　FRIEND　AND　COUSIN；

〃We　are　at　present　so　ill　at　ease；　and　otherwise　so　unhappily
circumstanced；　that　we　are　desirous　to　have　around　us　those　of
our　friends　on　whose　loving…kindness　we　can　most　especially
repose　confidence；　amongst　whom　we　hold　our　good　Master
Tressilian　one　of　the　foremost　and　nearest；　both　in　good　will　and
good　ability。　　We　therefore　pray　you；　with　your　most　convenient
speed；　to　repair　to　our　poor　lodging；　at　Sayes　Court；　near
Deptford；　where　we　will　treat　further　with　you　of　matters　which
we　deem　it　not　fit　to　commit　unto　writing。　　And　so　we　bid　you
heartily　farewell；　being　your　loving　kinsman　to　command；
　　　　　　　　　　〃RATCLIFFE；　EARL　OF　SUSSEX。〃

〃Send　up　the　messenger　instantly；　Will　Badger；〃　said　Tressilian；
and　as　the　man　entered　the　room；　he　exclaimed；　〃Ah；　Stevens；　is
it　you？　　how　does　my　good　lord？〃

〃Ill；　Master　Tressilian；〃　was　the　messenger's　reply；　〃and　having
therefore　the　more　need　of　good　friends　around　him。〃

〃But　what　is　my　lord's　malady？〃　　said　Tressilian　anxiously；　I
heard　nothing　of　his　being　ill。〃

〃I　know　not；　sir；〃　replied　the　man；　〃he　is　very　ill　at　ease。　　The
leeches　are　at　a　stand；　and　many　of　his　household　suspect　foul
practice…witchcraft；　or　worse。〃

〃What　are　the　symptoms？〃　　said　Wayland　Smith；　stepping　forward
hastily。

〃Anan？〃　　said　the　messenger；　not　comprehending　his　meaning。

〃What　does　he　ail？〃　　said　Wayland；　〃where　lies　his　disease？〃

The　man　looked　at　Tressilian；　as　if　to　know　whether　he　should
answer　these　inquiries　from　a　stranger；　and　receiving　a　sign　in
the　affirmative；　he　hastily　enumerated　gradual　loss　of　strength；
nocturnal　perspiration；　and　loss　of　appetite；　faintness；　etc。

〃Joined；〃　said　Wayland；　〃to　a　gnawing　pain　in　the　stomach；　and　a
low　fever？〃

〃Even　so；〃　said　the　messenger；　somewhat　surprised。

〃I　know　how　the　disease　is　caused；〃　said　the　artist；　〃and　I　know
the　cause。　　Your　master　has　eaten　of　the　manna　of　Saint　Nicholas。
I　know　the　cure　toomy　master　shall　not　say　I　studied　in　his
laboratory　for　nothing。〃

〃How　mean　you？〃　　said　Tressilian；　frowning；　〃we　speak　of　one　of
the　first　nobles　of　England。　　Bethink　you；　this　is　no　subject　for
buffoonery。〃

〃God　forbid！〃　　said　Wayland　Smith。　　〃I　say　that　I　know　this
disease；　and　can　cure　him。　　Remember　what　I　did　for　Sir　Hugh
Robsart；〃

〃We　will　set　forth　instantly；〃　said　Tressilian。　　〃God　calls　us。〃

Accordingly；　hastily　mentioning　this　new　motive　for　his　instant
departure；　though　without　alluding　to　either　the　suspicions　of
Stevens；　or　the　assurances　of　Wayland　Smith；　he　took　the　kindest
leave　of　Sir　Hugh　and　the　family　at　Lidcote　Hall；　who　accompanied
him　with　prayers　and　blessings；　and；　attended　by　Wayland　and　the
Earl　of　Sussex's　domestic；　travelled　with　the　utmost　speed
towards　London。



CHAPTER　XIII。

　　Ay；　I　know　you　have　arsenic；
　　Vitriol；　sal…tartre；　argaile；　alkaly；
　　Cinoper：　　I　know　all。This　fellow；　Captain；
　　Will　come　in　time　to　be　a　great　distiller；
　　And　give　a　say　（I　will　not　say　directly；
　　But　very　near）　at　the　philosopher's　stone。　　　THE　ALCHEMIST。

Tressilian　and　his　attendants　pressed　their　route　with　all
dispatch。　　He　had　asked　the　smith；　indeed；　when　their　departure
was　resolved　on；　whether　he　would　not　rather　choose　to　avoid
Berkshire；　in　which　he　had　played　a　part　so　conspicuous？　　But
Wayland　returned　a　confident　answer。　　He　had　employed　the　short
interval　they　passed　at　Lidcote　Hall　in　transforming　himself　in　a
wonderful　manner。　　His　wild　and　overgrown　thicket　of　beard　was
now　restrained　to　two　small　moustaches　on　the　upper　lip；　turned
up　in　a　military　fashion。　　A　tailor　from　the　village　of　Lidcote
（well　paid）　had　exerted　his　skill；　under　his　customer's
directions；　so　as　completely　to　alter　Wayland's　outward　man；　and
take　off　from　his　appearance　almost　twenty　years　of　age。
Formerly；　besmeared　with　soot　an