kenilworth-第66部分

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half　a　mile's　distance；　and　disappearing　on　the　other　side；　when
Wayland；　who　maintained　the　most　circumspect　observation　of　all
that　met　his　eye　in　every　direction；　was　aware　that　a　rider　was
coming　up　behind　them　on　a　horse　of　uncommon　action；　accompanied
by　a　serving…man；　whose　utmost　efforts　were　unable　to　keep　up
with　his　master's　trotting　hackney；　and　who；　therefore；　was　fain
to　follow　him　at　a　hand　gallop。　　Wayland　looked　anxiously　back　at
these　horsemen；　became　considerably　disturbed　in　his　manner；
looked　back　again；　and　became　pale；　as　he　said　to　the　lady；　〃That
is　Richard　Varney's　trotting　gelding；　I　would　know　him　among　a
thousand　nags。　　This　is　a　worse　business　than　meeting　the
mercer。〃

〃Draw　your　sword；〃　answered　the　lady；　〃and　pierce　my　bosom　with
it；　rather　than　I　should　fall　into　his　hands！〃

〃I　would　rather　by　a　thousand　times；〃　answered　Wayland；　〃pass　it
through　his　body；　or　even　mine　own。　　But　to　say　truth；　fighting
is　not　my　best　point；　though　I　can　look　on　cold　iron　like　another
when　needs　must　be。　　And　indeed；　as　for　my　sword（put　on；　I　pray
you）it　is　a　poor　Provant　rapier；　and　I　warrant　you　he　has　a
special　Toledo。　　He　has　a　serving…man；　too；　and　I　think　it　is　the
drunken　ruffian　Lambourne！　　upon　the　horse　on　which　men　say（I
pray　you　heartily　to　put　on）he　did　the　great　robbery　of　the
west　country　grazier。　　It　is　not　that　I　fear　either　Varney　or
Lambourne　in　a　good　cause（your　palfrey　will　go　yet　faster　if
you　urge　him）but　yet（nay；　I　pray　you　let　him　not　break　off
into　a　gallop；　lest　they　should　see　we　fear　them；　and　give　chase
keep　him　only　at　the　full　trot）but　yet；　though　I　fear　them
not；　I　would　we　were　well　rid　of　them；　and　that　rather　by　policy
than　by　violence。　　Could　we　once　reach　the　party　before　us；　we
may　herd　among　them；　and　pass　unobserved；　unless　Varney　be　really
come　in　express　pursuit　of　us；　and　then；　happy　man　be　his　dole！〃

While　he　thus　spoke；　he　alternately　urged　and　restrained　his
horse；　desirous　to　maintain　the　fleetest　pace　that　was　consistent
with　the　idea　of　an　ordinary　journey　on　the　road；　but　to　avoid
such　rapidity　of　movement　as　might　give　rise　to　suspicion　that
they　were　flying。

At　such　a　pace　they　ascended　the　gentle　hill　we　have　mentioned；
and　looking　from　the　top；　had　the　pleasure　to　see　that　the　party
which　had　left　Donnington　before　them　were　in　the　little　valley
or　bottom　on　the　other　side；　where　the　road　was　traversed　by　a
rivulet；　beside　which　was　a　cottage　or　two。　　In　this　place　they
seemed　to　have　made　a　pause；　which　gave　Wayland　the　hope　of
joining　them；　and　becoming　a　part　of　their　company；　ere　Varney
should　overtake　them。　　He　was　the　more　anxious；　as　his　companion；
though　she　made　no　complaints；　and　expressed　no　fear；　began　to
look　so　deadly　pale　that　he　was　afraid　she　might　drop　from　her
horse。　　Notwithstanding　this　symptom　of　decaying　strength；　she
pushed　on　her　palfrey　so　briskly　that　they　joined　the　party　in
the　bottom　of　the　valley　ere　Varney　appeared　on　the　top　of　the
gentle　eminence　which　they　had　descended。

They　found　the　company　to　which　they　meant　to　associate
themselves　in　great　disorder。　　The　women　with　dishevelled　locks；
and　looks　of　great　importance；　ran　in　and　out　of　one　of　the
cottages；　and　the　men　stood　around　holding　the　horses；　and
looking　silly　enough；　as　is　usual　in　cases　where　their　assistance
is　not　wanted。

Wayland　and　his　charge　paused；　as　if　out　of　curiosity；　and　then
gradually；　without　making　any　inquiries；　or　being　asked　any
questions；　they　mingled　with　the　group；　as　if　they　had　always
made　part　of　it。

They　had　not　stood　there　above　five　minutes；　anxiously　keeping　as
much　to　the　side　of　the　road　as　possible；　so　as　to　place　the
other　travellers　betwixt　them　and　Varney；　when　Lord　Leicester's
master　of　the　horse；　followed　by　Lambourne；　came　riding　fiercely
down　the　hill；　their　horses'　flanks　and　the　rowels　of　their　spurs
showing　bloody　tokens　of　the　rate　at　which　they　travelled。　　The
appearance　of　the　stationary　group　around　the　cottages；　wearing
their　buckram　suits　in　order　to　protect　their　masking　dresses；
having　their　light　cart　for　transporting　their　scenery；　and
carrying　various　fantastic　properties　in　their　hands　for　the　more
easy　conveyance；　let　the　riders　at　once　into　the　character　and
purpose　of　the　company。

〃You　are　revelIers；〃　said　Varney；　〃designing　for　Kenilworth？〃

〃RECTE　QUIDEM；　DOMINE　SPECTATISSIME；〃　answered　one　of　the　party。

〃And　why　the　devil　stand　you　here？〃　　said　Varney；　〃when　your
utmost　dispatch　will　but　bring　you　to　Kenilworth　in　time？　　The
Queen　dines　at　Warwick　to…morrow；　and　you　loiter　here；　ye
knaves。〃

〃I　very　truth；　sir；〃　said　a　little；　diminutive　urchin；　wearing　a
vizard　with　a　couple　of　sprouting　horns　of　an　elegant　scarlet
hue；　having；　moreover；　a　black　serge　jerkin　drawn　close　to　his
body　by　lacing；　garnished　with　red　stockings；　and　shoes　so　shaped
as　to　resemble　cloven　feet〃in　very　truth；　sir；　and　you　are　in
the　right　on't。　　It　is　my　father　the　Devil；　who；　being　taken　in
labour；　has　delayed　our　present　purpose；　by　increasing　our
company　with　an　imp　too　many；〃

〃The　devil　he　has！〃　　answered　Varney；　whose　laugh；　however；　never
exceeded　a　sarcastic　smile。

〃It　is　even　as　the　juvenal　hath　said；〃　added　the　masker　who　spoke
first；　〃Our　major　devilfor　this　is　but　our　minor　oneis　even
now　at　LUCINA；　FER　OPEM；　within　that　very　TUGURIUM。〃

〃By　Saint　George；　or　rather　by　the　Dragon；　who　may　be　a　kinsman
of　the　fiend　in　the　straw；　a　most　comical　chance！〃　　said　Varney。
〃How　sayest　thou；　Lambourne；　wilt　thou　stand　godfather　for　the
nonce？　　If　the　devil　were　to　choose　a　gossip；　I　know　no　one　more
fit　for　the　office。〃

〃Saving　always　when　my　betters　are　in　presence；〃　said　Lambourne；
with　the　civil　impudence　of　a　servant　who　knows　his　services　to
be　so　indispensable　that　his　jest　will　be　permitted　to　pass
muster。

〃And　what　is　the　name　of　this　devil；　or　devil's　dam；　who　has
timed　her　turns　so　strangely？〃　　said　Varney。　　〃We　can　ill　afford
to　spare　any　of　our　actors。〃

〃GAUDET　NOMINE　SIBYLLAE；〃　said　the　first　speaker；　〃she　is　called
Sibyl　Laneham；　wife　of　Master　Robert　Laneham〃

〃Clerk　to　the　Council…chamber　door；〃　said　Varney；　〃why；　she　is
inexcusable；　having　had　experience　how　to　have　ordered　her
matters　better。　　But　who　were　those；　a　man　and　a　woman；　I　think；
who　rode　so　hastily　up　the　hill　before　me　even　now？　　Do　they
belong　to　your　company？〃

Wayland　was　about　to　hazard　a　reply　to　this　alarming　inquiry；
when　the　little　diablotin　again　thrust　in　his　oar。

〃So　please　you；〃　he　said；　coming　close　up　to　Varney；　and　speaking
so　as　not　to　be　overheard　by　his　companions；　〃the　man　was　our
devil　major；　who　has　tricks　enough　to　supply　the　lack　of　a
hundred　such　as　Dame　Laneham；　and　the　woman；　if　you　please；　is
the　sage　person　whose　assistance　is　most　particularly　necessary
to　our　distressed　comrade。〃

〃Oh；　what！　　you　have　got　the　wise　woman；　then？〃　　said　Varney。
〃Why；　truly；　she　rode　like　one　bound　to　a　place　where　she　was
needed。　　And　you　have　a　spare　limb　of　Satan；　besides；　to　supply
the　place　of　Mistress　Laneham？〃

〃Ay；　sir；〃　said　the　boy；　〃they　are　not　so　scarce　in　this　world　as
your　honour's　virtuous　eminence　would　suppose。　　This　master…fiend
shall　spit　a　few　flashes　of　fire；　and　eruct　a　volume　or　two　of
smoke　on　the　spot；　if　it　will　do　you　pleasureyou　would　think　he
had　AEtna　in　his　abdomen。〃

〃I　lack　time　just　now；　most　hopeful　imp　of　darkness；　to　witness
his　performance；〃　said　Varney；　〃but　here　is　something　for　you　all
to　drink　the　lucky　hourand　so；　as　the　play　says；　'God　be　with
Your　labour！'〃

Thus　speaking；　he　struck　his　horse　with　the　spurs；　and　rode　on
his　way。

Lambourne　tarried　a　moment　or　two　behind　his　master；　and　rummaged
his　pouch　for　a　piece　of　silver；　which　he　bestowed　on　the
communicative　imp；　as　he　said；　for　his　encouragement　on　his　path
to　the　infernal　regions；　some　sparks　of　whose　fire；　he　said；　he
could　discover　flashing　from　him　already。　　Then　having　received
the　boy's　thanks　for　his　generosity　he　also　spurred　his　horse；
and　rode　after　his　master　as　fast　as　the　fire　flashes　from　flint。

〃And　now；〃　said　the　wily　imp；　sidling　close　up　to　Wayland's
horse；　and　cutting　a　gambol　in　the　air　which　seemed　to　vindicate
his　title　to　relationship　with　the　prince　of　that　element；　〃I
have　told　them　who　YOU　are；　do　you　in　return　tell　me　who　I　am？〃

〃Either　Flibbertigibbet；〃　answered　Wayland　Smith；　〃or　else　an　imp
of　the　devil　in　good　earnest。〃

〃Thou　hast　hit　it；〃　answered　Dickie　Sludge。　　〃I　am　thine　own
Flibbertigibbet；　man；　and　I　have　broken　forth　of　bounds；　along
with　my　learned　preceptor；　as　I　told　thee　I　would　do；　whether　he
would　or　not。　　But　what　lady　hast　thou　got　with　thee？　　I　saw　thou
wert　at　fault　the　first　question　was　asked；　and　so　I　drew　up　for
thy　assistance。　　But　I　must　know　all　who　she　is；　dear　Wayland。〃

〃Thou　shalt　know　fifty　finer　things；　my　dear　ingle；〃　said
Wayland；　〃but　a　truce　to　thine　inquiries　just　now。　　And　since　you
are　bound　for　Kenilworth；　thither　will　I　too；　even　for　the　love
of　thy　sweet　face　and　waggish　company。〃

〃Thou　shouldst　have　said　my　waggish　face　and　sweet　company；〃　said
Dickie；〃　but　how　wilt　thou　travel　with　usI　mean　in　what
character？〃

〃E'en　in　that　thou　hast　assigned　me；　to　be　sureas　a　juggler；
thou　knowest　I　am　used　to　the　craft；〃　answered　Wayland。

〃Ay；　but　the　lady？〃　　answered　Flibbertigibbet。　　〃Credit　me；　I
think　she　IS　one　and　thou　art　in　a　sea　of　troubles　about　her　at
this　moment；　as　I　can　perceive　by　thy　fidgeting。〃

〃Oh；　she；　man！she　is　a　poor　sister　of　mine；〃　said　Wayland；　〃she
can　sing　and　play　o'　the　lute　would　win　the　fish　out　o'　the
stream。〃

〃Let　me　hear　her　instantly；〃　said　the　boy；　〃I　love　the　lute
rarely；　I　love　it　of　all　things；　though　I　never　heard　it。〃

〃Then　how　canst　thou　love　it；　Flibbertigibbet？〃　　said　Wayland。

〃As　knights　love　ladies　in　old　tales；〃　answered　Dickie〃on
hearsay。〃

〃Then　love　it　on　hearsay　a　little　longer；　till　my　sister　is
recovered　from　the　fatigue　of　her　journey；〃　said　Wayland；
muttering　afterwards　betwixt　his　teeth；　〃The　devil　take　the　imp's
curiosity！　　I　must　keep　fair　weather　with　him；　or　we　shall　fare
the　worse。〃

He　then　proceede