第4章

"Thatistosay，"retortedLambourne，"thatyouwouldengrossthewholework，ratherthandividethereward。Butbenotover—

greedy，Anthony——covetousnessburststhesackandspillsthegrain。Lookyou，whenthehuntsmangoestokillastag，hetakeswithhimmoredogsthanone。Hehasthestanchlyme—houndtotrackthewoundedbuckoverhillanddale，buthehathalsothefleetgaze—houndtokillhimatview。Thouartthelyme—hound，I

amthegaze—hound;andthypatronwillneedtheaidofboth，andcanwellaffordtorequiteit。Thouhastdeepsagacity——anunrelentingpurpose——asteady，long—breathedmalignityofnature，thatsurpassesmine。Butthen，Iamthebolder，thequicker，themoreready，bothatactionandexpedient。Separate，ourpropertiesarenotsoperfect;butunitethem，andwedrivetheworldbeforeus。Howsayestthou——shallwehuntincouples？"

"Itisacurrishproposal——thustothrustthyselfuponmyprivatematters，"repliedFoster;"butthouwerteveranill—nurturedwhelp。"

"Youshallhavenocausetosayso，unlessyouspurnmycourtesy，"saidMichaelLambourne;"butifso，keeptheewellfromme，SirKnight，astheromancehasit。Iwilleithershareyourcounselsortraversethem;forIhavecomeheretobebusy，eitherwiththeeoragainstthee。"

"Well，"saidAnthonyFoster，"sincethoudostleavemesofairachoice，Iwillratherbethyfriendthanthineenemy。Thouartright;ICANprefertheetotheserviceofapatronwhohasenoughofmeanstomakeusboth，andanhundredmore。And，tosaytruth，thouartwellqualifiedforhisservice。Boldnessanddexterityhedemands——thejustice—booksbearwitnessinthyfavour;nostartingatscruplesinhisservicewhy，whoeversuspectedtheeofaconscience？anassurancehemusthavewhowouldfollowacourtier——andthybrowisasimpenetrableasaMilanvisor。ThereisbutonethingIwouldfainseeamendedinthee。"

"Andwhatisthat，mymostpreciousfriendAnthony？"repliedLambourne;"forIswearbythepillowoftheSevenSleepersI

willnotbeslothfulinamendingit。"

"Why，yougaveasampleofitevennow，"saidFoster。"Yourspeechtwangstoomuchoftheoldstamp，andyougarnishiteverandanonwithsingularoaths，thatsavourofPapistrie。Besides，yourexteriormanisaltogethertoodeboshedandirregulartobecomeoneofhislordship\'sfollowers，sincehehasareputationtokeepupintheeyeoftheworld。Youmustsomewhatreformyourdress，uponamoregraveandcomposedfashion;wearyourcloakonbothshoulders，andyourfallingbandunrumpledandwellstarched。Youmustenlargethebrimofyourbeaver，anddiminishthesuperfluityofyourtrunk—hose;gotochurch，or，whichwillbebetter，tomeeting，atleastonceamonth;protestonlyuponyourfaithandconscience;layasideyourswashinglook，andnevertouchthehiltofyourswordbutwhenyouwoulddrawthecarnalweaponingoodearnest。"

"Bythislight，Anthony，thouartmad，"answeredLambourne，"andhastdescribedratherthegentleman—ushertoapuritan\'swife，thanthefollowerofanambitiouscourtier！Yes，suchathingasthouwouldstmakeofmeshouldwearabookathisgirdleinsteadofaponiard，andmightjustbesuspectedofmanhoodenoughtosquireaprouddame—citizentothelectureatSaintAntonlin\'s，andquarrelinhercausewithanyflat—cappedthreadmakerthatwouldtakethewallofher。Hemustruffleitinanothersortthatwouldwalktocourtinanobleman\'strain。"

"Oh，contentyou，sir，"repliedFoster，"thereisachangesinceyouknewtheEnglishworld;andtherearethosewhocanholdtheirwaythroughtheboldestcourses，andthemostsecret，andyetneveraswaggeringword，oranoath，oraprofanewordintheirconversation。"

"Thatistosay，"repliedLambourne，"theyareinatradingcopartnery，todothedevil\'sbusinesswithoutmentioninghisnameinthefirm？Well，Iwilldomybesttocounterfeit，ratherthanlosegroundinthisnewworld，sincethousayestitisgrownsoprecise。But，Anthony，whatisthenameofthisnobleman，inwhoseserviceIamtoturnhypocrite？"

"Aha！MasterMichael，areyoutherewithyourbears？"saidFoster，withagrimsmile;"andisthistheknowledgeyoupretendofmyconcernments？HowknowyounowthereissuchapersonIN

RERUMNATURA，andthatIhavenotbeenputtingajapeuponyouallthistime？"

"Thouputajapeonme，thousodden—brainedgull？"answeredLambourne，nothingdaunted。"Why，darkandmuddyasthouthink\'stthyself，Iwouldengageinaday\'sspacetosecasclearthroughtheeandthyconcernments，asthoucallestthem，asthroughthefilthyhornofanoldstablelantern。"

Atthismomenttheirconversationwasinterruptedbyascreamfromthenextapartment。

"BytheholyCrossofAbingdon，"exclaimedAnthonyFoster，forgettinghisProtestantisminhisalarm，"Iamaruinedman！"

Sosaying，herushedintotheapartmentwhencethescreamissued，followedbyMichaelLambourne。Buttoaccountforthesoundswhichinterruptedtheirconversation，itisnecessarytorecedealittlewayinournarrative。

Ithasbeenalreadyobserved，thatwhenLambourneaccompaniedFosterintothelibrary，theyleftTressilianaloneintheancientparlour。Hisdarkeyefollowedthemforthoftheapartmentwithaglanceofcontempt，apartofwhichhismindinstantlytransferredtohimself，forhavingstoopedtobeevenforamomenttheirfamiliarcompanion。"Thesearetheassociates，Amy"——itwasthushecommunedwithhimself——"towhichthycruellevity——thineunthinkingandmostunmeritedfalsehood，hascondemnedhimofwhomhisfriendsoncehopedfarotherthings，andwhonowscornshimself，ashewillbescornedbyothers，forthebasenesshestoopstofortheloveofthee！ButIwillnotleavethepursuitofthee，oncetheobjectofmypurestandmostdevotedaffection，thoughtomethoucansthenceforthbenothingbutathingtoweepover。Iwillsavetheefromthybetrayer，andfromthyself;Iwillrestoretheetothyparent——tothyGod。Icannotbidthebrightstaragainsparkleinthesphereithasshotfrom，but——"

Aslightnoiseintheapartmentinterruptedhisreverie。Helookedround，andinthebeautifulandrichly—attiredfemalewhoenteredatthatinstantbyaside—doorherecognizedtheobjectofhissearch。Thefirstimpulsearisingfromthisdiscoveryurgedhimtoconcealhisfacewiththecollarofhiscloak，untilheshouldfindafavourablemomentofmakinghimselfknown。Buthispurposewasdisconcertedbytheyounglady（shewasnotaboveeighteenyearsold），whoranjoyfullytowardshim，and，pullinghimbythecloak，saidplayfully，"Nay，mysweetfriend，afterI

havewaitedforyousolong，youcomenottomybowertoplaythemasquer。Youarearraignedoftreasontotrueloveandfondaffection，andyoumuststandupatthebarandansweritwithfaceuncovered——howsayyou，guiltyornot？"

"Alas，Amy！"saidTressilian，inalowandmelancholytone，ashesufferedhertodrawthemantlefromhisface。Thesoundofhisvoice，andstillmoretheunexpectedsightofhisface，changedinaninstantthelady\'splayfulmood。Shestaggeredback，turnedaspaleasdeath，andputherhandsbeforeherface。

Tressilianwashimselfforamomentmuchovercome，butseemingsuddenlytorememberthenecessityofusinganopportunitywhichmightnotagainoccur，hesaidinalowtone，"Amy，fearmenot。"

"WhyshouldIfearyou？"saidthelady，withdrawingherhandsfromherbeautifulface，whichwasnowcoveredwithcrimson，—

—"WhyshouldIfearyou，MasterTressilian？——orwhereforehaveyouintrudedyourselfintomydwelling，uninvited，sir，andunwishedfor？"

"Yourdwelling，Amy！"saidTressilian。"Alas！isaprisonyourdwelling？——aprisonguardedbyoneofthemostsordidofmen，butnotagreaterwretchthanhisemployer！"

"Thishouseismine，"saidAmy——"minewhileIchoosetoinhabitit。Ifitismypleasuretoliveinseclusion，whoshallgainsayme？"

"Yourfather，maiden，"answeredTressilian，"yourbroken—heartedfather，whodispatchedmeinquestofyouwiththatauthoritywhichhecannotexertinperson。Hereishisletter，writtenwhileheblessedhispainofbodywhichsomewhatstunnedtheagonyofhismind。"

"Thepain！Ismyfatherthenill？"saidthelady。

"Soill，"answeredTressilian，"thatevenyourutmosthastemaynotrestorehimtohealth;butallshallbeinstantlypreparedforyourdeparture，theinstantyouyourselfwillgiveconsent。"

"Tressilian，"answeredthelady，"Icannot，Imustnot，Idarenotleavethisplace。Gobacktomyfather——tellhimIwillobtainleavetoseehimwithintwelvehoursfromhence。Goback，Tressilian——tellhimIamwell，Iamhappy——happycouldIthinkhewasso;tellhimnottofearthatIwillcome，andinsuchamannerthatallthegriefAmyhasgivenhimshallbeforgotten——thepoorAmyisnowgreaterthanshedarename。Go，goodTressilian——Ihaveinjuredtheetoo，butbelievemeIhavepowertohealthewoundsIhavecaused。Irobbedyouofachildishheart，whichwasnotworthyofyou，andIcanrepaythelosswithhonoursandadvancement。"

"Doyousaythistome，Amy？——doyouoffermepageantsofidleambition，forthequietpeaceyouhaverobbedmeof！——ButbeitsoIcamenottoupbraid，buttoserveandtofreeyou。Youcannotdisguiseitfromme——youareaprisoner。Otherwiseyourkindheart——foritwasonceakindheart——wouldhavebeenalreadyatyourfather\'sbedside。——Come，poor，deceived，unhappymaiden！

——allshallbeforgot——allshallbeforgiven。Fearnotmyimportunityforwhatregardedourcontract——itwasadream，andI

haveawaked。Butcome——yourfatheryetlives——come，andonewordofaffection，onetearofpenitence，willeffacethememoryofallthathaspassed。"

"HaveInotalreadysaid，Tressilian，"repliedshe，"thatIwillsurelycometomyfather，andthatwithoutfurtherdelaythanisnecessarytodischargeotherandequallybindingduties？——Go，carryhimthenews;Icomeassureasthereislightinheaven——thatis，whenIobtainpermission。"

"Permission！——permissiontovisityourfatheronhissick—bed，perhapsonhisdeath—bed！"repeatedTressilian，impatiently;

"andpermissionfromwhom？Fromthevillain，who，underdisguiseoffriendship，abusedeverydutyofhospitality，andstoletheefromthyfather\'sroof！"

"Dohimnoslander，Tressilian！Hewhomthouspeakestofwearsaswordassharpasthine——sharper，vainman;forthebestdeedsthouhasteverdoneinpeaceorwarwereasunworthytobenamedwithhis，asthyobscureranktomatchitselfwiththespherehemovesin。——Leaveme！Go，domineerrandtomyfather;andwhenhenextsendstome，lethimchooseamorewelcomemessenger。"

"Amy，"repliedTressiliancalmly，"thoucanstnotmovemebythyreproaches。Tellmeonething，thatImaybearatleastonerayofcomforttomyagedfriend:——thisrankofhiswhichthoudostboast——dostthoushareitwithhim，Amy？——doesheclaimahusband\'srighttocontrolthymotions？"

"Stopthybase，unmanneredtongue！"saidthelady;"tonoquestionthatderogatesfrommyhonourdoIdeignananswer。"

"Youhavesaidenoughinrefusingtoreply，"answeredTressilian;

"andmarkme，unhappyasthouart，Iamarmedwiththyfather\'sfullauthoritytocommandthyobedience，andIwillsavetheefromtheslaveryofsinandofsorrow，evendespiteofthyself，Amy。"

"Menacenoviolencehere！"exclaimedthelady，drawingbackfromhim，andalarmedatthedeterminationexpressedinhislookandmanner;"threatenmenot，Tressilian，forIhavemeanstorepelforce。"

"Butnot，Itrust，thewishtousetheminsoevilacause？"

saidTressilian。"Withthywill——thineuninfluenced，free，andnaturalwill，Amy，thoucanstnotchoosethisstateofslaveryanddishonour。Thouhastbeenboundbysomespell——entrappedbysomedeceit——artnowdetainedbysomecompelledvow。ButthusI

breakthecharm——Amy，inthenameofthineexcellent，thybroken—

heartedfather，Icommandtheetofollowme！"

Ashespokeheadvancedandextendedhisarm，aswiththepurposeoflayingholduponher。Butsheshrunkbackfromhisgrasp，andutteredthescreamwhich，aswebeforenoticed，broughtintotheapartmentLambourneandFoster。

Thelatterexclaimed，assoonasheentered，"Fireandfagot！

whathavewehere？"Thenaddressingthelady，inatonebetwixtentreatyandcommand，headded，"Udsprecious！madam，whatmakeyouhereoutofbounds？Retire——retire——thereislifeanddeathinthismatter。——Andyou，friend，whoeveryoumaybe，leavethishouse——outwithyou，beforemydagger\'shiltandyourcostardbecomeacquainted。——Draw，Mike，andridusoftheknave！"

"NotI，onmysoul，"repliedLambourne;"hecamehitherinmycompany，andheissafefrommebycutter\'slaw，atleasttillwemeetagain。——Butharkye，myCornishcomrade，youhavebroughtaCornishflawofwindwithyouhither，ahurricanoeastheycallitintheIndies。Makeyourselfscarce——depart——vanish——orwe\'llhaveyousummonedbeforetheMayorofHalgaver，andthatbeforeDudmanandRamheadmeet。"[TwoheadlandsontheCornishcoast。

Theexpressionsareproverbial。]

"Away，basegroom！"saidTressilian。——"Andyou，madam，fareyouwell——whatlifelingersinyourfather\'sbosomwillleavehimatthenewsIhavetotell。"

Hedeparted，theladysayingfaintlyashelefttheroom，"Tressilian，benotrash——saynoscandalofme。"

"Hereispropergear，"saidFoster。"Iprayyougotoyourchamber，mylady，andletusconsiderhowthisistobeanswered——nay，tarrynot。"

"Imovenotatyourcommand，sir，"answeredthelady。

"Nay，butyoumust，fairlady，"repliedFoster;"excusemyfreedom，but，bybloodandnails，thisisnotimetostraincourtesies——youMUSTgotoyourchamber。——Mike，followthatmeddlingcoxcomb，and，asyoudesiretothrive，seehimsafelyclearofthepremises，whileIbringthisheadstrongladytoreason。Drawthytool，man，andafterhim。"

"I\'llfollowhim，"saidMichaelLambourne，"andseehimfairlyoutofFlanders;butforhurtingamanIhavedrunkmymorning\'sdraughtwithal，\'tiscleanagainstmyconscience。"Sosaying，helefttheapartment。

Tressilian，meanwhile，withhastysteps，pursuedthefirstpathwhichpromisedtoconducthimthroughthewildandovergrownparkinwhichthemansionofFosterwassituated。Hasteanddistressofmindledhisstepsastray，andinsteadoftakingtheavenuewhichledtowardsthevillage，hechoseanother，which，afterhehadpursueditforsometimewithahastyandrecklessstep，conductedhimtotheothersideofthedemesne，whereaposterndooropenedthroughthewall，andledintotheopencountry。

Tressilianpausedaninstant。Itwasindifferenttohimbywhatroadheleftaspotnowsoodioustohisrecollections;butitwasprobablethattheposterndoorwaslocked，andhisretreatbythatpassrenderedimpossible。

"Imustmaketheattempt，however，"hesaidtohimself;"theonlymeansofreclaimingthislost——thismiserable——thisstillmostlovelyandmostunhappygirl，mustrestinherfather\'sappealtothebrokenlawsofhiscountry。Imusthastetoapprisehimofthisheartrendingintelligence。"

AsTressilian，thusconversingwithhimself，approachedtotrysomemeansofopeningthedoor，orclimbingoverit，heperceivedtherewasakeyputintothelockfromtheoutside。Itturnedround，theboltrevolved，andacavalier，whoentered，muffledinhisriding—cloak，andwearingaslouchedhatwithadroopingfeather，stoodatoncewithinfouryardsofhimwhowasdesirousofgoingout。Theyexclaimedatonce，intonesofresentmentandsurprise，theone"Varney！"theother"Tressilian！"

"Whatmakeyouhere？"wasthesternquestionputbythestrangertoTressilian，whenthemomentofsurprisewaspast——"whatmakeyouhere，whereyourpresenceisneitherexpectednordesired？"

"Nay，Varney，"repliedTressilian，"whatmakeyouhere？Areyoucometotriumphovertheinnocenceyouhavedestroyed，asthevultureorcarrion—crowcomestobattenonthelambwhoseeyesithasfirstpluckedout？Orareyoucometoencounterthemeritedvengeanceofanhonestman？Draw，dog，anddefendthyself！"

Tressiliandrewhisswordashespoke，butVarneyonlylaidhishandonthehiltofhisown，ashereplied，"Thouartmad，Tressilian。Iownappearancesareagainstme;butbyeveryoathapriestcanmakeoramancanswear，MistressAmyRobsarthathhadnoinjuryfromme。AndintruthIweresomewhatloathtohurtyouinthiscause——thouknowestIcanfight。"

"Ihaveheardtheesayso，Varney，"repliedTressilian;"butnow，methinks，Iwouldfainhavesomebetterevidencethanthineownword。"

"Thatshallnotbelacking，ifbladeandhiltbebuttruetome，"

answeredVarney;anddrawinghisswordwiththerighthand，hethrewhiscloakaroundhisleft，andattackedTressilianwithavigourwhich，foramoment，seemedtogivehimtheadvantageofthecombat。Butthisadvantagelastednotlong。Tressilianaddedtoaspiritdeterminedonrevengeahandandeyeadmirablywelladaptedtotheuseoftherapier;sothatVarney，findinghimselfhardpressedinhisturn，endeavouredtoavailhimselfofhissuperiorstrengthbyclosingwithhisadversary。Forthispurpose，hehazardedthereceivingoneofTressilian\'spassesinhiscloak，wrappedasitwasaroundhisarm，anderehisadversarycould，extricatehisrapierthusentangled，heclosedwithhim，shorteninghisownswordatthesametime，withthepurposeofdispatchinghim。ButTressilianwasonhisguard，andunsheathinghisponiard，parriedwiththebladeofthatweaponthehome—thrustwhichwouldotherwisehavefinishedthecombat，and，inthestrugglewhichfollowed，displayedsomuchaddress，asmighthaveconfirmed，theopinionthathedrewhisoriginfromCornwallwhosenativesaresuchmastersintheartofwrestling，as，werethegamesofantiquityrevived，mightenablethemtochallengeallEuropetothering。Varney，inhisill—advisedattempt，receivedafallsosuddenandviolentthathisswordflewseveralpacesfromhishandanderehecouldrecoverhisfeet，thatofhisantagonistwas;pointedtohisthroat。

"Givemetheinstantmeansofrelievingthevictimofthytreachery，"saidTressilian，"ortakethelastlookofyourCreator\'sblessedsun！"

AndwhileVarney，tooconfusedortoosullentoreply，madeasuddenefforttoarise，hisadversarydrewbackhisarm，andwouldhaveexecutedhisthreat，butthattheblowwasarrestedbythegraspofMichaelLambourne，who，directedbytheclashingofswordshadcomeupjustintimetosavethelifeofVarney，"Come，come，comrade;"saidLambourne，"hereisenoughdoneandmorethanenough;putupyourfoxandletusbejogging。TheBlackBeargrowlsforus。"

"Off，abject！"saidTressilian，strikinghimselffreeofLambourne\'sgrasp;"darestthoucomebetwixtmeandmineenemy？"

"Abject！abject！"repeatedLambourne;"thatshallbeansweredwithcoldsteelwheneverabowlofsackhaswashedoutmemoryofthemorning\'sdraughtthatwehadtogether。Inthemeanwhile，doyousee，shog——tramp——begone——wearetwotoone。"

Hespoketruth，forVarneyhadtakentheopportunitytoregainhisweapon，andTressilianperceiveditwasmadnesstopressthequarrelfurtheragainstsuchodds。Hetookhispursefromhisside，andtakingouttwogoldnobles，flungthemtoLambourne。

"There，caitiff，isthymorningwage;thoushaltnotsaythouhastbeenmyguideunhired。——Varney，farewell！weshallmeetwheretherearenonetocomebetwixtus。"Sosaying，heturnedroundanddepartedthroughtheposterndoor。

Varneyseemedtowanttheinclination，orperhapsthepower（forhisfallhadbeenasevereone），tofollowhisretreatingenemy。

Butheglareddarklyashedisappeared，andthenaddressedLambourne。"ArtthouacomradeofFoster\'s，goodfellow？"

"Swornfriends，asthehaftistotheknife，"repliedMichaelLambourne。

"Hereisabroadpieceforthee。Followyonderfellow，andseewherehetakesearth，andbringmeworduptothemansion—househere。Cautiousandsilent，thouknave，asthouvaluestthythroat。"

"Enoughsaid，"repliedLambourne;"Icandrawonascentaswellasasleuth—hound。"

"Begone，then，"saidVarney，sheathinghisrapier;and，turninghisbackonMichaelLambourne，hewalkedslowlytowardsthehouse。Lambournestoppedbutaninstanttogatherthenobleswhichhislatecompanionhadflungtowardshimsounceremoniously，andmutteredtohimself，whileheputthemuponhispursealongwiththegratuityofVarney，"IspoketoyondergullsofEldorado。BySaintAnthony，thereisnoEldoradoformenofourstampequaltobonnyOldEngland！Itrainsnobles，byHeaven——theylieonthegrassasthickasdewdrops——youmayhavethemforgathering。AndifIhavenotmyshareofsuchglitteringdewdrops，maymyswordmeltlikeanicicle！"

CHAPTERV。

HewasamanVersedintheworldaspilotinhiscompass。

TheneedlepointedevertothatinterestWhichwashisloadstar，andhespreadhissailsWithvantagetothegaleofothers\'passion。

THEDECEIVER，ATRAGEDY。

AntonyFosterwasstillengagedindebatewithhisfairguest，whotreatedwithscorneveryentreatyandrequestthatshewouldretiretoherownapartment，whenawhistlewasheardattheentrance—doorofthemansion。

"Wearefairlyspednow，"saidFoster;"yonderisthylord\'ssignal，andwhattosayaboutthedisorderwhichhashappenedinthishousehold，bymyconscience，Iknownot。SomeevilfortunedogstheheelsofthatunhangedrogueLambourne，andhehas\'scapedthegallowsagainsteverychance，tocomebackandbetheruinofme！"

"Peace，sir，"saidthelady，"andundothegatetoyourmaster。

——Mylord！mydearlord！"shethenexclaimed，hasteningtotheentranceoftheapartment;thenadded，withavoiceexpressiveofdisappointment，"Pooh！itisbutRichardVarney。"

"Ay，madam，"saidVarney，enteringandsalutingtheladywitharespectfulobeisance，whichshereturnedwithacarelessmixtureofnegligenceandofdispleasure，"itisbutRichardVarney;buteventhefirstgreycloudshouldbeacceptable，whenitlightensintheeast，becauseitannouncestheapproachoftheblessedsun。"

"How！comesmylordhitherto—night？"saidthelady，injoyfulyetstartledagitation;andAnthonyFostercaughtuptheword，andechoedthequestion。Varneyrepliedtothelady，thathislordpurposedtoattendher;andwouldhaveproceededwithsomecompliment，when，runningtothedooroftheparlour，shecalledaloud，"Janet——Janet！cometomytiring—roominstantly。"ThenreturningtoVarney，sheaskedifherlordsentanyfurthercommendationstoher。

"Thisletter，honouredmadam，"saidhe，takingfromhisbosomasmallparcelwrappedinscarletsilk，"andwithitatokentotheQueenofhisAffections。"Witheagerspeedtheladyhastenedtoundothesilkenstringwhichsurroundedthelittlepacket，andfailingtounloosereadilytheknotwithwhichitwassecured，sheagaincalledloudlyonJanet，"Bringmeaknife——scissors——

aughtthatmayundothisenviousknot！"

"Maynotmypoorponiardserve，honouredmadam？"saidVarney，presentingasmalldaggerofexquisiteworkmanship，whichhunginhisTurkey—leathersword—belt。

"No，sir，"repliedthelady，rejectingtheinstrumentwhichheoffered——"steelponiardshallcutnotrue—loveknotofmine。"

"Ithascutmany，however，"saidAnthonyFoster，halfaside，andlookingatVarney。BythistimetheknotwasdisentangledwithoutanyotherhelpthantheneatandnimblefingersofJanet，asimply—attiredprettymaiden，thedaughterofAnthonyFoster，whocamerunningattherepeatedcallofhermistress。A

necklaceoforientpearl，thecompanionofaperfumedbillet，wasnowhastilyproducedfromthepacket。Theladygavetheone，afteraslightglance，tothechargeofherattendant，whilesheread，orratherdevoured，thecontentsoftheother。

"Surely，lady，"saidJanet，gazingwithadmirationattheneck—

stringofpearls，"thedaughtersofTyreworenofairerneck—

jewelsthanthese。Andthentheposy，\'Foraneckthatisfairer\'——eachpearlisworthafreehold。"

"Eachwordinthisdearpaperisworththewholestring，mygirl。

Butcometomytiring—room，girl;wemustbebrave，mylordcomeshitherto—night。——Hebidsmegraceyou，MasterVarney，andtomehiswishisalaw。Ibidyoutoacollationinmybowerthisafternoon;andyou，too，MasterFoster。Giveordersthatallisfitting，andthatsuitablepreparationsbemadeformylord\'sreceptionto—night。"Withthesewordsshelefttheapartment。

"Shetakesstateonheralready，"saidVarney，"anddistributesthefavourofherpresence，asifshewerealreadythepartnerofhisdignity。Well，itiswisetopractisebeforehandthepartwhichfortunepreparesustoplay——theyoungeaglemustgazeatthesunerehesoarsonstrongwingtomeetit。"

"Ifholdingherheadaloft，"saidFoster，"willkeephereyesfromdazzling，Iwarrantyouthedamewillnotstoophercrest。

Shewillpresentlysoarbeyondreachofmywhistle，MasterVarney。Ipromiseyou，sheholdsmealreadyinslightregard。"

"Itisthineownfault，thousullen，uninventivecompanion，"

answeredVarney，"whoknowestnomodeofcontrolsavedownrightbruteforce。Canstthounotmakehomepleasanttoher，withmusicandtoys？Canstthounotmaketheout—of—doorsfrightfultoher，withtalesofgoblins？Thoulivestherebythechurchyard，andhastnotevenwitenoughtoraiseaghost，toscarethyfemalesintogooddiscipline。"

"Speaknotthus，MasterVarney，"saidFoster;"thelivingIfearnot，butItriflenotnortoywithmydeadneighboursofthechurchyard。Ipromiseyou，itrequiresagoodhearttolivesonearit。WorthyMasterHoldforth，theafternoon\'slecturerofSaintAntonlin\'s，hadasorefrighttherethelasttimehecametovisitme。"

"Holdthysuperstitioustongue，"answeredVarney;"andwhilethoutalkestofvisiting，answerme，thoupalteringknave，howcameTressiliantobeattheposterndoor？"

"Tressilian！"answeredFoster，"whatknowIofTressilian？I

neverheardhisname。"

"Why，villain，itwastheveryCornishchoughtowhomoldSirHughRobsartdestinedhisprettyAmy;andhitherthehot—brainedfoolhascometolookafterhisfairrunaway。Theremustbesomeordertakenwithhim，forhethinkshehathwrong，andisnotthemeanhindthatwillsitdownwithit。Luckilyheknowsnoughtofmylord，butthinkshehasonlymetodealwith。Buthow，inthefiend\'sname，camehehither？"

"Why，withMikeLambourne，anyoumustknow，"answeredFoster。

"AndwhoisMikeLambourne？"demandedVarney。"ByHeaven！thouwertbestsetupabushoverthydoor，andinviteeverystrollerwhopassesbytoseewhatthoushouldstkeepsecretevenfromthesunandair。"

"Ay！ay！thisisacourtlikerequitalofmyservicetoyou，MasterRichardVarney，"repliedFoster。"Didstthounotchargemetoseekoutfortheeafellowwhohadagoodswordandanunscrupulousconscience？andwasInotbusyingmyselftofindafitman——for，thankHeaven，myacquaintanceliesnotamongstsuchcompanions——when，asHeavenwouldhaveit，thistallfellow，whoisinallhisdualitiestheveryflashingknavethoudidstwish，camehithertofixacquaintanceuponmeintheplenitudeofhisimpudence;andIadmittedhisclaim，thinkingtodoyouapleasure。AndnowseewhatthanksIgetfordisgracingmyselfbyconversewithhim！"

"Anddidhe，"saidVarney，"beingsuchafellowasthyself，onlylacking，Isuppose，thypresenthumourofhypocrisy，whichliesasthinoverthyhard，ruffianlyheartasgoldlacqueruponrustyiron——didhe，Isay，bringthesaintly，sighingTressilianinhistrain？"

"Theycametogether，byHeaven！"saidFoster;"andTressilian——

tospeakHeaven\'struth——obtainedamoment\'sinterviewwithourprettymoppet，whileIwastalkingapartwithLambourne。"