第13章

"Icouldventure，"hesaid，"inmypresentdress，andwithyourworship\'sbacking，tofaceMasterJusticeBlindas，evenonadayofQuarterSessions;andIwouldliketoknowwhatisbecomeofHobgoblin，whoisliketoplaythedevilintheworld，ifhecanonceslipthestring，andleavehisgrannyandhisdominie。——Ay，andthescathedvault！"hesaid;"IwouldwillinglyhaveseenwhathavoctheexplosionofsomuchgunpowderhasmadeamongDoctorDemetriusDoboobie\'sretortsandphials。Iwarrantme，myfamehauntstheValeoftheWhitehorselongaftermybodyisrotten;andthatmanyalouttiesuphishorse，laysdownhissilvergroat，andpipeslikeasailorwhistlinginacalmforWaylandSmithtocomeandshoehistitforhim。Butthehorsewillcatchthefounderserethesmithanswersthecall。"

Inthisparticular，indeed，Waylandprovedatrueprophet;andsoeasilydofablesrise，thatanobscuretraditionofhisextraordinarypracticeinfarrieryprevailsintheValeofWhitehorseevenuntothisday;andneitherthetraditionofAlfred\'sVictory，norofthecelebratedPuseyHorn，arebetterpreservedinBerkshirethanthewildlegendofWaylandSmith。

[SeeNote2，LegendofWaylandSmith。]

Thehasteofthetravellersadmittedtheirmakingnostayupontheirjourney，savewhattherefreshmentofthehorsesrequired;

andasmanyoftheplacesthroughwhichtheypassedwereundertheinfluenceoftheEarlofLeicester，orpersonsimmediatelydependentonhim，theythoughtitprudenttodisguisetheirnamesandthepurposeoftheirjourney。OnsuchoccasionstheagencyofWaylandSmith（bywhichnameweshallcontinuetodistinguishtheartist，thoughhisrealnamewasLancelotWayland）wasextremelyserviceable。Heseemed，indeed，tohaveapleasureindisplayingthealertnesswithwhichhecouldbaffleinvestigation，andamusehimselfbyputtingthecuriosityoftapstersandinn—keepersonafalsescent。Duringthecourseoftheirbriefjourney，threedifferentandinconsistentreportswerecirculatedbyhimontheiraccount——namely，first，thatTressilianwastheLordDeputyofIreland，comeoverindisguisetotaketheQueen\'spleasureconcerningthegreatrebelRoryOgeMacCarthyMacMahon;secondly，thatthesaidTressilianwasanagentofMonsieur，comingtourgehissuittothehandofElizabeth;thirdly，thathewastheDukeofMedina，comeover，incognito，toadjustthequarrelbetwixtPhilipandthatprincess。

Tressilianwasangry，andexpostulatedwiththeartistonthevariousinconveniences，and，inparticular，theunnecessarydegreeofattentiontowhichtheyweresubjectedbythefigmentshethuscirculated;buthewaspacified（forwhocouldbeproofagainstsuchanargument？）byWayland\'sassuringhimthatageneralimportancewasattachedtohisown（Tressilian\'s）

strikingpresence，whichrendereditnecessarytogiveanextraordinaryreasonfortherapidityandsecrecyofhisjourney。

Atlengththeyapproachedthemetropolis，where，owingtothemoregeneralrecourseofstrangers，theirappearanceexcitedneitherobservationnorinquiry，andfinallytheyenteredLondonitself。

ItwasTressilian\'spurposetogodowndirectlytoDeptford，whereLordSussexresided，inordertobenearthecourt，thenheldatGreenwich，thefavouriteresidenceofElizabeth，andhonouredasherbirthplace。StillabriefhaltinLondonwasnecessary;anditwassomewhatprolongedbytheearnestentreatiesofWaylandSmith，whodesiredpermissiontotakeawalkthroughthecity。

"Takethyswordandbuckler，andfollowme，then，"saidTressilian;"Iamabouttowalkmyself，andwewillgoincompany。"

Thishesaid，becausehewasnotaltogethersosecureofthefidelityofhisnewretainerastolosesightofhimatthisinterestingmoment，whenrivalfactionsatthecourtofElizabethwererunningsohigh。WaylandSmithwillinglyacquiescedintheprecaution，ofwhichheprobablyconjecturedthemotive，butonlystipulatedthathismastershouldentertheshopsofsuchchemistsorapothecariesasheshouldpointout，inwalkingthroughFleetStreet，andpermithimtomakesomenecessarypurchases。Tressilianagreed，andobeyingthesignalofhisattendant，walkedsuccessivelyintomorethanfourorfiveshops，whereheobservedthatWaylandpurchasedineachonlyonesingledrug，invariousquantities。Themedicineswhichhefirstaskedforwerereadilyfurnished，eachinsuccession，butthosewhichheafterwardsrequiredwerelesseasilysupplied;andTressilianobservedthatWaylandmorethanonce，tothesurpriseoftheshopkeeper，returnedthegumorherbthatwasofferedtohim，andcompelledhimtoexchangeitfortherightsort，orelsewentontoseekitelsewhere。Butoneingredient，inparticular，seemedalmostimpossibletobefound。Somechemistsplainlyadmittedtheyhadneverseenit;othersdeniedthatsuchadrugexisted，exceptingintheimaginationofcrazyalchemists;andmostofthemattemptedtosatisfytheircustomer，byproducingsomesubstitute，which，whenrejectedbyWayland，asnotbeingwhathehadaskedfor，theymaintainedpossessed，inasuperiordegree，theself—samequalities。Ingeneraltheyalldisplayedsomecuriosityconcerningthepurposeforwhichhewantedit。Oneold，meagrechemist，towhomtheartistputtheusualquestion，intermswhichTressilianneitherunderstoodnorcouldrecollect，answeredfrankly，therewasnoneofthatdruginLondon，unlessYoglantheJewchancedtohavesomeofituponhand。

"Ithoughtasmuch，"saidWayland。Andassoonastheylefttheshop，hesaidtoTressilian，"Icraveyourpardon，sir，butnoartistcanworkwithouthistools。ImustneedsgotothisYoglan\'s;andIpromiseyou，thatifthisdetainsyoulongerthanyourleisureseemstopermit，youshall，nevertheless，bewellrepaidbytheuseIwillmakeofthisraredrug。Permitme，"headded，"towalkbeforeyou，forwearenowtoquitthebroadstreetandwewillmakedoublespeedifIleadtheway。"

Tressilianacquiesced，and，followingthesmithdownalanewhichturnedtothelefthandtowardstheriver，hefoundthathisguidewalkedonwithgreatspeed，andapparentlyperfectknowledgeofthetown，throughalabyrinthofby—streets，courts，andblindalleys，untilatlengthWaylandpausedinthemidstofaverynarrowlane，theterminationofwhichshowedapeepoftheThameslookingmistyandmuddy，whichbackgroundwascrossedsaltierwise，asMr。Mumblazenmighthavesaid，bythemastsoftwolightersthatlaywaitingforthetide。Theshopunderwhichhehaltedhadnot，asinmoderndays，aglazedwindow，butapaltrycanvasscreensurroundedsuchastallasacobblernowoccupies，havingthefrontopen，muchinthemannerofafishmonger\'sboothofthepresentday。Alittleoldsmock—facedman，theveryreverseofaJewincomplexion，forhewasverysoft—hairedaswellasbeardless，appeared，andwithmanycourtesiesaskedWaylandwhathepleasedtowant。Hehadnosoonernamedthedrug，thantheJewstartedandlookedsurprised。

"Andvatmightyourvorshipvantviththatdrug，whichisnotnamed，meinGod，infortyyearsasIhavebeenchemisthere？"

"Thesequestionsitisnopartofmycommissiontoanswer，"saidWayland;"IonlywishtoknowifyouhavewhatIwant，andhavingit，arewillingtosellit？"

"Ay，meinGod，forhavingit，thatIhave，andforsellingit，I

amachemist，andselleverydrug。"Sosaying，heexhibitedapowder，andthencontinued，"Butitwillcostmuchmoneys。VatI

avecostitsweightingold——ay，goldwell—refined——IvilIsaysixtimes。ItcomesfromMountSinai，wherewehadourblessedLawgivenforth，andtheplantblossomsbutonceinonehundredyear。"

"IdonotknowhowoftenitisgatheredonMountSinai，"saidWayland，afterlookingatthedrugofferedhimwithgreatdisdain，"butIwillwagermyswordandbuckleragainstyourgaberdine，thatthistrashyouofferme，insteadofwhatIaskedfor，maybehadforgatheringanydayoftheweekinthecastleditchofAleppo。"

"Youarearudeman，"saidtheJew;"and，besides，Iavenobetterthanthat——orifIave，Iwillnotsellitwithoutorderofaphysician，orwithoutyoutellmevatyoumakeofit。"

TheartistmadebriefanswerinalanguageofwhichTressiliancouldnotunderstandaword，andwhichseemedtostriketheJewwiththeutmostastonishment。HestareduponWaylandlikeonewhohassuddenlyrecognizedsomemightyheroordreadedpotentate，inthepersonofanunknownandunmarkedstranger。

"HolyElias！"heexclaimed，whenhehadrecoveredthefirststunningeffectsofhissurprise;andthenpassingfromhisformersuspiciousandsurlymannertotheveryextremityofobsequiousness，hecringedlowtotheartist，andbesoughthimtoenterhispoorhouse，toblesshismiserablethresholdbycrossingit。

"VillyounottasteacupviththepoorJew，ZachariasYoglan？

——VillyouTokayave？——villyouLachrymaetaste？——villyou——"

"Youoffendinyourproffers，"saidWayland;"ministertomeinwhatIrequireofyou，andforbearfurtherdiscourse。"

TherebukedIsraelitetookhisbunchofkeys，andopeningwithcircumspectionacabinetwhichseemedmorestronglysecuredthantheothercasesofdrugsandmedicinesamongstwhichitstood，hedrewoutalittlesecretdrawer，havingaglasslid，andcontainingasmallportionofablackpowder。ThisheofferedtoWayland，hismannerconveyingthedeepestdevotiontowardshim，thoughanavariciousandjealousexpression，whichseemedtogrudgeeverygrainofwhathiscustomerwasabouttopossesshimself，disputedgroundinhiscountenancewiththeobsequiousdeferencewhichhedesireditshouldexhibit。

"Haveyouscales？"saidWayland。

TheJewpointedtothosewhichlayreadyforcommonuseintheshop，buthedidsowithapuzzledexpressionofdoubtandfear，whichdidnotescapetheartist。

"Theymustbeotherthanthese，"saidWaylandsternly。"Knowyounotthatholythingslosetheirvirtueifweighedinanunjustbalance？"

TheJewhunghishead，tookfromasteel—platedcasketapairofscalesbeautifullymounted，andsaid，asheadjustedthemfortheartist\'suse，"WiththeseIdomineownexperiment——onehairofthehigh—priest\'sbeardwouldturnthem。"

"Itsuffices，"saidtheartist，andweighedouttwodrachmsforhimselfoftheblackpowder，whichheverycarefullyfoldedup，andputintohispouchwiththeotherdrugs。HethendemandedthepriceoftheJew，whoanswered，shakinghisheadandbowing，——

"Noprice——no，nothingatallfromsuchasyou。ButyouwillseethepoorJewagain？youwilllookintohislaboratory，where，Godhelphim，hehathdriedhimselftothesubstanceofthewitheredgourdofJonah，theholyprophet。Youwillavepityonhim，andshowhimonelittlesteponthegreatroad？"

"Hush！"saidWayland，layinghisfingermysteriouslyonhismouth;"itmaybeweshallmeetagain。ThouhastalreadytheSCHAHMAJM，asthineownRabbiscallit——thegeneralcreation;

watch，therefore，andpray，forthoumustattaintheknowledgeofAlchahestElixirSamechereImaycommunefurtherwiththee。"

ThenreturningwithaslightnodthereverentialcongeesoftheJew，hewalkedgravelyupthelane，followedbyhismaster，whosefirstobservationonthescenehehadjustwitnessedwas，thatWaylandoughttohavepaidthemanforhisdrug，whateveritwas。

"Ipayhim？"saidtheartist。"MaythefoulfiendpaymeifI

do！HaditnotbeenthatIthoughtitmightdispleaseyourworship，Iwouldhavehadanounceortwoofgoldoutofhim，inexchangeofthesamejustweightofbrickdust。"

"Iadviseyoutopractisenosuchknaverywhilewaitinguponme，"

saidTressilian。

"DidInotsay，"answeredtheartist，"thatforthatreasonaloneIforborehimforthepresent？——Knavery，callyouit？Why，yonderwretchedskeletonhathwealthsufficienttopavethewholelanehelivesinwithdollars，andscarcemissthemoutofhisownironchest;yethegoesmadafterthephilosopher\'sstone。

Andbesides，hewouldhavecheatedapoorserving—man，ashethoughtmeatfirst，withtrashthatwasnotworthapenny。

Matchformatch，quoththedeviltothecollier;ifhisfalsemedicinewasworthmygoodcrowns，mytruebrickdustisaswellworthhisgoodgold。"

"Itmaybeso，foraughtIknow，"saidTressilian，"indealingamongstJewsandapothecaries;butunderstandthattohavesuchtricksoflegerdemainpractisedbyoneattendingonmediminishesmyhonour，andthatIwillnotpermitthem。Itrustthouhastmadeupthypurchases？"

"Ihave，sir，"repliedWayland;"andwiththesedrugswillI，thisveryday，compoundthetrueorvietan，thatnoblemedicinewhichissoseldomfoundgenuineandeffectivewithintheserealmsofEurope，forwantofthatmostrareandpreciousdrugwhichIgotbutnowfromYoglan。"[Orvietan，orVenicetreacle，asitwassometimescalled，wasunderstoodtobeasovereignremedyagainstpoison;andthereadermustbecontented，forthetimeheperusesthesepages，toholdthesameopinion，whichwasonceuniversallyreceivedbythelearnedaswellasthevulgar。]

"Butwhynothavemadeallyourpurchasesatoneshop？"saidhismaster;"wehavelostnearlyanhourinrunningfromonepounderofsimplestoanother。"

"Contentyou，sir，"saidWayland。"Nomanshalllearnmysecret;

anditwouldnotbeminelong，wereItobuyallmymaterialsfromonechemist。"

Theynowreturnedtotheirinn（thefamousBell—Savage）;andwhiletheLordSussex\'sservantpreparedthehorsesfortheirjourney，Wayland，obtainingfromthecooktheserviceofamortar，shuthimselfupinaprivatechamber，wherehemixed，pounded，andamalgamatedthedrugswhichhehadbought，eachinitsdueproportion，withareadinessandaddressthatplainlyshowedhimwellpractisedinallthemanualoperationsofpharmacy。

BythetimeWayland\'selectuarywaspreparedthehorseswereready，andashorthour\'sridingbroughtthemtothepresenthabitationofLordSussex，anancienthouse，calledSayesCourt，nearDeptford，whichhadlongpertainedtoafamilyofthatname，buthadforupwardsofacenturybeenpossessedbytheancientandhonourablefamilyofEvelyn。ThepresentrepresentativeofthatancienthousetookadeepinterestintheEarlofSussex，andhadwillinglyaccommodatedbothhimandhisnumerousretinueinhishospitablemansion。SayesCourtwasafterwardstheresidenceofthecelebratedMr。Evelyn，whose"Silva"isstillthemanualofBritishplanters;andwhoselife，manners，andprinciples，asillustratedinhisMemoirs，oughtequallytobethemanualofEnglishgentlemen。

CHAPTERXIV。

Thisisrarenewsthoutell\'stme，mygoodfellow;

TherearetwobullsfiercebattlingonthegreenForonefairheifer——iftheonegoesdown，Thedalewillbemorepeaceful，andtheherd，Whichhavesmallinterestintheirbrulziement，Maypasturethereinpeace。——OLDPLAY。

SayesCourtwaswatchedlikeabeleagueredfort;andsohighrosethesuspicionsofthetime，thatTressilianandhisattendantswerestoppedandquestionedrepeatedlybysentinels，bothonfootandhorseback，astheyapproachedtheabodeofthesickEarl。Intruth，thehighrankwhichSussexheldinQueenElizabeth\'sfavour，andhisknownandavowedrivalryoftheEarlofLeicester，causedtheutmostimportancetobeattachedtohiswelfare;for，attheperiodwetreatof，allmendoubtedwhetherheortheEarlofLeicestermightultimatelyhavethehigherrankinherregard。

Elizabeth，likemanyofhersex，wasfondofgoverningbyfactions，soastobalancetwoopposinginterests，andreserveinherownhandthepowerofmakingeitherpredominate，astheinterestofthestate，orperhapsasherownfemalecaprice（fortothatfoibleevenshewasnotsuperior），mightfinallydetermine。Tofinesse——toholdthecards——toopposeoneinteresttoanother——tobridlehimwhothoughthimselfhighestinheresteem，bythefearshemustentertainofanotherequallytrusted，ifnotequallybeloved，wereartswhichsheusedthroughoutherreign，andwhichenabledher，thoughfrequentlygivingwaytotheweaknessoffavouritism，topreventmostofitsevileffectsonherkingdomandgovernment。

Thetwonobleswhoatpresentstoodasrivalsinherfavourpossessedverydifferentpretensionstoshareit;yetitmightbeingeneralsaidthattheEarlofSussexhadbeenmostserviceabletotheQueen，whileLeicesterwasmostdeartothewoman。Sussexwas，accordingtothephraseofthetimes，amartialist——haddonegoodserviceinIrelandandinScotland，andespeciallyinthegreatnorthernrebellion，in1569，whichwasquelled，inagreatmeasure，byhismilitarytalents。Hewas，therefore，naturallysurroundedandlookeduptobythosewhowishedtomakearmstheirroadtodistinction。TheEarlofSussex，moreover，wasofmoreancientandhonourabledescentthanhisrival，unitinginhispersontherepresentationoftheFitz—Walters，aswellasoftheRatcliffes;whilethescutcheonofLeicesterwasstainedbythedegradationofhisgrandfather，theoppressiveministerofHenryVII。，andscarceimprovedbythatofhisfather，theunhappyDudley，DukeofNorthumberland，executedonTowerHill，August22，1553。Butinperson，features，andaddress，weaponssoformidableinthecourtofafemalesovereign，Leicesterhadadvantagesmorethansufficienttocounterbalancethemilitaryservices，highblood，andfrankbearingoftheEarlofSussex;

andhebore，intheeyeofthecourtandkingdom，thehighershareinElizabeth\'sfavour，though（forsuchwasheruniformpolicy）bynomeanssodecidedlyexpressedastowarranthimagainstthefinalpreponderanceofhisrival\'spretensions。TheillnessofSussexthereforehappenedsoopportunelyforLeicester，astogiverisetostrangesurmisesamongthepublic;

whilethefollowersoftheoneEarlwerefilledwiththedeepestapprehensions，andthoseoftheotherwiththehighesthopesofitsprobableissue。Meanwhile——forinthatoldtimemenneverforgottheprobabilitythatthemattermightbedeterminedbylengthofsword——theretainersofeachnobleflockedaroundtheirpatron，appearedwellarmedinthevicinityofthecourtitself，anddisturbedtheearofthesovereignbytheirfrequentandalarmingdebates，heldevenwithintheprecinctsofherpalace。

Thispreliminarystatementisnecessary，torenderwhatfollowsintelligibletothereader。[SeeNote3。LeicesterandSussex。]

OnTressilian\'sarrivalatSayesCourt，hefoundtheplacefilledwiththeretainersoftheEarlofSussex，andofthegentlemenwhocametoattendtheirpatroninhisillness。Armswereineveryhand，andadeepgloomoneverycountenance，asiftheyhadapprehendedanimmediateandviolentassaultfromtheoppositefaction。Inthehall，however，towhichTressilianwasusheredbyoneoftheEarl\'sattendants，whileanotherwenttoinformSussexofhisarrival，hefoundonlytwogentlemeninwaiting。

Therewasaremarkablecontrastintheirdress，appearance，andmanners。Theattireoftheeldergentleman，apersonasitseemedofqualityandintheprimeoflife，wasveryplainandsoldierlike，hisstaturelow，hislimbsstout，hisbearingungraceful，andhisfeaturesofthatkindwhichexpresssoundcommonsense，withoutagrainofvivacityorimagination。Theyounger，whoseemedabouttwenty，orupwards，wascladinthegayesthabitusedbypersonsofqualityattheperiod，wearingacrimsonvelvetcloakrichlyornamentedwithlaceandembroidery，withabonnetofthesame，encircledwithagoldchainturnedthreetimesroundit，andsecuredbyamedal。Hishairwasadjustedverynearlylikethatofsomefinegentlemenofourowntime——thatis，itwascombedupwards，andmadetostandasitwereonend;andinhisearsheworeapairofsilverearrings，havingeachapearlofconsiderablesize。Thecountenanceofthisyouth，besidesbeingregularlyhandsomeandaccompaniedbyafineperson，wasanimatedandstrikinginadegreethatseemedtospeakatoncethefirmnessofadecidedandthefireofanenterprisingcharacter，thepowerofreflection，andthepromptitudeofdetermination。

Boththesegentlemenreclinednearlyinthesamepostureonbenchesneareachother;buteachseemingengagedinhisownmeditations，lookedstraightuponthewallwhichwasoppositetothem，withoutspeakingtohiscompanion。Thelooksoftheelderwereofthatsortwhichconvincedthebeholderthat，inlookingonthewall，hesawnomorethanthesideofanoldhallhungaroundwithcloaks，antlers，bucklers，oldpiecesofarmour，partisans，andthesimilararticleswhichwereusuallythefurnitureofsuchaplace。Thelookoftheyoungergallanthadinitsomethingimaginative;hewassunkinreverie，anditseemedasiftheemptyspaceofairbetwixthimandthewallwerethestageofatheatreonwhichhisfancywasmusteringhisownDRAMATISPERSONAE，andtreatinghimwithsightsfardifferentfromthosewhichhisawakenedandearthlyvisioncouldhaveoffered。

AttheentranceofTressilianbothstartedfromtheirmusing，andmadehimwelcome——theyounger，inparticular，withgreatappearanceofanimationandcordiality。

"Thouartwelcome，Tressilian，"saidtheyouth。"Thyphilosophystoletheefromuswhenthishouseholdhadobjectsofambitiontooffer;itisanhonestphilosophy，sinceitreturnstheetouswhenthereareonlydangerstobeshared。"

"Ismylord，then，sogreatlyindisposed？"saidTressilian。

"Wefeartheveryworst，"answeredtheeldergentleman，"andbytheworstpractice。"

"Fie，"repliedTressilian，"myLordofLeicesterishonourable。"

"Whatdothhewithsuchattendants，then，ashehathabouthim？"

saidtheyoungergallant。"Themanwhoraisesthedevilmaybehonest，butheisanswerableforthemischiefwhichthefienddoes，forallthat。"

"Andisthisallofyou，mymates，"inquiredTressilian，"thatareaboutmylordinhisutmoststraits？"

"No，no，"repliedtheeldergentleman，"thereareTracy，Markham，andseveralmore;butwekeepwatchherebytwoatonce，andsomearewearyandaresleepinginthegalleryabove。"

"Andsome，"saidtheyoungman，"aregonedowntotheDockyonderatDeptford，tolookoutsuchahull;astheymaypurchasebyclubbingtheirbrokenfortunes;andassoonasallisover，wewilllayournoblelordinanoblegreengrave，haveablowatthosewhohavehurriedhimthither，ifopportunitysuits，andthensailfortheIndieswithheavyheartsandlightpurses。"

"Itmaybe，"saidTressilian，"thatIwillembracethesamepurpose，sosoonasIhavesettledsomebusinessatcourt。"

"Thoubusinessatcourt！"theybothexclaimedatonce，"andthoumaketheIndianvoyage！"

"Why，Tressilian，"saidtheyoungerman，"artthounotwedded，andbeyondtheseflawsoffortune，thatdrivefolksouttoseawhentheirbarkbearsfairestforthehaven？——WhathasbecomeofthelovelyIndamirathatwastomatchmyAmoretfortruthandbeauty？"

"Speaknotofher！"saidTressilian，avertinghisface。

"Ay，standsitsowithyou？"saidtheyouth，takinghishandveryaffectionately;"then，fearnotIwillagaintouchthegreenwound。Butitisstrangeaswellassadnews。Arenoneofourfairandmerryfellowshiptoescapeshipwreckoffortuneandhappinessinthissuddentempest？Ihadhopedthouwertinharbour，atleast，mydearEdmund。Buttrulysaysanotherdearfriendofthyname，\'WhatmanthatseestheeverwhirlingwheelOfChance，thewhichallmortalthingsdothsway，Butthattherebydothfindandplainlyfeel，HowMutabilityinthemdothplayHercruelsportstomanymen\'sdecay。\'"

Theeldergentlemanhadrisenfromhisbench，andwaspacingthehallwithsomeimpatience，whiletheyouth，withmuchearnestnessandfeeling，recitedtheselines。Whenhehaddone，theotherwrappedhimselfinhiscloak，andagainstretchedhimselfdown，saying，"Imarvel，Tressilian，youwillfeedtheladinthissillyhumour。Iftherewereoughttodrawajudgmentuponavirtuousandhonourablehouseholdlikemylord\'s，renouncemeifIthinknotitwerethispiping，whining，childishtrickofpoetry，thatcameamonguswithMasterWalterWittypatehereandhiscomrades，twistingintoallmannerofuncouthandincomprehensibleformsofspeech，thehonestplainEnglishphrasewhichGodgaveustoexpressourmeaningwithal。"

"Blountbelieves，"saidhiscomrade，laughing，"thedevilwoo\'dEveinrhyme，andthatthemysticmeaningoftheTreeofKnowledgereferssolelytotheartofclashingrhymesandmetingouthexameters。"[SeeNote4。SirWalterRaleigh。]

AtthismomenttheEarl\'schamberlainentered，andinformedTressilianthathislordrequiredtospeakwithhim。

HefoundLordSussexdressed，butunbraced，andlyingonhiscouch，andwasshockedatthealterationdiseasehadmadeinhisperson。TheEarlreceivedhimwiththemostfriendlycordiality，andinquiredintothestateofhiscourtship。Tressilianevadedhisinquiriesforamoment，andturninghisdiscourseontheEarl\'sownhealth，hediscovered，tohissurprise，thatthesymptomsofhisdisordercorrespondedminutelywiththosewhichWaylandhadpredicatedconcerningit。Hehesitatednot，therefore，tocommunicatetoSussexthewholehistoryofhisattendant，andthepretensionshesetuptocurethedisorderunderwhichhelaboured。TheEarllistenedwithincredulousattentionuntilthenameofDemetriuswasmentioned，andthensuddenlycalledtohissecretarytobringhimacertaincasketwhichcontainedpapersofimportance。"Takeoutfromthence，"hesaid，"thedeclarationoftherascalcookwhomwehadunderexamination，andlookheedfullyifthenameofDemetriusbenottherementioned。"

Thesecretaryturnedtothepassageatonce，andread，"Andsaiddeclarant，beingexamined，saith，Thatheremembershavingmadethesaucetothesaidsturgeon—fish，aftereatingofwhichthesaidnobleLordwastakenill;"andheputtheusualingredientsandcondimentstherein，namely——"

"Passoverhistrash，"saidtheEarl，"andseewhetherhehadnotbeensuppliedwithhismaterialsbyaherbalistcalledDemetrius。"

"Itisevenso，"answeredthesecretary。"Andheadds，hehasnotsinceseenthesaidDemetrius。"

"Thisaccordswiththyfellow\'sstory，Tressilian，"saidtheEarl;"callhimhither。"

OnbeingsummonedtotheEarl\'spresence，WaylandSmithtoldhisformertalewithfirmnessandconsistency。

"Itmaybe，"saidtheEarl，"thouartsentbythosewhohavebegunthiswork，toenditforthem;butbethink，ifImiscarryunderthymedicine，itmaygohardwiththee。"

"Thatwereseveremeasure，"saidWayland，"sincetheissueofmedicine，andtheendoflife，areinGod\'sdisposal。ButIwillstandtherisk。Ihavenotlivedsolongundergroundtobeafraidofagrave。"

"Nay，ifthoube\'stsoconfident，"saidtheEarlofSussex，"I

willtaketherisktoo，forthelearnedcandonothingforme。

Tellmehowthismedicineistobetaken。"

"ThatwillIdopresently，"saidWayland;"butallowmetoconditionthat，sinceIincuralltheriskofthistreatment，nootherphysicianshallbepermittedtointerferewithit。"

"Thatisbutfair，"repliedtheEarl;"andnowprepareyourdrug。"

WhileWaylandobeyedtheEarl\'scommands，hisservants，bytheartist\'sdirection，undressedtheirmaster，andplacedhiminbed。

"Iwarnyou，"hesaid，"thatthefirstoperationofthismedicinewillbetoproduceaheavysleep，duringwhichtimethechambermustbekeptundisturbed，astheconsequencesmayotherwisehefatal。ImyselfwillwatchbytheEarlwithanyofthegentlemenofhischamber。"

"Letallleavetheroom，saveStanleyandthisgoodfellow，"saidtheEarl。

"Andsavingmealso，"saidTressilian。"Itooamdeeplyinterestedintheeffectsofthispotion。"

"Beitso，goodfriend，"saidtheEarl。"Andnowforourexperiment;butfirstcallmysecretaryandchamberlain。"

"Bearwitness，"hecontinued，whentheseofficersarrived——"bearwitnessforme，gentlemen，thatourhonourablefriendTressilianisinnowayresponsiblefortheeffectswhichthismedicinemayproduceuponme，thetakingitbeingmyownfreeactionandchoice，inregardIbelieveittobearemedywhichGodhasfurnishedmebyunexpectedmeanstorecovermeofmypresentmalady。CommendmetomynobleandprincelyMistress;andsaythatIliveanddiehertrueservant，andwishtoallaboutherthronethesamesinglenessofheartandwilltoserveher，withmoreabilitytodosothanhathbeenassignedtopoorThomasRatcliffe。"

Hethenfoldedhishands，andseemedforasecondortwoabsorbedinmentaldevotion，thentookthepotioninhishand，and，pausing，regardedWaylandwithalookthatseemeddesignedtopenetratehisverysoul，butwhichcausednoanxietyorhesitationinthecountenanceormanneroftheartist。

"Hereisnothingtobefeared，"saidSussextoTressilian，andswallowedthemedicinewithoutfurtherhesitation"Iamnowtoprayyourlordship，"saidWayland，"todisposeyourselftorestascommodiouslyasyoucan;andofyou，gentlemen，toremainasstillandmuteasifyouwaitedatyourmother\'sdeathbed。"

Thechamberlainandsecretarythenwithdrew，givingordersthatalldoorsshouldbebolted，andallnoiseinthehousestrictlyprohibited。Severalgentlemenwerevoluntarywatchersinthehall，butnoneremainedinthechamberofthesickEarl，savehisgroomofthechamber，theartist，andTressilian。——WaylandSmith\'spredictionswerespeedilyaccomplished，andasleepfellupontheEarl，sodeepandsoundthattheywhowatchedhisbedsidebegantofearthat，inhisweakenedstate，hemightpassawaywithoutawakeningfromhislethargy。WaylandSmithhimselfappearedanxious，andfeltthetemplesoftheEarlslightly，fromtimetotime，attendingparticularlytothestateofhisrespiration，whichwasfullanddeep，butatthesametimeeasyanduninterrupted。