第22章

Thewatchmanmadenoreply，butturnedthecornerandwasgone；yet

Robinseemedtohearthesoundofdrowsylaughterstealingalongthe

solitarystreet。Atthatmoment，also，apleasanttittersalutedhim

fromtheopenwindowabovehishead；helookedup，andcaughtthe

sparkleofasaucyeye；aroundarmbeckonedtohim，andnextheheard

lightfootstepsdescendingthestaircasewithin。ButRobin，beingof

thehouseholdofaNewEnglandclergyman，wasagoodyouth，aswellas

ashrewdone；soheresistedtemptation，andfledaway。

Henowroameddesperately，andatrandom，throughthetown，

almostreadytobelievethataspellwasonhim，likethatbywhich

awizardofhiscountryhadoncekeptthreepursuerswandering，a

wholewinternight，withintwentypacesofthecottagewhichthey

sought。Thestreetslaybeforehim，strangeanddesolate，andthe

lightswereextinguishedinalmosteveryhouse。Twice，however，little

partiesofmen，amongwhomRobindistinguishedindividualsin

outlandishattire，camehurryingalong；butthoughonbothoccasions

theypausedtoaddresshim，suchintercoursedidnotatall

enlightenhisperplexity。Theydidbututterafewwordsinsome

languageofwhichRobinknewnothing，andperceivinghisinability

toanswer，bestowedacurseuponhiminplainEnglish，andhastened

away。Finally，theladdeterminedtoknockatthedoorofevery

mansionthatmightappearworthytobeoccupiedbyhiskinsman，

trustingthatperseverancewouldovercomethefatalitythathad

hithertothwartedhim。Firminthisresolve，hewaspassingbeneath

thewallsofachurch，whichformedthecorneroftwostreets，when，

asheturnedintotheshadeofitssteeple，heencounteredabulky

stranger，muffledinacloak。Themanwasproceedingwiththespeedof

earnestbusiness，butRobinplantedhimselffullbeforehim，holding

theoakcudgelwithbothhandsacrosshisbody，asabartofurther

passage。

“Halt，honestman，andanswermeaquestion。”saidhe，very

resolutely。“Tellme，thisinstant，whereaboutsisthedwellingof

mykinsman，MajorMolineux？”

“Keepyourtonguebetweenyourteeth，fool，andletmepass！”

saidadeep，gruffvoice，whichRobinpartlyremembered。“Letmepass，

Isay，orI’llstrikeyoutotheearth！”

“No，no，neighbor！”criedRobin，flourishinghiscudgel，andthen

thrustingitslargerendclosetotheman’smuffledface。“No，no，I’m

notthefoolyoutakemefor，nordoyoupasstillIhaveananswerto

myquestion。Whereaboutsisthedwellingofmykinsman，Major

Molineux？”

Thestranger，insteadofattemptingtoforcehispassage，stepped

backintothemoonlight，unmuffledhisface，andstaredfullintothat

ofRobin。

“Watchhereanhour，andMajorMolineuxwillpassby。”saidhe。

Robingazedwithdismayandastonishmentontheunprecedented

physiognomyofthespeaker。Theforeheadwithitsdoubleprominence，

thebroadhookednose，theshaggyeyebrows，andfieryeyes，werethose

whichhehadnoticedattheinn，buttheman’scomplexionhad

undergoneasingular，or，moreproperly，atwo-foldchange。Oneside

ofthefaceblazedanintensered，whiletheotherwasblackas

midnight，thedivisionlinebeinginthebroadbridgeofthenose；and

amouthwhichseemedtoextendfromeartoearwasblackorred，in

contrasttothecolorofthecheek。Theeffectwasasiftwo

individualdevils，afiendoffireandafiendofdarkness，hadunited

themselvestoformthisinfernalvisage。Thestrangergrinnedin

Robin’sface，muffledhisparti-coloredfeatures，andwasoutofsight

inamoment。

“Strangethingswetravellerssee！”ejaculatedRobin。

Heseatedhimself，however，uponthestepsofthechurch-door，

resolvingtowaittheappointedtimeforhiskinsman。Afewmoments

wereconsumedinphilosophicalspeculationsuponthespeciesofman

whohadjustlefthim；buthavingsettledthispointshrewdly，

rationally，andsatisfactorily