第31章

AbideinLondon，MasterRidd，andhewillmakethyfortune。Hisjokeuponthynameprovesthat。AndI

prayyouremember，MasterRidd，thattheSpanksaresixteeninfamily。’

ButIwouldnottakethebagfromhim，regardingitasasortofbribetopaymesuchalumpofmoney，withoutsomuchasaskinghowgreathadbeenmyexpenses。

ThereforeIonlytoldhimthatifhewouldkindlykeepthecashformeuntilthemorrow，Iwouldspendtherestofthedayincounting(whichalwaysissoreworkwithme)howmuchithadstoodmeinboardandlodging，sinceMasterStickleshadrenderedmeup；foruntilthattimehehadbornemyexpenses。InthemorningI

wouldgiveMr。Spankamemorandum，dulysigned，andattestedbymylandlord，includingthebreakfastofthatday，andinexchangeforthisIwouldtaketheexactamountfromtheyellowbag，andbeverythankfulforit。

’Ifthatisthywayofusingopportunity，’saidSpank，lookingatmewithsomecontempt，’thouwiltneverthriveinthesetimes，mylad。EventheLordChiefJusticecanbelittlehelptothee；unlessthouknowestbetterthanthathowtohelpthyself’

Itmatterednottome。Theword’approver’stuckinmygorge，asusedbytheLordChiefJustice；forwelookeduponanapproverasaverylowthingindeed。Iwouldratherpayforeverybreakfast，andeveneverydinner，eatenbymesincehereIcame，thantakemoneyasanapprover。AndindeedIwasmuchdisappointedatbeingtakeninthatlight，havingunderstoodthatIwassentforasatrustysubject，andhumblefriendofHisMajesty。

InthemorningImetMr。Spankwaitingformeattheentrance，andverydesiroustoseeme。Ishowedhimmybill，madeoutinfaircopy，andhelaughedatit，andsaid，’Takeittwiceover，MasterRidd；onceforthineownsake，andonceforHisMajesty’s；asallhisloyaltradesmendo，whentheycangetany。HisMajestyknowsandisproudofit，foritshowstheirloveofhiscountenance；andhesays，“bisdatquicitodat，“thenhowcanIgrumbleatgivingtwice，whenIgivesoslowly？’

’Nay，Iwilltakeitbutonce，’Isaid；’ifHisMajestylovestoberobbed，heneednotlackofhisdesire，whiletheSpanksaresixteeninfamily。’

Theclerksmiledcheerfullyatthis，beingproudofhischildren’sability；andthenhavingpaidmyaccount，hewhispered，——

’Heisallalonethismorning，John，andinraregoodhumour。HehathbeenpromisedthehandlingofpoorMasterAlgernonSidney，andhesayshewillsoonmakerepublicofhim；forhisstateshallshortlybeheadless。Heischucklingoverhisjoke，likeapigwithanut；andthatalwaysmakeshimpleasant。JohnRidd，mylord!’Withthatheswungupthecurtainbravely，andaccordingtospecialorders，Istood，facetoface，andalonewithJudgeJeffreys。

Hislordshipwasbusywithsomeletters，anddidnotlookupforaminuteortwo，althoughheknewthatI

wasthere。MeanwhileIstoodwaitingtomakemybow；

afraidtobeginuponhim，andwonderingathisgreatbull-head。Thenheclosedhisletters，well-pleasedwiththeirimport，andfixedhisboldbroadstareonme，asifIwereanoysteropened，andhewouldknowhowfreshIwas。

’Mayitpleaseyourworship，’Isaid，’hereIamaccordingtoorder，awaitingyourgoodpleasure。’

’Thouartmadetoweight，John，morethanorder。Howmuchdostthoutipthescalesto？’

’Onlytwelvescorepounds，mylord，whenIbeinwrestlingtrim。AndsureImusthavelostweighthere，frettingsolonginLondon。’

’Ha，ha!Muchfretisthereinthee!HathHisMajestyseenthee？’

’Yes，mylord，twiceoreventhrice；andhemadesomejestconcerningme。’

’Averybadone，Idoubtnot。Hishumourisnotsodaintyasmine，butapttobecoarseandunmannerly。

NowJohn，orJack，bythelookofthee，thouartmoreusedtobecalled。’

’Yes，yourworship，whenIamwitholdMollyandBettyMuxworthy。’

’Peace，thouforwardvarlet!Thereisadealtoomuchofthee。Weshallhavetotryshortcommonswiththee，andthouartaverylongcommon。Ha，ha!WhereisthatrogueSpank？Spankmusthea