第32章

’HOLLOA，master!canyoutelluswherethefightislikelytobe？’

Suchwerethewordsshoutedouttomebyashortthickfellow，inbrowntop-boots，andbareheaded，whostood，withhishandsinhispockets，atthedoorofacountryalehouseasIwaspassingby。

Now，asIknewnothingaboutthefight，andastheappearanceofthemandidnottemptmegreatlytoenterintoconversationwithhim，Imerelyansweredinthenegative，andcontinuedmyway。

ItwasafinelovelymorninginMay，thesunshonebrightabove，andthebirdswerecarollinginthehedgerows。Iwaswonttobecheerfulatsuchseasons，for，frommyearliestrecollection，sunshineandthesongofbirdshavebeendeartome；yet，aboutthatperiod，Iwasnotcheerful，mymindwasnotatrest；Iwasdebatingwithinmyself，andthedebatewasdrearyandunsatisfactoryenough。Isighed，andturningmyeyesupward，I

ejaculated，’Whatistruth？’

Butsuddenly，byaviolenteffortbreakingawayfrommymeditations，Ihastenedforward；onemile，twomiles，threemileswerespeedilyleftbehind；andnowIcametoagroveofbirchandothertrees，andopeningagateIpassedupakindofavenue，andsoonarrivingbeforealargebrickhouse，ofratherantiqueappearance，knockedatthedoor。

InthishousetherelivedagentlemanwithwhomIhadbusiness。HewassaidtobeagenuineoldEnglishgentleman，andamanofconsiderableproperty；atthistime，however，hewantedathousandpounds，asgentlemenofconsiderablepropertyeverynowandthendo。Ihadbroughthimathousandpoundsinmypocket，foritisastonishinghowmanyeagerhelperstherichfind，andwithwhatcompassionpeoplelookupontheirdistresses。Hewassaidtohavegoodwineinhiscellar。

’Isyourmasterathome？’saidI，toaservantwhoappearedatthedoor。

’Hisworshipisathome，youngman，’saidtheservant，ashelookedatmyshoes，whichboreevidencethatIhadcomewalking。’Ibegyourpardon，sir，’headded，ashelookedmeintheface。

’Ay，ay，servants，’thoughtI，asIfollowedthemanintothehouse，’alwayslookpeopleinthefacewhenyouopenthedoor，anddosobeforeyoulookattheirshoes，oryoumaymistaketheheirofaPrimeMinisterforashopkeeper’sson。’

Ifoundhisworshipajolly，red-facedgentleman，ofaboutfifty-

five；hewasdressedinagreencoat，whitecorduroybreeches，anddrabgaiters，andsatonanold-fashionedleathersofa，withtwosmall，thoroughbred，blackEnglishterriers，oneoneachsideofhim。HehadalltheappearanceofagenuineoldEnglishgentlemanwhokeptgoodwineinhiscellar。

’Sir，’saidI，’Ihavebroughtyouathousandpounds’；andIsaidthisaftertheservanthadretired，andthetwoterriershadceasedthebarkingwhichisnaturaltoallsuchdogsatthesightofastranger。

Andwhenthemagistratehadreceivedthemoney，andsignedandreturnedacertainpaperwhichIhandedtohim，herubbedhishands，andlookingverybenignantlyatme，exclaimed-

’Andnow，younggentleman，thatourbusinessisover，perhapsyoucantellmewherethefightistotakeplace？’

’Iamsorry，sir，’saidI，’thatIcan’tinformyou，buteverybodyseemstobeanxiousaboutit’；andthenItoldhimwhathadoccurredtomeontheroadwiththealehouse-keeper。

’Iknowhim，’saidhiswor