第33章

well-verywell-butstillperformingapart。Hiscompanion!-

there，indeed，wasthebruiser-nomistakeabouthim：atallmassiveman，withabroadcountenanceandaflattenednose；dressedlikeabruiser，butnotlikeabruisergoingintothering；heworewhite-toppedboots，andaloosebrownjockeycoat。

Asthefirstadvancedtowardsthetable，behindwhichthemagistratesat，hedoffedawhitecastorfromhishead，andmaderatheragenteelbow；lookingatme，whosatsomewhatononeside，hegaveakindofnodofrecognition。

’MayIrequesttoknowwhoyouare，gentlemen？’saidthemagistrate。

’Sir，’saidthemaninadeep，butnotunpleasantvoice，’allowmetointroducetoyoumyfriend，Mr-，thecelebratedpugilist’；andhemotionedwithhishandtowardsthemassivemanwiththeflattenednose。

’Andyourownname，sir？’saidthemagistrate。

’Mynameisnomatter，’saidtheman；’wereItomentionittoyou，itwouldawakenwithinyounofeelingofinterest。ItisneitherKeannorBelcher，andIhaveasyetdonenothingtodistinguishmyselflikeeitherofthoseindividuals，orevenlikemyfriendhere。However，atimemaycome-wearenotyetburied；andwhensoevermyhourarrives，IhopeIshallprovemyselfequaltomydestiny，howeverhigh-

’Likebirdthat’sbredamongsttheHelicons。’

Andhereasmilehalftheatricalpassedoverhisfeatures。

’InwhatcanIobligeyou，sir？’saidthemagistrate。

’Well，sir；thesoulofwitisbrevity；wewantaplaceforanapproachingcombatbetweenmyfriendhereandabravefromtown。

Passingbyyourbroadacresthisfinemorningwesawapightle，whichwedeemedwouldsuit。Lendusthatpightle，andreceiveourthanks；’twouldbeafavour，thoughnotmuchtogrant：weneitheraskforStonehengenorforTempe。’

Myfriendlookedsomewhatperplexed；afteramoment，however，hesaid，withafirmbutgentlemanlyair，’Sir，IamsorrythatI

cannotcomplywithyourrequest。’

’Notcomply!’saidtheman，hisbrowbecomingdarkasmidnight；andwithahoarseandsavagetone，’Notcomply!whynot？’

’Itisimpossible，sir；utterlyimpossible!’

’Whyso？’

’Iamnotcompelledtogivemyreasonstoyou，sir，nortoanyman。’

’Letmebegofyoutoalteryourdecision，’saidtheman，inatoneofprofoundrespect。

’Utterlyimpossible，sir；Iamamagistrate。’

’Magistrate!thenfareyewell，foragreen-coatedbufferandaHarmanbeck。’

’Sir!’saidthemagistrate，springingupwithafacefierywithwrath。

But，withasurlynodtome，themanlefttheapartment；andinamomentmoretheheavyfootstepsofhimselfandhiscompanionwerehearddescendingthestaircase。

’Whoisthatman？’saidmyfriend，turningtowardsme。

’Asportinggentleman，wellknownintheplacefromwhichIcome。’

’Heappearedtoknowyou。’

’Ihaveoccasionallyputonthegloveswithhim。’

’Whatishisname？’

CHAPTERXXV

Doubts-WisekingofJerusalem-Letmesee-Athousandyears-

Nothingnew-Thecrowd-Thehymn-Faith-CharlesWesley-Therehestood-Farewell，brother-Death-Sun，moo