第63章

however，here’sourbrotherwillperhapslettheworldknowsomethingaboutus。’

’Nothe，’saidtheother，withasigh；’he’llhavequiteenoughtodoinwritinghisownlils，andtellingtheworldhowhandsomeandcleverhewas；andwhocanblamehim？NotI。IfIcouldwritelils，everywordshouldbeaboutmyselfandmyowntachoRommanis-

myownlawfulweddedwife，whichisthesamething。Itellyouwhat，brother，IonceheardawisemansayinBrummagem，that“thereisnothinglikeblowingone’sownhorn，“whichIconceivetobemuchthesamethingaswritingone’sownlil。’

Afteralittlemoreconversation，Mr。Petulengroarose，andmotionedmetofollowhim。’Onlyeighteenpenceintheworld，brother？’saidhe，aswewalkedtogether。

’Nothingmore，Iassureyou。HowcameyoutoaskmehowmuchmoneyIhad？’

’Becausetherewassomethinginyourlook，brother，somethingverymuchresemblingthatwhichapersonshowethwhodoesnotcarrymuchmoneyinhispocket。Iwaslookingatmyownfacethismorninginmywife’slooking-glass-Ididnotlookasyoudo，brother。’

’Ibelieveyoursolemotiveforinquiring，’saidI，’wastohaveanopportunityofventingafoolishboast，andtoletmeknowthatyouwereinpossessionoffiftypounds。’

’Whatistheuseofhavingmoneyunlessyouletpeopleknowyouhaveit？’saidMr。Petulengro。’Itisnoteveryonecanreadfaces，brother；and，unlessyouknewIhadmoney，howcouldyouaskmetolendyouany？’

’Iamnotgoingtoaskyoutolendmeany。’

’Thenyoumayhaveitwithoutasking；asIsaidbefore，Ihavefiftypounds，alllawfully-earntmoney，gotbyfightinginthering-Iwilllendyouthat，brother。’

’Youareverykind，’saidI；’butIwillnottakeit。’

’Thenthehalfofit？’

’Northehalfofit；butitisgettingtowardsevening，ImustgobacktotheGreatCity。’

’AndwhatwillyoudointheBoroForos？’

’Iknownot，’saidI。

’Earnmoney？

’IfIcan。’

’Andifyoucan’t？’

’Starve!’

’Youlookill，brother，’saidMr。Petulengro。

’Idonotfeelwell；theGreatCitydoesnotagreewithme。ShouldIbesofortunateastoearnsomemoney，IwouldleavetheBigCity，andtaketothewoodsandfields。’

’Youmaydothat，brother，’saidMr。Petulengro，’whetheryouhavemoneyornot。Ourtentsandhorsesareontheothersideofyonderwoodedhill，comeandstaywithus；weshallallbegladofyourcompany，butmoreespeciallymyselfandmywifePakomovna。’

’Whathillisthat？’Idemanded。

AndthenMr。Petulengrotoldmethenameofthehill。’Weshallstayont’othersideofthehillafortnight，’hecontinued；’and，asyouarefondoflil-writing，youmayemployyourselfprofitablywhilstthere。Youcanwritethelilofhimwhosedockgallopsdownthathilleverynight，evenasthelivingmanwaswonttodolongago。’

’Whowashe？’Idemanded。

’JemmyAbershaw，’saidMr。Petulengro；’oneofthosewhomwecallBorodromengroes，andthegorgioshighway-men。Ionceheardaryesaythatthelifeofthatmanwouldfetchmuchmoney；socometotheothersideofthehill，andwritethelilinthe