第88章

``Partake！’’quothAthelstane；``Ihavebeenpartakingfivetimesto-day——andyetamorselofthatsavouryhamwerenotaltogetherforeigntothematter；andIprayyou，fairsir，todomereasoninacupofwine。’’

Theguests，thoughstillagapewithastonishment，pledgedtheirresuscitatedlandlord，whothusproceededinhisstory：——Hehadindeednowmanymoreauditorsthanthosetowhomitwascommenced，forEdith，havinggivencertainnecessaryordersforarrangingmatterswithintheCastle，hadfollowedthedead-aliveuptothestranger’sapartmentattendedbyasmanyoftheguests，maleandfemale，ascouldsqueezeintothesmallroom，whileothers，crowdingthestaircase，caughtupanerroneouseditionofthestory，andtransmitteditstillmoreinaccuratelytothosebeneath，whoagainsentitforthtothevulgarwithout，inafashiontotallyirreconcilabletotherealfact。Athelstane，however，wentonasfollows，withthehistoryofhisescape：——

``Findingmyselffreedfromthestaple，Idraggedmyselfupstairsaswellasamanloadedwithshackles，andemaciatedwithfasting，might；andaftermuchgropingabout，Iwasatlengthdirected，bythesoundofajollyroundelay，totheapartmentwheretheworthySacristan，anitsopleaseye，washoldingadevil’smasswithahugebeetle-browed，broad-shoulderedbrotherofthegrey-frockandcowl，wholookedmuchmorelikeathiefthanaclergyman。Iburstinuponthem，andthefashionofmygrave-clothes，aswellastheclankingofmychains，madememoreresembleaninhabitantoftheotherworldthanofthis。Bothstoodaghast；

butwhenIknockeddowntheSacristanwithmyfist，theotherfellow，hispot-companion，fetchedablowatmewithahugequarter-staff。’’

``ThismustbeourFriarTuck，foracount’sransom，’’

saidRichard，lookingatIvanhoe。

``Hemaybethedevil，anhewill，’’saidAthelstane。

``Fortunatelybemissedtheaim；andonmyapproachingtograpplewithhim，tooktohisheelsandranforit。Ifailednottosetmyownheelsatlibertybymeansofthefetter-key，whichhungamongstothersatthesexton’sbelt；andI

hadthoughtsofbeatingouttheknavesbrainswiththebunchofkeys，butgratitudeforthenookofpastyandtheflaskofwinewhichtherascalhadimpartedtomycaptivity，cameovermyheart；so，withabraceofheartykicks，Ilefthimonthefloor，pouchedsomebakedmeat，andaleathernbottleofwine，withwhichthetwovenerablebrethrenhadbeenregaling，wenttothestable，andfoundinaprivatestallmineownbestpalfrey，which，doubtless，hadbeensetapartfortheholyFatherAbbot’sparticularuse。HitherIcamewithallthespeedthebeastcouldcompass——manandmother’ssonflyingbeforemewhereverIcame，takingmeforaspectre，themoreespeciallyas，topreventmybeingrecognised，Idrewthecorpse-hoodovermyface。

Ihadnotgainedadmittanceintomyowncastle，hadInotbeensupposedtobetheattendantofajugglerwhoismakingthepeopleinthecastle-yardverymerry，consideringtheyareassembledtocelebratetheirlord’sfuneral——IsaythesewerthoughtIwasdressedtobearapartinthetregetour’smummery，andsoIgotadmission，anddidbutdisclosemyselftomymother，andeatahastymorsel，ereI

cameinquestofyou，mynoblefriend。’’

``Andyouhavefoundme，’’saidCedric，``readytoresumeourbraveprojectsofhonourandliberty。

Itellthee，neverwilldawnamorrowsoauspiciousasthenext，forthedeliveranceofthenobleSaxonrace。’’

``Talknottomeofdeliveringanyone，’’saidAthelstane；``itiswellIamdeliveredmyself。I

ammoreintentonpunishingthatvillainAbbot。

HeshallhangonthetopofthisCastleof