CHAPTER XXV
TELLS OF MY ADVENTURES AT THE FAIR
A hoarse clamour upon the air, shouts, laughter, the bray of horns,throbbing of drums, clashing of cymbals and tinkling of bells: apandemonium that deafened me, a blatant uproar that shocked anddistressed me as I stood, amid the hurly-burly of the fair--in it, notof it--staring about me for some glimpse of Diana or the Tinker whohad vanished amid the surging crowd hours ago, it seemed, and whom Ihad sought vainly ever since.
Thus I wandered, lost and none too happy, amid a jumble of carts andwaggons, carriages and country wains, of booths and stalls and tents;amid a restless, seething crowd of people who pushed and strove moreor less good-naturedly. Among all these unfamiliar sights and sounds Iranged disconsolate, awed by the vast concourse, deafened by theuniversal uproar, and not a little disgusted by the coarse humour andrough horse-play of this truly motley throng.
On I went, a lost soul, pushed and jostled; past rows of gaudy tentsand shows, each with its platform before it, where men and women, inoutlandish livery and spangled tights, danced and sang, cracked broadjokes, beat drums, blew horns, or strove to out-roar each other incrying up their respective wares and wonders. One in especial drew mynotice,--a stout, bull-necked Stentor in mighty cocked hat, whosebrassy voice boomed and bellowed high above the din, so that I pausedto observe him in wondering disgust.
"In meat alone--in meat alone!" he roared. "Will eat 'is weight inmeat alone! The famous and fab'lous Franko o' Florence, thefire-eatin', flame-swallerin', fat feller as weighs thirty-two stoneif a hounce--seein's believin'--and all for a tanner--a tanner!Sixpence an' no more! Come and see Franko the fattest feller o'Florence as will eat fire, devour glass and swaller swords, and allfor sixpence--for sixpence! See Franko as will dance ye a hornpipe,breakdown or double-shuffle wi' helegance and hease, bein' nippy, neatand nimble though weighin' thirty-two stone, seein's believin'--andall for a tanner--a tanner! Walk up, ladies and gents, an' don't beshy; walk up an' shake 'ands wi' Franko the fab'lous fat feller as cansing ye, dance ye, tell fortun's, forecast the future, cast'orrer-scopes, strike na-tivities or stand on 'is 'ead--and all forsixpence--for sixpence!"
In this fashion, or much like it, he held forth tirelessly until,chancing to meet my wide-eyed gaze, he immediately singled me out forhis remarks thus:
"Wot O, my Lord, wot O! You in the nobby 'at an' patchedunmentionables--wot O! Walk up, Tom-noddy, my lord, walk up and spenda tanner; never mind your breeches, walk up an' see the stoopendiousfat feller as could swaller ye, breeches, patches, 'at an' all, an'never blink a heyelid--a man as can swaller 'is wight in meatalone--in meat alone!
Walk up, my lord, an' see Franko Breeches or no, my lord, breeches or no!"
This sorry and meaningless jingle set the immediate crowd in a roar. Ibecame an object for ribald laughter and cheers; I was pushed andhustled, albeit good-naturedly enough, but none the less to my greatannoyance, so that I made all haste to wriggle away and, espying anarrow lane between these canvas booths and tents, I slipped into it,took to my heels and turning a sharp corner in full career, came thusupon an ancient man who sat upon a box, puffing serenely at a longpipe and who, despite my so sudden appearance, merely glanced at mewith a pair of keen, bright eyes and wished me "Good-day." Hereupon Istopped and, because I had very nearly upset him, took off my hat,bowed, and humbly craved his pardon; at this he gave me a second andkeener glance and uncovering his white head, returned my salute withgrave punctilio.
He was a slight, spare old man habited in shabby garments of a quaint,old-world fashion, but in his upright carriage was an impressivedignity, in his vigorous gestures, quick eyes and strongly marked,resolute features an air of command, a latent power very arresting.
"I fear I startled you, sir!" said I.
"I am not readily startled," he answered, "though indeed this veryafternoon I was beset by gipsy rogues hereabouts and rescued fromtheir clutches by a young Amazon of a remarkable beauty and a rareintelligence. Youth is ever impetuous, though I trust your sopassionate speed does not argue depredations upon your neighbour'sgoods; you are not a runaway pickpocket, I hope?"
"Indeed, no, sir!" I answered, and briefly narrated the reason of myflight.
"Hum!" ejaculated the aged person and sat puffing his pipe andregarding me with such close scrutiny that I grew a little uneasy.
"I trust that you believe me, sir?" said I.
"Entirely, sir!" he answered with a quick, decisive nod. "For Iperceive that you are a gentleman. Therefore, if you have the time andinclination, pray sit down and let us talk awhile."
"Willingly, sir," said I, seating myself upon the grass, "for it is atleast quieter here, and I will confess the crowd with its tumultuousturmoil and sordid vulgarity offends me greatly."
"Indeed, sir!" said my companion. "And yet it is simply to listen towhat you term offensive and vulgar turmoil that I am here. For, sir,yonder clamour, being inarticulate, may speak infinitely to such ashearken understandingly, being one of Nature's awful voices, a verysymphony of Life. Heard separately, each sound is an offence, I admit,but blent thus together they become akin to the incessant surge ofocean, the roar of foaming cataracts, the voice of some rushing,mighty wind, and these are the elemental music of God."
"Indeed, sir," said I, "sitting here with you sufficiently remote fromthe crowd's too-familiar contact, I can begin to appreciate the wisdomof your remarks."
"Yet you speak a little disdainfully, I think, sir! But what is theremore proper to the contemplation of a philosopher than a concourse ofhuman beings? How compelling its interest, how infinite its variety!The good rub shoulders with the evil, the merry with the sad, themurderer with his victim, each formed alike yet each different--"
All at once as I listened, my attention was distracted by a face thatprojected itself suddenly through the canvas of an adjacent tent, anevil, stealthy face with narrowed eyes that watched us furtively awhile and was suddenly gone; my companion espied it also, it seemed,for he sighed a little impatiently. "Tush, young sir!" said he. "Willyou allow the face of a peeping rogue to alienate your mind from aconversation that promises to become interesting?"
"But sir," said I, rising somewhat hurriedly, "this place issuggestively lonely; I think we were wiser to retire--"
"Go if you will, young sir," broke in my strange companion a littlegrimly, "hasten away by all means, but I remain here."
"As you will, sir," I answered and sat down again, though careful tokeep my eyes in the one direction.
"Sir," continued the aged person, "I have seen much of men and cities,I have journeyed in the desolate places of the world, but--"
Uttering a warning cry, I sprang to my feet as three men appeared,desperate-seeming fellows who approached us with a very evidentintention: but suddenly, as I watched them in sweating panic, I hearda sharp click behind me, and immediately they halted all three, theirferocious looks smitten to surprised dismay--and glancing over myshoulder I beheld the aged person still puffing serenely at his pipebut with his slender right hand grasping a small, silver-mountedpistol levelled at our would-be aggressors across his knee. And therewas something very terrible, I thought, in his imperturbable serenity.
"Rogues! Rascals!" sighed he. "To rob is sinful, to disturb theexcogitations of philosophers is blasphemous. I found it necessary toshoot one of your sort recently--and why not again?"
At this the three began to whine while the ancient person hearkenedand puffed his pipe, viewing them with eyes of scorn.
"Oh, begone!" said he. "See you do not trouble me again, lest I provebetter citizen next time and rid the country of you once and for all."Scarcely had the words left his lips than the cowed ruffians made offso hastily that they might have vanished into thin air.
"And now, sir," said my companion, carefully uncocking the pistol erehe pocketed it, "let us continue our so agreeable conversation. Acrowd of humans, sir, to my mind is a mystery deep as ocean, sublimeas the starry firmament, for who shall divine the thoughts, ho
pes,passions and desires animating its many various and componententities? Moreover, though composed of many different souls, it mayyet possess but one in common, to be swayed to mirth and anger, liftedto a reverent ecstasy or fired to bloody vengeance and mercilessdestruction. What is there can give any just conception of a mysteryso complex?"
"Surely nothing, sir," said I.
"Nay, young sir, therein I venture to think you are wrong, for wepossess a divine joy, a soul medium, a very gift of God and we callit,--music, sir. To such as have ears, music is the speech of Gods, ofthe Infinite, soaring far above mere words, revealing the unconceived,speaking forth the unthinkable."
"And what, sir, is the unthinkable?" I questioned.
"That which flashes upon a man's consciousness without the labour ofthought, an intimate cognizance of--What the devil is it now,Atkinson?" he broke off so suddenly that I started and, glancing up,beheld an extremely neat, grave, sedate personage who removed his hatto bow, and advancing deferentially, stooped sleek head to murmurdiscreetly in my aged companion's ear.
"Tell 'em I'm engaged; bid 'em be hanged--no, say I'll come!" Thegrave personage bowed again and moved sedately off.
"Young sir," sighed my companion, rising, "I have found youparticularly interesting, your arguments well-founded, your views onmusic particularly arresting. It grieves me, therefore, to depart, butduty calls. Pray oblige me with your arm, for I am a little lame. Abullet, sir!" he volunteered as he limped beside me. "A shatteredknee-cap to remind me of my vivid youth, an awkward limp to keep in mymind the lovely cause--aha, she was all clinging tenderness and plumpas a partridge then. I was her Eugenio and she my Sacharissa--awithered crone to-day, sir, and, alas, most inelegantly slim, Ihear--bones, a temper, an eagle's beak and nut-cracker chin! Aye,me--what changes time doth ring--_eheu! fugaces!_"
"And what of--him, sir, your opponent?" I ventured to ask.
"Was necessitated to buy himself a new hat, seeing I'd peppered theone he wore, young sir."
Now at this moment, my gaze chancing to be turned earthwards, I espieda pair of elegant though very dirty boots that strode us-wards,jingling their spurs in oddly familiar manner; therefore I glanced up,beholding in turn white buckskin breeches, flowered waistcoat,bottle-green coat with twinkling silver buttons, the frill of an ampleshirt-front and above, the square, dimpled chin, shapely nose andresolute blue eyes of my uncle George who, flourishing off his hat,advanced towards us, his handsome face beaming in cheery welcome.
"Well met, my Lord!" he exclaimed, grasping the ancient person's hand."You've heard the fight's off?"
"Is it, George? I grieve!"
"Yes, it seems Jerningham's man Croxton--The 'Thunderbolt'--fell foulof a harmless-looking customer on his way here, and who should it bebut Jessamy himself. So they fought there instead of here, and The'Thunderbolt's' bolt is shot, sir--and that's the dooce of it--thewhole thing's a bite!"
"Bite indeed, George!" agreed his lordship, shaking white head untilhis shabby hat toppled. "Though, to be sure, my money is on Jessamy.But indeed the affair slipped my memory--old age, George! However,Fortune was so kind as to send me this young gentleman, a youth ofremarkably sound ideas, Sir George; his conception of the ethics ofmusic, for instance--"
My uncle George glanced at me, stared, uttered an unintelligible soundand fell back, gaping.
"How are you, Uncle George!" said I, and removing my shapeless hat, Ibowed.
"Ha?" exclaimed his lordship. "You would seem to be acquainted witheach other! Pray, George, have the goodness to introduce us."
"My lord, this--this is my nephew, Peregrine--young dog--"
"What, poor Jack's boy?"
"The same, sir. Peregrine, his lordship, the Earl of Wyvelstoke.Nephew Peregrine took it into his head to see the world, sir--and thisis how he does it!"
"Admirable!" exclaimed his lordship. "Indeed, Mr. Vereker, should youprotract your stay in these parts, I shall hope to repeat the pleasureof this afternoon and hear more of your musical concepts. Good-bye t'ye, George!"
And limping to a light carriage that stood adjacent, the slender,shabby figure climbed in with the aid of the assiduous Atkinson, anddrove away.
"Well, upon my soul, Peregrine," exclaimed my uncle, removing his hatto ruffle his brown curls, "a precious pickle you look, b'gad! Wherein the world--what under heaven--your breeches, Perry--thatunspeakable--if only Julia could see you now. Oh, the dooce!"
Such were his more or less coherent expressions as his astonished gazetook in the various items of my appearance. Then all at once helaughed and down came his great hands upon my shoulders. "B'gad,Perry, I love ye for 'em, lad; dooce take me if I don't!" heexclaimed. "Those breeches now--where did you find 'em?"
"Sir, they were bestowed by one Galloping Jerry, a highwayman."
My words produced all the effect I had anticipated; the hat fell fromhis lax grasp and lay unheeded, while my uncle stared at me inspeechless surprise. "These garments, sir," I continued, lowering myvoice mysteriously, "are merely a disguise, for it seems there was apossibility of my being apprehended as Galloping Jerry's accomplice.Allow me to return your hat, sir."
My uncle George clutched it and made a kind of gurgling sound in histhroat.
"However," I continued, "I am anxious to exchange these things forothers less conspicuously hideous and should esteem it a kindness ifyou would advance the necessary money for it, for sir, I ampenniless."
"Ha--your highwayman cove robbed you, of course!"
"He did, Uncle, but had the extraordinary magnanimity to restore allhe'd taken. My money, sir, went in the--the purchase of a gipsymaiden--"
"Hey--gipsy--a woman--d'ye mean--you--"
"A young gipsy girl, Uncle."
"Good God!" he ejaculated faintly and, sinking upon the shaft of theempty cart behind him, he fanned himself feebly with his hat."Peregrine," said he, shaking grave head at me, "your aunt Julia isright--a wonderful woman! Poetry is your line, after all--books--romances,lad--imagination--"
"You think I am romancing, sir?"
"Aye, though I call it 'gammoning.'"
"Sir, you affront me!"
"No offence, Perry," said he kindly. "You just can't help it--comesnatural to you--like a gamecock fights. What other marvels have youseen?"
"A tinker, Uncle."
"Hum! Anything else?"
"I saw Jessamy Todd fight the big fellow at the 'Ring o' Bells' thismorning and--"
"What?" cried my uncle, on his feet in a moment. "You saw Jessamyfight? Oh, begad, Perry--why couldn't you say so before?"
"You believe this, then, sir?"
"I do. Tell me all about it. I've heard rumours--they say it was aclean knockout--"
"The big man was indeed rendered quite unconscious, Uncle--"
"And you saw? Out with it, Perry lad!"
"But sir," I enquired, a little disdainfully, "why all this stir abouta vulgar brawl?"
"Vulgar brawl, begad--"
"Well, a brutal bout at fisticuffs with a ruffian--"
"Heavens and earth, boy," exclaimed my uncle, in growing indignation,"don't ye know you were privileged to see one of the very greatestfighters of any time, school or--oh, b'gad--"
"You mean Jessamy Todd, sir?"
"Of course I do. And what's more--Tom Croxton, The 'Thunderbolt'--theman who forced Jessamy to fight--was a plant--"
"Now pray, Uncle George, how may a great, hulking ruffian even faintlyresemble any such thing?"
At this my uncle gasped, stared, shook his head, jingled his spurs andfinally spoke:
"In Heaven's name, don't pretend you're so infernal green, Perry! The'Thunderbolt' is a fighting man from Lambeth, a tough customer who'swon a fight or so lately and thought he could beat anything on twopins. So we were bringing him down here, hoping to match him withJessamy, or, failing him, some other good man. But the fool, notknowing Jessamy, get's himself thrashed, and the whole thing's aflam."
"Jessamy has given up the game, Uncle."
"I know, b
ut he loves it still. And you saw the fight! Tell me ofit--no, wait--the others must hear." So saying, my uncle George hookedhis powerful arm in mine and led me whither he would. By devious wayswe went, to avoid the crowd; dodging behind empty caravans andwaggons, skirting booths and tents until we came on one greater thanall the rest, a huge canvas structure into which he brought meforthwith. The place was empty except for some scant few personsgrouped about a stage whereon two fellows, naked to the waist, theirfists swathed in what I believe are termed 'muffles', dodged andducked, feinted or smote each other with great spirit and gusto untilone of them, reeling from a flush hit, sat down with sudden violenceand remained in this posture to blink and get his breath.
"Dooce--take me--Tom!" exclaimed this individual, in breathlessreproach. "Your--infernal mug's--hard as--iron!"
"Craggy, my lord!" answered the other hoarsely. "Cragg by name an'Craggy by natur', my lord!"
Thither my uncle George led me, his spurs jingling, whereupon thespectators turned to salute him and stare at me, among whom Irecognised my uncle Jervas.
"What, George," enquired one, "ha' you found Jessamy?"
"No!" answered my uncle, slapping me on the shoulder. "But the nextbest thing, Devenham--"
"And a demned queer-looking thing it is, George!" added the recumbentgentleman, viewing me with a pair of blue eyes, one of which exhibitedsigns of recent punishment.
"None the less, Jerny," answered uncle George, "it is my nephew.Gentlemen, I have the honour to present Mr. Peregrine Vereker! Nephew,in the floored Corinthian with the damaged ogle, you will remarkRichard, Marquis of Jerningham; on my right, Viscount Devenham; on myleft, Sir Peregrine Beverley; before you Major Dashwood, Mr. Wemyssand your affectionate uncle Jervas. And now, gentlemen all, my nephewwill tell you that he comes fresh from witnessing the defeat ofJerningham's unfortunate champion The 'Thunderbolt' at the hands ofthe unconquerable Jessamy Todd!"
"Aha!" cried the Marquis, springing lightly to his feet and mufflingnaked torso in gaudy dressing-gown; and next moment he and the otherswere thronged about me vociferous for knowledge.
For a moment I stood looking round upon the ring of clean-cut, eagerfaces, tongue-tied and somewhat non-plussed; but seeing with whatunaffected and hearty good will they greeted me, nor heeded mydisfiguring attire, I made my bow and plunged into a full andparticular relation of Jessamy Todd's encounter with the man Tom. Asmy narrative progressed, the interest of my audience waxed, and I wasgratified and stimulated by a ripple of excitement and hushedexclamations which, as I ended, swelled to a ringing cheer for JessamyTodd. Thereafter my hand was shaken heartily by one and all, with manylaudations on my descriptive powers, in the midst of which my uncleJervas touched me on the shoulder and, bowing my adieux, I took mydeparture and thus presently found myself in the open air walking,rather sheepishly, between my two relatives.
Once beyond eyeshot of the curious, my uncle Jervas paused and fellback a step, the better to behold me, peering through his glass ateach individual article of my attire and murmuring such ejaculationsas:
"Astounding! Astonishing! Amazing!"
"Tells me he had 'em of a highwayman, Jervas!" volunteered uncleGeorge.
"A most distressing vision!" sighed my uncle Jervas. "A positivewalking disgust! And yet--hum!"
"And a very creditable pair o' black eyes, Jervas."
"True, George! Our youth has been observing life at close quarters, itseems."
"B'gad--he has so, brother!" chuckled uncle George.
"Tells me he's spent all his money on women!"
My uncle Jervas very nearly dropped his eyeglass.
"Now--'pon my everlasting--" his voice failed and he gazed at me quitedumbfounded for once.
"Think o' Julia!" said uncle George, with a kind of groan. "Thinkof--'Ode to a Throstle'--poor Julia--sweet soul!" My two uncles turnedfrom my indignant form to regard each other; then, all at once, thegrim lips of my uncle Jervas twitched, quivered to a flash of whiteteeth, but his laughter was drowned by uncle George's cachinnationswhere he stood on one leg, slapping at the other brawny thigh untilthe dust flew.
"Sirs," said I, folding my arms and glancing from one to otherdisdainfully, "your mirth is as unwarranted as unseemly! The money inquestion was expended in the service of--of one who--whose need wasinstant and great. I have the honour to bid you good-bye!"
But, as I turned, my uncle Jervas laid his hand on my arm, a white,elegant hand strangely out of place on my rough and weather-beatencoat-sleeve.
"Pray accept our sincerest apologies, Peregrine," said he. Now at thisI glanced up in wondering surprise, for in the touch of this slimhand, in voice and look, I had an indefinable sense of comradeshipthat thrilled me with sudden pride.
"My dear Uncle," I exclaimed, grasping his hand, "pray trust me alwaysto remember that I am a Vereker also."
"B'gad, and there ye have it, Jervas; couldn't ha' put it betteryourself!"
"And pray, sirs, how is my dear and best of aunts?"
At this question my uncle Jervas pursed his lips in a soundlesswhistle and smoothed snowy shirt-frill with caressing fingers.
"Perry," said uncle George, removing his hat to ruffle his curls,"you've heard of bears robbed of cubs, of the Hyr--what's-a-nametiger--"
"Hyrcanian, George!" murmured uncle Jervas.
"Well, they're playful pets in comparison. How is your aunt? B'gad,Perry, my lad, that's precisely the dooce of it, d'ye see!"
"She--she is very well, I hope?" faltered I.
"Assuredly!" answered my uncle Jervas. "But being the--ah--trulyfeminine creature she is, your remarkable aunt, with more or lessreason, has leapt to the conclusion that we are the cause of what sheterms your 'desertion', and is a little incensed against us--"
"Incensed, d'ye call it, Jervas?" exclaimed uncle George. "A littleincensed is it--oh, b'gad!"
"And declines to see or hold communications with us--"
"And when she does, she--she don't!" added uncle George. "Last time Iventured to call, she looked over me, and under me, and round me, andthrough me but never--at me. Dooced trying y' know, Perry!"
"And most disappointing!" said I. "My dream that you--one of you mightcomfort her--"
"Was a damned piece of impertinence!" murmured my uncle Jervas, hisaesthetically pallid cheek tinged with unusual colour. "Your auntknows her own mind and has grieved, raged, wept, languished andadvertised for you in her thorough fashion--"
"Offers five hundred pounds for your recovery, lad!" added uncleGeorge.
"Which," continued uncle Jervas, "is a fair sum of money, the naturalconsequence being that the poor, sweet soul has been plagued by allmanner of people, day and night, eagerly endeavouring to restore waifsand strays of both sexes and all ages, so much so that your uncle andI were compelled to call in and suppress such notices as hadappeared--here is one!" From his pocket uncle Jervas took a handbillwhich he unfolded and passed to me; whereon I read this:
L500. LOST. REWARD. MR. PEREGRINE VEREKER AGED 19.
Here followed a most minute and painfully accurate description of mygarments and person; and below, these words:
WHEREAS: my loved nephew, PEREGRINE VEREKER, acting upon the PERNICIOUS & EVIL COUNSEL of certain CRUEL and HEARTLESS advisers, fled from home and his only TRUE FRIEND on the night of the 10th. inst: the above L500 will be paid to such person or persons who shall return him safe and unharmed or give such information as shall lead to his happy recovery and restoration to the loving care of JULIA CONROY.
"Great heaven!" I exclaimed, crumpling the document angrily. "It readsas if I were some pet animal!"
"Precisely!" murmured my uncle Jervas. "As you seemed likely tobecome, nephew. None the less, the document evinces something of youraunt's desire for your return, and it is easy to imagine her gratitudewhen I shall restore you to her arms--"
"Hold hard, Jervas!" exclaimed my uncle George, clutching my left arm."'Twas I found him!"
"But consider, my dear George," sighed my uncle
Jervas, laying eleganthand upon my right shoulder, "I bear the brunt of her blame, asusual--"
"But damme, Jervas--"
"But pray reflect further, dear George; I am, alas, slightly yoursenior and, as such, claim the right--"
"But my dear uncles," I interrupted at this juncture, "pray remarkthat I have no intention of returning home for some time."
"Oh, indeed, nephew?" sighed my uncle Jervas, his slim hand tighteninga little. "May one venture to ask why?"
"I know!" sighed uncle George. "Women, Jervas--feminine spells, poorlad!"
"For one thing," I answered patiently, "because I have decided tobecome a tinker for a while."
"Hum!" murmured my uncle Jervas. "A useful trade, but scarcely one Ishould have chosen for you--still--"
"And there he is, at last!" exclaimed uncle George suddenly, andbeckoned with imperious hand; thus, glancing whither he looked, Iespied Jessamy Todd and, with a sudden twist, I broke away and ran tomeet her who walked at Jessamy's side.
"O Diana!" I exclaimed, "I have been looking for you all afternoon.Come!" And taking her hand, I led her up to my astonished uncles.
"Sirs," said I, "it is my privilege to introduce my friend Diana, whomI hope to marry as soon as possible."
For a long moment after I had spoken, Diana stood, shapely head aloft,fronting their amazed scrutiny in proud and sullen defiance; when atlast she spoke, her voice sounded all untroubled and serene.
"I know," said she, nodding, "I know what's in your minds--you'mthinking as I ain't fit for him! Well, my fine gentlemen, he shouldn'tmarry me, even if he loved me--which he don't, or I loved him--which Idon't and never shall!" Then without so much as a glance in mydirection, she turned and sped away.
But I was not to be left thus, for, escaping uncle George'srestraining clutch, I followed her; glancing back, I saw my uncleJervas, white, impressive hand on Jessamy's shoulder, speaking veryearnestly to him and with his keen gaze fixed on myself.
It was amid the jostling traffic of the booths that I found her; shewas standing before a stall devoted to the sale of gauds and finery,but espying me she made off and I, intent on pursuit, was wriggling myway through the crowd when rose a sudden cry of "Thieves! Robbery!Stop thief!" Rough hands seized me and, checked thus rudely in fullcareer, I was swung around to confront a small, fierce-eyed fellow whocursed and swore, hopped and flourished his fists under my nose invery threatening and unpleasant manner.
"V'ere is it, ye young wagabone?" he demanded in shrill accents."V'ere is it? As fine a lady's lookin'-glass as ever vas, a genuinehantique framed in solid silver an' worth its weight in gold. V'at ha'ye done wi' it, you desp'rit, thievin' young willin', you?"
Now it was upon my lips to indignantly deny so vile an accusation, butthe words were arrested by a sudden, horrid thought, a dreadfulsuspicion, for in this moment I remembered Diana had passed this wayvery recently and, calling to mind the unfortunate predilection forappropriating the goods of others which she had termed "prigging," Iknew a sudden shame on her account and therewith a sick fear lest shebe caught with the damning evidence of guilt upon her.
Thus, despite the fierce hands that grasped me and the bony knucklesthat obtruded themselves painfully into the nape of my neck, I stoodmute, profoundly unheedful of the little man's excited capering,whirling fists and threats of condign punishment.
By reason of the little man's excited antics and high-pitched threatsand wailings, we were very soon the centre of a pushing, inquisitivethrong; faces peered at me, fists were shaken and voices reviled me,in especial one, that of an evil-faced man whose narrow eyes seemedvaguely familiar. Every moment the hostile demonstrations of the crowdgrew more threatening until suddenly, and to my inexpressible comfort,above the angry clamour arose a voice peculiarly rich and musical.
"Give way, friends, give way--yon lad's a friend o' mine--give way!"The ring about me was split apart by the forward thrust of a sinewyshoulder, and Jessamy appeared with Diana close beside him. "Why,what's the trouble, brother?" he enquired.
"Thievin'--robbery, that's what!" cried the little man, caperinghigher than ever. "Stole me silver-framed mirror, 'e 'as, the youngwagabone--a genuine hantique worth its weight in hemeralds--stole memirror and don't deny it, neither--!"
"Who says he stole it?" demanded Jessamy. "Did any o' ye see himcommit the fact?" At this the small man blinked, and the two that heldme stared upon each other a little at a loss.
"Who says my friend stole your vallybles--come!" demanded Jessamy.
"Why, we all says so!" cried the little man. "An' he can't denyit--and no more 'e don't, neither!"
"However," said Jessamy, "my friend ain't stole your mirror, friend."
"Then 'oo 'as?" demanded the little man, capering again.
"Why--him, for sure!" said Diana suddenly, pointing at the narrow-eyedfellow who, blenching before her fierce look, turned to flee. "It'sHooky Sam!" she cried, and in that moment leapt upon him. Ensued amoment's scuffling and Diana sprang away, the stolen mirror in herhand. "Here's your trinket!" she cried, tossing it to its gapingowner. "Next time it's stole, don't go blaming the wrong one."
Hereupon my captors loosed me and turned to seize the real culpritbut, profiting by the momentary confusion, he ducked and squirmed,wriggled and dived under and between such arms and hands as made tostay him and, breaking free, took to his heels, and the crowd, losingall interest in us, betook itself to the chase, shouting and hallooingin joyous pursuit.
"And now, friend," said Jessamy, addressing the small man, who dancedand capered no more but stood somewhat crestfallen, "'twould be welldone, I think, to ask my young friend's pardon." The which he did andI little heeding, all my looks being for Diana, who stared back at me;and meeting her clear-eyed scrutiny, I felt my cheeks flushingguiltily and turned to grip Jessamy's hand and to thank him for histrust and friendship.
"But why," demanded Diana, "why did you let 'em think it was you?"
Now here, having no answer ready, I adopted her own method.
"Just because!" said I.
Peregrine's Progress Page 27