Chapter 11
There was great news that night for the regular Maypole customers, toeach of whom, as he straggled in to occupy his allotted seat in thechimney-corner, John, with a most impressive slowness of delivery, andin an apoplectic whisper, communicated the fact that Mr Chester wasalone in the large room upstairs, and was waiting the arrival ofMr Geoffrey Haredale, to whom he had sent a letter (doubtless of athreatening nature) by the hands of Barnaby, then and there present.
For a little knot of smokers and solemn gossips, who had seldom anynew topics of discussion, this was a perfect Godsend. Here was a good,dark-looking mystery progressing under that very roof--brought home tothe fireside, as it were, and enjoyable without the smallest painsor trouble. It is extraordinary what a zest and relish it gave to thedrink, and how it heightened the flavour of the tobacco. Every mansmoked his pipe with a face of grave and serious delight, and looked athis neighbour with a sort of quiet congratulation. Nay, it was feltto be such a holiday and special night, that, on the motion of littleSolomon Daisy, every man (including John himself) put down his sixpencefor a can of flip, which grateful beverage was brewed with all despatch,and set down in the midst of them on the brick floor; both that it mightsimmer and stew before the fire, and that its fragrant steam, risingup among them, and mixing with the wreaths of vapour from their pipes,might shroud them in a delicious atmosphere of their own, and shutout all the world. The very furniture of the room seemed to mellow anddeepen in its tone; the ceiling and walls looked blacker and more highlypolished, the curtains of a ruddier red; the fire burnt clear and high,and the crickets in the hearthstone chirped with a more than wontedsatisfaction.
There were present two, however, who showed but little interest in thegeneral contentment. Of these, one was Barnaby himself, who slept,or, to avoid being beset with questions, feigned to sleep, in thechimney-corner; the other, Hugh, who, sleeping too, lay stretched uponthe bench on the opposite side, in the full glare of the blazing fire.
The light that fell upon this slumbering form, showed it in all itsmuscular and handsome proportions. It was that of a young man, of a haleathletic figure, and a giant's strength, whose sunburnt face and swarthythroat, overgrown with jet black hair, might have served a painter fora model. Loosely attired, in the coarsest and roughest garb, with scrapsof straw and hay--his usual bed--clinging here and there, and minglingwith his uncombed locks, he had fallen asleep in a posture as carelessas his dress. The negligence and disorder of the whole man, withsomething fierce and sullen in his features, gave him a picturesqueappearance, that attracted the regards even of the Maypole customers whoknew him well, and caused Long Parkes to say that Hugh looked more likea poaching rascal to-night than ever he had seen him yet.
'He's waiting here, I suppose,' said Solomon, 'to take Mr Haredale'shorse.'
'That's it, sir,' replied John Willet. 'He's not often in the house, youknow. He's more at his ease among horses than men. I look upon him as aanimal himself.'
Following up this opinion with a shrug that seemed meant to say, 'wecan't expect everybody to be like us,' John put his pipe into his mouthagain, and smoked like one who felt his superiority over the general runof mankind.
'That chap, sir,' said John, taking it out again after a time, andpointing at him with the stem, 'though he's got all his facultiesabout him--bottled up and corked down, if I may say so, somewheres oranother--'
'Very good!' said Parkes, nodding his head. 'A very good expression,Johnny. You'll be a tackling somebody presently. You're in twigto-night, I see.'
'Take care,' said Mr Willet, not at all grateful for the compliment,'that I don't tackle you, sir, which I shall certainly endeavour to do,if you interrupt me when I'm making observations.--That chap, I wasa saying, though he has all his faculties about him, somewheres oranother, bottled up and corked down, has no more imagination thanBarnaby has. And why hasn't he?'
The three friends shook their heads at each other; saying by thataction, without the trouble of opening their lips, 'Do you observe whata philosophical mind our friend has?'
'Why hasn't he?' said John, gently striking the table with his openhand. 'Because they was never drawed out of him when he was a boy.That's why. What would any of us have been, if our fathers hadn't drawedour faculties out of us? What would my boy Joe have been, if I hadn'tdrawed his faculties out of him?--Do you mind what I'm a saying of,gentlemen?'
'Ah! we mind you,' cried Parkes. 'Go on improving of us, Johnny.'
'Consequently, then,' said Mr Willet, 'that chap, whose mother washung when he was a little boy, along with six others, for passing badnotes--and it's a blessed thing to think how many people are hung inbatches every six weeks for that, and such like offences, as showing howwide awake our government is--that chap that was then turned loose, andhad to mind cows, and frighten birds away, and what not, for a few penceto live on, and so got on by degrees to mind horses, and to sleep incourse of time in lofts and litter, instead of under haystacks andhedges, till at last he come to be hostler at the Maypole for his boardand lodging and a annual trifle--that chap that can't read nor write,and has never had much to do with anything but animals, and has neverlived in any way but like the animals he has lived among, IS a animal.And,' said Mr Willet, arriving at his logical conclusion, 'is to betreated accordingly.'
'Willet,' said Solomon Daisy, who had exhibited some impatience at theintrusion of so unworthy a subject on their more interesting theme,'when Mr Chester come this morning, did he order the large room?'
'He signified, sir,' said John, 'that he wanted a large apartment. Yes.Certainly.'
'Why then, I'll tell you what,' said Solomon, speaking softly and withan earnest look. 'He and Mr Haredale are going to fight a duel in it.'
Everybody looked at Mr Willet, after this alarming suggestion. Mr Willetlooked at the fire, weighing in his own mind the effect which such anoccurrence would be likely to have on the establishment.
'Well,' said John, 'I don't know--I am sure--I remember that when I wentup last, he HAD put the lights upon the mantel-shelf.'
'It's as plain,' returned Solomon, 'as the nose on Parkes's face'--MrParkes, who had a large nose, rubbed it, and looked as if he consideredthis a personal allusion--'they'll fight in that room. You know bythe newspapers what a common thing it is for gentlemen to fight incoffee-houses without seconds. One of 'em will be wounded or perhapskilled in this house.'
'That was a challenge that Barnaby took then, eh?' said John.
'--Inclosing a slip of paper with the measure of his sword upon it, I'llbet a guinea,' answered the little man. 'We know what sort of gentlemanMr Haredale is. You have told us what Barnaby said about his looks, whenhe came back. Depend upon it, I'm right. Now, mind.'
The flip had had no flavour till now. The tobacco had been of mereEnglish growth, compared with its present taste. A duel in that greatold rambling room upstairs, and the best bed ordered already for thewounded man!
'Would it be swords or pistols, now?' said John.
'Heaven knows. Perhaps both,' returned Solomon. 'The gentlemen wearswords, and may easily have pistols in their pockets--most likely have,indeed. If they fire at each other without effect, then they'll draw,and go to work in earnest.'
A shade passed over Mr Willet's face as he thought of broken windows anddisabled furniture, but bethinking himself that one of the parties wouldprobably be left alive to pay the damage, he brightened up again.
'And then,' said Solomon, looking from face to face, 'then we shall haveone of those stains upon the floor that never come out. If Mr Haredalewins, depend upon it, it'll be a deep one; or if he loses, it willperhaps be deeper still, for he'll never give in unless he's beatendown. We know him better, eh?'
'Better indeed!' they whispered all together.
'As to its ever being got out again,' said Solomon, 'I tell you it neverwill, or can be. Why, do you know that it has been tried, at a certainhouse we are acquainted with?'
'The Warren!' cried John. 'No, sure!'
'Yes, sure--yes. It's only known by very few. It has been whisperedabout though, for all that. They planed the board away, but there itwas. They went deep, but it went deeper. They put new boards down, butthere was one great spot that came through still, and showed itself inthe old place. And--harkye--draw nearer--Mr Geoffrey made that room hisstudy, and sits there, always, with his foot (as I have heard) upon it;and he believes, through thinking of it long and very much, that it willnever fade until he finds the man who did the deed.'
As this recital ended, and they all drew closer round the fire, thetramp of a horse was heard without.
'The very man!' cried John, starting up. 'Hugh! Hugh!'
The sleeper staggered to his feet, and hurried after him. John quicklyreturned, ushering in with great attention and deference (for MrHaredale was his landlord) the long-expected visitor, who strode intothe room clanking his heavy boots upon the floor; and looking keenlyround upon the bowing group, raised his hat in acknowledgment of theirprofound respect.
'You have a stranger here, Willet, who sent to me,' he said, in a voicewhich sounded naturally stern and deep. 'Where is he?'
'In the great room upstairs, sir,' answered John.
'Show the way. Your staircase is dark, I know. Gentlemen, good night.'
With that, he signed to the landlord to go on before; and went clankingout, and up the stairs; old John, in his agitation, ingeniously lightingeverything but the way, and making a stumble at every second step.
'Stop!' he said, when they reached the landing. 'I can announce myself.Don't wait.'
He laid his hand upon the door, entered, and shut it heavily. Mr Willetwas by no means disposed to stand there listening by himself, especiallyas the walls were very thick; so descended, with much greater alacritythan he had come up, and joined his friends below.