"Good night, noble captain," said he with the torch. "Farewell,commander. Good luck, illustrious general!"
In return to these compliments the other bade him hold his tongue,and keep his noise to himself, and laid upon him many similarinjunctions, with great fluency of speech and sternness of manner.
"Commend me, captain, to the stricken Miggs," returned the torchbearer in a lower voice. "My captain flies at higher game thanMiggses. Ha, ha, ha! My captain is an eagle, both as respects hiseye and soaring wings. My captain breaketh hearts as otherbachelors break eggs at breakfast."
"What a fool you are, Stagg!" said Mr Tappertit, stepping on thepavement of the court, and brushing from his legs the dust he hadcontracted in his passage upward.
"His precious limbs!" cried Stagg, clasping one of his ankles.
"Shall a Miggs aspire to these proportions! No, no, my captain.
We will inveigle ladies fair, and wed them in our secret cavern.
We will unite ourselves with blooming beauties, captain."
"I"ll tell you what, my buck," said Mr Tappertit, releasing hisleg; "I"ll trouble you not to take liberties, and not to broachcertain questions unless certain questions are broached to you.
Speak when you"re spoke to on particular subjects, and nototherways. Hold the torch up till I"ve got to the end of thecourt, and then kennel yourself, do you hear?"
"I hear you, noble captain."
"Obey then," said Mr Tappertit haughtily. "Gentlemen, lead on!"
With which word of command (addressed to an imaginary staff orretinue) he folded his arms, and walked with surpassing dignitydown the court.
His obsequious follower stood holding the torch above his head, andthen the observer saw for the first time, from his place ofconcealment, that he was blind. Some involuntary motion on hispart caught the quick ear of the blind man, before he was consciousof having moved an inch towards him, for he turned suddenly andcried, "Who"s there?"
"A man," said the other, advancing. "A friend."
"A stranger!" rejoined the blind man. "Strangers are not myfriends. What do you do there?"
"I saw your company come out, and waited here till they were gone.
I want a lodging."
"A lodging at this time!" returned Stagg, pointing towards the dawnas though he saw it. "Do you know the day is breaking?"
"I know it," rejoined the other, "to my cost. I have beentraversing this iron-hearted town all night."
"You had better traverse it again," said the blind man, preparingto descend, "till you find some lodgings suitable to your taste. Idon"t let any."
"Stay!" cried the other, holding him by the arm.
"I"ll beat this light about that hangdog face of yours (for hangdogit is, if it answers to your voice), and rouse the neighbourhoodbesides, if you detain me," said the blind man. "Let me go. Doyou hear?"
"Do YOU hear!" returned the other, chinking a few shillingstogether, and hurriedly pressing them into his hand. "I begnothing of you. I will pay for the shelter you give me. Death!
Is it much to ask of such as you! I have come from the country,and desire to rest where there are none to question me. I amfaint, exhausted, worn out, almost dead. Let me lie down, like adog, before your fire. I ask no more than that. If you would berid of me, I will depart to-morrow."
"If a gentleman has been unfortunate on the road," muttered Stagg,yielding to the other, who, pressing on him, had already gained afooting on the steps--"and can pay for his accommodation--"
"I will pay you with all I have. I am just now past the want offood, God knows, and wish but to purchase shelter. What companionhave you below?"
"None."
"Then fasten your grate there, and show me the way. Quick!"
The blind man complied after a moment"s hesitation, and theydescended together. The dialogue had passed as hurriedly as thewords could be spoken, and they stood in his wretched room beforehe had had time to recover from his first surprise.
"May I see where that door leads to, and what is beyond?" said theman, glancing keenly round. "You will not mind that?"
"I will show you myself. Follow me, or go before. Take yourchoice."
He bade him lead the way, and, by the light of the torch which hisconductor held up for the purpose, inspected all three cellarsnarrowly. Assured that the blind man had spoken truth, and that helived there alone, the visitor returned with him to the first, inwhich a fire was burning, and flung himself with a deep groan uponthe ground before it.
His host pursued his usual occupation without seeming to heed himany further. But directly he fell asleep--and he noted his fallinginto a slumber, as readily as the keenest-sighted man could havedone--he knelt down beside him, and passed his hand lightly butcarefully over his face and person.
His sleep was checkered with starts and moans, and sometimes with amuttered word or two. His hands were clenched, his brow bent, andhis mouth firmly set. All this, the blind man accurately marked;and as if his curiosity were strongly awakened, and he had alreadysome inkling of his mystery, he sat watching him, if the expressionmay be used, and listening, until it was broad day.