Chapter 55 - Page 2

among such exercises from infancy.

The man wore a large, dark, faded cloak, and a slouched hat; he walked up close to John, and looked at him. John returned the compliment with interest.

a€˜How long have you been sitting thus?a€™ said the man.

John considered, but nothing came of it.

a€˜Which way have the party gone?a€™

Some wandering speculations relative to the fashion of the strangera€™s boots, got into Mr Willeta€™s mind by some accident or other, but they got out again in a hurry, and left him in his former state.

a€˜You would do well to speak,a€™ said the man; a€˜you may keep a whole skin, though you have nothing else left that can be hurt. Which way have the party gone?a€™

a€˜That!a€™ said John, finding his voice all at once, and nodding with perfect good faitha€"he couldna€™t point; he was so tightly bounda€"in exactly the opposite direction to the right one.

a€˜You lie!a€™ said the man angrily, and with a threatening gesture. a€˜I came that way. You would betray me.a€™

It was so evident that Johna€™s imperturbability was not assumed, but was the result of the late proceedings under his roof, that the man stayed his hand in the very act of striking him, and turned away.

John looked after him without so much as a twitch in a single nerve of his face. He seized a glass, and holding it under one of the little casks until a few drops were collected, drank them greedily off; then throwing it down upon the floor impatiently, he took the vessel in his hands and drained it into his throat. Some scraps of bread and meat were scattered about, and on these he fell next; eating them with voracity, and pausing every now and then to listen for some fancied noise outside. When he had refreshed himself in this manner with violent haste, and raised another barrel to his lips, he pulled his hat upon his brow as though he were about to leave the house, and turned to John.

a€˜Where are your servants?a€™

Mr Willet indistinctly remembered to have heard the rioters calling to them to throw the key of the room in which they were, out of window, for their keeping. He therefore replied, a€˜Locked up.a€™

a€˜Well for them if they remain quiet, and well for you if you do the like,a€™ said the man. a€˜Now show me the way the party went.a€™

This time Mr Willet indicated it correctly. The man was hurrying to the door, when suddenly there came towards them on the wind, the loud and rapid tolling of an alarm-bell, and then a bright and vivid glare streamed up, which illumined, not only the whole chamber, but all the country.