fame haunts the Vale of the Whitehorse long after my body is
rotten； and that many a lout ties up his horse； lays down his
silver groat； and pipes like a sailor whistling in a calm for
Wayland Smith to come and shoe his tit for him。 But the horse
will catch the founders ere the smith answers the call。〃
In this particular； indeed； Wayland proved a true prophet； and so
easily do fables rise； that an obscure tradition of his
extraordinary practice in farriery prevails in the Vale of
Whitehorse even unto this day； and neither the tradition of
Alfred's Victory； nor of the celebrated Pusey Horn； are better
preserved in Berkshire than the wild legend of Wayland Smith。
＇See Note 2； Legend of Wayland Smith。＇
The haste of the travellers admitted their making no stay upon
their journey； save what the refreshment of the horses required；
and as many of the places through which they passed were under
the influence of the Earl of Leicester； or persons immediately
dependent on him； they thought it prudent to disguise their names
and the purpose of their journey。 On such occasions the agency
of Wayland Smith （by which name we shall continue to distinguish
the artist； though his real name was Lancelot Wayland） was
extremely serviceable。 He seemed； indeed； to have a pleasure in
displaying the alertness with which he could baffle
investigation； and amuse himself by putting the curiosity of
tapsters and inn…keepers on a false scent。 During the course of
their brief journey； three different and inconsistent reports
were circulated by him on their accountnamely； first； that
Tressilian was the Lord Deputy of Ireland； come over in disguise
to take the Queen's pleasure concerning the great rebel Rory Oge
MacCarthy MacMahon； secondly； that the said Tressilian was an
agent of Monsieur； coming to urge his suit to the hand of
Elizabeth； thirdly； that he was the Duke of Medina； come over；
incognito； to adjust the quarrel betwixt Philip and that
princess。
Tressilian was angry； and expostulated with the artist on the
various inconveniences； and； in particular； the unnecessary
degree of attention to which they were subjected by the figments
he thus circulated； but he was pacified （for who could be proof
against such an argument？） by Wayland's assuring him that a
general importance was attached to his own （Tressilian's）
striking presence； which rendered it necessary to give an
extraordinary reason for the rapidity and secrecy of his journey。
At length they approached the metropolis； where； owing to the
more general recourse of strangers； their appearance excited
neither observation nor inquiry； and finally they entered London
itself。
It was Tressilian's purpose to go down directly to Deptford；
where Lord Sussex resided； in order to be near the court； then
held at Greenwich； the favourite residence of Elizabeth； and
honoured as her birthplace。 Still a brief halt in London was
necessary； and it was somewhat prolonged by the earnest
entreaties of Wayland Smith； who desired permission to take a
walk through the city。
〃Take thy sword and buckler； and follow me； then；〃 said
Tressilian； 〃I am about to walk myself； and we will go in
company。〃
This he said； because he was not altogether so secure of the
fidelity of his new retainer as to lose sight of him at this
interesting moment； when rival factions at the court of Elizabeth
were running so high。 Wayland Smith willingly acquiesced in the
precaution； of which he probably conjectured the motive； but only
stipulated that his master should enter the shops of such
chemists or apothecaries as he should point out； in walking
through Fleet Street； and permit him to make some necessary
purchases。 Tressilian agreed； and obeying the signal of his
attendant； walked successively into more than four or five shops；
where he observed that Wayland purchased in each only one single
drug； in various quantities。 The medicines which he first asked
for were readily furnished； each in succession； but those which
he afterwards required were less easily supplied； and Tressilian
observed that Wayland more than once； to the surprise of the
shopkeeper； returned the gum or herb that was offered to him； and
compelled him to exchange it for the right sort； or else went on
to seek it elsewhere。 But one ingredient； in particular； seemed
almost impossible to be found。 Some chemists plainly admitted
they had never seen it； others denied that such a drug existed；
excepting in the imagination of crazy alchemists； and most of
them attempted to satisfy their customer； by producing some
substitute； which； when rejected by Wayland； as not being what he
had asked for； they maintained possessed； in a superior degree；
the self…same qualities。 In general they all displayed some
curiosity concerning the purpose for which he wanted it。 One
old； meagre chemist； to whom the artist put the usual question；
in terms which Tressilian neither understood nor could recollect；
answered frankly； there was none of that drug in London； unless
Yoglan the Jew chanced to have some of it upon hand。
〃I thought as much；〃 said Wayland。 And as soon as they left the
shop； he said to Tressilian； 〃I crave your pardon； sir； but no
artist can work without his tools。 I must needs go to this
Yoglan's； and I promise you； that if this detains you longer than
your leisure seems to permit； you shall； nevertheless； be well
repaid by the use I will make of this rare drug。 Permit me；〃 he
added； 〃to walk before you； for we are now to quit the broad
street and we will make double speed if I lead the way。〃
Tressilian acquiesced； and； following the smith down a lane which
turned to the left hand towards the river； he found that his
guide walked on with great speed； and apparently perfect
knowledge of the town； through a labyrinth of by…streets； courts；
and blind alleys； until at length Wayland paused in the midst of
a very narrow lane； the termination of which showed a peep of the
Thames looking misty and muddy； which background was crossed
saltierwise； as Mr。 Mumblazen might have said； by the masts of
two lighters that lay waiting for the tide。 The shop under which
he halted had not； as in modern days； a glazed window； but a
paltry canvas screen surrounded such a stall as a cobbler now
occupies； having the front open； much in the manner of a
fishmonger's booth of the present day。 A little old smock…faced
man； the very reverse of a Jew in complexion； for he was very
soft…haired as well as beardless； appeared； and with many
courtesies asked Wayland what he pleased to want。 He had no
sooner named the drug； than the Jew started and looked surprised。
〃And vat might your vorship vant vith that drug； which is not
named； mein God； in forty years as I have been chemist here？〃
〃These questions it is no part of my commission to answer；〃 said
Wayland； 〃I only wish to know if you have what I want； and having
it； are willing to sell it？〃
〃Ay； mein God； for having it； that I have； and for selling it； I
am a chemist； and sell every drug。〃 So saying； he exhibited a
powder； and then continued； 〃But it will cost much moneys。 Vat I
ave cost its weight in golday； gold well…refinedI vilI say
six times。 It comes from Mount Sinai； where we had our blessed
Law given forth； and the plant blossoms but once in one hundred
year。〃
〃I do not know how often it is gathered on Mount Sinai；〃 said
Wayland； after looking at the drug offered him with great
disdain； 〃but I will wager my sword and buckler against your
gaberdine； that this trash you offer me； instead of what I asked
for； may be had for gathering any day of the week in the castle
ditch of Aleppo。〃
〃You are a rude man；〃 said the Jew； 〃and； besides； I ave no
better than thator if I ave； I will not sell it without order
of a physician； or without you tell me vat you make of it。〃
The artist made brief answer in a language of which Tressilian
could not understand a word； and which seemed to strike the Jew
with the utmost astonishment。 He stared upon Wayland like one
who has suddenly recognized some mighty hero or dreaded
potentate； in the person of an unknown and unmarked stranger。
〃Holy Elias！〃 he exclaimed； when he had recovered the first
stunning effects of his surprise； and then passing from his
former suspicious and surly manner to the very extremity of
obsequiousness； he cringed low to the artist； and besought him to
enter his poor house； to bless his miserable threshold by
crossing it。
〃Vill you not taste a cup vith the poor Jew； Zacharias Yoglan？
Vill you Tokay ave？vill you Lachrymae taste？vill you〃
〃You offend in your proffers；〃 said Wayland； 〃minister to me in
what I require of you； and forbear further discourse。〃
The rebuked Israelite took his bunch of keys； and opening with
circumspection a cabinet which seemed more strongly secured than
the other cases of drugs and medicines amongst which it stood； he
drew out a little secret drawer； having a glass lid； and
containing a small portion of a black powder。 This he offered to
Wayland； his manner conveying the deepest devotion towards him；
though an avaricious and jealous expression； which seemed to
grudge every grain of what h