Lambourne； turning to those who witnessed this strange interview
betwixt uncle and nephew； some of whom； being natives of the
village； were no strangers to his juvenile wildness。 〃This may
be called slaying a Cumnor fatted calf for me with a vengeance。
But； uncle； I come not from the husks and the swine…trough； and I
care not for thy welcome or no welcome； I carry that with me will
make me welcome； wend where I will。〃
So saying； he pulled out a purse of gold indifferently well
filled； the sight of which produced a visible effect upon the
company。 Some shook their heads and whispered to each other；
while one or two of the less scrupulous speedily began to
recollect him as a school…companion； a townsman； or so forth。 On
the other hand； two or three grave； sedate…looking persons shook
their heads； and left the inn； hinting that； if Giles Gosling
wished to continue to thrive； he should turn his thriftless；
godless nephew adrift again； as soon as he could。 Gosling
demeaned himself as if he were much of the same opinion； for even
the sight of the gold made less impression on the honest
gentleman than it usually doth upon one of his calling。
〃Kinsman Michael；〃 he said； 〃put up thy purse。 My sister's son
shall be called to no reckoning in my house for supper or
lodging； and I reckon thou wilt hardly wish to stay longer where
thou art e'en but too well known。〃
〃For that matter； uncle；〃 replied the traveller； 〃I shall consult
my own needs and conveniences。 Meantime I wish to give the
supper and sleeping cup to those good townsmen who are not too
proud to remember Mike Lambourne； the tapster's boy。 If you will
let me have entertainment for my money； so； if not； it is but a
short two minutes' walk to the Hare and Tabor； and I trust our
neighbours will not grudge going thus far with me。〃
〃Nay； Mike；〃 replied his uncle； 〃as eighteen years have gone over
thy head； and I trust thou art somewhat amended in thy
conditions； thou shalt not leave my house at this hour； and shalt
e'en have whatever in reason you list to call for。 But I would I
knew that that purse of thine； which thou vapourest of； were as
well come by as it seems well filled。〃
〃Here is an infidel for you； my good neighbours！〃 said
Lambourne； again appealing to the audience。 〃Here's a fellow
will rip up his kinsman's follies of a good score of years'
standing。 And for the gold； why； sirs； I have been where it
grew； and was to be had for the gathering。 In the New World have
I been； manin the Eldorado； where urchins play at cherry…pit
with diamonds； and country wenches thread rubies for necklaces；
instead of rowan…tree berries； where the pantiles are made of
pure gold； and the paving…stones of virgin silver。〃
〃By my credit； friend Mike；〃 said young Laurence Goldthred； the
cutting mercer of Abingdon； 〃that were a likely coast to trade
to。 And what may lawns； cypruses； and ribands fetch； where gold
is so plenty？〃
〃Oh； the profit were unutterable；〃 replied Lambourne； 〃especially
when a handsome young merchant bears the pack himself； for the
ladies of that clime are bona…robas； and being themselves somewhat
sunburnt； they catch fire like tinder at a fresh complexion like
thine； with a head of hair inclining to be red。〃
〃I would I might trade thither；〃 said the mercer； chuckling。
〃Why； and so thou mayest；〃 said Michael〃that is； if thou art
the same brisk boy who was partner with me at robbing the Abbot's
orchard。 'Tis but a little touch of alchemy to decoct thy house
and land into ready money； and that ready money into a tall ship；
with sails； anchors； cordage； and all things conforming； then
clap thy warehouse of goods under hatches； put fifty good fellows
on deck； with myself to command them； and so hoist topsails； and
hey for the New World！〃
〃Thou hast taught him a secret； kinsman；〃 said Giles Gosling； 〃to
decoct； an that be the word； his pound into a penny and his webs
into a thread。Take a fool's advice； neighbour Goldthred。 Tempt
not the sea； for she is a devourer。 Let cards and cockatrices do
their worst； thy father's bales may bide a banging for a year or
two ere thou comest to the Spital； but the sea hath a bottomless
appetite；she would swallow the wealth of Lombard Street in a
morning； as easily as I would a poached egg and a cup of clary。
And for my kinsman's Eldorado； never trust me if I do not believe
he has found it in the pouches of some such gulls as thyself。
But take no snuff in the nose about it； fall to and welcome； for
here comes the supper； and I heartily bestow it on all that will
take share； in honour of my hopeful nephew's return； always
trusting that he has come home another man。In faith； kinsman；
thou art as like my poor sister as ever was son to mother。〃
〃Not quite so like old Benedict Lambourne； her husband； though；〃
said the mercer； nodding and winking。 〃Dost thou remember； Mike；
what thou saidst when the schoolmaster's ferule was over thee for
striking up thy father's crutches？it is a wise child； saidst
thou； that knows its own father。 Dr。 Bircham laughed till he
cried again； and his crying saved yours。〃
〃Well； he made it up to me many a day after；〃 said Lambourne；
〃and how is the worthy pedagogue？〃
〃Dead；〃 said Giles Gosling； 〃this many a day since。〃
〃That he is；〃 said the clerk of the parish； 〃I sat by his bed the
whilst。 He passed away in a blessed frame。 'MORIORMORTUUS SUM
VEL FUIMORI'these were his latest words； and he just added；
'my last verb is conjugated。〃
〃Well； peace be with him；〃 said Mike； 〃he owes me nothing。〃
〃No； truly；〃 replied Goldthred； 〃and every lash which he laid on
thee； he always was wont to say； he spared the hangman a labour。〃
〃One would have thought he left him little to do then；〃 said the
clerk； 〃and yet Goodman Thong had no sinecure of it with our
friend； after all。〃
〃VOTO A DIOS！〃 exclaimed Lambourne； his patience appearing to
fail him； as he snatched his broad； slouched hat from the table
and placed it on his head； so that the shadow gave the sinister
expression of a Spanish brave to eyes and features which
naturally boded nothing pleasant。 〃Hark'ee； my mastersall is
fair among friends； and under the rose； and I have already
permitted my worthy uncle here； and all of you； to use your
pleasure with the frolics of my nonage。 But I carry sword and
dagger； my good friends； and can use them lightly too upon
occasion。 I have learned to be dangerous upon points of honour
ever since I served the Spaniard； and I would not have you
provoke me to the degree of falling foul。〃
〃Why； what would you do？〃 said the clerk。
〃Ay； sir； what would you do？〃 said the mercer； bustling up on
the other side of the table。
〃Slit your throat； and spoil your Sunday's quavering； Sir Clerk；〃
said Lambourne fiercely； 〃cudgel you； my worshipful dealer in
flimsy sarsenets； into one of your own bales。〃
〃Come； come；〃 said the host； interposing； 〃I will have no
swaggering here。Nephew； it will become you best to show no
haste to take offence； and you； gentlemen； will do well to
remember； that if you are in an inn； still you are the inn…
keeper's guests； and should spare the honour of his family。I
protest your silly broils make me as oblivious as yourself； for
yonder sits my silent guest as I call him； who hath been my two
days' inmate； and hath never spoken a word； save to ask for his
food and his reckoninggives no more trouble than a very
peasantpays his shot like a prince royallooks but at the sum
total of the reckoning； and does not know what day he shall go
away。 Oh； 'tis a jewel of a guest！ and yet； hang…dog that I am；
I have suffered him to sit by himself like a castaway in yonder
obscure nook； without so much as asking him to take bite or sup
along with us。 It were but the right guerdon of my incivility
were he to set off to the Hare and Tabor before the night grows
older。〃
With his white napkin gracefully arranged over his left arm； his
velvet cap laid aside for the moment； and his best silver flagon
in his right hand； mine host walked up to the solitary guest whom
he mentioned； and thereby turned upon him the eyes of the
assembled company。
He was a man aged betwixt twenty…five and thirty； rather above
the middle size； dressed with plainness and decency； yet bearing
an air of ease which almost amounted to dignity； and which seemed
to infer that his habit was rather beneath his rank。 His
countenance was reserved and thoughtful； with dark hair and dark
eyes； the last； upon any momentary excitement； sparkled with
uncommon lustre； but on other occasions had the same meditative
and tranquil cast which was exhibited by his features。 The busy
curiosity of the little village had been employed to discover his
name and quality； as well as his business at Cumnor； but nothing
had transpired on either subject which could lead to its
gratification。 Giles Gosling； head…borough of the place； and a
steady friend to Queen Elizabeth and the Protestant religion； was
at one time inclined to suspect his guest of being a Jesuit； or
seminary priest； of whom Rome and Spain sent at this time so many
to grace the gallows in England。 But it was scarce possible to
retain