the key； that thou mayest call him by times。 Take another trusty
fellow with you。 Use him well on the journey； but let him not
escape youpistol him if he attempt it； and I will be your
warrant。 I will give thee letters to Foster。 The doctor is to
occupy the lower apartments of the eastern quadrangle； with
freedom to use the old elaboratory and its implements。 He is to
have no access to the lady； but such as I shall point outonly
she may be amused to see his philosophical jugglery。 Thou wilt
await at Cumnor Place my further orders； and； as thou livest；
beware of the ale…bench and the aqua vitae flask。 Each breath
drawn in Cumnor Place must be kept severed from common air。〃
〃Enough； my lordI mean my worshipful master； soon； I trust； to
be my worshipful knightly master。 You have given me my lesson
and my license； I will execute the one； and not abuse the other。
I will be in the saddle by daybreak。〃
〃Do so； and deserve favour。 Stayere thou goest fill me a cup
of winenot out of that flask； sirrah；〃 as Lambourne was pouring
out from that which Alasco had left half finished； 〃fetch me a
fresh one。〃
Lambourne obeyed； and Varney； after rinsing his mouth with the
liquor； drank a full cup； and said； as he took up a lamp to
retreat to his sleeping apartment； 〃It is strangeI am as little
the slave of fancy as any one； yet I never speak for a few
minutes with this fellow Alasco； but my mouth and lungs feel as
if soiled with the fumes of calcined arsenicpah！〃
So saying； he left the apartment。 Lambourne lingered； to drink a
cup of the freshly…opened flask。 〃It is from Saint John's…Berg；〃
he said； as he paused on the draught to enjoy its flavour； 〃and
has the true relish of the violet。 But I must forbear it now；
that I may one day drink it at my own pleasure。〃 And he quaffed
a goblet of water to quench the fumes of the Rhenish wine；
retired slowly towards the door； made a pause； and then； finding
the temptation irresistible； walked hastily back； and took
another long pull at the wine flask； without the formality of a
cup。
〃Were it not for this accursed custom；〃 he said； 〃I might climb
as high as Varney himself。 But who can climb when the room turns
round with him like a parish…top？ I would the distance were
greater； or the road rougher； betwixt my hand and mouth！ But I
will drink nothing to…morrow save waternothing save fair
water。〃
CHAPTER XIX。
PISTOL。 And tidings do I bring； and lucky joys；
And happy news of price。
FALSTAFF。 I prithee now deliver them like to men of this world。
PISTOL。 A foutra for the world； and worldlings base！
I speak of Africa； and golden joys。 HENRY IV。 PART II。
The public room of the Black Bear at Cumnor； to which the scene
of our story now returns； boasted； on the evening which we treat
of； no ordinary assemblage of guests。 There had been a fair in
the neighbourhood； and the cutting mercer of Abingdon； with some
of the other personages whom the reader has already been made
acquainted with； as friends and customers of Giles Gosling； had
already formed their wonted circle around the evening fire； and
were talking over the news of the day。
A lively； bustling； arch fellow； whose pack； and oaken ellwand
studded duly with brass points； denoted him to be of Autolycus's
profession； occupied a good deal of the attention； and furnished
much of the amusement； of the evening。 The pedlars of those
days； it must be remembered； were men of far greater importance
than the degenerate and degraded hawkers of our modern times。 It
was by means of these peripatetic venders that the country trade；
in the finer manufactures used in female dress particularly； was
almost entirely carried on； and if a merchant of this description
arrived at the dignity of travelling with a pack…horse； he was a
person of no small consequence； and company for the most
substantial yeoman or franklin whom he might meet in his
wanderings。
The pedlar of whom we speak bore； accordingly； an active and
unrebuked share in the merriment to which the rafters of the
bonny Black Bear of Cumnor resounded。 He had his smile with
pretty Mistress Cicely； his broad laugh with mine host； and his
jest upon dashing Master Goldthred； who； though indeed without
any such benevolent intention on his own part； was the general
butt of the evening。 The pedlar and he were closely engaged in a
dispute upon the preference due to the Spanish nether…stock over
the black Gascoigne hose； and mine host had just winked to the
guests around him； as who should say； 〃You will have mirth
presently； my masters；〃 when the trampling of horses was heard in
the courtyard； and the hostler was loudly summoned； with a few of
the newest oaths then in vogue to add force to the invocation。
Out tumbled Will Hostler； John Tapster； and all the militia of
the inn； who had slunk from their posts in order to collect some
scattered crumbs of the mirth which was flying about among the
customers。 Out into the yard sallied mine host himself also； to
do fitting salutation to his new guests； and presently returned；
ushering into the apartment his own worthy nephew； Michael
Lambourne； pretty tolerably drunk； and having under his escort
the astrologer。 Alasco； though still a little old man； had； by
altering his gown to a riding…dress； trimming his beard and
eyebrows； and so forth； struck at least a score of years from his
apparent age； and might now seem an active man of sixty； or
little upwards。 He appeared at present exceedingly anxious； and
had insisted much with Lambourne that they should not enter the
inn； but go straight forward to the place of their destination。
But Lambourne would not be controlled。 〃By Cancer and
Capricorn；〃 he vociferated； 〃and the whole heavenly host； besides
all the stars that these blessed eyes of mine have seen sparkle
in the southern heavens； to which these northern blinkers are but
farthing candles； I will be unkindly for no one's humourI will
stay and salute my worthy uncle here。 Chesu！ that good blood
should ever be forgotten betwixt friends！A gallon of your best；
uncle； and let it go round to the health of the noble Earl of
Leicester！ What！ shall we not collogue together； and warm the
cockles of our ancient kindness？shall we not collogue； I say？〃
〃With all my heart； kinsman；〃 said mine host； who obviously
wished to be rid of him； 〃but are you to stand shot to all this
good liquor？〃
This is a question has quelled many a jovial toper； but it moved
not the purpose of Lambourne's soul； 〃Question my means； nuncle？〃
he said； producing a handful of mixed gold and silver pieces；
〃question Mexico and Peruquestion the Queen's exchequerGod
save her Majesty！she is my good Lord's good mistress。〃
〃Well； kinsman；〃 said mine host； 〃it is my business to sell wine
to those who can buy itso； Jack Tapster； do me thine office。
But I would I knew how to come by money as lightly as thou dost；
Mike。〃
〃Why； uncle；〃 said Lambourne； 〃I will tell thee a secret。 Dost
see this little old fellow here？ as old and withered a chip as
ever the devil put into his porridgeand yet； uncle； between you
and mehe hath Potosi in that brain of his'sblood！ he can
coin ducats faster than I can vent oaths。〃
〃I will have none of his coinage in my purse； though； Michael；〃
said mine host； 〃I know what belongs to falsifying the Queen's
coin。〃
〃Thou art an ass； uncle； for as old as thou art。Pull me not by
the skirts； doctor； thou art an ass thyself to bootso； being
both asses； I tell ye I spoke but metaphorically。〃
〃Are you mad？' said the old man； 〃is the devil in you？ Can you
not let us begone without drawing all men's eyes on us？〃
〃Sayest thou？〃 said Lambourne。 〃Thou art deceived nowno man
shall see you； an I give the word。By heavens； masters； an any
one dare to look on this old gentleman； I will slash the eyes out
of his head with my poniard！So sit down； old friend； and be
merry； these are mine inglesmine ancient inmates； and will
betray no man。〃
〃Had you not better withdraw to a private apartment； nephew？〃
said Giles Gosling。 〃You speak strange matter；〃 he added； 〃and
there be intelligencers everywhere。〃
〃I care not for them；〃 said the magnanimous Michael
〃intelligencers？ pshaw！ I serve the noble Earl of Leicester。
Here comes the wine。Fill round； Master Skinker； a carouse to
the health of the flower of England； the noble Earl of Leicester！
I say； the noble Earl of Leicester！ He that does me not reason
is a swine of Sussex； and I'll make him kneel to the pledge； if I
should cut his hams and smoke them for bacon。〃
None disputed a pledge given under such formidable penalties； and
Michael Lambourne； whose drunken humour was not of course
diminished by this new potation； went on in the same wild way；
renewing his acquaintance with such of the guests as he had
formerly known； and experiencing a reception in which there was
now something of deference mingled with a good deal of fear； for
the least servitor of the favourite Earl； especially such a man
as Lambourne； was； for very sufficient reasons； an object both of
the one and of the other。
In the meanwhile； the old man； seeing his guide in this
un