staircase。 Wayland drew back cautiously； went down to the inner
courtyard； spent about a quarter of an hour； which seemed at
least quadruple its usual duration； in walking from place to
place； and then returned to the tower； in hopes to find that the
lurker had disappeared。 He ascended as high as the suspicious
spotthere was no shadow on the wall； he ascended a few yards
fartherthe door was still ajar； and he was doubtful whether to
advance or retreat； when it was suddenly thrown wide open； and
Michael Lambourne bolted out upon the astonished Wayland。 〃Who
the devil art thou？ and what seekest thou in this part of the
Castle？ march into that chamber； and be hanged to thee！〃
〃I am no dog； to go at every man's whistle；〃 said the artist；
affecting a confidence which was belied by a timid shake in his
voice。
〃Sayest thou me so？Come hither； Lawrence Staples。〃
A huge； ill…made and ill…looked fellow； upwards of six feet high；
appeared at the door； and Lambourne proceeded： 〃If thou be'st so
fond of this tower； my friend； thou shalt see its foundations；
good twelve feet below the bed of the lake； and tenanted by
certain jolly toads； snakes； and so forth； which thou wilt find
mighty good company。 Therefore； once more I ask you in fair
play； who thou art； and what thou seekest here？〃
〃If the dungeon…grate once clashes behind me；〃 thought Wayland；
〃I am a gone man。〃 He therefore answered submissively； 〃He was
the poor juggler whom his honour had met yesterday in Weatherly
Bottom。〃
〃And what juggling trick art thou playing in this tower？ Thy
gang；〃 said Lambourne； 〃lie over against Clinton's buildings。〃
〃I came here to see my sister；〃 said the juggler； 〃who is in
Master Tressilian's chamber； just above。〃
〃Aha！〃 said Lambourne； smiling； 〃here be truths！ Upon my
honour； for a stranger； this same Master Tressilian makes himself
at home among us； and furnishes out his cell handsomely； with all
sorts of commodities。 This will be a precious tale of the
sainted Master Tressilian； and will be welcome to some folks； as
a purse of broad pieces to me。Hark ye； fellow；〃 he continued；
addressing Wayland； 〃thou shalt not give Puss a hint to steal
away we must catch her in her form。 So； back with that pitiful
sheep…biting visage of thine； or I will fling thee from the
window of the tower； and try if your juggling skill can save your
bones。〃
〃Your worship will not be so hardhearted； I trust；〃 said Wayland；
〃poor folk must live。 I trust your honour will allow me to speak
with my sister？〃
〃Sister on Adam's side； I warrant；〃 said Lambourne； 〃or； if
otherwise； the more knave thou。 But sister or no sister。 thou
diest on point of fox； if thou comest a…prying to this tower once
more。 And now I think of ituds daggers and death！I will see
thee out of the Castle； for this is a more main concern than thy
jugglery。〃
〃But； please your worship；〃 said Wayland； 〃I am to enact Arion in
the pageant upon the lake this very evening。〃
〃I will act it myself by Saint Christopher！〃 said Lambourne。
〃Orion； callest thou him？I will act Orion； his belt and his
seven stars to boot。 Come along； for a rascal knave as thou art
follow me！ Or stayLawrence； do thou bring him along。〃
Lawrence seized by the collar of the cloak the unresisting
juggler； while Lambourne； with hasty steps； led the way to that
same sallyport； or secret postern； by which Tressilian had
returned to the Castle； and which opened in the western wall at
no great distance from Mervyn's Tower。
While traversing with a rapid foot the space betwixt the tower
and the sallyport； Wayland in vain racked his brain for some
device which might avail the poor lady； for whom； notwithstanding
his own imminent danger； he felt deep interest。 But when he was
thrust out of the Castle； and informed by Lambourne； with a
tremendous oath； that instant death would be the consequence of
his again approaching it； he cast up his hands and eyes to
heaven； as if to call God to witness he had stood to the
uttermost in defence of the oppressed； then turned his back on
the proud towers of Kenilworth； and went his way to seek a
humbler and safer place of refuge。
Lawrence and Lambourne gazed a little while after Wayland； and
then turned to go back to their tower； when the former thus
addressed his companion： 〃Never credit me； Master Lambourne； if
I can guess why thou hast driven this poor caitiff from the
Castle； just when he was to bear a part in the show that was
beginning； and all this about a wench；〃
〃Ah； Lawrence；〃 replied Lambourne； 〃thou art thinking of Black
Joan Jugges of Slingdon； and hast sympathy with human frailty。
But； corragio； most noble Duke of the Dungeon and Lord of Limbo；
for thou art as dark in this matter as thine own dominions of
Little…ease。 My most reverend Signior of the Low Countries of
Kenilworth； know that our most notable master； Richard Varney；
would give as much to have a hole in this same Tressilian's coat；
as would make us some fifty midnight carousals； with the full
leave of bidding the steward go snick up； if he came to startle
us too soon from our goblets。〃
〃Nay； an that be the case； thou hast right；〃 said Lawrence
Staples； the upper…warder； or； in common phrase； the first
jailer； of Kenilworth Castle； and of the Liberty and Honour
belonging thereto。 〃But how will you manage when you are absent
at the Queen's entrance； Master Lambourne； for methinks thou must
attend thy master there？〃
〃Why thou； mine honest prince of prisons； must keep ward in my
absence。 Let Tressilian enter if he will； but see thou let no
one come out。 If the damsel herself would make a break； as 'tis
not unlike she may； scare her back with rough words； she is but a
paltry player's wench after all。〃
〃Nay for that matter；〃 said Lawrence； 〃I might shut the iron
wicket upon her that stands without the double door； and so force
per force she will be bound to her answer without more trouble。〃
〃Then Tressilian will not get access to her；〃 said Lambourne；
reflecting a moment。 〃But 'tis no matter； she will be detected
in his chamber； and that is all one。 But confess； thou old
bat's…eyed dungeon…keeper； that you fear to keep awake by
yourself in that Mervyn's Tower of thine？〃
〃Why； as to fear； Master Lambourne；〃 said the fellow； 〃I mind it
not the turning of a key； but strange things have been heard and
seen in that tower。 You must have heard； for as short time as
you have been in Kenilworth； that it is haunted by the spirit of
Arthur ap Mervyn； a wild chief taken by fierce Lord Mortimer when
he was one of the Lords Marchers of Wales； and murdered； as they
say； in that same tower which bears his name。〃
〃Oh； I have heard the tale five hundred times；〃 said Lambourne；
〃and how the ghost is always most vociferous when they boil leeks
and stirabout； or fry toasted cheese； in the culinary regions。
Santo Diavolo； man； hold thy tongue； I know all about it！〃
〃Ay； but thou dost not； though；〃 said the turnkey； 〃 for as wise
as thou wouldst make thyself。 Ah； it is an awful thing to murder
a prisoner in his ward！you that may have given a man a stab in
a dark street know nothing of it。 To give a mutinous fellow a
knock on the head with the keys； and bid him be quiet； that's
what I call keeping order in the ward； but to draw weapon and
slay him； as was done to this Welsh lord； THAT raises you a ghost
that will render your prison…house untenantable by any decent
captive for some hundred years。 And I have that regard for my
prisoners； poor things； that I have put good squires and men of
worship； that have taken a ride on the highway； or slandered my
Lord of Leicester； or the like； fifty feet under ground； rather
than I would put them into that upper chamber yonder that they
call Mervyn's Bower。 Indeed； by good Saint Peter of the Fetters；
I marvel my noble lord； or Master Varney； could think of lodging
guests there； and if this Master Tressilian could get any one to
keep him company； and in especial a pretty wench； why； truly； I
think he was in the right on't。〃
〃I tell thee；〃 said Lambourne； leading the way into the turnkey's
apartment； 〃thou art an ass。 Go bolt the wicket on the stair；
and trouble not thy noddle about ghosts。 Give me the wine stoup；
man； I am somewhat heated with chafing with yonder rascal。〃
While Lambourne drew a long draught from a pitcher of claret；
which he made use of without any cup； the warder went on；
vindicating his own belief in the supernatural。
〃Thou hast been few hours in this Castle； and hast been for the
whole space so drunk； Lambourne； that thou art deaf； dumb； and
blind。 But we should hear less of your bragging were you to pass
a night with us at full moon； for then the ghost is busiest； and
more especially when a rattling wind sets in from the north…west；
with some sprinkling of rain； and now and then a growl of
thunder。 Body o' me； what crackings and clashings； what
groanings and what howlings； will there be at such times in
Mervyn's Bower； right as it were over our heads； till the matter
of two quarts of distilled waters has not been enough to keep my
lads and me in some heart！〃
〃Pshaw； man！〃 replied Lambourne；