curiosity； forsooth！ The excuse； if curiously balanced； would be
found to want some scruples of just weight； or so。〃
〃If your suspicions were just；〃 said Tressilian； 〃you have shown
no confidence in me to invite or deserve mine。〃
〃Oh； if that be all；〃 said Lambourne； 〃my motives lie above
water。 While this gold of mine lasts〃taking out his purse；
chucking it into the air； and catching it as it fell〃I will
make it buy pleasure； and when it is out I must have more。 Now；
if this mysterious Lady of the Manorthis fair Lindabrides of
Tony Fire…the…Fagotbe so admirable a piece as men say； why；
there is a chance that she may aid me to melt my nobles into
greats； and； again； if Anthony be so wealthy a chuff as report
speaks him； he may prove the philosopher's stone to me； and
convert my greats into fair rose…nobles again。〃
〃A comfortable proposal truly；〃 said Tressilian； 〃but I see not
what chance there is of accomplishing it。〃
〃Not to…day； or perchance to…morrow；〃 answered Lambourne； 〃I
expect not to catch the old jack till。 I have disposed my
ground…baits handsomely。 But I know something more of his
affairs this morning than I did last night； and I will so use my
knowledge that he shall think it more perfect than it is。 Nay；
without expecting either pleasure or profit； or both； I had not
stepped a stride within this manor； I can tell you； for I promise
you I hold our visit not altogether without risk。But here we
are； and we must make the best on't。〃
While he thus spoke； they had entered a large orchard which
surrounded the house on two sides； though the trees； abandoned by
the care of man； were overgrown and messy； and seemed to bear
little fruit。 Those which had been formerly trained as espaliers
had now resumed their natural mode of growing； and exhibited
grotesque forms； partaking of the original training which they
had received。 The greater part of the ground； which had once
been parterres and flower…gardens； was suffered in like manner to
run to waste； excepting a few patches which had been dug up and
planted with ordinary pot herbs。 Some statues； which had
ornamented the garden in its days of splendour； were now thrown
down from their pedestals and broken in pieces； and a large
summer…house； having a heavy stone front； decorated with carving
representing the life and actions of Samson； was in the same
dilapidated condition。
They had just traversed this garden of the sluggard； and were
within a few steps of the door of the mansion； when Lambourne had
ceased speaking； a circumstance very agreeable to Tressilian； as
it saved him the embarrassment of either commenting upon or
replying to the frank avowal which his companion had just made of
the sentiments and views which induced him to come hither。
Lambourne knocked roundly and boldly at the huge door of the
mansion； observing； at the same time； he had seen a less strong
one upon a county jail。 It was not until they had knocked more
than once that an aged； sour…visaged domestic reconnoitred them
through a small square hole in the door； well secured with bars
of iron； and demanded what they wanted。
〃To speak with Master Foster instantly； on pressing business of
the state；〃 was the ready reply of Michael Lambourne。
〃Methinks you will find difficulty to make that good；〃 said
Tressilian in a whisper to his companion； while the servant went
to carry the message to his master。
〃Tush；〃 replied the adventurer； 〃no soldier would go on were he
always to consider when and how he should come off。 Let us once
obtain entrance； and all will go well enough。〃
In a short time the servant returned； and drawing with a careful
hand both bolt and bar； opened the gate； which admitted them
through an archway into a square court； surrounded by buildings。
Opposite to the arch was another door； which the serving…man in
like manner unlocked； and thus introduced them into a stone…paved
parlour； where there was but little furniture； and that of the
rudest and most ancient fashion。 The windows were tall and
ample； reaching almost to the roof of the room； which was
composed of black oak； those opening to the quadrangle were
obscured by the height of the surrounding buildings； and； as they
were traversed with massive shafts of solid stone…work； and
thickly painted with religious devices； and scenes taken from
Scripture history； by no means admitted light in proportion to
their size； and what did penetrate through them partook of the
dark and gloomy tinge of the stained glass。
Tressilian and his guide had time enough to observe all these
particulars； for they waited some space in the apartment ere the
present master of the mansion at length made his appearance。
Prepared as he was to see an inauspicious and ill…looking person；
the ugliness of Anthony Foster considerably exceeded what
Tressilian had anticipated。 He was of middle stature； built
strongly； but so clumsily as to border on deformity； and to give
all his motions the ungainly awkwardness of a left…legged and
left…handed man。 His hair； in arranging which men at that time；
as at present； were very nice and curious； instead of being
carefully cleaned and disposed into short curls； or else set up
on end； as is represented in old paintings； in a manner
resembling that used by fine gentlemen of our own day； escaped in
sable negligence from under a furred bonnet； and hung in elf…
locks； which seemed strangers to the comb； over his rugged brows；
and around his very singular and unprepossessing countenance。
His keen； dark eyes were deep set beneath broad and shaggy
eyebrows； and as they were usually bent on the ground； seemed as
if they were themselves ashamed of the expression natural to
them； and were desirous to conceal it from the observation of
men。 At times； however； when； more intent on observing others；
he suddenly raised them； and fixed them keenly on those with whom
he conversed； they seemed to express both the fiercer passions；
and the power of mind which could at will suppress or disguise
the intensity of inward feeling。 The features which corresponded
with these eyes and this form were irregular； and marked so as to
be indelibly fixed on the mind of him who had once seen them。
Upon the whole； as Tressilian could not help acknowledging to
himself； the Anthony Foster who now stood before them was the
last person； judging from personal appearance； upon whom one
would have chosen to intrude an unexpected and undesired visit。
His attire was a doublet of russet leather； like those worn by
the better sort of country folk； girt with a buff belt； in which
was stuck on the right side a long knife； or dudgeon dagger； and
on the other a cutlass。 He raised his eyes as he entered the
room； and fixed a keenly penetrating glance upon his two
visitors； then cast them down as if counting his steps； while he
advanced slowly into the middle of the room； and said； in a low
and smothered tone of voice； 〃Let me pray you； gentlemen； to tell
me the cause of this visit。〃
He looked as if he expected the answer from Tressilian； so true
was Lambourne's observation that the superior air of breeding and
dignity shone through the disguise of an inferior dress。 But it
was Michael who replied to him； with the easy familiarity of an
old friend； and a tone which seemed unembarrassed by any doubt of
the most cordial reception。
〃Ha！ my dear friend and ingle； Tony Foster！〃 he exclaimed；
seizing upon the unwilling hand； and shaking it with such
emphasis as almost to stagger the sturdy frame of the person whom
he addressed； 〃how fares it with you for many a long year？ What！
have you altogether forgotten your friend； gossip； and
playfellow； Michael Lambourne？〃
〃Michael Lambourne！〃 said Foster； looking at him a moment； then
dropping his eyes； and with little ceremony extricating his hand
from the friendly grasp of the person by whom he was addressed；
〃are you Michael Lambourne？〃
〃Ay； sure as you are Anthony Foster；〃 replied Lambourne。
〃'Tis well；〃 answered his sullen host。 〃And what may Michael
Lambourne expect from his visit hither？〃
〃VOTO A DIOS；〃 answered Lambourne； 〃I expected a better welcome
than I am like to meet； I think。〃
〃Why； thou gallows…birdthou jail…ratthou friend of the
hangman and his customers！〃 replied Foster； 〃hast thou the
assurance to expect countenance from any one whose neck is beyond
the compass of a Tyburn tippet？〃
〃It may be with me as you say；〃 replied Lambourne； 〃and suppose I
grant it to be so for argument's sake； I were still good enough
society for mine ancient friend Anthony Fire…the…Fagot； though he
be； for the present； by some indescribable title； the master of
Cumnor Place。〃
〃Hark you； Michael Lambourne；〃 said Foster； 〃you are a gambler
now； and live by the counting of chancescompute me the odds
that I do not； on this instant； throw you out of that window into
the ditch there。〃
〃Twenty to one that you do not；〃 answered the sturdy visitor。
〃And wherefore； I pray you？〃 demanded Anthony Foster； setting
his teeth and compressing his lips； like one who endeavours to
suppress some violent internal emotion。
〃Because；〃 said Lambourne coolly； 〃you dare not for y