But when the boy observed that neither his own entreaties nor the

menaces of the farrier appeared to change Tressilian's purpose, but

that, on the contrary, he confronted the hammer with his drawn sword,

he exclaimed to the smith in turn, "Wayland, touch him not, or you will

come by the worse!--the gentleman is a true gentleman, and a bold."

"So thou hast betrayed me, Flibbertigibbet?" said the smith; "it shall

be the worse for thee!"

"Be who thou wilt," said Tressilian, "thou art in no danger from me,

so thou tell me the meaning of this practice, and why thou drivest thy

trade in this mysterious fashion."

The smith, however, turning to Tressilian, exclaimed, in a threatening

tone, "Who questions the Keeper of the Crystal Castle of Light, the Lord

of the Green Lion, the Rider of the Red Dragon? Hence!--avoid thee, ere

I summon Talpack with his fiery lance, to quell, crush, and consume!"

These words he uttered with violent gesticulation, mouthing, and

flourishing his hammer.

"Peace, thou vile cozener, with thy gipsy cant!" replied Tressilian

scornfully, "and follow me to the next magistrate, or I will cut thee

over the pate."

"Peace, I pray thee, good Wayland!" said the boy. "Credit me, the

swaggering vein will not pass here; you must cut boon whids." ["Give

good words."--SLANG DIALECT.] "I think, worshipful sir," said the smith, sinking his hammer, and

assuming a more gentle and submissive tone of voice, "that when so poor

a man does his day's job, he might be permitted to work it out after his

own fashion. Your horse is shod, and your farrier paid--what need you

cumber yourself further than to mount and pursue your journey?"

"Nay, friend, you are mistaken," replied Tressilian; "every man has a

right to take the mask from the face of a cheat and a juggler; and your

mode of living raises suspicion that you are both."

"If you are so determined; sir," said the smith, "I cannot help myself

save by force, which I were unwilling to use towards you, Master

Tressilian; not that I fear your weapon, but because I know you to be

a worthy, kind, and well-accomplished gentleman, who would rather help

than harm a poor man that is in a strait."

"Well said, Wayland," said the boy, who had anxiously awaited the issue

of their conference. "But let us to thy den, man, for it is ill for thy

health to stand here talking in the open air."




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