"Stand still," whispered Flibbertigibbet into Wayland's ear, "I know

where the shoe pinches, and will tame him in an instant."

He dropped down from the horse, and skipping up to the porter, plucked

him by the tail of the bearskin, so as to induce him to decline his huge

head, and whispered something in his ear. Not at the command of the lord

of some Eastern talisman did ever Afrite change his horrid frown into

a look of smooth submission more suddenly than the gigantic porter

of Kenilworth relaxed the terrors of his looks at the instant

Flibbertigibbet's whisper reached his ears. He flung his club upon the

ground, and caught up Dickie Sludge, raising him to such a distance from

the earth as might have proved perilous had he chanced to let him slip.

"It is even so," he said, with a thundering sound of exultation--"it is

even so, my little dandieprat. But who the devil could teach it thee?"

"Do not thou care about that," said Flibbertigibbet--"but--" he looked

at Wayland and the lady, and then sunk what he had to say in a

whisper, which needed not be a loud one, as the giant held him for his

convenience close to his ear. The porter then gave Dickie a warm caress,

and set him on the ground with the same care which a careful housewife

uses in replacing a cracked china cup upon her mantelpiece, calling out

at the same time to Wayland and the lady, "In with you--in with you! and

take heed how you come too late another day when I chance to be porter."

"Ay, ay, in with you," added Flibbertigibbet; "I must stay a short space

with mine honest Philistine, my Goliath of Gath here; but I will be with

you anon, and at the bottom of all your secrets, were they as deep and

dark as the Castle dungeon."

"I do believe thou wouldst," said Wayland; "but I trust the secret will

be soon out of my keeping, and then I shall care the less whether thou

or any one knows it."

They now crossed the entrance tower, which obtained the name of the

Gallery-tower, from the following circumstance: The whole bridge,

extending from the entrance to another tower on the opposite side of

the lake, called Mortimer's Tower, was so disposed as to make a spacious

tilt-yard, about one hundred and thirty yards in length, and ten in

breadth, strewed with the finest sand, and defended on either side by

strong and high palisades. The broad and fair gallery, destined for the

ladies who were to witness the feats of chivalry presented on this area,

was erected on the northern side of the outer tower, to which it gave

name. Our travellers passed slowly along the bridge or tilt-yard, and

arrived at Mortimer's Tower, at its farthest extremity, through which

the approach led into the outer or base-court of the Castle. Mortimer's

Tower bore on its front the scutcheon of the Earl of March, whose daring

ambition overthrew the throne of Edward II., and aspired to share his

power with the "She-wolf of France," to whom the unhappy monarch was

wedded. The gate, which opened under this ominous memorial, was guarded

by many warders in rich liveries; but they offered no opposition to the

entrance of the Countess and her guide, who, having passed by license of

the principal porter at the Gallery-tower, were not, it may be supposed,

liable to interruption from his deputies. They entered accordingly, in

silence, the great outward court of the Castle, having then full before

them that vast and lordly pile, with all its stately towers, each gate

open, as if in sign of unlimited hospitality, and the apartments filled

with noble guests of every degree, besides dependants, retainers,

domestics of every description, and all the appendages and promoters of

mirth and revelry.




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