thebanks
of
the
stream
until
past
mid-day
,
when
I
came
to
a
village
,
where
I
halted
at
a
public-house
to
take
some
refreshment
.
My
two
or
three
shillings
were
still
unchanged
,
because
I
had
not
paid
a
single
penny
for
my
entertainment
at
the
Three
Compasses
.
While
I
sate
enjoying
my
bread
and
cheese
and
beer
,
I
revolved
in
my
mind
various
plans
to
better
my
condition
.
But
my
attention
was
speedily
averted
from
that
topic
to
the
conversation
of
two
old
men
,
who
were
sitting
at
another
table
in
the
tap-room
.
"
'
So
poor
old
Joe
Dobbin
's
scapegrace
nephew
is
coming
home
at
last
?
'
said
one
.
—
'
Yea
,
'
replied
the
other
:
'
he
has
been
seeking
his
fortune
,
as
a
sailor
,
all
over
the
world
,
for
the
last
ten
years
;
and
now
that
he
has
n't
a
penny
,
and
is
a-weary
of
a
sea-faring
life
,
he
has
written
to
say
that
he
is
coming
home
to
his
poor
old
blind
uncle
.
'
—
'
Ah
!
Tom
Tittlebat
has
been
a
wild
'
un
in
his
day
,
I
'll
answer
for
it
,
'
said
the
first
old
man
.
'
But
his
uncle
seems
quite
delighted
at
the
idea
of
seeing
him
again
,
'
observed
the
other
old
fellow
.
—
'
He
says
that
he
shall
persuade
upon
Tom
to
stay
at
home
and
take
care
of
him
;
and
then
he
'll
be
able
to
turn
away
cross
old
Margery
,
who
robs
him
and
ill-treats
him
in
a
shameful
manner
.
'
"
I
devoured
every
word
of
this
conversation
;
and
my
mind
was
instantly
made
up
.
I
accordingly
joined
in
the
discourse
,
called
for
some
ale
,
of
which
I
made
the
two
old
fellows
partake
,
and
so
artfully
pumped
them
that
in
half
an
hour
I
knew
all
about
old
blind
Dobbin
and
his
graceless
nephew
Tom
Tittlebat
,
without
having
appeared
even
to
ask
a
single
question
concerning
them
.
At
length
,
when
I
had
my
lesson
complete
.
I
burst
out
into
a
hearty
laugh
,
and
cried
out
,
'
What
,
Master
Buckley
,
do
n't
you
remember
me
then
?
and
you
,
good
Master
Dottings
,
am
I
quite
a
stranger
to
you
too
?
'
The
old
men
stared
;
and
then
,
with
another
hearty
laugh
I
boldly
announced
myself
to
be
Tom
Tittlebat
.
You
should
have
seen
the
old
fellows
—
how
glad
they
were
!
One
swore
that
he
had
all
along
suspected
who
I
was
;
and
the
other
vowed
that
my
features
were
unchanged
since
he
last
saw
me
,
although
my
face
was
a
little
tanned
!
Then
I
called
for
more
ale
,
and
plied
the
old
boys
well
,
so
that
they
might
help
to
favour
the
imposture
which
I
meditated
.
"
Away
we
went
to
the
cottage
inhabited
by
old
Dobbin
,
my
two
aged
companions
really
showing
me
the
way
,
while
I
pretended
to
be
quite
familiar
with
it
.
The
moment
we
came
in
sight
of
my
alleged
uncle
's
residence
,
old
Buckley
and
Dottings
(
whose
names
I
had
found
out
from
their
own
discourse
with
me
)
hobbled
forward
,
exclaiming
,
'
Here
's
the
prodigal
returned
,
Brother
Dobbin
!
'
—
'
Kill
the
fatted
calf
,
Brother
Dobbin
!
'
And
in
a
few
moments
I
was
in
my
alleged
uncle
's
arms
.
"
Then
the
fatted
calf
was
indeed
killed
.
Dame
Margery
,
the
old
man
's
housekeeper
,
was
compelled
to
bustle
about
to
prepare
a
copious
supper
—
a
duty
which
she
performed
with
a
very
bad
grace
,
and
with
sundry
suspicious
leers
and
side-glances
towards
me
.
I
took
no
notice
of
her
ill-humour
,
but
rattled
away
about
my
adventures
by
sea
and
land
till
the
three
old
men
were
quite
astounded
at
the
marvellous
things
I
had
seen
and
the
tremendous
perils
that
I
had
escaped
.
Buckley
and
Dottings
were
invited
to
stay
to
supper
;
and
a
merry
meal
we
had
.
When
the
things
were
cleared
away
,
I
undertook
to
brew
the
punch
,
assuring
the
old
folks
that
the
compound
would
be
made
according
to
a
recipe
which
I
had
obtained
from
the
king
of
the
Inaccessible
Islands
.
"
Well
,
the
punch
was
made
;
and
there
it
stood
steaming
in
an
enormous
bowl
upon
the
table
.
I
was
determined
to
enjoy
myself
;
for
I
purposed
to
pack
up
every
thing
portable
during
the
night
and
decamp
before
dawn
,
for
fear
that
the
rightful
nephew
should
return
before
I
had
turned
my
trick
to
advantage
.
So
I
filled
the
tumblers
,
and
plied
the
punch
to
such
an
extent
that
even
old
Margery
's
ill-humour
was
overcome
by
the
gaiety
of
the
scene
;
and
she
consented
to
sit
down
and
join
us
.
"
I
was
just
in
the
middle
of
a
most
exciting
account
of
a
conflict
which
I
had
with
a
shark
at
the
South
Pole
,
when
a
loud
knock
at
the
door
resounded
through
the
house
.
Margery
hastened
to
obey
the
summons
;
and
Old
Dobbin
observed
,
'
I
should
n't
be
surprised
if
this
was
my
cousin
George
,
for
I
wrote
to
him
the
day
before
yesterday
to
say
that
my
nephew
Tom
was
coming
home
,
and
invited
him
down
to
pass
a
week
or
so
on
the
happy
occasion
.
'
I
heard
this
remark
;
but
the
punch
had
produced
such
an
effect
upon
me
,
that
I
felt
no
uneasiness
.
I
thought
I
should
be
able
to
get
over
cousin
George
as
easily
as
I
had
done
Uncle
Dobbin
;
and
so
I
amused
myself
by
filling
the
glasses
round
from
the
second
bowl
,
which
had
only
just
been
mixed
.
"
Meantime
Dame
Margery
,
having
answered
the
door
,
returned
,
exclaiming
,
'
It
be
Master
George
,
'
and
followed
by
a
person
whom
her
tall
gaunt
form
in
some
measure
hid
from
me
until
they
were
both
close
to
the
table
.
Then
what
a
dreadful
scene
took
place
!
In
cousin
George
,
to
my
horror
and
dismay
,
I
beheld
the
red-faced
man
that
I
'd
met
at
the
Three
Compasses
,
and
whose
drab
trousers
adorned
me
at
that
very
moment
!
"
I
leapt
from
my
seat
,
and
was
making
as
fast
as
I
could
to
the
door
,
when
cousin
George
shouted
out
,
'
Holloa
!
who
have
we
here
?
'
—
and
,
springing
forward
,
he
collared
me
in
a
moment
.
'
What
's
the
matter
?
what
's
the
matter
?
'
demanded
old
Dobbin
.
—
'
My
stars
!
what
's
this
mean
?
'
exclaimed
Dame
Margery
.
—
'
Why
,
it
means
that
this
fellow
is
a
robber
,
and
has
got
on
my
breeches
and
boots
!
'
vociferated
cousin
George
,
growing
purple
in
the
face
with
rage
,
and
giving
me
a
violent
shake
.
—
'
Your
breeches
!
'
cried
old
Buckley
.
—
'
Your
boots
!
'
mumbled
old
Dottings
.
—
'
Yes
,
to
be
sure
!
'
shouted
the
red-faced
man
.
'
Go
and
fetch
a
constable
.
'
—
Why
,
you
do
n't
mean
that
nephew
Tom
has
done
this
?
'
said
old
Dobbin
.
—
'
Nephew
Tom
!
'
exclaimed
cousin
George
,
letting
go
his
hold
upon
my
coat
:
'
no
!
'
—
'
But
I
say
yes
,
though
,
'
said
I
,
putting
a
bold
face
upon
the
matter
:
'
I
knew
you
directly
when
I
met
you
at
the
Three
Compasses
last
night
,
and
only
did
it
by
way
of
a
lark
.
'
"
But
this
turn
did
not
serve
me
.
While
I
spoke
,
cousin
George
surveyed
me
attentively
;
and
,
again
rushing
upon
me
,
he
roared
out
,
'
He
's
a
cheat
!
he
's
an
impostor
!
Tom
has
a
mole
on
the
left
cheek
,
and
he
's
none
:
Tom
has
a
cut
over
the
right
eye
,
and
he
has
n't
.
Go
for
a
constable
.
'
—
'
Well
,
I
thought
all
along
he
was
a
rogue
,
'
cried
Dame
Margery
,
hurrying
off
to
execute
this
most
unpleasant
order
.
"
My
case
now
seemed
desperate
;
and
not
a
moment
was
to
be
lost
.
Casting
my
eyes
rapidly
around
in
search
of
some
weapon
of
defence
or
avenue
of
escape
,
I
espied
the
punch-bowl
,
three
parts
full
of
steaming
liquor
,
within
my
reach
.
With
the
rapidity
of
lightning
I
seized
it
,
and
dashed
it
over
like
a
hat
upon
cousin
George
's
head
.
He
uttered
a
terrific
yell
as
the
hot
punch
streamed
down
him
;
and
I
precipitated
myself
from
the
room
as
if
a
blood-hound
was
at
my
heels
.
"
Away
I
scudded
—
a
hue
and
cry
after
me
:
but
I
ran
like
a
race-horse
;
and
in
a
few
minutes
was
beyond
the
sound
of
the
'
Stop
,
thief
,
'
raised
by
cousin
George
's
ominous
voice
.
"
That
was
an
excellent
adventure
;
I
have
often
and
often
laughed
at
it
since
,
and
wondered
whether
the
real
Tom
Tittlebat
ever
did
return
.
At
all
events
I
kept
cousin
George
's
trousers
and
boots
;
but
they
got
me
into
more
scrapes
yet
.
"
I
strolled
along
through
the
fields
,
diverting
myself
with
reflection
upon
the
past
,
and
pondering
upon
what
might
be
in
store
for
the
future
,
until
I
reached
a
large
market
town
,
where
I
went
boldly
to
the
tap-room
of
the
principal
tavern
.
I
ordered
an
excellent
supper
,
with
plenty
of
ale
,
feeling
convinced
that
some
lucky
adventure
would
enable
me
to
pay
for
my
cheer
—
for
I
had
now
but
one
shilling
left
,
the
remainder
of
my
money
having
been
spent
at
the
inn
where
I
met
the
two
old
acquaintances
of
blind
Dobbin
.
"
The
tap-room
was
filled
with
people
;
and
the
conversation
was
pretty
general
.
There
was
,
however
,
one
individual
who
took
no
part
in
the
discourse
,
but
sate
apart
in
an
obscure
corner
smoking
his
pipe
.
He
did
not
even
appear
to
listen
to
what
was
said
around
him
;
but
maintained
his
eyes
moodily
fixed
on
the
floor
.
His
horrible
sallow
complexion
,
deep
wrinkles
,
and
large
mustache
,
gave
him
an
aspect
very
far
from
inviting
.
Nevertheless
,
I
endeavoured
to
enter
into
conversation
with
him
—
simply
,
I
suppose
,
because
he
appeared
to
be
so
reserved
,
and
my
curiosity
was
excited
with
respect
to
him
;
but
he
threw
upon
me
a
look
of
the
most
sovereign
contempt
,
and
made
me
no
answer
.
I
shrank
back
from
the
fierce
glance
of
his
dark
black
eyes
,
and
felt
abashed
and
cowed
—
I
scarcely
knew
why
.
But
soon
recovering
my
usual
good
spirits
,
I
also
called
for
my
pipe
and
my
pot
,
and
mingled
in
the
conversation
.
Rattling
away
with
my
anecdotes
,
and
now
and
then
singing
a
snatch
of
a
song
,
I
speedily
made
myself
so
agreeable
to
the
drovers
and
waggoners
assembled
in
the
tap-room
,
that
they
called
for
punch
and
invited
me
to
partake
of
it
with
them
.
"
At
twelve
o'clock
the
waiter
came
in
,
and
bawled
out
,
'
Any
more
orders
,
gentlemen
?
any
more
orders
?
'
No
answer
being
given
,
he
said
,
'
I
will
receive
each
gentleman
's
account
,
if
you
please
.
'
—
This
announcement
came
like
a
clap
of
thunder
upon
me
:
I
had
but
a
shilling
in
my
pocket
,
and
owed
nearly
three
.
What
to
do
I
could
not
tell
.
Meantime
the
waiter
went
round
,
collecting
the
money
due
to
him
from
each
individual
;
and
the
nearer
he
drew
to
the
table
where
I
was
sitting
,
the
more
fidgetty
I
became
.
As
I
glanced
round
me
with
feverish
anxiety
,
I
saw
the
dark
black
eyes
of
the
sallow-faced
stranger
fixed
upon
me
;
and
I
thought
that
they
glared
with
fiendish
delight
,
as
if
they
had
penetrated
my
secret
.
I
felt
ashamed
—
and
my
eyes
fell
beneath
the
demon-like
glance
.
In
another
moment
the
waiter
stood
before
me
.
'
Now
,
sir
—
if
you
please
,
sir
:
steak
,
one
shilling
—
taturs
,
penny
—
bread
,
penny
—
fourteen-pence
;
two
pints
of
ale
,
eight-pence
—
screw
of
bakker
,
penny
—
pot
porter
,
four-pence
,
—
that
's
two-and-three
,
sir
.
'
I
sat
aghast
for
a
few
minutes
,
and
then
began
to
fumble
in
my
pockets
,
the
waiter
every
moment
growing
more
impatient
.
At
that
instant
the
sallow-faced
stranger
pointed
to
the
bench
on
which
I
was
sitting
,
and
said
in
a
surly
tone
,
'
No
wonder
,
young
man
,
that
you
ca
n't
find
your
money
in
your
pocket
,
when
you
let
it
roll
about
in
all
directions
.
'
He
then
sank
back
into
his
corner
,
and
seemed
to
take
no
more
notice
of
me
or
my
concerns
.
I
thought
he
had
a
mind
to
banter
me
;
but
,
turning
my
eyes
towards
the
place
which
he
had
indicated
,
to
my
surprise
I
perceived
a
couple
of
half-crowns
lying
there
.
I
am
sure
the
waiter
must
have
seen
how
my
countenance
brightened
up
with
sudden
joy
;
but
he
made
no
remark
;
and
I
paid
my
bill
.
He
then
passed
on
to
the
sallow-faced
man
,
who
settled
his
own
account
,
and
hastily
left
the
room
,
without
condescending
to
cast
another
glance
upon
me
.
"
I
was
at
a
loss
to
make
out
whether
the
sallow-faced
stranger
had
done
a
most
generous
action
,
or
whether
some
one
else
had
dropped
the
money
there
,
and
he
had
really
fancied
it
to
be
mine
.
I
did
not
,
however
,
lose
much
time
in
conjecture
;
but
,
taking
the
whole
affair
for
a
good
omen
,
ordered
another
glass
,
and
then
went
jovially
to
bed
.
I
awoke
early
,
had
some
breakfast
,
and
went
out
to
take
a
stroll
in
the
town
.
I
naturally
directed
my
steps
towards
the
market-place
,
knowing
that
it
was
market-day
,
and
hoping
to
find
a
watch
or
a
purse
in
the
crowd
.
"
Elbowing
my
way
through
the
graziers
,
drovers
,
and
butchers
,
I
got
into
the
middle
of
the
market
,
and
there
a
most
extraordinary
spectacle
met
my
eyes
.
A
man
was
leading
a
woman
along
by
a
halter
,
which
was
tied
round
her
neck
.
At
first
,
I
thought
that
a
public
execution
was
about
to
take
place
;
but
,
seeing
no
gibbet
—
no
police
—
no
sheriffs
—
and
no
clergyman
,
—
and
observing
,
at
a
second
glance
,
that
the
woman
was
giggling
and
laughing
very
much
unlike
a
person
just
going
to
be
hanged
,
I
was
at
a
loss
to
account
for
so
strange
a
sight
.
The
crowd
appeared
to
enjoy
the
fun
—
for
fun
it
evidently
was
—
excessively
;
and
,
at
length
,
I
learnt
that
'
Bob
Fosset
,
the
dog's-meat-man
,
was
about
to
sell
his
wife
to
Will
Wyatt
,
the
costermonger
.
'
And
,
sure
enough
,
such
was
the
fact
.
Bob
Fossett
led
his
wife
—
a
comely-looking
woman
enough
—
to
the
centre
of
the
market
,
and
tied
the
halter
to
a
sheep-pen
.
He
then
mounted
on
the
top
bar
of
the
pen
,
and
shouted
out
:
'
I
hereby
put
up
my
wife
,
Jenny
Fossett
,
to
public
auction
;
and
I
declare
that
she
shall
go
to
the
highest
bidder
.
'
—
'
So
I
will
,
Bob
,
'
cried
the
woman
.
—
'
Hooray
,
Bob
Fossett
,
'
bawled
the
crowd
assembled
;
and
then
there
was
such
laughing
,
and
joking
,
and
sky-larking
,
it
seemed
for
all
the
world
just
like
a
fair
.
Well
,
Will
Wyatt
steps
forward
,
and
exclaims
:
'
I
bid
one
shilling
for
that
woman
.
'
—
'
One
shilling
bid
,
'
said
Bob
Fossett
.
—
'
One
shilling
and
a
pot
of
beer
,
'
cries
some
wag
in
the
crowd
.
—
'
One
shilling
and
a
pot
of
beer
is
bid
,
'
shouts
Fossett
;
'
who
bids
any
more
?
'
—
'
One
shilling
and
a
gallon
of
beer
!
'
bawls
Will
Wyatt
.
—
'
One
shilling
and
a
gallon
of
beer
for
this
woman
!
'
cries
Bob
Fossett
:
'
who
'll
advance
on
that
?
Going
for
one
shilling
and
a
gallon
of
beer
:
going
—
going
,
—
will
no
one
bid
?
—
gone
!
Will
Wyatt
,
my
lad
,
that
woman
's
yours
!
'
So
Will
Wyatt
steps
forward
,
kisses
the
woman
,
takes
off
the
halter
,
and
tacks
her
under
his
arm
as
cozy
as
if
they
'd
just
been
spliced
at
church
.
Then
they
all
three
went
off
to
the
nearest
public-house
,
the
crowds
hooraying
,
and
shouting
,
and
squeaking
,
and
roaring
,
as
they
made
way
for
the
party
to
pass
along
.
I
determined
to
see
the
remainder
of
the
fun
,
and
so
I
followed
them
to
the
public-house
.
"
The
moment
we
entered
the
parlour
,
I
saw
a
person
sitting
in
one
corner
,
whose
face
seemed
more
or
less
familiar
to
me
.
He
was
a
fine
,
tall
,
powerfully-built
man
;
and
his
countenance
was
very
handsome
,
but
so
dark
that
he
appeared
to
be
an
East-Indian
.
But
it
was
the
peculiar
expression
of
the
mouth
,
and
the
piercing
glance
of
the
eyes
,
that
struck
me
.
I
looked
—
and
looked
again
;
and
thought
that
a
slight
smile
curled
the
stranger
's
lips
as
I
surveyed
him
,
although
he
did
not
seem
to
take
any
notice
of
me
,
or
even
to
know
that
I
was
staring
at
him
.
'
Well
,
'
I
thought
to
myself
,
'
if
you
are
not
my
sallow-faced
friend
of
last-sight
,
I
'm
terribly
mistaken
—
that
's
all
;
'
for
I
knew
too
much
of
disguises
myself
to
be
bothered
by
the
difference
of
complexions
.
So
I
went
and
sat
down
close
by
him
;
and
,
having
ordered
something
to
drink
,
at
length
boldly
whispered
to
him
,
'
I
have
seen
you
before
.
'
—
'
Very
likely
,
'
answered
the
man
,
coolly
;
'
but
take
care
of
yourself
,
or
you
may
still
get
into
a
scrape
on
account
of
cousin
George
's
breeches
.
'
With
these
words
he
rose
,
drained
his
glass
,
and
walked
coolly
out
of
the
room
.
"
You
may
imagine
how
astonished
I
was
at
the
ominous
words
which
he
had
whispered
in
my
ear
;
but
,
collecting
my
ideas
,
I
began
to
feel
alarmed
for
my
safety
;
and
,
having
no
longer
any
interest
in
the
party
whom
I
had
followed
into
the
public-house
,
I
abruptly
departed
—
without
partaking
of
,
or
paying
for
,
the
refreshment
which
I
had
ordered
.
Hurrying
away
from
the
place
,
I
got
out
of
the
town
as
quick
as
possible
;
and
,
avoiding
the
main-road
,
struck
into
the
fields
.
"
I
wandered
about
for
two
or
three
days
,
until
all
my
money
was
gone
;
and
I
was
one
afternoon
roaming
along
a
by-lane
,
wondering
what
was
to
become
of
me
,
and
thinking
that
it
would
be
much
better
to
break
into
some
house
,
as
a
last
and
desperate
resource
,
when
I
suddenly
encountered
a
man
and
woman
at
the
turning
of
the
road
.
They
were
dressed
as
poor
country
people
;
but
the
darkness
of
their
complexions
immediately
struck
my
attention
;
and
,
at
a
second
glance
,
I
recognised
in
the
man
the
very
person
who
had
whispered
those
mysterious
words
in
my
ears
,
concerning
cousin
George
's
trousers
,
and
whom
I
could
almost
certainly
identify
with
the
sallow-faced
stranger
.
'
What
,
not
got
rid
of
cousin
George
's
trousers
yet
!
'
he
exclaimed
,
laughing
heartily
;
and
the
woman
,
who
seemed
to
understand
the
joke
,
joined
in
her
companion
's
mirth
.
—
'
Who
are
you
?
'
I
said
,
'
and
how
do
you
happen
to
know
about
that
little
adventure
of
mine
?
'
—
'
You
see
that
I
do
know
all
about
it
'
returned
the
man
,
with
another
laugh
;
'
and
you
may
perhaps
be
surprised
when
I
tell
you
that
I
consider
the
abstraction
of
the
trousers
to
be
even
a
more
pleasant
freak
than
the
personation
of
Tom
Tittlebat
.
—
'
The
deuce
!
'
I
cried
,
now
completely
bewildered
:
'
if
you
are
a
constable
,
say
so
,
and
we
will
have
a
fight
for
it
;
if
not
,
tell
me
who
you
are
,
and
how
you
came
to
be
acquainted
with
my
affairs
.
'
—
'
I
am
certainly
no
constable
,
'
answered
the
man
,
'
or
I
might
have
apprehended
you
some
days
since
on
two
several
occasions
,
and
when
there
would
have
been
no
necessity
to
fight
for
it
.
As
to
how
I
know
any
thing
about
you
,
ask
no
questions
,
because
you
will
receive
no
satisfactory
answers
.
But
if
you
wish
to
earn
a
shilling
or
two
,
say
so
;
and
you
can
do
it
within
an
hour
.
'
—
I
professed
my
willingness
to
serve
this
strange
individual
.
—
'
Come
with
us
,
'
he
said
;
and
,
striking
into
a
narrow
path
,
he
led
the
way
for
about
half-a-mile
across
the
fields
,
until
we
came
in
sight
of
a
large
farm-house
.
'
You
see
that
farm
,
'
he
said
:
'
now
listen
attentively
.
You
must
go
there
,
and
under
any
pretence
you
can
think
of
,
obtain
admission
into
the
kitchen
,
or
get
into
conversation
with
one
of
the
servants
,
so
as
to
glean
all
the
information
you
can
about
the
family
.
There
's
three
daughters
:
find
out
whether
they
are
engaged
to
be
married
,
or
who
the
young
men
are
that
principally
visit
at
the
house
,
and
all
particulars
of
that
kind
.
We
will
wait
for
you
in
yonder
copse
.
'
"
The
stranger
and
his
companion
hastened
away
towards
the
place
where
I
was
to
meet
them
again
,
and
I
proceeded
towards
the
farm
.
It
was
by
no
means
difficult
to
gain
admittance
into
the
kitchen
of
that
hospitable
establishment
:
a
simple
request
for
a
cup
of
milk
led
to
an
invitation
from
a
buxom
cook
and
a
smart
servant-maid
to
walk
in
and
rest
myself
a
little
.
Then
bread
and
cheese
,
and
a
foaming
tankard
of
home-brewed
were
set
before
me
;
and
,
while
I
ate
and
drank
,
I
gradually
drew
the
two
women
into
the
conversation
which
suited
my
purpose
.
They
proclaimed
the
praises
of
'
master
and
missis
;
'
and
told
me
how
the
old
people
were
very
well
off
;
and
how
Miss
Jemima
,
the
eldest
daughter
,
was
engaged
to
a
young
farmer
in
the
neighbourhood
;
how
Miss
Mary
,
the
second
daughter
,
had
been
courted
by
an
officer
in
the
army
who
had
been
quartered
in
the
neighbouring
town
,
but
who
had
since
left
,
and
had
never
written
to
her
afterwards
;
and
how
Miss
Frances
,
the
youngest
,
had
been
very
melancholy
ever
since
she
had
visited
an
aunt
at
Stafford
,
where
it
was
well
known
an
attorney
's
clerk
had
paid
her
very
great
attention
.
These
,
and
various
other
particulars
relative
to
the
family
,
were
related
to
me
in
the
course
of
conversation
;
and
,
having
remained
at
the
farm
for
a
couple
of
hours
,
I
was
about
to
take
my
leave
,
as
well
informed
relative
to
the
inmates
as
if
I
had
lived
with
them
all
my
life
.
But
just
as
I
was
rising
to
depart
,
I
espied
a
purse
lying
in
a
work-box
upon
a
shelf
;
and
I
began
to
reflect
how
I
could
make
it
my
own
.
Accident
served
my
purpose
:
the
cook
insisted
upon
drawing
me
some
more
ale
,
and
went
into
the
cellar
for
that
purpose
;
and
the
maid-servant
stepped
to
the
door
of
the
kitchen
to
receive
a
can
of
milk
which
a
boy
brought
there
at
the
moment
.
To
dart
toward
the
shelf
and
secure
the
purse
was
the
work
of
an
instant
;
and
when
the
maid
turned
towards
me
again
,
I
was
sitting
as
composedly
as
if
I
had
never
left
my
chair
.
The
cook
made
her
appearance
with
the
ale
,
of
which
I
drank
;
and
I
then
took
my
leave
,
with
many
thanks
for
the
kind
entertainment
I
had
received
.
"
I
proceeded
to
the
copse
,
where
I
found
my
strange
employer
and
his
female
companion
waiting
for
me
.
I
told
them
all
that
I
had
gleaned
relative
to
the
farmer
and
his
family
;
and
they
were
highly
delighted
with
the
information
so
procured
.
The
man
gave
me
five
shillings
,
and
told
me
that
he
did
not
require
my
services
any
farther
.
I
was
not
sorry
to
get
away
from
the
neighbourhood
;
and
,
taking
leave
of
the
persons
who
had
employed
me
in
so
singular
a
service
,
pursued
my
way
.
When
at
a
convenient
distance
from
the
spot
where
I
had
left
them
,
I
examined
the
purse
,
and
,
to
my
joy
,
found
that
it
contained
four
sovereigns
and
about
seven
shillings
in
silver
.
"
Considerably
cheered
at
this
change
in
my
pecuniary
position
,
I
pursued
my
way
until
long
after
dusk
,
when
I
entered
a
village
where
I
determined
to
put
up
for
the
night
.
Having
supped
at
a
public-house
,
I
inquired
about
a
bed
,
and
found
that
I
could
be
accommodated
with
one
in
a
double-bedded
room
,
the
other
being
already
retained
by
a
traveller
who
had
arrived
before
me
,
but
who
had
stepped
out
,
I
was
informed
,
to
transact
some
business
with
certain
inhabitants
of
his
acquaintance
.
Being
tired
,
I
went
up
to
the
room
where
I
was
to
sleep
,
before
the
return
of
the
person
who
was
to
occupy
the
other
bed
;
but
before
I
sought
my
own
nest
I
looked
about
for
a
secure
spot
where
I
could
conceal
my
purse
,
as
I
fancied
that
my
companion
might
probably
be
no
more
honest
than
myself
.
I
accordingly
hid
my
treasure
between
the
mattress
and
the
sacking
;
and
,
putting
my
clothes
under
my
pillow
,
lay
down
to
rest
.
I
soon
fell
into
a
deep
sleep
,
from
which
I
did
not
awake
until
aroused
by
the
noise
of
some
one
moving
about
the
room
.
I
started
up
,
and
rubbing
my
eyes
,
asked
what
o'clock
it
was
.
The
person
who
occupied
the
other
bed
was
shaving
himself
at
a
looking-glass
,
with
his
back
turned
towards
me
;
but
the
moment
my
voice
fell
upon
his
ears
,
he
started
round
;
and
—
to
my
horror
—
I
recognised
but
too
well
,
beneath
a
thick
coat
of
lather
,
the
never-to-be-forgotten
countenance
of
cousin
George
.
"
Here
was
a
precious
scrape
!
The
red-faced
man
was
deaf
to
my
prayers
for
mercy
,
and
alarmed
the
whole
house
.
Landlord
,
boots
,
ostler
,
and
pot-boy
rushed
up
stairs
,
while
cousin
George
vociferated
,
'
Fetch
a
constable
!
this
is
the
rogue
who
stole
my
breeches
and
boots
.
Fetch
a
constable
,
I
say
!
Here
's
the
villain
that
imposed
upon
poor
old
blind
Dobbin
.
Fetch
a
constable
!
'
A
constable
was
accordingly
fetched
;
and
I
was
duly
given
into
his
charge
.
While
I
was
huddling
on
my
clothes
,
cousin
George
exclaimed
,
with
savage
malignity
,
'
Ah
!
there
's
the
boots
,
the
scoundrel
!
There
's
the
drab
trousers
,
the
scamp
!
'
and
I
really
believe
he
would
have
wrested
them
from
me
had
it
not
been
necessary
for
me
to
wear
them
in
order
to
accompany
the
constable
.
"
I
did
not
choose
to
drag
forth
my
purse
from
its
place
of
concealment
,
for
fear
it
might
involve
me
in
a
worse
dilemma
than
that
in
which
I
found
myself
,
and
which
,
after
all
,
was
not
particularly
serious
.
I
however
left
it
beneath
the
mattress
,
with
deep
regret
,
and
was
led
away
by
the
constable
,
every
soul
in
the
public-house
turning
out
to
witness
my
departure
.
The
landlord
,
moreover
,
gave
me
a
parting
blessing
after
a
fashion
—
accusing
me
as
a
thief
who
had
run
up
a
score
of
three
shillings
and
seven-pence
halfpenny
at
his
house
,
without
the
slightest
means
of
paying
it
!
To
this
very
natural
conclusion
he
came
,
inasmuch
as
the
constable
,
upon
searching
me
,
had
found
nothing
in
my
pockets
.
"
The
clergyman
of
the
village
was
a
justice
of
the
peace
;
and
before
his
worshipful
reverence
was
I
accordingly
taken
.
He
was
an
elderly
man
,
very
corpulent
and
very
stern
;
and
he
frowned
upon
me
in
a
ferocious
manner
when
I
was
conducted
into
the
library
,
where
he
intended
to
hear
the
case
.
Cousin
George
,
who
had
only
shaved
one
side
of
his
face
,
and
had
a
black
bristly
beard
over
the
other
,
stepped
forward
and
stated
the
entire
case
,
which
comprised
the
theft
of
his
garments
and
the
imposture
practised
upon
his
relative
.
In
the
latter
business
,
however
,
the
magistrate
refused
to
interfere
,
and
confined
his
attention
to
the
abstraction
of
the
trousers
and
boots
.
I
,
of
course
,
set
up
the
usual
defence
,
—
'
Had
never
seen
the
gentleman
before
in
my
life
—
had
bought
the
trousers
and
boots
of
a
man
that
I
met
at
a
public
house
,
and
whose
name
I
did
not
know
;
that
I
was
an
honest
hard-working
young
fellow
,
out
of
employment
;
and
had
never
been
in
trouble
before
.
'
The
magistrate
was
,
however
,
obstinate
,
and
would
not
believe
a
word
I
uttered
.
He
accordingly
ordered
me
to
be
committed
for
trial
at
the
sessions
;
and
I
was
moved
to
an
out-house
,
there
to
wait
in
the
custody
of
the
constable
,
until
my
mittimus
was
made
out
,
and
a
cart
was
obtained
to
take
me
to
the
county
gaol
.
Cousin
George
,
satisfied
with
what
he
had
done
so
far
,
threw
a
glance
of
triumph
upon
me
as
I
was
moved
away
from
the
magistrate
's
library
.
"
While
I
was
pent
up
in
the
out-house
,
I
went
up
to
the
window
and
looked
out
upon
that
open
country
which
seemed
the
scene
of
a
freedom
now
lost
to
me
.
As
I
was
standing
there
,
pondering
on
my
condition
,
and
wondering
whether
the
numerous
burglaries
which
I
had
committed
in
a
neighbourhood
not
very
far
distant
,
would
be
brought
against
me
,
my
attention
was
suddenly
attracted
to
a
number
of
people
who
were
advancing
rapidly
towards
the
house
.
As
they
drew
near
,
to
my
surprise
I
recognised
the
swarthy
stranger
and
his
female
companion
,
both
evidently
in
the
custody
of
two
constables
,
and
followed
by
the
cook
,
maid-servant
,
and
other
persons
belonging
to
the
farm-house
.
An
idea
of
the
real
truth
instantly
flashed
through
my
mind
;
and
I
felt
sorry
—
very
sorry
for
the
two
poor
creatures
who
,
I
had
no
doubt
,
were
suffering
under
a
suspicion
of
the
robbery
which
I
had
perpetrated
.
Moreover
,
I
could
not
help
thinking
that
the
swarthy
man
and
the
sallow-faced
man
were
one
and
the
same
person
,
and
that
the
two
half-crowns
had
been
purposely
thrown
in
my
way
by
him
,
at
the
inn
in
the
market-town
,
to
relieve
me
from
that
embarrassment
into
which
his
keen
eyes
had
penetrated
.
These
reflections
suddenly
filled
me
with
deep
interest
in
the
stranger
and
his
female
companion
.
"
The
procession
passed
the
window
(
from
which
I
drew
back
)
,
and
entered
the
magistrate
's
house
.
Half-an-hour
passed
away
;
and
then
the
clergyman
's
man-servant
made
his
appearance
with
a
jug
of
ale
and
some
bread
and
meat
for
the
constable
who
had
me
in
charge
.
But
nothing
was
given
to
me
,
either
to
eat
or
drink
!
'
There
's
a
new
case
on
in
the
library
,
'
said
the
servant
.
—
'
Ah
!
what
's
that
?
'
inquired
the
constable
.
—
'
Two
gipsies
,
'
was
the
answer
,
'
man
and
woman
,
have
been
prigging
a
purse
down
at
farmer
Clodhopper
's
.
The
purse
belonged
to
a
young
servant
gal
,
and
was
missed
out
of
her
work-box
just
after
the
gipsies
had
left
the
house
last
night
.
But
the
constables
were
put
on
the
scent
,
and
soon
found
the
thieves
.
'
—
'
And
was
the
purse
recovered
?
'
asked
the
officer
who
had
me
in
custody
.
—
'
Deuce
a
bit
of
it
,
'
said
the
servant
,
'
those
gipsies
know
a
trick
worth
two
of
that
.
It
seems
that
they
went
down
to
the
farm
late
last
night
,
and
told
all
the
young
ladies
and
servant
girls
their
fortunes
;
so
they
were
taken
into
the
kitchen
and
fed
with
the
best
,
besides
all
the
money
they
'd
had
given
to
them
by
the
young
ladies
and
the
servants
.
Not
content
with
all
that
,
they
stole
the
purse
,
the
vagabonds
!
'
—
'
No
,
they
did
n't
,
though
!
'
I
exclaimed
,
stepping
forward
;
for
somehow
or
another
my
blood
boiled
and
my
heart
ached
to
think
that
those
two
poor
creatures
should
be
punished
for
a
crime
of
which
they
were
innocent
.
Besides
,
I
made
sure
that
all
my
past
offences
would
be
brought
against
me
at
the
assizes
;
and
I
knew
in
that
case
that
I
should
be
booked
for
transportation
;
so
one
robbery
more
or
less
could
not
make
much
difference
to
me
.
Well
,
both
the
constable
and
the
servant
stared
when
I
spoke
in
that
manner
.
'
Yes
,
'
I
continued
,
'
it
is
perfectly
true
that
those
two
gipsies
are
innocent
of
the
theft
;
and
if
you
will
take
me
before
his
worship
again
,
I
will
prove
my
words
.
'
The
constable
accordingly
conducted
me
back
to
the
library
.
"
The
moment
I
entered
the
room
,
the
gipsy-man
and
his
companion
exhibited
the
greatest
surprise
and
interest
.
I
gave
them
a
re-assuring
glance
;
and
then
,
turning
towards
the
magistrate
,
I
said
,
'
Your
worship
,
these
two
poor
creatures
are
innocent
of
the
crime
imputed
to
them
.
'
—
'
How
do
you
know
?
'
demanded
the
justice
roughly
,
for
his
lunch-time
was
now
drawing
near
.
—
'
Because
I
stole
it
myself
,
'
was
my
answer
.
The
greatest
astonishment
pervaded
the
assembly
;
joy
animated
the
countenance
of
the
two
gipsies
;
while
the
cook
and
maid
servant
cried
out
,
'
Dear
me
!
'
and
'
Who
would
have
thought
it
!
'
as
loud
as
they
could
.
The
justice
looked
tremendous
savage
,
and
declared
that
he
would
order
the
room
to
be
cleared
of
strangers
if
they
interrupted
the
business
in
that
indecent
manner
!
I
was
then
called
upon
to
explain
the
assertion
which
I
had
made
.
—
'
These
two
persons
,
'
I
said
,
pointing
towards
the
gipsies
,
'
are
accused
of
stealing
a
purse
from
farmer
Clodhopper
's
kitchen
?
'
—
'
They
are
.
Well
?
'
—
'
Then
they
did
n't
steal
it
,
because
I
stole
it
myself
;
and
these
servants
can
prove
that
I
was
there
yesterday
afternoon
.
'
—
'
So
he
was
!
'
exclaimed
the
cook
and
maid
in
the
same
breath
.
—
'
And
now
,
'
I
continued
,
'
if
you
will
send
and
search
under
the
mattress
of
the
bed
which
I
slept
in
last
night
at
the
public-house
where
I
was
arrested
,
you
will
find
the
purse
.
'
But
this
trouble
was
avoided
;
for
scarcely
had
I
uttered
these
words
,
when
in
came
the
landlord
of
that
public-house
,
holding
the
purse
in
his
hands
.
His
wife
,
it
appeared
,
had
found
it
when
making
the
beds
;
and
suspicion
instantly
pointed
to
me
as
the
person
who
had
placed
it
in
the
spot
where
it
was
discovered
.
This
circumstance
brought
the
case
safe
home
to
me
;
and
the
gipsies
were
instantly
discharged
,
with
a
warning
to
take
care
of
themselves
in
future
!
"
Nothing
could
exceed
the
looks
of
deep
gratitude
which
those
two
innocent
persons
cast
upon
me
as
they
left
the
room
:
—
but
that
of
the
man
was
significant
of
something
more
than
a
mere
sense
of
obligation
for
the
act
of
duty
which
I
had
done
.
I
do
n't
know
how
it
was
,
too
—
but
,
rogue
as
I
was
,
I
felt
an
inward
satisfaction
at
the
part
which
I
had
just
performed
.
"
I
was
taken
back
to
the
out-house
,
with
another
serious
charge
hanging
over
my
head
;
and
the
cart
was
every
moment
expected
to
convey
me
to
the
county
gaol
.
But
time
slipped
away
,
and
it
did
not
arrive
.
At
length
the
constable
became
impatient
,
and
talked
about
the
impropriety
of
trifling
with
the
time
of
a
public
officer
like
him
,
adding
that
he
did
n't
know
if
he
should
n't
write
to
the
prime
minister
about
it
.
Presently
the
man-servant
came
in
with
some
dinner
for
him
—
but
not
a
bite
nor
a
sup
for
me
!
Neither
did
the
constable
offer
me
any
thing
.
'
Here
's
a
pretty
business
,
'
says
the
servant
;
'
the
man
that
was
to
drive
you
over
to
the
county
gaol
has
got
drunk
somehow
or
other
,
and
ca
n't
go
;
and
the
horse
has
suddenly
gone
dead
lame
.
'
—
'
What
's
to
be
done
,
then
?
'
cried
the
constable
.
—
'
Why
,
you
must
wait
till
the
man
's
sober
,
and
the
veterinary
surgeon
has
looked
to
the
horse
.
'
"
And
sure
enough
we
did
wait
until
eight
o'clock
in
the
evening
before
we
started
;
and
then
no
thanks
to
the
man
nor
the
veterinary
surgeon
,
for
the
former
was
still
too
tipsy
to
move
,
and
the
latter
could
do
nothing
for
the
horse
.
However
,
another
man
came
forward
,
at
a
late
hour
,
and
offered
his
services
.
He
not
only
cured
the
horse
in
a
few
minutes
,
but
also
undertook
to
drive
the
cart
.
The
constable
accordingly
put
a
pair
of
handcuffs
on
me
and
took
me
out
into
the
yard
where
the
vehicle
was
waiting
.
A
man
with
a
sallow
face
and
bushy
red
hair
,
was
already
seated
in
front
,
holding
the
whip
and
reins
;
and
as
I
mounted
he
gave
me
a
look
which
I
immediately
understood
.
That
man
was
no
other
than
my
friend
,
the
swarthy
gipsy
,
so
well
disguised
that
his
own
mother
would
have
scarcely
known
him
.
"
Away
we
went
at
a
rattling
pace
:
it
was
soon
dark
,
and
the
constable
told
the
driver
not
to
go
at
such
a
rate
.
But
he
did
not
obey
the
command
:
on
the
contrary
,
he
whipped
the
horse
the
more
;
and
the
cart
bounded
along
the
road
as
if
it
was
for
wager
.
The
constable
swore
and
prayed
by
turns
:
the
driver
laughed
;
and
presently
the
cart
upset
into
a
dry
ditch
.
'
Run
for
your
liberty
!
'
cried
the
driver
to
me
,
as
he
pulled
me
from
the
ditch
;
and
I
followed
him
across
the
fields
with
a
speed
that
was
increased
by
hearing
the
constable
shouting
'
Stop
,
thief
!
'
behind
me
.
But
in
a
very
few
minutes
those
cries
became
fainter
and
fainter
,
until
they
at
length
ceased
altogether
.
Still
my
deliverer
pursued
his
way
,
and
at
such
a
rate
,
too
,
that
I
was
scarcely
able
to
keep
up
with
him
.
"
At
length
we
stopped
in
a
thicket
,
and
sat
down
to
rest
.
My
deliverer
took
a
file
from
his
pocket
and
worked
away
at
my
manacles
with
such
a
skill
and
energy
,
that
in
a
few
minutes
I
was
relieved
from
them
.
He
then
produced
some
food
,
and
I
made
a
hearty
meal
.
When
the
meal
was
over
,
my
companion
condescended
to
give
me
an
explanation
of
certain
matters
which
had
hitherto
remained
wrapped
up
in
some
degree
of
mystery
.
"
'
You
must
be
informed
,
'
he
said
,
'
that
my
name
is
Morcar
,
and
that
I
am
the
son
of
Zingary
,
king
of
the
gipsies
.
The
female
whom
you
saw
with
me
yesterday
and
this
morning
,
is
my
wife
.
A
considerable
portion
of
the
money
earned
by
our
race
consists
of
fees
paid
by
the
simple
and
credulous
,
for
having
their
fortunes
told
.
In
order
to
obtain
the
necessary
information
relative
to
the
inhabitants
of
those
places
or
dwellings
which
we
visit
,
we
are
compelled
to
assume
many
disguises
,
or
to
make
use
of
the
agency
of
others
,
not
connected
with
us
,
to
gather
that
information
for
us
.
Some
days
ago
,
at
an
early
hour
in
the
morning
,
I
was
loitering
about
in
the
neighbourhood
of
the
Three
Compasses
,
and
from
behind
a
hedge
saw
you
make
off
with
the
boots
and
trousers
which
a
boy
had
been
brushing
in
the
yard
.
Chance
led
me
that
same
afternoon
to
the
village
where
you
played
your
famous
trick
upon
old
Dobbin
;
and
,
as
the
story
spread
like
wild-fire
through
the
place
immediately
after
your
detection
by
cousin
George
,
I
could
not
avoid
hearing
all
the
particulars
.
I
got
a
lift
in
a
cart
from
that
village
to
the
market-town
where
I
met
you
the
same
night
at
the
inn
.
I
could
not
help
admiring
your
boldness
and
ingenuity
;
and
,
while
I
sat
quietly
smoking
my
pipe
in
the
tap-room
,
listening
to
the
discourse
of
the
inmates
,
and
picking
up
a
variety
of
information
,
to
be
turned
to
future
account
,
I
noticed
your
embarrassment
at
the
appearance
of
the
waiter
to
collect
the
money
owing
by
each
individual
.
I
had
made
a
good
day
's
work
in
a
certain
way
,
and
was
disposed
to
be
liberal
:
accordingly
,
at
a
moment
when
you
were
turned
in
another
direction
,
I
placed
the
two
half-crowns
close
by
where
you
sate
on
the
bench
.
Next
day
I
threw
off
what
I
call
my
'
sallow
disguise
'
,
and
repaired
to
another
public-house
,
near
the
market
,
to
glean
additional
information
,
all
of
which
our
women
have
since
turned
to
ample
profit
.
Then
I
was
enabled
to
give
you
a
warning
which
was
really
important
to
you
,
as
old
Dobbin
's
cousin
George
had
actually
arrived
that
morning
in
the
town
to
attend
the
market
.
A
few
days
afterwards
I
was
roving
with
my
wife
along
the
by-lanes
in
the
neighbourhood
of
Clodhopper
's
farm
,
endeavouring
by
some
means
to
glean
what
we
could
concerning
the
young
women
at
that
place
—
for
our
finest
harvests
are
always
reaped
at
farm-houses
.
Again
I
met
you
;
and
I
made
you
the
instrument
of
my
design
.
But
,
'
added
Morcar
,
with
a
smile
,
'
you
went
farther
than
you
were
instructed
:
you
did
a
thing
which
we
never
do
—
I
mean
,
steal
money
.
We
take
for
our
use
a
sucking-pig
,
a
fowl
,
or
a
goose
;
and
we
do
not
consider
that
stealing
.
We
also
snare
rabbits
and
game
;
and
we
look
upon
it
as
no
crime
.
However
,
you
saw
the
scrape
into
which
that
business
of
the
purse
got
me
and
my
wife
this
morning
.
You
saved
us
,
and
I
vowed
to
save
you
also
.
The
moment
I
was
discharged
I
went
to
the
stable
where
the
horse
that
was
to
convey
you
to
gaol
was
kept
,
and
bribed
the
ostler
to
drive
a
nail
into
his
foot
so
as
to
touch
the
flesh
.
Then
I
found
the
man
who
was
to
drive
you
,
and
plied
him
so
well
with
liquor
that
he
was
unable
to
perform
his
duty
.
My
object
was
to
delay
your
journey
until
the
evening
,
because
I
knew
that
I
could
ensure
your
escape
in
the
dark
.
You
have
seen
how
well
my
plans
have
succeeded
,
because
you
are
now
free
.
'
"
You
may
suppose
that
I
thanked
my
kind
deliverer
most
sincerely
for
all
he
had
done
to
serve
me
.
He
,
however
,
cut
me
short
in
my
expressions
of
gratitude
,
by
saying
,
'
What
are
you
going
to
do
?
If
you
will
join
us
,
you
will
be
assured
of
your
daily
food
,
and
will
be
more
or
less
protected
from
danger
.
My
father
has
a
van
,
in
which
you
can
at
any
time
hide
when
concealment
is
necessary
;
and
we
will
do
all
we
can
to
serve
you
,
for
I
still
consider
myself
to
be
indebted
to
you
on
account
of
your
generous
conduct
of
this
morning
.
I
could
have
borne
punishment
myself
;
but
the
idea
of
my
wife
being
plunged
into
such
misery
—
no
,
never
—
never
!
'
"
I
accepted
the
welcome
offers
of
Morcar
,
and
that
very
night
was
conducted
to
the
encampment
where
his
father
and
mother
had
taken
up
their
quarters
.
Eva
presented
her
son
to
me
,
saying
,
'
You
have
preserved
for
this
little
one
a
father
and
mother
:
henceforth
the
Zingarees
will
know
thee
as
a
friend
!
'
From
that
moment
I
have
lived
with
the
gipsies
until
the
present
time
;
and
,
though
some
years
have
passed
away
since
I
first
joined
them
,
I
have
not
yet
become
weary
of
our
wandering
mode
of
existence
.
"
CHAPTER
CXXXIV
.
THE
PALACE
IN
THE
HOLY
LAND
.
THE
wanderer
amidst
the
crowded
thoroughfares
of
the
multitudinous
metropolis
cannot
be
unacquainted
with
that
assemblage
of
densely
populated
streets
and
lanes
which
is
situate
between
High
Street
(
St.
Giles
's
)
and
Great
Russell
Street
(
Bloomsbury
)
.
The
district
alluded
to
is
called
the
Holy
Land
.
There
poverty
hides
its
head
through
shame
,
and
crime
lurks
concealed
through
fear
;
—
there
every
thing
that
is
squalid
,
hideous
,
debauched
,
and
immoral
,
makes
its
dwelling
;
—
there
woman
is
as
far
removed
from
the
angel
as
Satan
is
from
the
Godhead
,
and
man
is
as
closely
allied
to
the
brute
as
the
idiot
is
to
the
baboon
;
—
there
days
are
spent
in
idleness
,
and
nights
in
dissipation
;
—
there
no
refinement
of
habit
or
of
speech
is
known
,
but
male
and
female
alike
wallow
in
obscene
debauchery
and
filthy
ideas
;
—
there
garments
are
patched
with
pieces
of
various
dyes
,
and
language
is
disfigured
with
words
of
a
revolting
slang
;
—
there
the
natural
ruffianism
and
brutal
instincts
of
the
human
heart
are
unrepressed
by
social
ties
or
conventional
decencies
;
—
there
infamy
is
no
disgrace
,
crime
no
reproach
,
vice
no
stain
.
Such
is
the
Holy
Land
.
In
a
dark
and
gloomy
alley
,
connecting
two
of
the
longer
streets
in
this
district
,
stood
a
large
house
four
storeys
high
,
and
with
windows
of
such
narrow
dimensions
that
they
seemed
intended
to
admit
the
light
of
day
only
by
small
instalments
.
Four
steep
stone
steps
,
each
only
about
six
inches
broad
,
led
to
the
front
door
,
which
always
stood
open
during
the
day-time
.
This
front-door
gave
admittance
into
a
small
square
compartment
,
which
was
denominated
"
the
lobby
,
"
and
from
which
a
second
door
opened
into
the
house
.
The
inner
door
just
alluded
to
was
kept
constantly
shut
,
save
when
admittance
was
demanded
by
any
one
who
had
the
right
of
entry
into
the
habitation
.
But
even
that
admittance
was
never
granted
without
precaution
.
In
the
ceiling
of
the
little
hall
or
lobby
described
,
there
was
a
small
trap-door
,
let
into
the
floor
of
the
room
above
;
and
by
these
means
the
sentinel
on
duty
up-stairs
was
enabled
to
reconnoitre
every
one
who
knocked
at
the
inner
door
.
The
interior
of
the
house
resembled
a
small
barrack
.
The
apartments
on
the
ground
floor
were
used
as
day-rooms
or
refectories
,
and
were
fitted
up
with
long
tables
and
forms
.
The
floors
were
strewed
with
sand
;
and
the
appearance
of
the
place
was
more
cleanly
and
comfortable
than
might
have
been
expected
in
such
a
neighbourhood
.
The
lower
panes
of
the
windows
were
smeared
with
a
whitewash
,
which
prevented
passers-by
from
peering
from
the
street
into
the
apartments
.
The
upper
storeys
were
all
used
as
dormitories
,
some
being
allotted
to
the
male
and
others
to
the
female
inmates
of
the
house
.
These
rooms
were
furnished
with
mattresses
,
blankets
,
and
coverlids
;
but
there
were
no
bedsteads
.
The
aspect
of
the
dormitories
was
as
cleanly
as
that
of
the
day-rooms
.
To
the
ceiling
over
the
landing-place
of
the
second
floor
was
hung
a
large
bell
,
to
the
wheel
of
which
were
attached
numerous
ropes
,
which
branched
off
,
through
holes
in
the
walls
and
floors
,
in
all
directions
,
so
that
an
alarm
could
be
rung
from
every
room
in
that
spacious
tenement
.
Behind
the
house
there
was
a
large
yard
,
surrounded
by
the
dead
walls
which
formed
the
sides
of
other
buildings
;
thus
,
in
no
way
,
was
the
dwelling
which
we
have
described
,
overlooked
by
the
neighbours
.
At
the
bottom
of
the
yard
was
a
door
opening
into
a
court
which
communicated
with
another
street
;
and
thus
a
convenient
mode
of
egress
was
secured
to
any
one
who
might
find
it
prudent
to
beat
a
precipitate
retreat
from
the
house
.
We
have
now
endeavoured
to
furnish
the
reader
with
an
idea
of
King
Zingary
's
Palace
in
the
Holy
Land
.
In
order
to
complete
the
description
,
it
only
remains
for
us
to
state
that
the
various
precautions
to
which
we
have
alluded
,
in
connexion
with
the
Palace
,
were
adopted
for
the
protection
and
safety
of
those
inmates
who
,
either
in
the
course
of
their
avocations
or
otherwise
,
might
happen
to
render
themselves
obnoxious
to
the
myrmidons
of
the
law
.
Not
that
the
pursuits
of
the
subjects
of
King
Zingary
necessarily
comprised
practices
which
rendered
their
headquarters
liable
to
constant
visits
from
the
police
:
but
persons
accustomed
to
a
vagabond
kind
of
existence
,
could
not
be
otherwise
than
often
tempted
into
lawless
courses
;
and
his
Majesty
did
not
dare
disown
or
discard
a
dependant
who
thus
became
involved
in
danger
.
Moreover
,
the
protection
of
the
gipsies
was
frequently
accorded
to
persons
who
rendered
them
a
service
,
or
who
could
pay
for
such
succour
,
as
in
the
respective
cases
of
Skilligalee
and
the
Rattlesnake
:
or
it
was
not
unusually
granted
upon
motives
of
humanity
,
as
in
reference
to
the
man
called
the
Traveller
.
This
intercourse
with
characters
of
all
descriptions
was
another
reason
for
the
adoption
of
precautionary
measures
at
the
Palace
;
but
seldom
—
very
seldom
was
it
that
the
necessity
of
those
measures
was
justified
by
events
,
the
police
being
well
aware
that
no
good
ever
resulted
from
a
visit
to
the
royal
mansion
in
the
Holy
Land
.
It
was
ten
o'clock
at
night
;
and
the
king
of
the
gipsies
was
presiding
at
the
banqueting-table
in
his
palace
.
Upwards
of
sixty
gipsies
,
male
and
female
,
were
assembled
round
the
board
.
These
consisted
of
the
chiefs
of
the
different
districts
into
which
the
gipsy
kingdom
was
divided
,
with
their
wives
and
daughters
.
Skilligalee
,
the
Rattlesnake
,
and
the
Traveller
were
also
seated
at
the
table
,
and
were
honoured
as
the
king
's
guests
.
The
meal
was
over
;
and
the
board
was
covered
with
bottles
containing
various
descriptions
of
liquor
,
drinking
mugs
,
pipes
,
and
tobacco
.
With
all
the
solemn
gravity
of
a
chairman
at
a
public
dinner
,
Zingary
rapped
his
knuckles
upon
the
table
,
and
commanded
those
present
to
fill
their
glasses
.
The
order
was
obeyed
by
both
men
and
women
;
and
the
king
then
spoke
as
follows
:
—
"
Most
loyal
and
dutiful
friends
,
this
is
the
hundred
and
thirty-first
anniversary
of
the
institution
of
that
custom
in
virtue
of
which
the
provincial
rulers
of
the
united
races
of
Egyptians
and
Bohemians
in
England
assemble
together
once
every
year
at
the
Palace
.
A
hundred
and
thirty-one
years
ago
,
this
house
was
purchased
by
my
grandfather
King
Sisman
,
and
bequeathed
to
his
descendants
to
serve
as
the
head-quarters
and
central
point
of
our
administration
.
There
is
scarcely
an
individual
of
the
united
races
who
has
not
experienced
the
hospitality
of
this
Palace
.
Every
worthy
Zingaree
who
visits
the
metropolis
enjoys
his
bed
and
his
board
without
fee
and
without
price
for
seven
days
in
our
mansion
,
the
superintendence
of
which
is
so
ably
conducted
,
while
we
are
absent
,
by
our
brother
on
my
right
.
"
Here
the
king
glanced
towards
a
venerable-looking
gipsy
who
sate
next
to
him
.
"
In
his
hands
our
treasures
are
safe
;
and
to-morrow
he
will
place
before
you
an
account
of
the
remittances
he
has
received
from
the
provincial
districts
,
and
the
expenditures
he
has
made
in
the
maintenance
of
this
establishment
.
You
will
find
,
I
have
reason
to
believe
,
a
considerable
balance
in
our
favour
.
Let
us
then
celebrate
with
a
bumper
the
hundred
and
thirty-first
anniversary
of
the
opening
of
our
royal
palace
!
"
This
toast
was
drunk
without
noise
—
without
hurrahs
—
without
clamour
,
—
but
not
the
less
sincerely
on
that
account
.
"
My
pretty
Eva
,
"
said
the
king
,
after
a
pause
,
"
will
now
oblige
us
with
a
song
?
"
Zingary
's
daughter-in-law
did
not
require
to
be
pressed
to
exhibit
her
vocal
powers
;
but
in
a
sweet
voice
she
sang
the
following
air
:
—
THE
GIPSY
'S
HOME
.
Oh
!
who
is
so
blythe
,
and
happy
,
and
free
As
the
ever-wandering
Zingaree
?
'
Tis
his
at
his
own
wild
will
to
roam
;
And
in
each
fair
scene
does
he
find
a
home
,
—
Does
he
find
a
home
!
The
sunny
slope
,
or
the
shady
grove
,
Where
nightingales
sing
and
lovers
rove
;
The
fields
where
the
golden
harvests
wave
,
And
the
verdant
bank
which
the
streamlets
lave
,
Are
by
turns
his
home
.
The
busy
town
with
its
selfish
crowd
,
The
city
where
dwell
the
great
and
proud
,
The
haunts
of
the
mighty
multitude
,
Where
the
strong
are
raised
and
the
weak
subdued
,
Are
to
him
no
home
.
Oh
!
ever
happy
—
and
ever
free
,
Who
is
so
blest
as
the
Zingaree
?
—
Where
nature
puts
on
her
gayest
vest
,
Where
flowers
are
sweetest
and
fruits
are
best
,
Oh
!
there
is
his
home
.
"
Thank
you
,
sweet
Eva
,
"
said
the
king
,
when
the
gipsy
woman
had
concluded
her
song
,
in
the
chorus
of
which
the
other
females
had
joined
in
a
low
and
subdued
tone
.
"
Ours
is
indeed
a
happy
life
,
"
continued
Zingary
.
"
When
roving
over
the
broad
country
,
we
enjoy
a
freedom
unknown
to
the
rest
of
the
world
.
No
impost
or
taxes
have
we
then
to
pay
:
we
drink
of
the
stream
at
pleasure
,
and
never
feel
alarmed
lest
our
water
should
be
cut
off
.
We
can
choose
pleasant
paths
,
and
yet
pay
no
paving-rate
.
The
sun
lights
us
by
day
,
and
the
stars
by
night
;
and
no
one
comes
to
remind
us
that
we
owe
two
quarters
'
gas
.
We
pitch
our
tents
where
we
will
,
but
are
not
afraid
of
a
ground-landlord
.
We
do
not
look
forward
with
fear
and
trembling
to
Lady-day
or
Michaelmas
,
for
the
