Part 5 (1/2)

Having informed him of thus much, Squire Woodc.o.c.k asked him to hold out his right foot.

”What for?” said Israel.

”Why, would you not like to have a pair of new boots against your return?” smiled Home Tooke.

”Oh, yes; no objection at all,” said, Israel.

”Well, then, let the bootmaker measure you,” smiled Horne Tooke.

”Do _you_ do it, Mr. Tooke,” said the Squire; ”you measure men's parts better than I.”

”Hold out your foot, my good friend,” said Horne Tooke--”there--now let's measure your heart.”

”For that, measure me round the chest,” said Israel.

”Just the man we want,” said Mr. Bridges, triumphantly.

”Give him another gla.s.s of wine, Squire,” said Horne Tooke.

Exchanging the farmer's clothes for still another disguise, Israel now set out immediately, on foot, for his destination, having received minute directions as to his road, and arriving in White Waltham on the following morning was very cordially received by the gentleman to whom he carried the letter. This person, another of the active English friends of America, possessed a particular knowledge of late events in that land. To him Israel was indebted for much entertaining information.

After remaining some ten days at this place, word came from Squire Woodc.o.c.k, requiring Israel's immediate return, stating the hour at which he must arrive at the house, namely, two o'clock on the following morning. So, after another night's solitary trudge across the country, the wanderer was welcomed by the same three gentlemen as before, seated in the same room.

”The time has now come,” said Squire Woodc.o.c.k. ”You must start this morning for Paris. Take off your shoes.”

”Am I to steal from here to Paris on my stocking-feet?” said Israel, whose late easy good living at White Waltham had not failed to bring out the good-natured and mirthful part of him, even as his prior experiences had produced, for the most part, something like a contrary result.

”Oh, no,” smiled Horne Tooke, who always lived well, ”we have seven-league-boots for you. Don't you remember my measuring you?”

Hereupon going to the closet, the Squire brought out a pair of new boots. They were fitted with false heels. Uns.c.r.e.w.i.n.g these, the Squire showed Israel the papers concealed beneath. They were of a fine tissuey fibre, and contained much writing in a very small compa.s.s. The boots, it need hardly be said, had been particularly made for the occasion.

”Walk across the room with them,” said the Squire, when Israel had pulled them on.

”He'll surely be discovered,” smiled Horne Tooke. ”Hark how he creaks.”

”Come, come, it's too serious a matter for joking,” said the Squire.

”Now, my fine fellow, be cautious, be sober, be vigilant, and above all things be speedy.”

Being furnished now with all requisite directions, and a supply of money, Israel, taking leave of Mr. Tooke and Mr. Bridges, was secretly conducted down stairs by the Squire, and in five minutes' time was on his way to Charing Cross in London, where taking the post-coach for Dover, he thence went in a packet to Calais, and in fifteen minutes after landing, was being wheeled over French soil towards Paris. He arrived there in safety, and freely declaring himself an American, the peculiarly friendly relations of the two nations at that period, procured him kindly attentions even from strangers.

CHAPTER VII.

AFTER A CURIOUS ADVENTURE UPON THE PONT NEUF, ISRAEL ENTERS THE PRESENCE OF THE RENOWNED SAGE, DR. FRANKLIN, WHOM HE FINDS RIGHT LEARNEDLY AND MULTIFARIOUSLY EMPLOYED.

Following the directions given him at the place where the diligence stopped, Israel was crossing the Pont Neuf, to find Doctor Franklin, when he was suddenly called to by a man standing on one side of the bridge, just under the equestrian statue of Henry IV.

The man had a small, shabby-looking box before him on the ground, with a box of blacking on one side of it, and several shoe-brushes upon the other. Holding another brush in his hand, he politely seconded his verbal invitation by gracefully flouris.h.i.+ng the brush in the air.

”What do you want of me, neighbor?” said Israel, pausing in somewhat uneasy astonishment.