Part 42 (1/2)
”All sham, your honour,” whispered the Corporal.
”Sir,” cried the horseman, now raising his voice, ”I need not have asked if you had been a father--if you had, you would have had compa.s.sion on me ere this,--you would have lent me your own horse.”
”The impudent rogue!” muttered the Corporal.
”Sir,” replied Walter, ”it is not to the tale of every stranger that a man gives belief.”
”Belief!--ah, well, well, 'tis no matter,” said the horseman, sullenly.
”There was a time, man, when I would have forced what I now solicit; but my heart's gone. Ride on, Sir--ride on,--and the curse of--”
”If,” interrupted Walter, irresolutely--”if I could believe your statement:--but no. Mark me, Sir: I have reasons--fearful reasons, for imagining you mean this but as a snare!”
”Ha!” said the horseman, deliberately, ”have we met before?”
”I believe so.”
”And you have had cause to complain of me? It may be--it may be: but were the grave before me, and if one lie would smite me into it, I solemnly swear that I now utter but the naked truth.”
”It would be folly to trust him, Bunting?” said Walter, turning round to his attendant.
”Folly!--sheer madness--bother!”
”If you are the man I take you for,” said Walter, ”you once lifted your voice against the murder, though you a.s.sisted in the robbery of a traveller:--that traveller was myself. I will remember the mercy--I will forget the outrage: and I will not believe that you have devised this tale as a snare. Take my horse, Sir; I will trust you.”
Houseman, for it was he, flung himself instantly from his saddle. ”I don't ask G.o.d to bless you: a blessing in my mouth would be worse than a curse. But you will not repent this: you will not repent it!”
Houseman said these few words with a palpable emotion; and it was more striking on account of the evident coa.r.s.eness and hardened vulgarity of his nature. In a moment more he had mounted Walter's horse, and turning ere he sped on, inquired at what place at Knaresborough the horse should be sent. Walter directed him to the princ.i.p.al inn; and Houseman, waving his hand, and striking his spurs into the animal, wearied as it was, was out of sight in a moment.
”Well, if ever I seed the like!” quoth the Corporal. ”Lira, lira, la, la, la! lira, lara, la, la, la!--augh!--whaugh!--bother!”
”So my good-nature does not please you, Bunting.”
”Oh, Sir, it does not sinnify: we shall have our throats cut--that's all.
”What! you don't believe the story.”
”I? Bless your honour, I am no fool.”
”Bunting!”
”Sir.”
”You forget yourself.”
”Augh!”
”So you don't think I should have lent the horse?”
”Sartainly not.”