Part 17 (1/2)
”Why here you shall see one.”
”They are quacksalvers, Fellows that live by venting oils and drugs.”
VOLPONE.
The council had been summoned to meet on the morning following that of the incidents related in the last chapter, and the members were now accordingly a.s.sembling, soon after breakfast, at the Proprietary mansion. The arrival of one or two gentlemen on horseback with their servants, added somewhat to the bustle of the stable yard, which was already the scene of that kind of busy idleness and lounging occupation so agreeable to the menials of a large establishment. Here, in one quarter, a few noisy grooms were collected around the watering troughs, administering the discipline of the curry-comb or the wash bucket to some half score of horses. In a corner of the yard d.i.c.k Pagan the courier and w.i.l.l.y o' the Flats, with the zeal of amateur vagrants, were striving to cozen each other out of their coppers at the old game of Cross and Pile; whilst, in an opposite direction, Derrick was exhibiting to a group of spectators, amongst whom the young heir apparent was a prominent personage, a new set of hawk bells just brought by the Olive Branch from Dort, and lecturing, with a learned gravity, upon their qualities, to the infinite edification and delight of his youthful pupil. Slouching fox hounds, thick-lipped mastiffs and wire-haired terriers mingled indiscriminately amongst these groups, as if confident of that favouritism which is the universal privilege of the canine race amongst good tempered persons and contented idlers all the world over. Whilst the inhabitants of the yard were engrossed with these occupations, a trumpet was heard at a distance in the direction of the town. The blast came so feebly upon the ear as, at first, to pa.s.s unregarded, but being repeated at short intervals, and at every repet.i.tion growing louder, it soon arrested the general attention, and caused an inquiry from all quarters into the meaning of so unusual an incident.
”Fore G.o.d, I think that there be an alarm of Indians in the town!”
exclaimed the falconer as he spread his hand behind his ear and listened for some moments, with a solemn and portentous visage. ”Look to it, lads--there may be harm afoot. Put up thy halfpence, d.i.c.k Pagan, and run forward to seek out the cause of this trumpeting. I will wager it means mischief, masters.”
”Indians!” said w.i.l.l.y; ”Derrick's five wits have gone on a fool's errand ever since the murder of that family at the Zachaiah fort by the salvages. If the Indians were coming you should hear three guns from Master Randolph Brandt's look-out on the Notley road. It is more likely there may be trouble at the gaol with the townspeople, for there was a whisper afloat yesterday concerning a rescue of the prisoners. Troth, the fellow has a l.u.s.ty breath who blows that trumpet!”
”Ay, and the trumpet,” said Derrick, ”is not made to dance with, masters: there is war and throat-cutting in it, or I am no true man.”
During this short exchange of conjectures, d.i.c.k Pagan had hastened to the gate which opened towards the town, and mounting the post, for the sake of a more extensive view, soon discerned the object of alarm, when, turning towards his companions, he shouted,
”Wounds,--but here's a sight! Pike and musket, belt and saddle, boys!
To it quickly;--you shall have rare work anon. Wake up the ban dogs of the fort and get into your harness. Here comes the Dutch Doctor with his trumpeter as fierce as the Dragon of Wantley. Buckle to and stand your ground!”
”Ho, ho!” roared the fiddler with an impudent, swaggering laugh.
”Here's a pretty upshot to your valours! Much cry and little wool, like the Devil's hog-shearing at Christmas. You dullards, couldn't I have told you it was the Dutch Doctor,--if your fright had left you but a handful of sense to ask a question? Didn't I see both him and his trumpeter last night at the Crow and Archer, with all their jin-gumbobs in a pair of panniers? Oh, but he is a rare Doctor, and makes such cures, I warrant you, as have never been seen, known or heard of since the days of St. Byno, who built up his own serving man again, sound as a pipkin, after the wild beasts had him for supper.”
The trumpet now sent forth a blast which terminated in a long flourish, indicating the approach of the party to the verge within which it might not be allowable to continue such a clamour; and in a few moments afterwards the Doctor with his attendant entered the stable yard. He was a little, sharp-featured, portly man, of a brown, dry complexion, in white periwig, cream-coloured coat, and scarlet small clothes: of a brisk gait, and consequential air, which was heightened by the pompous gesture with which he swayed a gold-mounted cane full as tall as himself. His attendant, a bluff, burly, red-eyed man, with a singularly stolid countenance, tricked out in a grotesque costume, of which a short cloak, steeple-crowned hat and feather, and enormous nether garments, all of striking colours, were the most notable components, bore a bra.s.s trumpet suspended on one side, and a box of no inconsiderable dimensions in front of his person; and thus furnished, followed close at the heels of the important individual whose coming had been so authentically announced.
No sooner had the Doctor got fairly within the gate than he was met by Derrick Brown, who, being the most authoritative personage in the yard, took upon himself the office of giving the stranger welcome.
”Frents, how do you do?” was the Doctor's accost in a strong, Low Dutch method of p.r.o.nouncing English. ”I pelieve dis is not de gate I should have entered to see his Lords.h.i.+p de Lord Proprietary,” he added, looking about him with some surprise to find where he was.
”If it was my Lord you came to see,” said the falconer, ”you should have turned to your right, and gone by the road which leads to the front of the house. But the way you have come is no whit the longer: we can take you through, Master Doctor, by the back door.”
”Vell, vell, dere is noding lost by peing acquainted at once wid de people of de house,” replied the man of medicine; ”dere is luck to make your first entrance by de pack door, as de old saying is. I vas summoned dis morning to appear before de council, py my Lord's order; and so, I thought I might trive a little pusiness, at de same time, wid de family.”
”I told you all,” said w.i.l.l.y, with an air of self-importance at his own penetration, ”that this was a rare doctor. The council hath sent for him! my Lord hath made it a state matter to see him. It isn't every doctor that comes before the wors.h.i.+pful council, I trow. Give him welcome, boys, doff your beavers.”
At this command several of the domestics touched their hats, with a gesture partly in earnest and partly in sport, as if expecting some diversion to follow.
”No capping to me, my frents!” exclaimed the Doctor, with a bow, greatly pleased at these tokens of respect; ”no capping to me! Pusiness is pusiness, and ven I come to sell you tings dat shall do you goot, I tank you for your custom and your money, widout asking you to touch your cap.”
”There is sense in that,” said John Alward; ”and since you come to trade in the yard, Doctor, you can show us your wares. There is a penny to be picked up here.”
”Open your box, Doctor; bring out your pennyworths; show us the inside!” demanded several voices at once.
”Ha, ha!” exclaimed the vender of drugs, ”you are wise, goot frents; you know somewhat! You would have a peep at my aurum potabiles in dat little casket--my multum in parvo? Yes, you shall see, and you shall hear what you have never seen pefore, and shall not in your long lives again.”
”Have you e'er a good cleansing purge for a moulting hawk?” inquired Derrick Brown, whilst the doctor was unlocking the box.
”Or a nostrum that shall be sure work on a horse with a farcy?” asked one of the grooms.
”Hast thou an elixir that shall expel a lumbago?” demanded John Alward: all three speaking at the same instant.