westward ho-第74节

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ade　my　Bible；　and　'He　that　meddleth　with　strife　is　like　him　that　taketh　a　dog　by　the　ears。'　So　if　you　choose　to　sit　down　and　ate　your　breakfast　with　me；　well　and　good：　but　depositions　I'll　have　none。　　If　your　man　is　enquired　for；　you'll　be　answerable　for　his　appearing；　in　course；　but　I　expect　mortally〃　（with　a　wink）；　〃you　wain't　hear　much　more　of　the　matter　from　any　hand。　　'Leave　well　alone　is　a　good　rule；　but　leave　ill　alone　is　a　better。'So　we　says　round　about　here；　and　so　you'll　say；　captain；　when　you　be　so　old　as　I。〃

So　Amyas　sat　down　and　ate　his　breakfast；　and　went　on　afterwards　a　long　and　weary　day's　journey；　till　he　saw　at　last　beneath　him　the　broad　shining　river；　and　the　long　bridge；　and　the　white　houses　piled　up　the　hill…side；　and　beyond；　over　Raleigh　downs；　the　dear　old　tower　of　Northam　Church。

Alas！　Northam　was　altogether　a　desert　to　him　then；　and　Bideford；　as　it　turned　out；　hardly　less　so。　　For　when　he　rode　up　to　Sir　Richard's　door；　he　found　that　the　good　knight　was　still　in　Ireland；　and　Lady　Grenville　at　Stow。　　Whereupon　he　rode　back　again　down　the　High　Street　to　that　same　bow…windowed　Ship　Tavern　where　the　Brotherhood　of　the　Rose　made　their　vow；　and　settled　himself　in　the　very　room　where　they　had　supped。

〃Ah！　Mr。　LeighCaptain　Leigh　now；　I　beg　pardon；〃　quoth　mine　host。　〃Bideford　is　an　empty　place　now…a…days；　and　nothing　stirring；　sir。　What　with　Sir　Richard　to　Ireland；　and　Sir　John　to　London；　and　all　the　young　gentlemen　to　the　wars；　there's　no　one　to　buy　good　liquor；　and　no　one　to　court　the　young　ladies；　neither。　　Sack；　sir？　　I　hope　so。　　I　haven't　brewed　a　gallon　of　it　this　fortnight；　if　you'll　believe　me；　ale；　sir；　and　aqua　vitae；　and　such　low…bred　trade；　is　all　I　draw　now…a…days。　　Try　a　pint　of　sherry；　sir；　now；　to　give　you　an　appetite。　　You　mind　my　sherry　of　old？　　Jane！　　Sherry　and　sugar；　quick；　while　I　pull　off　the　captain's　boots。〃

Amyas　sat　weary　and　sad；　while　the　innkeeper　chattered　on。

〃Ah；　sir！　two　or　three　like　you　would　set　the　young　ladies　all　alive　again。　　By…the…by；　there's　been　strange　doings　among　them　since　you　were　here　last。　　You　mind　Mistress　Salterne！〃

〃For　God's　sake；　don't　let　us　have　that　story；　man！　　I　heard　enough　of　it　at　Plymouth！〃　said　Amyas；　in　so　disturbed　a　tone　that　mine　host　looked　up；　and　said　to　himself

〃Ah；　poor　young　gentleman；　he's　one　of　the　hard…hit　ones。〃

〃How　is　the　old　man？〃　asked　Amyas；　after　a　pause。

〃Bears　it　well　enough；　sir；　but　a　changed　man。　　Never　speaks　to　a　soul；　if　he　can　help　it。　　Some　folk　say　he's　not　right　in　his　head；　or　turned　miser；　or　somewhat；　and　takes　naught　but　bread　and　water；　and　sits　up　all　night　in　the　room　as　was　hers；　turning　over　her　garments。　　Heaven　knows　what's　on　his　mindthey　do　say　he　was　over　hard　on　her；　and　that　drove　her　to　it。　　All　I　know　is；　he　has　never　been　in　here　for　a　drop　of　liquor　（and　he　came　as　regular　every　evening　as　the　town　clock；　sir）　since　she　went；　except　a　ten　days　ago；　and　then　he　met　young　Mr。　Cary　at　the　door；　and　I　heard　him　ask　Mr。　Cary　when　you　would　be　home；　sir。〃

〃Put　on　my　boots　again。　　I'll　go　and　see　him。〃

〃Bless　you；　sir！　　What；　without　your　sack？〃

〃Drink　it　yourself；　man。〃

〃But　you　wouldn't　go　out　again　this　time　o'　night　on　an　empty　stomach；　now？〃

〃Fill　my　men's　stomachs　for　them；　and　never　mind　mine。　　It's　market…day；　is　it　not？　　Send　out；　and　see　whether　Mr。　Cary　is　still　in　town；〃　and　Amyas　strode　out；　and　along　the　quay　to　Bridgeland　Street；　and　knocked　at　Mr。　Salterne's　door。

Salterne　himself　opened　it；　with　his　usual　stern　courtesy。

〃I　saw　you　coming　up　the　street；　sir。　　I　have　been　expecting　this　honor　from　you　for　some　time　past。　　I　dreamt　of　you　only　last　night；　and　many　a　night　before　that　too。　　Welcome；　sir；　into　a　lonely　house。　　I　trust　the　good　knight　your　general　is　well。〃

〃The　good　knight　my　general　is　with　God　who　made　him；　Mr。　Salterne。〃

〃Dead；　sir？〃

〃Foundered　at　sea　on　our　way　home；　and　the　Delight　lost　too。〃

〃Humph！〃　growled　Salterne；　after　a　minute's　silence。　　〃I　had　a　venture　in　her。　　I　suppose　it's　gone。　　No　matterI　can　afford　it；　sir；　and　more；　I　trust。　　And　he　was　three　years　younger　than　I！　And　Draper　Heard　was　buried　yesterday；　five　years　younger。How　is　it　that　every　one　can　die；　except　me？　　Come　in；　sir；　come　in；　I　have　forgotten　my　manners。

And　he　led　Amyas　into　his　parlor；　and　called　to　the　apprentices　to　run　one　way；　and　to　the　cook　to　run　another。

〃You　must　not　trouble　yourself　to　get　me　supper；　indeed。〃

〃I　must　though；　sir；　and　the　best　of　wine　too；　and　old　Salterne　had　a　good　tap　of　Alicant　in　old　time；　old　time；　old　time；　sir！　and　you　must　drink　it　now；　whether　he　does　or　not！〃　and　out　he　bustled。

Amyas　sat　still；　wondering　what　was　coming　next；　and　puzzled　at　the　sudden　hilarity　of　the　man；　as　well　as　his　hospitality；　so　different　from　what　the　innkeeper　had　led　him　to　expect。

In　a　minute　more　one　of　the　apprentices　came　in　to　lay　the　cloth；　and　Amyas　questioned　him　about　his　master。

〃Thank　the　Lord　that　you　are　come；　sir；〃　said　the　lad。

〃Why；　then？〃

〃Because　there'll　be　a　chance　of　us　poor　fellows　getting　a　little　broken　meat。　　We'm　half…starved　this　three　monthsbread　and　dripping；　bread　and　dripping；　oh　dear；　sir！　　And　now　he's　sent　out　to　the　inn　for　chickens；　and　game；　and　salads；　and　all　that　money　can　buy；　and　down　in　the　cellar　haling　out　the　best　of　wine。〃And　the　lad　smacked　his　lips　audibly　at　the　thought。

〃Is　he　out　of　his　mind？〃

〃I　can't　tell；　he　saith　as　how　he　must　save　mun's　money　now…a…days；　for　he've　a　got　a　great　venture　on　hand：　but　what　a　be　he　tell'th　no　man。　　They　call'th　mun　'bread　and　dripping'　now；　sir；　all　town　over；〃　said　the　prentice；　confidentially；　to　Amyas。

〃They　do；　do　they；　sirrah！　　Then　they　will　call　me　bread　and　no　dripping　to…morrow！〃　and　old　Salterne；　entering　from　behind；　made　a　dash　at　the　poor　fellow's　ears：　but　luckily　thought　better　of　it；　having　a　couple　of　bottles　in　each　hand。

〃My　dear　sir；〃　said　Amyas；　〃you　don't　mean　us　to　drink　all　that　wine？〃

〃Why　not；　sir？〃　answered　Salterne；　in　a　grim；　half…sneering　tone；　thrusting　out　his　square…grizzled　beard　and　chin。　　〃Why　not；　sir？　why　should　I　not　make　merry　when　I　have　the　honor　of　a　noble　captain　in　my　house？　one　who　has　sailed　the　seas；　sir；　and　cut　Spaniards'　throats；　and　may　cut　them　again　too；　eh；　sir？　　Boy；　where's　the　kettle　and　the　sugar？〃

〃What　on　earth　is　the　man　at？〃　quoth　Amyas　to　himself'flattering　me；　or　laughing　at　me？〃

〃Yes；〃　he　ran　on；　half　to　himself；　in　a　deliberate　tone；　evidently　intending　to　hint　more　than　he　said；　as　he　began　brewing　the　sack　in　plain　English；　hot　negus；　〃Yes；　bread　and　dripping　for　those　who　can't　fight　Spaniards；　but　the　best　that　money　can　buy　for　those　who　can。　　I　heard　of　you　at　Smerwick；　sirYes；　bread　and　dripping　for　me　tooI　can't　fight　Spaniards：　but　for　such　as　you。　　Look　here；　sir；　I　should　like　to　feed　a　crew　of　such　up；　as　you'd　feed　a　main　of　fighting…cocks；　and　then　start　them　with　a　pair　of　Sheffield　spurs　a…pieceyou've　a　good　one　there　to　your　side；　sir：　but　don't　you　think　a　man　might　carry　two　now；　and　fight　as　they　say　those　Chineses　do；　a　sword　to　each　hand？　　You　could　kill　more　that　way；　Captain　Leigh；　I　reckon？〃

Amyas　half　laughed。

〃One　will　do；　Mr。　Salterne；　if　one　is　quick　enough　with　it。〃

〃Humph！AhNo　use　being　in　a　hurry。　　I　haven't　been　in　a　hurry。　NoI　waited　for　you；　and　here　you　are　and　welcome；　sir！　　Here　comes　supper；　a　light　matter；　sir；　you　see。　　A　capon　and　a　brace　of　partridges。　　I　had　no　time　to　feast　you　as　you　deserve。〃

And　so　he　ran　on　all　supper…time；　hardly　allowing　Amyas　to　get　a　word　in　edge…ways；　but　heaping　him　with　coarse　flattery；　and　urging　him　to　drink；　till　after　the　cloth　was　drawn；　and　the　two　left　alone；　he　grew　so　outrageous　that　Amyas　was　forced　to　take　him　to　task　good…humoredly。

〃Now；　my　dear　sir；　you　have　feasted　me　royally；　and　better　far　than　I　deserve；　but　why　will　you　go　about　to　make　me　drunk　twice　over；　first　with　vainglory　and　then　with　wine？〃

Salterne　looked　at　him　a　while　fixedly；　and　then；　sticking　out　his　chin〃Because；　Captain　Leigh；　I　am　a　man　who　has　all　his　life　tried　the　crooked　road　first；　and　found　the　straight　one　the　safer　after　all。〃

〃Eh；　sir？　　That　is　a　strange　speech　for　one　who　bears　the　character　of　the　most　upright　man　in　Bideford。〃

〃Humph。　　So　I　thought　myself　once；　sir；　and　well　I　have　proved　it。　But　I'll　be　plain　with　you；　sir。　　You've　heard　howhow　I've　fared　since　you　saw　me　last？〃

Amyas　nodded　his　head。

〃I　thought　so。　　Shame　rides　post。　　Now　then；　Captain　Leigh；　listen　to　me。　　I；　being　a　plain　man　and　a　burgher；　and　one　that　never　drew　iron　in　my　life　except　to　mend　a　pen；　ask　you；　being　a　gentleman　and　a　captain　and　a　man　of　honor；　with　a　weapon　to　your　side；　and　harness　to　your　backwhat　would　you　do　in　my　place？〃

〃Humph！〃　said　Amyas；　〃that　would　very　much　depend　on　whether　'my　place'　was　my　own　fault　or　not。〃

〃And　what　if　it　were；　sir？　　What　if　all　that　the　charitable　folks　of　Bideford（Heaven　reward　them　for　their　tender　mercies！）have　been　telling　you　in　the　last　hour　be　true；　sir；true！　and　yet　not　half　the　truth？〃

Amyas　gave　a　start。

〃Ah；　you　shrink　from　me！　　Of　course　a　man　is　too　righteous　to　forgive　those　who　rep