the path of the king-第37节

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s。　The　rotundity　of　the　Hanoverian　and　the　lean　darkness　of　the　Stuart　were　one　to　him。　Both　could　reward　an　adroit　servant。　。　。　。　　His　vanity；　terribly　starved　and　cribbed　in　his　normal　existence；　now　blossomed　like　a　flower。　His　muddled　head　was　fairly　ravished　with　delectable　pictures。　He　seemed　to　be　set　at　a　great　height　above　mundane　troubles；　and　to　look　down　on　men　like　a　benignant　God。　His　soul　glowed　with　a　happy　warmth。

But　somewhere　he　was　devilish　cold。　His　wretched　body　was　beginning　to　cry　out　with　discomfort。　A　loop　of　his　hat　was　broken　and　the　loose　flap　was　a　conduit　for　the　rain　down　his　back。　His　old　ridingcoat　was　like　a　dish…clout；　and　he　felt　icy　about　the　middle。　Separate　streams　of　water　entered　the　tops　of　his　ridingbootsthey　were　a　borrowed　pair　and　too　big　for　himand　his　feet　were　in　puddles。　It　was　only　by　degrees　that　he　realised　this　misery。　Then　in　the　boggy　track　his　horse　began　to　stumble。　The　fourth　or　fifth　peck　woke　irritation；　and　he　jerked　savagely　at　the　bridle；　and　struck　the　beast's　dripping　flanks　with　his　whip。　The　result　was　a　jib　and　a　flounder；　and　the　shock　squeezed　out　the　water　from　his　garments　as　from　a　sponge。　Mr。　Lovel　descended　from　the　heights　of　fancy　to　prosaic　fact；　and　cursed。

The　dregs　of　strong　drink　were　still　in　him；　and　so　soon　as　exhilaration　ebbed　they　gave　edge　to　his　natural　fears。　He　perceived　that　it　had　grown　very　dark　and　lonely。　The　rain；　falling　sheer；　seemed　to　shut　him　into　a　queer　wintry　world。　All　around　the　land　echoed　with　the　steady　drum　of　it；　and　the　rumour　of　swollen　runnels。　A　wild　bird　wailed　out　of　the　mist　and　startled　Mr。　Lovel　like　a　ghost。　He　heard　the　sound　of　men　talking　and　drew　rein；　it　was　only　a　larger　burn　foaming　by　the　wayside。　The　sky　was　black　above　him；　yet　a　faint　grey　light　seemed　to　linger；　for　water　glimmered　and　he　passed　what　seemed　to　be　the　edge　of　a　loch。　。　。　。　　At　another　time　the　London…bred　citizen　would　have　been　only　peevish；　for　Heaven　knew　he　had　faced　ill　weather　before　in　ill　places。　But　the　fiery　stuff　he　had　swallowed　had　woke　a　feverish　fancy。　Exaltation　suddenly　changed　to　foreboding。

He　halted　and　listened。　Nothing　but　the　noise　of　the　weather；　and　the　night　dark　around　him　like　a　shell。　For　a　moment　he　fancied　he　caught　the　sound　of　horses；　but　it　was　not　repeated。　Where　did　this　accursed　track　mean　to　lead　him？　Long　ago　he　should　have　been　in　the　valley　and　nearing　Brampton。　He　was　as　wet　as　if　he　had　wallowed　in　a　pool；　cold；　and　very　weary。　A　sudden　disgust　at　his　condition　drove　away　his　fears　and　he　swore　lustily　at　fortune。　He　longed　for　the　warmth　and　the　smells　of　his　favourite　hauntsGilpin's　with　oysters　frizzling　in　a　dozen　pans；　and　noble　odours　stealing　from　the　tap…room；　the　Green　Man　with　its　tripe…suppers；　Wanless's　Coffee　House；　noted　for　its　cuts　of　beef　and　its　white　puddings。　He　would　give　much　to　be　in　a　chair　by　one　of　those　hearths　and　in　the　thick　of　that　blowsy　fragrance。　Now　his　nostrils　were　filled　with　rain　and　bog　water　and　a　sodden　world。　It　smelt　sour；　like　stale　beer　in　a　mouldy　cellar。　And　cold！　He　crushed　down　his　hat　on　his　head　and　precipitated　a　new　deluge。

A　bird　skirled　again　in　his　ear；　and　his　fright　returned。　He　felt　small　and　alone　in　a　vast　inhospitable　universe。　And　mingled　with　it　all　was　self…pity；　for　drink　had　made　him　maudlin。　He　wanted　so　littleonly　a　modest　comfort；　a　little　ease。　He　had　forgotten　that　half　an　hour　before　he　had　been　figuring　in　princes'　cabinets。　He　would　give　up　this　business　and　be　quit　of　danger　and　the　high　road。　The　Duke　must　give　him　a　reasonable　reward；　and　with　it　he　and　his　child　might　dwell　happily　in　some　country　place。　He　remembered　a　cottage　at　Guildford　all　hung　with　roses。　。　。　。　But　the　Duke　was　reputed　a　miserly　patron；　and　at　the　thought　Mr。　Lovel's　eyes　overflowed。　There　was　that　damned　bird　again；　wailing　like　a　lost　soul。　The　eeriness　of　it　struck　a　chill　to　his　heart；　so　that　if　he　had　been　able　to　think　of　any　refuge　he　would　have　set　spurs　to　his　horse　and　galloped　for　it　in　blind　terror。　He　was　in　the　mood　in　which　men　compose　poetry；　for　he　felt　himself　a　midget　in　the　grip　of　immensities。　He　knew　no　poetry；　save　a　few　tavern　songs；　but　in　his　youth　he　had　had　the　Scriptures　drubbed　into　him。　He　remembered　ill…omened　texts　one　especially　about　wandering　through　dry　places　seeking　rest。　Would　to　Heaven　he　were　in　a　dry　place　now！　。　。　。

The　horse　sprang　aside　and　nearly　threw　him。　It　had　blundered　against　the　stone　pillar　of　a　gateway。　It　was　now　clear　even　to　Mr。　Lovel's　confused　wits　that　he　was　lost。　This　might　be　the　road　to　Tophet；　but　it　was　no　road　to　Brampton。　He　felt　with　numbed　hands　the　face　of　the　gateposts。　Here　was　an　entrance　to　some　dwelling；　and　it　stood　open。　The　path　led　through　it；　and　if　he　left　the　path　he　would　without　doubt　perish　in　a　bog…hole。　In　his　desolation　he　longed　for　a　human　face。　He　might　find　a　good　fellow　who　would　house　him；　at　the　worst　he　would　get　direction　about　the　road。　So　he　passed　the　gateway　and　entered　an　avenue。

It　ran　between　trees　which　took　the　force　of　the　downpour；　so　that　it　seemed　a　very　sanctuary　after　the　open　moor。　His　spirits　lightened。　The　infernal　birds　had　stopped　crying；　but　again　he　heard　the　thud　of　hooves。　That　was　right；　and　proved　the　place　was　tenanted。　Presently　he　turned　a　corner　and　faced　a　light　which　shone　through　the　wet；　rayed　like　a　heraldic　star。

The　sight　gave　him　confidence；　for　it　brought　him　back　to　a　familiar　world。　He　rode　straight　to　it；　crossing　a　patch　of　rough　turf；　where　a　fallen　log　all　but　brought　him　down。　As　he　neared　it　the　light　grew　till　he　saw　its　cause。　He　stood　before　the　main　door　of　a　house　and　it　was　wide　open。　A　great　lantern；　hung　from　a　beam　just　inside；　showed　a　doorway　of　some　size　and　magnificence。　And　below　it　stood　a　servant；　an　old　man；　who　at　the　sight　of　the　stranger　advanced　to　hold　his　stirrup。

〃Welcome；　my　lord；〃　said　the　man。　〃All　is　ready　for　you。〃

The　last　hour　had　partially　sobered　the　traveller；　but；　having　now　come　safe　to　port；　his　drunkenness　revived。　He　saw　nothing　odd　in　the　open　door　or　the　servant's　greeting。　As　he　scrambled　to　the　ground　he　was　back　in　his　first　exhilaration。　〃My　lord！〃　Well；　why　not？　This　was　an　honest　man　who　knew　quality　when　he　met　it。

Humming　a　tune　and　making　a　chain　of　little　pools　on　the　stone　flags　of　the　hall；　Mr。　Lovel　followed　his　guide；　who　bore　his　shabby　valise；　another　servant　having　led　away　the　horse。　The　hall　was　dim　with　flickering　shadows　cast　by　the　lamp　in　the　doorway；　and　smelt　raw　and　cold　as　if　the　house　had　been　little　dwelt　in。　Beyond　it　was　a　stone　passage　where　a　second　lamp　burned　and　lit　up　a　forest　of　monstrous　deer　horns　on　the　wall。　The　butler　flung　open　a　door。

〃I　trust　your　lordship　will　approve　the　preparations；〃　he　said。　〃Supper　awaits　you；　and　when　you　have　done　I　will　show　you　your　chamber。　There　are　dry　shoes　by　the　hearth。〃　He　took　from　the　traveller　his　sopping　overcoat　and　drew　from　his　legs　the　pulpy　riding…boots。　With　a　bow　which　might　have　graced　a　court　he　closed　the　door；　leaving　Mr。　Lovel　alone　to　his　entertainment。

It　was　a　small　square　room　panelled　to　the　ceiling　in　dark　oak；　and　lit　by　a　curious　magnificence　of　candles。　They　burned　in　sconces　on　the　walls　and　in　tall　candlesticks　on　the　table；　while　a　log　fire　on　the　great　stone　hearth　so　added　to　the　glow　that　the　place　was　as　bright　as　day。　The　windows　were　heavily　shuttered　and　curtained；　and　in　the　far　corner　was　a　second　door。　On　the　polished　table　food　had　been　laida　noble　ham；　two　virgin　pies；　a　dish　of　fruits；　and　a　group　of　shining　decanters。　To　one　coming　out　of　the　wild　night　it　was　a　transformation　like　a　dream；　but　Mr。　Lovel；　half　drunk；　accepted　it　as　no　more　than　his　due。　His　feather　brain　had　been　fired　by　the　butler's　〃my　lord；〃　and　he　did　not　puzzle　his　head　with　questions。　From　a　slim　bottle　he　filled　himself　a　glass　of　brandy；　but　on　second　thoughts　set　it　down　untasted。　He　would　sample　the　wine　first　and　top　off　with　the　spirit。　Meantime　he　would　get　warm。

He　stripped　off　his　coat；　which　was　dampish；　and　revealed　a　dirty　shirt　and　the　dilapidated　tops　of　his　small　clothes。　His　stockings　were　torn　and　soaking；　so　he　took　them　off；　and　stuck　his　naked　feet　into　the　furred　slippers　which　stood　waiting　by　the　hearth。　Then　he　sat　himself　in　a　great　brocaded　arm…chair　and　luxuriously　stretched　his　legs　to　the　blaze。

But　his　head　was　too　much　afire　to　sit　still。　The　comfort　soaked　into　his　being　through　every　nerve　and　excited　rather　than　soothed　him。　He　did　not　want　to　sleep　now；　though　little　before　he　had　been　crushed　by　weariness。　。　。　。　　There　was　a　mirror　beside　the　fireplace；　the　glass　painted　at　the　edge　with　slender　flowers　and　cupids　in　the　Caroline　fashion。　He　saw　his　reflection　and　it　pleased　him。　The　long　face　with　the　pointed　chin；　the　deep…set　dark　eyes；　the　skin　brown　with　weatherhe　seemed　to　detect　a　resemblance　to　Wharton。　Or　was　it　Beaufort？　Anyhow；　now　that　the　shabby　coat　was　off；　he　might　well　be　a　great　man　in　undress。　〃My　lord！〃　Why　not？　His　father　had　always　told　him　he　came　of　an　old　high　family。　Kings；　he　had　saidof　France；　or　somewhere　。　。　。　A　gold　ring　he　wore　on　his　left　hand　slipped　from　h