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the rest of my days。 In the end； however； I did not do so； partly
because I shrank from new faces and surroundings； and partly because I
was sure that such would not have been my uncle's wish。
Instead I set myself to play and outpass his game。 He had died very
rich； I determined that I would die five or ten times richer； the
richest man in England if I could； not because I cared for money； of
which indeed I spent but little upon myself； but because the getting
of it and the power that it brought； seemed to me the highest kind of
sport。 So bending my mind to the matter I doubled and trebled his
enterprises on this line and on that； and won and won again； for even
where skill and foresight failed； Fortune stood my friend with a such
strange persistence that at length I became superstitious and grew
frightened of her gifts。 Also I took pains to hide my great riches
from the public eye； placing much of them in the names of others whom
I could trust； and living most modestly in the same old house； lest I
should become a man envied by the hungry and marked for plunder by the
spendthrift great。
It was during the summer following my uncle's death that I went to the
wharves to see to the unloading of a ship that came in from Venice；
bearing many goods from the East on my account； such as ivory； silks；
spices； glass； carpets； and I know not what。 Having finished my
business and seen these precious things warehoused； I handed over the
checking of a list of them to another and turned to seek my horse。
Then it was that I saw a number of half…grown lads and other idlers
mobbing a man who stood among them wrapped in a robe of what looked
like tattered sheepskin； yet was not because the wool on it was of a
reddish hue and very long and soft； which robe was thrown over his
head hiding his face。 At this mana tall figure who stood there
patiently like a martyr at the stakethese lewd fellows were hurling
offal； such as fishes' heads and rotted fruits that lay in plenty on
the quay； together with coarse words。 〃Blackamoor〃 was one I caught。
Such sights were common enough； but there was a quiet dignity of
bearing about this victim which moved me； so that I went to the rabble
commanding them to desist。 One of them； a rough bumpkin； not knowing
who I was； pushed me aside； bidding me mind my own business；
whereupon； being very strong； I dealt him such a blow between the eyes
that he went down like a felled ox and lay there half stunned。 His
companions beginning to threaten me； I blew upon my whistle； whereon
two of my serving…men； without whom I seldom rode in those troublous
times； ran up from behind a shed； laying hands upon their short
swords； on seeing which the idlers took to their heels。
When they had gone I turned to look at the stranger； whose hood had
fallen back in the hustling； and saw that he was about thirty years of
age； and of a dark and noble countenance； beardless； but with straight
black hair； black flashing eyes； and an aquiline nose。 Another thing I
noted about him was that the lobe of his ear was pierced and in a
strange fashion； since the gristle was stretched to such a size that a
small apple could have been placed within its ring。 For the rest the
man's limbs were so thin as though from hunger； that everywhere his
bones showed； while his skin was scarred with cuts and scratches； and
on his forehead was a large bruise。 He seemed bewildered also and very
weak； yet I think he understood that I was playing a friend's part to
him； for he bowed towards me in a stately； courteous way and kissed
the air thrice； but what this meant at the time I did not know。
I spoke to him in English； but he shook his head gently to show that
he did not understand。 Then； as though by an afterthought； he touched
his breast several times； and after each touch； said in a voice of
strange softness； 〃Kari；〃 which I took it he meant was his name。 At
any rate； from that time forward I called him Kari。
Now the question was how to deal with him。 Leave him there to be
mocked or to perish I could not； nor was there anywhere whither I
could send him。 Therefore it seemed the only thing to do was to take
him home with me。 So grasping his arm gently I led him off the quay
where our horses were and motioned to him to mount one that had been
ridden by a servant whom I bade to walk。 At the sight of these horses；
however； a great terror took hold of him for he trembled all over； a
sweat bursting out upon his face； and clung to me as though for
protection； making it evident that he had never seen such an animal
before。 Indeed； nothing would persuade him to go near them； for he
shook his head and pointed to his feet； thus showing me that he
preferred to walk； however weak his state。
The end of it was that walk he did and I with him from Thames side to
the Cheap； since I dared not leave him alone for fear lest he should
run away。 A strange sight we presented； I leading this dusky wanderer
through the streets； and glad was I that night was falling so that few
saw us and those who did thought； I believe； that I was bringing some
foreign thief to jail。
At length we reached the Boat House as my dwelling was called； from
the image of the old Viking vessel that my uncle had carved and set
above the door； and I led him in staring about him with all his eyes；
which in his thin face looked large as those of an owl； taking him up
the stairs； which seemed to puzzle him much； for at every step he
lifted his leg high into the air； to an empty guest room。
Here besides the bed and other furniture was a silver basin with its
jug； one of the beautiful things that John Grimmer had brought I know
not whence。 On these Kari fixed his eyes at once； staring at them in
the light of the candles that I had lit； as though they were familiar
to him。 Indeed； after glancing at me as though for permission； he went
to the jug that was kept full of water in case of visitors of whom I
had many on business； lifted it； and after pouring a few drops of the
water on to the floor as though he made some offering； drank deeply；
thus showing that he was parched with thirst。
Then without more ado he filled the basin and throwing off his
tattered robe began to wash himself to the waist； round which he wore
another garment； of dirty cotton I thought； which looked like a
woman's petticoat。 Watching him I noted two things； that his poor body
was as scratched and scarred as though by old thorn wounds； as were
his face and hands； also marked with great bruises as though from
kicks and blows； and secondly that hung about his neck was a wondrous
golden image about four inches in length。 It was of rude workmanship
with knees bent up under the chin； but the face； in which little
emeralds were set for eyes； was of a great and solemn dignity。
This image Kari washed before he touched himself with water； bowing to
it the while； and when he saw me observing him； looked upwards to the
sky and said a word that sounded like /Pachacamac/； from which I took
it to be some idol that the poor man worshipped。 Lastly； tied about
his middle was a hide bag filled with I knew not what。
Now I found a washball made of oil of olives mixed with beech ash and
showed him the use of it。 At first he shrank from this strange thing；
but coming to understand its office； served himself of it readily；
smiling when he saw how well it cleansed his flesh。 Further； I fetched
a shirt of silk with a pair of easy shoes and a fur…lined robe that
had belonged to my uncle； also hosen； and showed him how to put them
on； which he learned quickly enough。 A comb and a brush that were on
the table he seemed to understand already； for with them he dressed
his tangled hair。
When all was finished in a fashion； I led him down the stairs again to
the eating…room where supper was waiting； and offered him food； at the
sight of which his eyes glistened； for clearly he was well…nigh
starving。 The chair I gave him he would not sit on； whether from
respect for me or because it was strange to him； I do not know； but
seeing a low stool of tapestry which my uncle had used to rest his
feet； he crouched upon this； and thus ate of whatever I gave him； very
delicately though he was so hungry。 Then I poured wine from Portugal
into a goblet and drank some myself to show him that it was harmless；
which； after tasting it； he swallowed to the last drop。
The meal being finished which I thought it was well to shorten lest he
should eat too much who was so weak； again he lifted up his eyes as
though in gratitude； and as a sign of thankfulness； or so I suppose；
knelt before me； took my hand； and pressed it against his forehead；
thereby； although I did not know it at the time； vowing himself to my
service。 Then seeing how weary he was I conducted him back to the
chamber and pointed out the bed to him； shutting my eyes to show that
he should sleep there。 But this he would not do until he had dragged
the bedding on to the floor； from which I gathered that his people；
whoever they might be； had the habit of sleeping on the ground。
Greatly did I wonder who this man was and from what race he sprang；
since never had I seen any human being who res