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Barnaby Rudge 417
Chapter 39
he applause which the performance of Hugh and his new
friend elicited from the company at The Boot； had not yet
T
subsided； and the two dancers were still panting from
their exertions； which had been of a rather extreme and violent
character； when the party was reinforced by the arrival of some
more guests； who； being a detachment of United Bulldogs； were
received with very flattering marks of distinction and respect。
The leader of this small party—for； including himself； they were
but three in number—was our old acquaintance； Mr Tappertit；
who seemed； physically speaking； to have grown smaller with
years （particularly as to his legs； which were stupendously little）；
but who； in a moral point of view； in personal dignity and self…
esteem； had swelled into a giant。 Nor was it by any means difficult
for the most unobservant person to detect this state of feeling in
the quondam ’prentice； for it not only proclaimed itself
impressively and beyond mistake in his majestic walk and kindling
eye； but found a striking means of revelation in his turned…up
nose； which scouted all things of earth with deep disdain； and
sought communion with its kindred skies。
Mr Tappertit； as chief or captain of the Bulldogs； was attended
by his two lieutenants； one； the tall comrade of his younger life；
the other； a ’Prentice Knight in days of yore—Mark Gilbert； bound
in the olden time to Thomas Curzon of the Golden Fleece。 These
gentlemen； like himself； were now emancipated from their
’prentice thraldom； and served as journeymen； but they were； in
humble emulation of his great example； bold and daring spirits；
and aspired to a distinguished state in great political events。
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Hence their connection with the Protestant Association of
England； sanctioned by the name of Lord George Gordon； and
hence their present visit to The Boot。
‘Gentlemen！’ said Mr Tappertit； taking off his hat as a great
general might in addressing his troops。 ‘Well met。 My lord does me
and you the honour to send his compliments per self。’
‘You’ve seen my lord too； have you？’ said Dennis。 ‘I see him this
afternoon。’
‘My duty called me to the Lobby when our shop shut up； and I
saw him there； sir；’ Mr Tappertit replied； as he and his lieutenants
took their seats。 ‘How do you do？’
‘Lively； master； lively；’ said the fellow。 ‘Here’s a new brother；
regularly put down in black and white by Muster Gashford； a
credit to the cause； one of the stick…at…nothing sort； one arter my
own heart。 D’ye see him？ Has he got the looks of a man that’ll do；
do you think？’ he cried； as he slapped Hugh on the back。
‘Looks or no looks；’ said Hugh； with a drunken flourish of his
arm； ‘I’m the man you want。 I hate the Papists； every one of ’em。
They hate me and I hate them。 They do me all the harm they can；
and I’ll do them all the harm I can。 Hurrah！’
‘Was there ever；’ said Dennis； looking round the room； when
the echo of his boisterous voice bad died away； ‘was there ever
such a game boy！ Why； I mean to say； brothers； that if Muster
Gashford had gone a hundred mile and got together fifty men of
the common run； they wouldn’t have been worth this one。’
The greater part of the company implicitly subscribed to this
opinion； and testified their faith in Hugh by nods and looks of
great significance。 Mr Tappertit sat and contemplated him for a
long time in silence； as if he suspended his judgment； then drew a
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little nearer to him； and eyed him over more carefully； then went
close up to him； and took him apart into a dark corner。
‘I say；’ he began； with a thoughtful brow； ‘haven’t I seen you
before？’
‘It’s like you may；’ said Hugh； in his careless way。 ‘I don’t know；
shouldn’t wonder。’
‘No； but it’s very easily settled；’ returned Sim。 ‘Look at me。 Did
you ever see me before？ You wouldn’t be likely to forget it； you
know； if you ever did。 Look at me。 Don’t be afraid； I won’t do you
any harm。 Take a good look—steady now。’
The encouraging way in which Mr Tappertit made this request；
and coupled it with an assurance that he needn’t be frightened；
amused Hugh mightily—so much indeed； that be saw nothing at
all of the small man before him； through closing his eyes in a fit of
hearty laughter； which shook his great broad sides until they
ached again。
‘Come！’ said Mr Tappertit； growing a little impatient under this
disrespectful treatment。 ‘Do you know me； feller？’
‘Not I；’ cried Hugh。 ‘Ha ha ha！ Not I！ But I should like to。’
‘And yet I’d have wagered a seven…shilling piece；” said Mr
Tappertit； folding his arms； and confronting him with his legs wide
apart and firmly planted on the ground； ‘that you once were
hostler at the Maypole。’
Hugh opened his eyes on hearing this； and looked at him in
great surprise。
‘—And so you were； too；’ said Mr Tappertit； pushing him away
with a condescending playfulness。 ‘When did my eyes ever
deceive—unless it was a young woman！ Don’t you know me now？’
‘Why it an’t—’ Hugh faltered。
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‘An’t it？’ said Mr Tappertit。 ‘Are you sure of that？ You
remember G。 Varden； don’t you？’
Certainly Hugh did； and he remembered D。 Varden too； but
that he didn’t tell him。
‘You remember coming down there； before I was out of my
time； to ask after a vagabond that had bolted off； and left his
disconsolate father a prey to the bitterest emotions； and all the rest
of it—don’t you？’ said Mr Tappertit。
‘Of course I do！’ cried Hugh。 ‘And I saw you there。’
‘Saw me there！’ said Mr Tappertit。 ‘Yes； I should think you did
see me there。 The place would be troubled to go on without me。
Don’t you remember my thinking you liked the vagabond； and on
that account going to quarrel with you； and then finding you
detested him worse than poison； going to drink with you？ Don’t
you remember that？’
‘To be sure！’ cried Hugh。
‘Well！ and are you in the same mind now？’ said Mr Tappertit。
‘Yes！’ roared Hugh。
‘You speak like a man；’ said Mr Tappertit； ‘and I’ll shake hands
with you。’ With these conciliatory expressions he suited the action
to the word； and Hugh meeting his advances readily； they
performed the ceremony with a show of great heartiness。
‘I find；’ said Mr Tappertit； looking round on the assembled
guests； ‘that brother What’s…his…name and I are old
acquaintance。—You never heard anything more of that rascal； I
suppose； eh？’
‘Not a syllable；’ replied Hugh。 ‘I never want to。 I don’t believe I
ever shall。 He’s dead long ago； I hope。’
‘It’s to be hoped； for the sake of mankind in general and the
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happiness of society； that he is；’ said Mr Tappertit； rubbing his
palm upon his legs； and looking at