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his pocket； ready for the next emergency； refreshed himself with a
pinch of snuff； put up his box； and was walking slowly off； when a
passing carriage stopped； and a lady’s hand let down the glass。 Sir
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John’s hat was off again immediately。 After a minute’s
conversation at the carriage…window； in which it was apparent
that he was vastly entertaining on the subject of the mob； he
stepped lightly in； and was driven away。
The secretary smiled； but he had other thoughts to dwell upon；
and soon dismissed the topic。 Dinner was brought him； but he sent
it down untasted； and； in restless pacings up and down the room；
and constant glances at the clock； and many futile efforts to sit
down and read； or go to sleep； or look out of the window；
consumed four weary hours。 When the dial told him thus much
time had crept away； he stole upstairs to the top of the house； and
coming out upon the roof sat down； with his face towards the east。
Heedless of the fresh air that blew upon his heated brow； of the
pleasant meadows from which he turned； of the piles of roofs and
chimneys upon which he looked； of the smoke and rising mist he
vainly sought to pierce； of the shrill cries of children at their
evening sports； the distant hum and turmoil of the town； the
cheerful country breath that rustled past to meet it； and to droop；
and die； he watched； and watched； till it was dark save for the
specks of light that twinkled in the streets below and far away—
and； as the darkness deepened； strained his gaze and grew more
eager yet。
‘Nothing but gloom in that direction； still！’ he muttered
restlessly。 ‘Dog！ where is the redness in the sky； you promised me！’
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Chapter 54
umours of the prevailing disturbances had； by this time；
Rbegun to be pretty generally circulated through the towns
and villages round London； and the tidings were
everywhere received with that appetite for the marvellous and
love of the terrible which have probably been among the natural
characteristics of mankind since the creation of the world。 These
accounts； however； appeared； to many persons at that day—as
they would to us at the present； but that we know them to be
matter of history—so monstrous and improbable； that a great
number of those who were resident at a distance； and who were
credulous enough on other points； were really unable to bring
their minds to believe that such things could be； and rejected the
intelligence they received on all hands； as wholly fabulous and
absurd。
Mr Willet—not so much； perhaps； on account of his having
argued and settled the matter with himself； as by reason of his
constitutional obstinacy—was one of those who positively refused
to entertain the current topic for a moment。 On this very evening；
and perhaps at the very time when Gashford kept his solitary
watch； old John was so red in the face with perpetually shaking his
head in contradiction of his three ancient cronies and pot
companions； that he was quite a phenomenon to behold； and
lighted up the Maypole Porch wherein they sat together； like a
monstrous carbuncle in a fairy tale。
‘Do you think； sir；’ said Mr Willet； looking hard at Solomon
Daisy—for it was his custom in cases of personal altercation to
fasten upon the smallest man in the party—‘do you think； sir； that
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I’m a born fool？’
‘No； no； Johnny；’ returned Solomon； looking round upon the
little circle of which he formed a part： ‘We all know better than
that。 You’re no fool； Johnny。 No； no！’
Mr Cobb and Mr Parkes shook their heads in unison；
muttering； ‘No； no； Johnny； not you！’ But as such compliments
had usually the effect of making Mr Willet rather more dogged
than before； he surveyed them with a look of deep disdain； and
returned for answer：
‘Then what do you mean by coming here； and telling me that
this evening you’re a…going to walk up to London together—you
three—you—and have the evidence of your own senses？ An’t；’ said
Mr Willet； putting his pipe in his mouth with an air of solemn
disgust； ‘an’t the evidence of my senses enough for you？’
‘But we haven’t got it； Johnny；’ pleaded Parkes； humbly。
‘You haven’t got it； sir？’ repeated Mr Willet； eyeing him from
top to toe。 ‘You haven’t got it； sir？ You have got it； sir。 Don’t I tell
you that His blessed Majesty King George the Third would no
more stand a rioting and rollicking in his streets； than he’d stand
being crowed over by his own Parliament？’
‘Yes； Johnny； but that’s your sense—not your senses；’ said the
adventurous Mr Parkes。
‘How do you know？ ‘retorted John with great dignity。 ‘You’re a
contradicting pretty free； you are； sir。 How do you know which it
is？ I’m not aware I ever told you； sir。’
Mr Parkes； finding himself in the position of having got into
metaphysics without exactly seeing his way out of them；
stammered forth an apology and retreated from the argument。
There then ensued a silence of some ten minutes or a quarter of
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an hour； at the expiration of which period Mr Willet was observed
to rumble and shake with laughter； and presently remarked； in
reference to his late adversary； ‘that he hoped he had tackled him
enough。’ Thereupon Messrs Cobb and Daisy laughed； and nodded；
and Parkes was looked upon as thoroughly and effectually put
down。
‘Do you suppose if all this was true； that Mr Haredale would be
constantly away from home； as he is？’ said John； after another
silence。 ‘Do you think he wouldn’t be afraid to leave his house with
them two young women in it； and only a couple of men； or so？’
‘Ay； but then you know；’ returned Solomon Daisy； ‘his house is
a goodish way out of London； and they do say that the rioters
won’t go more than two miles； or three at the farthest； off the
stones。 Besides； you know； some of the Catholic gentlefolks have
actually sent trinkets and suchlike down here for safety—at least；
so the story goes。’
‘The story goes！’ said Mr Willet testily。 ‘Yes； sir。 The story goes
that you saw a ghost last March。 But nobody believes it。’
‘Well！’ said Solomon； rising； to divert the attention of his two
friends； who tittered at this retort： ‘believed or disbelieved； it’s
true； and true or not； if we mean to go to London； we must be
going at once。 So shake hands； Johnny； and good night。’
‘I shall shake hands；’ returned the landlord； putting his into his
pockets； ‘with no man as goes to London on such nonsensical
errands。’
The three cronies were therefore reduced to the necessity of
shaking his elbows； having performed that ceremony； and brought
from the house their hats； and sticks； and greatcoats； they bade
him good night and departed； promising to bring him on the
Charles Dickens