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sympathy with the tumult of nature； and are roused into
corresponding violence。 In the midst of thunder； lightning； and
storm； many tremendous deeds have been committed； men； self…
possessed before； have given a sudden loose to passions they could
no longer control。 The demons of wrath and despair have striven
to emulate those who ride the whirlwind and direct the storm； and
man； lashed into madness with the roaring winds and boiling
waters； has become for the time as wild and merciless as the
elements themselves。
Whether the traveller was possessed by thoughts which the fury
of the night had heated and stimulated into a quicker current； or
was merely impelled by some strong motive to reach his journey’s
end； on he swept more like a hunted phantom than a man； nor
checked his pace until； arriving at some cross roads； one of which
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led by a longer route to the place whence he had lately started； he
bore down so suddenly upon a vehicle which was coming towards
him； that in the effort to avoid it he well…nigh pulled his horse
upon his haunches； and narrowly escaped being thrown。
‘Yoho！’ cried the voice of a man。 ‘What’s that？ Who goes there？’
‘A friend！’ replied the traveller。
‘A friend！’ repeated the voice。 ‘Who calls himself a friend and
rides like that； abusing Heaven’s gifts in the shape of horseflesh；
and endangering； not only his own neck （which might be no great
matter） but the necks of other people？’
‘You have a lantern there； I see；’ said the traveller dismounting；
‘lend it me for a moment。 You have wounded my horse； I think；
with your shaft or wheel。’
‘Wounded him！’ cried the other； ‘if I haven’t killed him； it’s no
fault of yours。 What do you mean by galloping along the king’s
highway like that； eh？’
‘Give me the light；’ returned the traveller； snatching it from his
hand； ‘and don’t ask idle questions of a man who is in no mood for
talking。’
‘If you had said you were in no mood for talking before； I should
perhaps have been in no mood for lighting；’ said the voice。
‘Hows’ever as it’s the poor horse that’s damaged and not you； one
of you is welcome to the light at all events—but it’s not the crusty
one。’
The traveller returned no answer to this speech； but holding
the light near to his panting and reeking beast； examined him in
limb and carcass。 Meanwhile； the other man sat very composedly
in his vehicle； which was a kind of chaise with a depository for a
large bag of tools； and watched his proceedings with a careful eye。
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Barnaby Rudge 38
The looker…on was a round； red…faced； sturdy yeoman； with a
double chin； and a voice husky with good living； good sleeping；
good humour； and good health。 He was past the prime of life； but
Father Time is not always a hard parent； and； though he tarries
for none of his children； often lays his hand lightly upon those who
have used him well； making them old men and women inexorably
enough； but leaving their hearts and spirits young and in full
vigour。 With such people the grey head is but the impression of
the old fellow’s hand in giving them his blessing； and every
wrinkle but a notch in the quiet calendar of a well…spent life。
The person whom the traveller had so abruptly encountered
was of this kind： bluff； hale； hearty； and in a green old age： at
peace with himself； and evidently disposed to be so with all the
world。 Although muffled up in divers coats and handkerchiefs—
one of which； passed over his crown； and tied in a convenient
crease of his double chin； secured his three…cornered hat and bob…
wig from blowing off his head—there was no disguising his plump
and comfortable figure； neither did certain dirty finger…marks
upon his face give it any other than an odd and comical
expression； through which its natural good humour shone with
undiminished lustre。
‘He is not hurt；’ said the traveller at length； raising his head and
the lantern together。
‘You have found that out at last； have you？’ rejoined the old
man。 ‘My eyes have seen more light than yours； but I wouldn’t
change with you。’
‘What do you mean？’
‘Mean！ I could have told you he wasn’t hurt； five minutes ago。
Give me the light； friend； ride forward at a gentler pace； and good
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Barnaby Rudge 39
night。’
In handing up the lantern； the man necessarily cast its rays full
on the speaker’s face。 Their eyes met at the instant。 He suddenly
dropped it and crushed it with his foot。
‘Did you never see a locksmith before； that you start as if you
had come upon a ghost？’ cried the old man in the chaise； ‘or is
this；’ he added hastily； thrusting his hand into the tool basket and
drawing out a hammer； ‘a scheme for robbing me？ I know these
roads； friend。 When I travel them； I carry nothing but a few
shillings； and not a crown’s worth of them。 I tell you plainly； to
save us both trouble； that there’s nothing to be got from me but a
pretty stout arm considering my years； and this tool； which；
mayhap from long acquaintance with； I can use pretty briskly。 You
shall not have it all your own way； I promise you； if you play at that
game。 With these words he stood upon the defensive。
‘I am not what you take me for； Gabriel Varden；’ replied the
other。
‘Then what and who are you？’ returned the locksmith。 ‘You
know my name； it seems。 Let me know yours。’
‘I have not gained the information from any confidence of
yours； but from the inscription on your cart which tells it to all the
town；’ replied the traveller。
‘You have better eyes for that than you had for your horse；
then；’ said Varden； descending nimbly from his chaise； ‘who are
you？ Let me see your face。’
While the locksmith alighted； the traveller had regained his
saddle； from which he now confronted the old man； who； moving
as the horse moved in chafing under the tightened rein； kept close
beside him。
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Barnaby Rudge 40
‘Let me see your face； I say。’
‘Stand off！’
‘No masquerading tricks；’ said the locksmith； ‘and tales at the
club to…morrow； how Gabriel Varden was frightened by a surly
voice and a dark night。 Stand—let me see your face。’
Finding that further resistance would only involve him in a
personal struggle with an antagonist by no means to be despised；
the traveller threw back his coat； and stooping down looked
steadily at the locksmith。
Perhaps two men more powerfully contrasted； never opposed
each other face to face。 The ruddy features of the locksmith so set
off and heightened the excessive paleness of the man on
horseback； that he looked like a bloodless ghost； while the
moisture； which hard riding had brought out upon his skin； hung
there in dark and heavy drops； like dews of agony and death。 The
countenance of the old locksmith lighted up with the smile of one
expecting to detect in this unpromising stranger some latent
roguery of eye or lip； which should reveal a familiar person in that
arch disguise； and spoil his jest。 The face of the other； sullen and
f