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‘Oh。 Very good； John；’ was his mild reply。 ‘Thank you； John。
Nobody need sit up。 I know my room。’
‘I hope you’re not a…going to trouble your head to…night； or my
lord’s head neither； with anything more about Bloody Mary；’ said
John。 ‘I wish the blessed old creetur had never been born。’
‘I said you might go to bed； John；’ returned the secretary。 ‘You
didn’t hear me； I think。’
‘Between Bloody Marys； and blue cockades； and glorious
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Queen Besses； and no Poperys； and Protestant associations； and
making of speeches；’ pursued John Grueby； looking； as usual； a
long way off； and taking no notice of this hint； ‘my lord’s half off
his head。 When we go out o’ doors； such a set of ragamuffins
comes a…shouting after us； “Gordon forever！” that I’m ashamed of
myself and don’t know where to look。 When we’re indoors； they
come a…roaring and screaming about the house like so many
devils； and my lord instead of ordering them to be drove away；
goes out into the balcony and demeans himself by making
speeches to ’em； and calls ’em “Men of England；” and “Fellow…
countrymen；” as if he was fond of ’em and thanked ’em for
coming。 I can’t make it out； but they’re all mixed up somehow or
another with that unfort’nate Bloody Mary； and call her name out
till they’re hoarse。 They’re all Protestants too—every man and boy
among ’em： and Protestants are very fond of spoons； I find； and
silver…plate in general； whenever area…gates is left open
accidentally。 I wish that was the worst of it； and that no more harm
might be to come； but if you don’t stop these ugly customers in
time； Mr Gashford （and I know you； you’re the man that blows the
fire）； you’ll find ’em grow a little bit too strong for you。 One of
these evenings； when the weather gets warmer and Protestants
are thirsty； they’ll be pulling London down；—and I never heard
that Bloody Mary went as far as that。’
Gashford had vanished long ago； and these remarks had been
bestowed on empty air。 Not at all discomposed by the discovery；
John Grueby fixed his hat on； wrongside foremost that he might
be unconscious of the shadow of the obnoxious cockade； and
withdrew to bed； shaking his head in a very gloomy and prophetic
manner until he reached his chamber。
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Chapter 36
ashford； with a smiling face； but still with looks of
profound deference and humility； betook himself towards
G
his master’s room； smoothing his hair down as he went；
and humming a psalm tune。 As he approached Lord George’s
door； he cleared his throat and hummed more vigorously。
There was a remarkable contrast between this man’s
occupation at the moment； and the expression of his countenance；
which was singularly repulsive and malicious。 His beetling brow
almost obscured his eyes； his lip was curled contemptuously； his
very shoulders seemed to sneer in stealthy whisperings with his
great flapped ears。
‘Hush！’ he muttered softly； as he peeped in at the chamber…
door。 ‘He seems to be asleep。 Pray Heaven he is！ Too much
watching； too much care； too much thought—ah！ Lord preserve
him for a martyr！ He is a saint； if ever saint drew breath on this
bad earth。’
Placing his light upon a table； he walked on tiptoe to the fire；
and sitting in a chair before it with his back towards the bed； went
on communing with himself like one who thought aloud：
‘The saviour of his country and his country’s religion； the friend
of his poor countrymen； the enemy of the proud and harsh；
beloved of the rejected and oppressed； adored by forty thousand
bold and loyal English hearts—what happy slumbers his should
be！’ And here he sighed； and warmed his hands； and shook his
head as men do when their hearts are full； and heaved another
sigh； and warmed his hands again。
‘Why； Gashford？’ said Lord George； who was lying broad
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awake； upon his side； and had been staring at him from his
entrance。
‘My—my lord；’ said Gashford； starting and looking round as
though in great surprise。 ‘I have disturbed you！’
‘I have not been sleeping。’
‘Not sleeping！’ he repeated； with assumed confusion。 ‘What can
I say for having in your presence given utterance to thoughts—but
they were sincere—they were sincere！’ exclaimed the secretary；
drawing his sleeve in a hasty way across his eyes； ‘and why should
I regret your having heard them？’
‘Gashford；’ said the poor lord； stretching out his hand with
manifest emotion。 ‘Do not regret it。 You love me well； I know—too
well。 I don’t deserve such homage。’
Gashford made no reply； but grasped the hand and pressed it to
his lips。 Then rising； and taking from the trunk a little desk； he
placed it on a table near the fire； unlocked it with a key he carried
in his pocket； sat down before it； took out a pen； and； before
dipping it in the inkstand； sucked it—to compose the fashion of his
mouth perhaps； on which a smile was hovering yet。
‘How do our numbers stand since last enrolling…night？’
inquired Lord George。 ‘Are we really forty thousand strong； or do
we still speak in round numbers when we take the Association at
that amount？’
‘Our total now exceeds that number by a score and three；’
Gashford replied； casting his eyes upon his papers。
‘The funds？’
‘Not very improving； but there is some manna in the
wilderness； my lord。 Hem！ On Friday night the widows’ mites
dropped in。 “Forty scavengers； three and fourpence。 An aged pew…
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opener of St Martin’s parish； sixpence。 A bell…ringer of the
established church； sixpence。 A Protestant infant； newly born； one
halfpenny。 The United Link Boys； three shillings—one bad。 The
anti…popish prisoners in Newgate； five and fourpence。 A friend in
Bedlam； half…a…crown。 Dennis the hangman； one shilling。”’
‘That Dennis；’ said his lordship； ‘is an earnest man。 I marked
him in the crowd in Welbeck Street； last Friday。’
‘A good man；’ rejoined the secretary； ‘a staunch； sincere； and
truly zealous man。’
‘He should be encouraged；’ said Lord George。 ‘Make a note of
Dennis。 I’ll talk with him。’
Gashford obeyed； and went on reading from his list：
‘“The Friends of Reason； half…a…guinea。 The Friends of Liberty；
half…a…guinea。 The Friends of Peace； half…a…guinea。 The Friends of
Charity； half…a…guinea。 The Friends of Mercy； half…a…guinea。 The
Associated Rememberers of Bloody Mary； half…a…guinea。 The
United Bulldogs； half…a…guinea。”’
‘The United Bulldogs；’ said Lord George； biting his nails most
horribly； ‘are a new society； are they not？’
‘Formerly the ’Prentice Knights； my lord。 The indentures of the
old members expiring by degrees； they changed their name； it
seems； though they still have ’prentices among them； as well as
workmen。’