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against a bet—everything fair and open。 Let any man bet me ten
pound as I shall see Cliff’s Holiday； and I’ll go and stand by myself。
I want no company。 I’d as lief do it as I’d fill this pipe。”
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“Ah； but who’s to watch you； Dowlas； and see you do it？ That’s
no fair bet；” said the butcher。
“No fair bet！” replied Mr。 Dowlas； angrily。 “I should like to hear
any man stand up and say I want to bet unfair。 Come now； Master
Lundy； I should like to hear you say it。”
“Very like you would；” said the butcher。 “But it’s no business o’
mine。 You’re none o’ my bargains； and I aren’t a…going to try and
’bate your price。 If anybody’ll bid for you at your own vallying； let
him。 I’m for peace and quietness； I am。”
“Yes； that’s what every yapping cur is； when you hold a stick up
at him；” said the farrier。 “But I’m afraid o’ neither man nor ghost；
and I’m ready to lay a fair bet。 I aren’t a turntail cur。”
“Ay； but there’s this in it； Dowlas；” said the landlord； speaking
in a tone of much candour and tolerance。 “There’s folks； i’ my
opinion； they can’t see ghos’es； not if they stood as plain as a
pikestaff before ’em。 And there’s reason i’ that。 For there’s my
wife； now； can’t smell； not if she’d the strongest o’ cheese under
her nose。 I never see’d a ghost myself； but then I says to myself；
‘Very like I haven’t got the smell for ’em。’ I mean； putting a ghost
for a smell； or else contrairiways。 And so； I’m for holding with both
sides； for； as I say； the truth lies between ’em。 And if Dowlas was to
go and stand； and say he’d never seen a wink o’ Cliff’s Holiday all
the night through； I’d back him； and if anybody said as Cliff’s
Holiday was certain sure for all that； I’d back him too。 For the
smell’s what I go by。”
The landlord’s analogical argument was not well received by
the farrier—a man intensely opposed to compromise。
“Tut； tut；” he said； setting down his glass with refreshed
irritation； “what’s the smell got to do with it？ Did ever a ghost give
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a man a black eye？ That’s what I should like to know。 If ghos’es
want me to believe in ’em； let ’em leave off skulking i’ the dark and
i’ lone places—let ’em come where there’s company and candles。”
“As if ghos’es ’ud want to be believed in by anybody so ignirant！”
said Mr。 Macey； in deep disgust at the farrier’s crass incompetence
to apprehend the conditions of ghostly phenomena。
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Chapter 7
et the next moment there seemed to be some evidence
Ythat ghosts had a more condescending disposition than
Mr。 Macey attributed to them； for the pale； thin figure of
Silas Marner was suddenly seen standing in the warm light；
uttering no word； but looking round at the company with his
strange； unearthly eyes。 The long pipes gave a simultaneous
movement； like the antennae of startled insects； and every man
present； not excepting even the sceptical farrier； had an
impression that he saw； not Silas Marner in the flesh； but an
apparition； for the door by which Silas had entered was hidden by
the high…screened seats； and no one had noticed his approach。 Mr。
Macey； sitting a long way off the ghost； might be supposed to have
felt an argumentative triumph； which would tend to neutralise his
share of the general alarm。 Had he not always said that when Silas
Marner was in that strange trance of his； his soul went loose from
his body？ Here was the demonstration： nevertheless； on the
whole； he would have been as well contented without it。 For a few
moments there was a dead silence； Marner’s want of breath and
agitation not allowing him to speak。 The landlord； under the
habitual sense that he was bound to keep his house open to all
company； and confident in the protection of his unbroken
neutrality； at last took on himself the task of adjuring the ghost。
“Master Marner；” he said； in a conciliatory tone； “what’s
lacking to you？ What’s your business here？”
“Robbed！” said Silas； gaspingly。 “I’ve been robbed！ I want the
constable—and the Justice—and Squire Cass—and Mr。
Crackenthorp。”
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“Lay hold on him； Jem Rodney；” said the landlord； the idea of a
ghost subsiding： “he’s off his head； I doubt。 He’s wet through。”
Jem Rodney was the outermost man； and sat conveniently near
Marner’s standing…place； but he declined to give his services。
“Come and lay hold on him yourself； Mr。 Snell； if you’ve a
mind；” said Jem； rather sullenly。 “He’s been robbed； and
murdered too； for what I know；” he added； in a muttering tone。
“Jem Rodney！” said Silas； turning and fixing his strange eyes
on the suspected man。
“Ay； Master Marner； what do ye want wi’ me？” said Jem；
trembling a little； and seizing his drinking…can as a defensive
weapon。
“If it was you stole my money；” said Silas； clasping his hands
entreatingly； and raising his voice to a cry； “give it me back—and I
won’t meddle with you。 I won’t set the constable on you。 Give it me
back； and I’ll let you—I’ll let you have a guinea。”
“Me stole your money！” said Jem； angrily。 “I’ll pitch this can at
your eye if you talk o’ my stealing your money。”
“Come； come； Master Marner；” said the landlord； now rising
resolutely； and seizing Marner by the shoulder； “if you’ve got any
information to lay； speak it out sensible； and show as you’re in
your right mind； if you expect anybody to listen to you。 You’re as
wet as a drownded rat。 Sit down and dry yourself； and speak
straight forrard。”
“Ah； to be sure； man；” said the farrier； who began to feel that he
had not been quite on a par with himself and the occasion。 “Let’s
have no more staring and screaming； else we’ll have you strapped
for a madman。 That was why I didn’t speak at the first—thinks I；
the man’s run mad。”
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“Ay； ay； make him sit down；” said several voices at once； well
pleased that the reality of ghosts remained still an open question。
The landlord forced Marner to take off his coat； and then to sit
down on a chair aloof from every one else； in the centre of the
circle and in the direct rays of the fire。 The weaver； too feeble to
have any distinct purpose beyond that of getting help to recover
his money； submitted unresistingly。 The transient fears of the
company were now forgotten in their strong curiosity； and all faces
were turned towards Silas； when the landlord； having seated
himself again； said—“Now then； Master Marner； what’s this you’ve
got to say—as you’ve been robbed？ Speak out。”
“He’d better not say again as it was me robbed him；” cried Jem
Rodney； hastily。 “What could I ha’ done with his money？ I could as
easy steal the parson’s surplice； and wear it。”
“Hold your tongue； Jem； and let’s hear what he’s got to say；”
said the landlord。 “Now then； Master Marner。”
Silas now told his story； under frequent questioning as the
mysterious character of the robber