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'I do；' said the man in black； looking around。
'Do you know the name of this place？'
'I was told it was Mumpers' or Gypsies' Dingle；' said the man in
black。
'Good；' said I； 'and this forge and tent； what do they look like？'
'Like the forge and tent of a wandering Zigan； I have seen the like
in Italy。'
'Good；' said I； 'they belong to me。'
'Are you； then； a gypsy？' said the man in black。
'What else should I be？'
'But you seem to have been acquainted with various individuals with
whom I have likewise had acquaintance； and you have even alluded to
matters； and even words； which have passed between me and them。'
'Do you know how gypsies live？' said I。
'By hammering old iron； I believe； and telling fortunes。'
'Well；' said I； 'there's my forge； and yonder is some iron； though
not old； and by your own confession I am a soothsayer。'
'But how did you come by your knowledge？'
'Oh；' said I； 'if you want me to reveal the secrets of my trade； I
have； of course； nothing further to say。 Go to the scarlet dyer；
and ask him how he dyes cloth。'
'Why scarlet？' said the man in black。 'Is it because gypsies blush
like scarlet？'
'Gypsies never blush；' said I； 'but gypsies' cloaks are scarlet。'
'I should almost take you for a gypsy；' said the man in black； 'but
for … '
'For what？' said I。
'But for that same lesson in Armenian； and your general knowledge
of languages； as for your manners and appearance I will say
nothing；' said the man in black； with a titter。
'And why should not a gypsy possess a knowledge of languages？' said
I。
'Because the gypsy race is perfectly illiterate；' said the man in
black； 'they are possessed； it is true； of a knavish acuteness； and
are particularly noted for giving subtle and evasive answers … and
in your answers； I confess； you remind me of them； but that one of
the race should acquire a learned language like the Armenian； and
have a general knowledge of literature； is a thing che io non credo
afatto。'
'What do you take me for？' said I。
'Why；' said the man in black； 'I should consider you to be a
philologist； who； for some purpose； has taken up a gypsy life； but
I confess to you that your way of answering questions is far too
acute for a philologist。'
'And why should not a philologist be able to answer questions
acutely？' said I。
'Because the philological race is the most stupid under heaven；'
said the man in black； 'they are possessed； it is true； of a
certain faculty for picking up words； and a memory for retaining
them； but that any one of the sect should be able to give a
rational answer； to say nothing of an acute one； on any subject …
even though the subject were philology … is a thing of which I have
no idea。'
'But you found me giving a lesson in Armenian to this handmaid？'
'I believe I did；' said the man in black。
'And you heard me give what you are disposed to call acute answers
to the questions you asked me？'
'I believe I did；' said the man in black。
'And would any one but a philologist think of giving a lesson in
Armenian to a handmaid in a dingle？
'I should think not；' said the man in black。
'Well； then； don't you see that it is possible for a philologist to
give not only a rational； but an acute answer？'
'I really don't know；' said the man in black。
'What's the matter with you？' said I。
'Merely puzzled；' said the man in black。
'Puzzled？
'Yes。'
'Really puzzled？'
'Yes。'
'Remain so。'
'Well；' said the man in black； rising； 'puzzled or not； I will no
longer trespass upon your and this young lady's retirement； only
allow me； before I go； to apologise for my intrusion。'
'No apology is necessary；' said I； 'will you please to take
anything before you go？ I think this young lady； at my request；
would contrive to make you a cup of tea。'
'Tea！' said the man in black； 'he！ he！ I don't drink tea； I don't
like it … if； indeed； you had；' and here he stopped。
'There's nothing like gin and water； is there？' said I； 'but I am
sorry to say I have none。'
'Gin and water；' said the man in black； 'how do you know that I am
fond of gin and water？'
'Did I not see you drinking some at the public…house？'
'You did；' said the man in black； 'and I remember that； when I
called for some you repeated my words … permit me to ask； is gin
and water an unusual drink in England？'
'It is not usually drunk cold； and with a lump of sugar；' said I。
'And did you know who I was by my calling for it so？'
'Gypsies have various ways of obtaining information；' said I。
'With all your knowledge；' said the man in black； 'you do not
appear to have known that I was coming to visit you？'
'Gypsies do not pretend to know anything which relates to
themselves；' said I； 'but I advise you； if you ever come again； to
come openly。'
'Have I your permission to come again？' said the man in black。
'Come when you please； this dingle is as free for you as me。'
'I will visit you again；' said the man in black … 'till then；
addio。'
'Belle；' said I； after the man in black had departed； 'we did not
treat that man very hospitably； he left us without having eaten or
drunk at our expense。'
'You offered him some tea；' said Belle； 'which； as it is mine； I
should have grudged him； for I like him not。'
'Our liking or disliking him had nothing to do with the matter； he
was our visitor； and ought not to have been permitted to depart
dry； living as we do in this desert； we ought always to be prepared
to administer to the wants of our visitors。 Belle； do you know
where to procure any good Hollands？'
'I think I do；' said Belle； 'but … '
'I will have no buts。 Belle； I expect that with as little delay as
possible you procure； at my expense； the best Hollands you can
find。'
CHAPTER XCI
Excursions … Adventurous English … Opaque forests … The greatest
patience。
TIME passed on； and Belle and I lived in the dingle； when I say
lived； the reader must not imagine that we were always there。 She
went out upon her pursuits； and I went out where inclination led
me； but my excursions were very short ones； and hers occasionally
occupied whole days and nights。 If I am asked how we passed the
time when we were together in the dingle； I would answer that we
passed the time very tolerably； all things considered； we conversed
together； and when tired of conversing I would sometimes give Belle
a lesson in Armenian； her progress was not particularly brilliant；
but upon the whole satisfactory； in about a fortnight she had hung
up one hundred Haikan numerals upon the hake of her memory。 I
found her conversation highly entertaining； she had seen much of
England and Wales； and had been acquainted with some of the most
remarkable characters who travelled the roads at that period； and
let me be permitted to say that many remarkable characters have
travelled the roads of England； of whom fame has never said a word。
I loved to hear her anecdotes of these people； some of whom I found
had occasionally attempted to lay violent hands either upon her
person or effects； and had invariably been humbled by her without
the assistance of either justice or constable。 I could clearly
see； however； that she was rather tired of England； and wished for
a change of scene； she was particularly fond of talking of America；
to which country her aspirations chiefly tended。 She had heard
much of America； which had excited her imagination； for at that
time America was much talked of； on roads and in homesteads … at
least； so said Belle； who had good opportunities of knowing … and
most people allowed that it was a good country for adventurous
English。 The people who chiefly spoke against it； as she informed
me； were soldiers disbanded upon pensions； the sextons of village
churches； and excisemen。 Belle had a craving desire to visit that
country； and to wander with cart and little animal amongst its
forests； when I would occasionally object that she would be exposed
to danger from strange and perverse customers； she said that she
had not wandered the roads of England so long and alone； to be
afraid of anything which might befall in America； and that she
hoped； with God's favour； to be able to take her own part； and to
give to perverse customers as good as they might bring。 She had a
dauntless heart； that same Belle。 Such was the staple of Belle's
conversation。 As for mine； I would endeavour to entertain her with
strange dreams of adventure； in which I figured in opaque forests；
strangling wild beasts； or discovering and plundering the hoards of
dragons； and sometimes I would narrate to her other things far more
genuine