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and spoke； and these were the words she said； 〃It was all along of
your Pal〃； and then she told me all about the matter … how Mrs。
Herne could not abide you； which I knew before； and that she had
sworn your destruction； which I did not know before。 And then she
told me how she found you living in the wood by yourself； and how
you were enticed to eat a poisoned cake； and she told me many other
things that you wot of； and she told me what perhaps you don't wot；
namely； that finding you had been removed； she； the child； had
tracked you a long way； and found you at last well and hearty； and
no ways affected by the poison； and heard you； as she stood
concealed； disputing about religion with a Welsh Methody。 Well；
brother； she told me all this； and； moreover； that when Mrs。 Herne
heard of it； she said that a dream of hers had come to pass。 I
don't know what it was； but something about herself； a tinker； and
a dean； and then she added that it was all up with her； and that
she must take a long journey。 Well； brother； that same night
Leonora； waking from her sleep in the tent where Mrs。 Herne and she
were wont to sleep； missed her bebee； and； becoming alarmed； went
in search of her； and at last found her hanging from a branch； and
when the child had got so far； she took on violently； and I could
not get another word from her； so I left her； and here I am。'
'And I am glad to see you； Mr。 Petulengro； but this is sad news
which you tell me about Mrs。 Herne。'
'Somewhat dreary； brother； yet； perhaps； after all； it is a good
thing that she is removed； she carried so much Devil's tinder about
with her； as the man said。'
'I am sorry for her；' said I； 'more especially as I am the cause of
her death … though the innocent one。'
'She could not bide you； brother； that's certain； but that is no
reason' … said Mr。 Petulengro； balancing himself upon the saddle …
'that is no reason why she should prepare drow to take away your
essence of life； and； when disappointed； to hang herself upon a
tree： if she was dissatisfied with you； she might have flown at
you； and scratched your face； or； if she did not judge herself your
match； she might have put down five shillings for a turn…up between
you and some one she thought could beat you … myself； for example …
and so the matter might have ended comfortably； but she was always
too fond of covert ways； drows； and brimstones。 This is not the
first poisoning affair she has been engaged in。'
'You allude to drabbing bawlor。'
'Bah！' said Mr。 Petulengro； 'there's no harm in that。 No； no！ she
has cast drows in her time for other guess things than bawlor； both
Gorgios and Romans have tasted of them； and died。 Did you never
hear of the poisoned plum pudding？'
'Never。'
'Then I will tell you about it。 It happened about six years ago； a
few months after she had quitted us … she had gone first amongst
her own people； as she called them； but there was another small
party of Romans； with whom she soon became very intimate。 It so
happened that this small party got into trouble； whether it was
about a horse or an ass； or passing bad money； no matter to you and
me； who had no hand in the business； three or four of them were
taken and lodged in … Castle； and amongst them was a woman； but the
sherengro； or principal man of the party； and who it seems had most
hand in the affair； was still at large。 All of a sudden a rumour
was spread abroad that the woman was about to play false； and to
'peach the rest。 Said the principal man； when he heard it； 〃If she
does； I am nashkado。〃 Mrs。 Herne was then on a visit to the party；
and when she heard the principal man take on so； she said； 〃But I
suppose you know what to do？〃 〃I do not；〃 said he。 〃Then hir mi
devlis；〃 said she； 〃you are a fool。 But leave the matter to me； I
know how to dispose of her in Roman fashion。〃 Why she wanted to
interfere in the matter； brother； I don't know； unless it was from
pure brimstoneness of disposition … she had no hand in the matter
which had brought the party into trouble … she was only on a visit；
and it had happened before she came； but she was always ready to
give dangerous advice。 Well； brother； the principal man listened
to what she had to say； and let her do what she would； and she made
a pudding； a very nice one； no doubt … for； besides plums； she put
in drows and all the Roman condiments that she knew of； and she
gave it to the principal man； and the principal put it into a
basket and directed it to the woman in … Castle； and the woman in
the castle took it and … 〃
'Ate of it；' said I； 'just like my case！'
'Quite different； brother； she took it； it is true； but instead of
giving way to her appetite； as you might have done； she put it
before the rest whom she was going to impeach； perhaps she wished
to see how they liked it before she tasted it herself； and all the
rest were poisoned； and one died； and there was a precious outcry；
and the woman cried loudest of all； and she said； 〃It was my death
was sought for； I know the man； and I'll be revenged。〃 And then
the Poknees spoke to her and said； 〃Where can we find him？〃 and she
said； 〃I am awake to his motions； three weeks from hence； the night
before the full moon； at such and such an hour； he will pass down
such a lane with such a man。〃'
'Well；' said I； 'and what did the Poknees do？'
'Do； brother！ sent for a plastramengro from Bow Street； quite
secretly； and told him what the woman had said； and the night
before the full moon； the plastramengro went to the place which the
juwa had pointed out； all alone； brother； and in order that he
might not be too late； he went two hours before his time。 I know
the place well； brother； where the plastramengro placed himself
behind a thick holly tree； at the end of a lane； where a gate leads
into various fields； through which there is a path for carts and
horses。 The lane is called the dark lane by the Gorgios； being
much shaded by trees。 So the plastramengro placed himself in the
dark lane behind the holly tree； it was a cold February night；
dreary though； the wind blew in gusts； and the moon had not yet
risen； and the plastramengro waited behind the tree till he was
tired； and thought he might as well sit down； so he sat down； and
was not long in falling to sleep； and there he slept for some
hours； and when he awoke the moon had risen； and was shining
bright； so that there was a kind of moonlight even in the dark
lane； and the plastramengro pulled out his watch； and contrived to
make out that it was just two hours beyond the time when the men
should have passed by。 Brother； I do not know what the
plastramengro thought of himself； but I know； brother； what I
should have thought of myself in his situation。 I should have
thought； brother； that I was a drowsy scoppelo； and that I had let