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'There you are right；' said Belle； lifting up her head and looking
the postilion full in the face by the light of the charcoal fire；
'for I was bred in the workhouse。'
'Wooh！' said the postilion。
'It is true that I am of good … '
'Ay； ay；' said the postilion； 'let us hear … '
'Of good blood；' continued Belle； 'my name is Berners； Isopel
Berners； though my parents were unfortunate。 Indeed； with respect
to blood； I believe I am of better blood than the young man。'
'There you are mistaken；' said I； 'by my father's side I am of
Cornish blood； and by my mother's of brave French Protestant
extraction。 Now； with respect to the blood of my father … and to
be descended well on the father's side is the principal thing … it
is the best blood in the world； for the Cornish blood； as the
proverb says … '
'I don't care what the proverb says；' said Belle； 'I say my blood
is the best … my name is Berners； Isopel Berners … it was my
mother's name； and is better； I am sure； than any you bear；
whatever that may be； and though you say that the descent on the
fathers side is the principal thing … and I know why you say so；'
she added with some excitement … 'I say that descent on the
mother's side is of most account； because the mother … '
'Just come from Gretna Green； and already quarrelling！' said the
postilion。
'We do not come from Gretna Green；' said Belle。
'Ah； I had forgot；' said the postilion； 'none but great people go
to Gretna Green。 Well； then； from church； and already quarrelling
about family； just like two great people。'
'We have never been to church；' said Belle； 'and to prevent any
more guessing on your part； it will be as well for me to tell you；
friend； that I am nothing to the young man； and he； of course；
nothing to me。 I am a poor travelling girl； born in a workhouse：
journeying on my occasions with certain companions； I came to this
hollow； where my company quarrelled with the young man； who had
settled down here； as he had a right to do if he pleased； and not
being able to drive him out； they went away after quarrelling with
me； too； for not choosing to side with them； so I stayed here along
with the young man； there being room for us both； and the place
being as free to me as to him。'
'And in order that you may be no longer puzzled with respect to
myself；' said I； 'I will give you a brief outline of my history。 I
am the son of honourable parents； who gave me a first…rate
education； as far as literature and languages went； with which
education I endeavoured； on the death of my father； to advance
myself to wealth and reputation in the big city； but failing in the
attempt； I conceived a disgust for the busy world； and determined
to retire from it。 After wandering about for some time； and
meeting with various adventures； in one of which I contrived to
obtain a pony； cart； and certain tools used by smiths and tinkers；
I came to this place； where I amused myself with making horse…
shoes； or rather pony…shoes； having acquired the art of wielding
the hammer and tongs from a strange kind of smith … not him of
Gretna Green … whom I knew in my childhood。 And here I lived；
doing harm to no one； quite lonely and solitary； till one fine
morning the premises were visited by this young gentlewoman and her
companions。 She did herself anything but justice when she said
that her companions quarrelled with her because she would not side
with them against me； they quarrelled with her because she came
most heroically to my assistance as I was on the point of being
murdered； and she forgot to tell you that； after they had abandoned
her； she stood by me in the … dark hour； comforting and cheering
me； when unspeakable dread； to which I am occasionally subject；
took possession of my mind。 She says she is nothing to me； even as
I am nothing to her。 I am of course nothing to her； but she is
mistaken in thinking she is nothing to me。 I entertain the highest
regard and admiration for her； being convinced that I might search
the whole world in vain for a nature more heroic and devoted。'
'And for my part；' said Belle； with a sob； 'a more quiet agreeable
partner in a place like this I would not wish to have； it is true
he has strange ways； and frequently puts words into my mouth very
difficult to utter； but … but … ' and here she buried her face once
more in her hands。
'Well；' said the postilion； 'I have been mistaken about you； that
is； not altogether； but in part。 You are not rich folks； it seems；
but you are not common people； and that I could have sworn。 What I
call a shame is； that some people I have known are not in your
place and you in theirs； you with their estates and borough
interest； they in this dingle with these carts and animals； but
there is no help for these things。 Were I the great Mumbo Jumbo
above； I would endeavour to manage matters better； but being a
simple postilion； glad to earn three shillings a day； I can't be
expected to do much。'
'Who is Mumbo Jumbo？' said I。
'Ah！' said the postilion； 'I see there may be a thing or two I know
better than yourself。 Mumbo Jumbo is a god of the black coast； to
which people go for ivory and gold。'
'Were you ever there？' I demanded。
'No；' said the postilion； 'but I heard plenty of Mumbo Jumbo when I
was a boy。'
'I wish you would tell us something about yourself。 I believe that
your own real history would prove quite as entertaining； if not
more； than that which you imagined about us。'
'I am rather tired；' said the postilion； 'and my leg is rather
troublesome。 I should be glad to try to sleep upon one of your
blankets。 However； as you wish to hear something about me； I shall
be happy to oblige you； but your fire is rather low； and this place
is chilly。'
Thereupon I arose； and put fresh charcoal on the pan； then taking
it outside the tent； with a kind of fan which I had fashioned； I
fanned the coals into a red glow； and continued doing so until the
greater part of the noxious gas； which the coals are in the habit
of exhaling； was exhausted。 I then brought it into the tent and
reseated myself； scattering over the coals a small portion of
sugar。 'No bad smell；' said the postilion； 'but upon the whole I
think I like the smell of tobacco better； and with your permission
I will once more light my pipe。'
Thereupon he relighted his pipe； and； after taking two or three
whiffs； began in the following manner。
CHAPTER XCVIII
An exordium … Fine ships … High Barbary captains … Free…born
Englishmen … Monstrous figure … Swashbuckler … The grand coaches …
The footmen … A travelling expedition … Black Jack … Nelson's
cannon … Pharaoh's butler … A diligence … Two passengers … Sharking
priest … Virgilio … Lessons in Italian … Two opinions … Holy Mary …
Priestly confederat