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and came to the inn…door with decorum； to find the house still
alight and in a bustle with many late arrivals； to give our orders
with a prompt severity which ensured obedience； and to be served
soon after at a side…table； close to the fire and in a blaze of
candle…light； with such a meal as I had been dreaming of for days
past。 For days； you are to remember； I had been skulking in the
covered cart； a prey to cold； hunger； and an accumulation of
discomforts that might have daunted the most brave； and the white
table napery； the bright crystal； the reverberation of the fire；
the red curtains； the Turkey carpet； the portraits on the coffee…
room wall； the placid faces of the two or three late guests who
were silently prolonging the pleasures of digestion； and （last； but
not by any means least） a glass of an excellent light dry port； put
me in a humour only to be described as heavenly。 The thought of
the Colonel； of how he would have enjoyed this snug room and
roaring fire； and of his cold grave in the wood by Market Bosworth；
lingered on my palate； AMARI ALIQUID； like an after…taste； but was
not able … I say it with shame … entirely to dispel my self…
complacency。 After all； in this world every dog hangs by its own
tail。 I was a free adventurer； who had just brought to a
successful end … or； at least； within view of it … an adventure
very difficult and alarming； and I looked across at Mr。 Dudgeon； as
the port rose to his cheeks； and a smile； that was semi…
confidential and a trifle foolish； began to play upon his leathery
features； not only with composure； but with a suspicion of
kindness。 The rascal had been brave； a quality for which I would
value the devil； and if he had been pertinacious in the beginning；
he had more than made up for it before the end。
'And now； Dudgeon； to explain；' I began。 'I know your master； he
knows me； and he knows and approves of my errand。 So much I may
tell you； that I am on my way to Amersham Place。'
'Oho！' quoth Dudgeon； 'I begin to see。'
'I am heartily glad of it；' said I； passing the bottle； 'because
that is about all I can tell you。 You must take my word for the
remainder。 Either believe me or don't。 If you don't； let's take a
chaise； you can carry me to…morrow to High Holborn； and confront me
with Mr。 Romaine； the result of which will be to set your mind at
rest … and to make the holiest disorder in your master's plans。 If
I judge you aright （for I find you a shrewd fellow）； this will not
be at all to your mind。 You know what a subordinate gets by
officiousness； if I can trust my memory； old Romaine has not at all
the face that I should care to see in anger； and I venture to
predict surprising results upon your weekly salary … if you are
paid by the week； that is。 In short； let me go free； and 'tis an
end of the matter； take me to London； and 'tis only a beginning …
and； by my opinion； a beginning of troubles。 You can take your
choice。'
'And that is soon taken；' said he。 'Go to Amersham tomorrow； or go
to the devil if you prefer … I wash my hands of you and the whole
transaction。 No； you don't find me putting my head in between
Romaine and a client！ A good man of business； sir； but hard as
millstone grit。 I might get the sack； and I shouldn't wonder！
But； it's a pity； too；' he added； and sighed； shook his head； and
took his glass off sadly。
'That reminds me；' said I。 'I have a great curiosity； and you can
satisfy it。 Why were you so forward to meddle with poor Mr。
Dubois？ Why did you transfer your attentions to me？ And
generally； what induced you to make yourself such a nuisance？'
He blushed deeply。
'Why； sir；' says he； 'there is such a thing as patriotism； I hope。'
CHAPTER XVI … THE HOME…COMING OF MR。 ROWLEY'S VISCOUNT
BY eight the next morning Dudgeon and I had made our parting。 By
that time we had grown to be extremely familiar； and I would very
willingly have kept him by me； and even carried him to Amersham
Place。 But it appeared he was due at the public…house where we had
met； on some affairs of my great…uncle the Count； who had an
outlying estate in that part of the shire。 If Dudgeon had had his
way the night before； I should have been arrested on my uncle's
land and by my uncle's agent； a culmination of ill…luck。
A little after noon I started； in a hired chaise； by way of
Dunstable。 The mere mention of the name Amersham Place made every
one supple and smiling。 It was plainly a great house； and my uncle
lived there in style。 The fame of it rose as we approached； like a
chain of mountains； at Bedford they touched their caps； but in
Dunstable they crawled upon their bellies。 I thought the landlady
would have kissed me； such a flutter of cordiality； such smiles；
such affectionate attentions were called forth； and the good lady
bustled on my service in such a pother of ringlets and with such a
jingling of keys。 'You're probably expected； sir； at the Place？ I
do trust you may 'ave better accounts of his lordship's 'elth； sir。
We understood that his lordship； Mosha de Carwell； was main bad。
Ha； sir； we shall all feel his loss； poor； dear； noble gentleman；
and I'm sure nobody more polite！ They do say； sir； his wealth is
enormous； and before the Revolution； quite a prince in his own
country！ But I beg your pardon； sir； 'ow I do run on； to be sure；
and doubtless all beknown to you already！ For you do resemble the
family； sir。 I should have known you anywheres by the likeness to
the dear viscount。 Ha； poor gentleman； he must 'ave a 'eavy 'eart
these days。'
In the same place I saw out of the inn…windows a man…servant
passing in the livery of my house； which you are to think I had
never before seen worn； or not that I could remember。 I had often
enough； indeed； pictured myself advanced to be a Marshal； a Duke of
the Empire； a Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour； and some other
kickshaws of the kind； with a perfect rout of flunkeys correctly
dressed in my own colours。 But it is one thing to imagine； and
another to see； it would be one thing to have these liveries in a
house of my own in Paris … it was quite another to find them
flaunting in the heart of hostile England； and I fear I should have
made a fool of myself； if the man had not been on the other side of
the street； and I at a one…pane window。 There was something
illusory in this transplantation of the wealth and honours of a
family； a thing by its nature so deeply rooted in the soil；
something ghostly in this sense of home…coming so far from home。
From Dunstable I rolled away into a crescendo of similar
impressions。 There are certainly few things to be compared with
these castles； or rather country seats； of the English nobility and
gentry； nor anything at all to equal the servility of the
population that dwells in their neighbo