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revels。〃
CHAPTER XXVII。
In my time I have seen a boy do wonders。
Robin； the red tinker； had a boy
Would ha run through a cat…hole。 THE COXCOMB。
Amid the universal bustle which filled the Castle and its
environs； it was no easy matter to find out any individual； and
Wayland was still less likely to light upon Tressilian； whom he
sought so anxiously； because； sensible of the danger of
attracting attention in the circumstances in which he was placed；
he dared not make general inquiries among the retainers or
domestics of Leicester。 He learned； however； by indirect
questions； that in all probability Tressilian must have been one
of a large party of gentlemen in attendance on the Earl of
Sussex； who had accompanied their patron that morning to
Kenilworth； when Leicester had received them with marks of the
most formal respect and distinction。 He further learned that
both Earls； with their followers； and many other nobles； knights；
and gentlemen； had taken horse； and gone towards Warwick several
hours since； for the purpose of escorting the Queen to
Kenilworth。
Her Majesty's arrival； like other great events； was delayed from
hour to hour； and it was now announced by a breathless post that
her Majesty； being detained by her gracious desire to receive the
homage of her lieges who had thronged to wait upon her at
Warwick； it would be the hour of twilight ere she entered the
Castle。 The intelligence released for a time those who were upon
duty； in the immediate expectation of the Queen's appearance； and
ready to play their part in the solemnities with which it was to
be accompanied； and Wayland； seeing several horsemen enter the
Castle； was not without hopes that Tressilian might be of the
number。 That he might not lose an opportunity of meeting his
patron in the event of this being the case； Wayland placed
himself in the base…court of the Castle； near Mortimer's Tower；
and watched every one who went or came by the bridge； the
extremity of which was protected by that building。 Thus
stationed； nobody could enter or leave the Castle without his
observation； and most anxiously did he study the garb and
countenance of every horseman； as； passing from under the
opposite Gallery…tower； they paced slowly； or curveted； along the
tilt…yard； and approached the entrance of the base…court。
But while Wayland gazed thus eagerly to discover him whom he saw
not； he was pulled by the sleeve by one by whom he himself would
not willingly have been seen。
This was Dickie Sludge； or Flibbertigibbet； who； like the imp
whose name he bore； and whom he had been accoutred in order to
resemble； seemed to be ever at the ear of those who thought least
of him。 Whatever were Wayland's internal feelings； he judged it
necessary to express pleasure at their unexpected meeting。
〃Ha！ is it thou； my minikinmy miller's thumbmy prince of
cacodemonsmy little mouse？〃
〃Ay；〃 said Dickie； 〃the mouse which gnawed asunder the toils；
just when the lion who was caught in them began to look
wonderfully like an ass。〃
〃Thy； thou little hop…the…gutter； thou art as sharp as vinegar
this afternoon！ But tell me； how didst thou come off with yonder
jolterheaded giant whom I left thee with？ I was afraid he would
have stripped thy clothes； and so swallowed thee； as men peel and
eat a roasted chestnut。〃
〃Had he done so；〃 replied the boy； 〃he would have had more brains
in his guts than ever he had in his noddle。 But the giant is a
courteous monster； and more grateful than many other folk whom I
have helped at a pinch； Master Wayland Smith。〃
〃Beshrew me； Flibbertigibbet；〃 replied Wayland； 〃but thou art
sharper than a Sheffield whittle！ I would I knew by what charm
you muzzled yonder old bear。〃
〃Ay； that is in your own manner；〃 answered Dickie； 〃you think
fine speeches will pass muster instead of good…will。 However； as
to this honest porter； you must know that when we presented
ourselves at the gate yonder； his brain was over…burdened with a
speech that had been penned for him； and which proved rather an
overmatch for his gigantic faculties。 Now this same pithy
oration had been indited； like sundry others； by my learned
magister； Erasmus Holiday； so I had heard it often enough to
remember every line。 As soon as I heard him blundering and
floundering like a fish upon dry land； through the first verse；
and perceived him at a stand； I knew where the shoe pinched； and
helped him to the next word； when he caught me up in an ecstasy；
even as you saw but now。 I promised； as the price of your
admission； to hide me under his bearish gaberdine； and prompt him
in the hour of need。 I have just now been getting some food in
the Castle； and am about to return to him。〃
〃That's rightthat's right； my dear Dickie；〃 replied Wayland；
〃haste thee； for Heaven's sake！ else the poor giant will be
utterly disconsolate for want of his dwarfish auxiliary。 Away
with thee； Dickie！〃
〃Ay； ay！〃 answered the boy〃away with Dickie； when we have got
what good of him we can。 You will not let me know the story of
this lady； then； who is as much sister of thine as I am？〃
〃Why； what good would it do thee； thou silly elf？〃 said Wayland。
〃Oh； stand ye on these terms？〃 said the boy。 〃Well； I care not
greatly about the matteronly； I never smell out a secret but I
try to be either at the right or the wrong end of it； and so good
evening to ye。〃
〃Nay； but； Dickie；〃 said Wayland； who knew the boy's restless and
intriguing disposition too well not to fear his enmity〃stay； my
dear Dickiepart not with old friends so shortly！ Thou shalt
know all I know of the lady one day。〃
〃Ay！〃 said Dickie； 〃and that day may prove a nigh one。 Fare
thee well； WaylandI will to my large…limbed friend； who； if he
have not so sharp a wit as some folk； is at least more grateful
for the service which other folk render him。 And so again； good
evening to ye。〃
So saying； he cast a somerset through the gateway； and lighting
on the bridge； ran with the extraordinary agility which was one
of his distinguishing attributes towards the Gallery…tower； and
was out of sight in an instant。
〃I would to God I were safe out of this Castle again！〃 prayed
Wayland internally； 〃for now that this mischievous imp has put
his finger in the pie； it cannot but prove a mess fit for the
devil's eating。 I would to Heaven Master Tressilian would
appear！〃
Tressilian； whom he was thus anxiously expecting in one
direction； had returned to Kenilworth by another access。 It was
indeed true； as Wayland had conjectured； that in the earlier part
of the day he had accompanied the Earls on their cavalcade
towards Warwick； not without hope that he might in that town hear
some tidings of his emissary。 Being disappointed in this
expectation； and observing Varney amongst Leicester's attendants；
seeming as if he had some purpose of advancing to and addressing
him； he conceived； in the present circumstances； it was wisest to
avoid the interview。 He； therefore； left the presence…chamber
when the High…Sheriff of the county was in the very midst of his
dutiful address to her Majesty； and mounting his horse； rode back
to K