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left…handed man。 His hair； in arranging which men at that time；
as at present； were very nice and curious； instead of being
carefully cleaned and disposed into short curls； or else set up
on end； as is represented in old paintings； in a manner
resembling that used by fine gentlemen of our own day； escaped in
sable negligence from under a furred bonnet； and hung in elf…
locks； which seemed strangers to the comb； over his rugged brows；
and around his very singular and unprepossessing countenance。
His keen； dark eyes were deep set beneath broad and shaggy
eyebrows； and as they were usually bent on the ground； seemed as
if they were themselves ashamed of the expression natural to
them； and were desirous to conceal it from the observation of
men。 At times； however； when； more intent on observing others；
he suddenly raised them； and fixed them keenly on those with whom
he conversed； they seemed to express both the fiercer passions；
and the power of mind which could at will suppress or disguise
the intensity of inward feeling。 The features which corresponded
with these eyes and this form were irregular； and marked so as to
be indelibly fixed on the mind of him who had once seen them。
Upon the whole； as Tressilian could not help acknowledging to
himself； the Anthony Foster who now stood before them was the
last person； judging from personal appearance； upon whom one
would have chosen to intrude an unexpected and undesired visit。
His attire was a doublet of russet leather； like those worn by
the better sort of country folk； girt with a buff belt； in which
was stuck on the right side a long knife； or dudgeon dagger； and
on the other a cutlass。 He raised his eyes as he entered the
room； and fixed a keenly penetrating glance upon his two
visitors； then cast them down as if counting his steps； while he
advanced slowly into the middle of the room； and said； in a low
and smothered tone of voice； 〃Let me pray you； gentlemen； to tell
me the cause of this visit。〃
He looked as if he expected the answer from Tressilian； so true
was Lambourne's observation that the superior air of breeding and
dignity shone through the disguise of an inferior dress。 But it
was Michael who replied to him； with the easy familiarity of an
old friend； and a tone which seemed unembarrassed by any doubt of
the most cordial reception。
〃Ha！ my dear friend and ingle； Tony Foster！〃 he exclaimed；
seizing upon the unwilling hand； and shaking it with such
emphasis as almost to stagger the sturdy frame of the person whom
he addressed； 〃how fares it with you for many a long year？ What！
have you altogether forgotten your friend； gossip； and
playfellow； Michael Lambourne？〃
〃Michael Lambourne！〃 said Foster； looking at him a moment； then
dropping his eyes； and with little ceremony extricating his hand
from the friendly grasp of the person by whom he was addressed；
〃are you Michael Lambourne？〃
〃Ay； sure as you are Anthony Foster；〃 replied Lambourne。
〃'Tis well；〃 answered his sullen host。 〃And what may Michael
Lambourne expect from his visit hither？〃
〃VOTO A DIOS；〃 answered Lambourne； 〃I expected a better welcome
than I am like to meet； I think。〃
〃Why； thou gallows…birdthou jail…ratthou friend of the
hangman and his customers！〃 replied Foster； 〃hast thou the
assurance to expect countenance from any one whose neck is beyond
the compass of a Tyburn tippet？〃
〃It may be with me as you say；〃 replied Lambourne； 〃and suppose I
grant it to be so for argument's sake； I were still good enough
society for mine ancient friend Anthony Fire…the…Fagot； though he
be； for the present； by some indescribable title； the master of
Cumnor Place。〃
〃Hark you； Michael Lambourne；〃 said Foster； 〃you are a gambler
now； and live by the counting of chancescompute me the odds
that I do not； on this instant； throw you out of that window into
the ditch there。〃
〃Twenty to one that you do not；〃 answered the sturdy visitor。
〃And wherefore； I pray you？〃 demanded Anthony Foster； setting
his teeth and compressing his lips； like one who endeavours to
suppress some violent internal emotion。
〃Because；〃 said Lambourne coolly； 〃you dare not for your life lay
a finger on me。 I am younger and stronger than you； and have in
me a double portion of the fighting devil； though not； it may be；
quite so much of the undermining fiend； that finds an underground
way to his purposewho hides halters under folk's pillows； and
who puts rats…bane into their porridge； as the stage…play says。〃
Foster looked at him earnestly； then turned away； and paced the
room twice with the same steady and considerate pace with which
he had entered it； then suddenly came back； and extended his hand
to Michael Lambourne； saying； 〃Be not wroth with me； good Mike； I
did but try whether thou hadst parted with aught of thine old and
honourable frankness； which your enviers and backbiters called
saucy impudence。〃
〃Let them call it what they will；〃 said Michael Lambourne； 〃it is
the commodity we must carry through the world with us。Uds
daggers！ I tell thee； man； mine own stock of assurance was too
small to trade upon。 I was fain to take in a ton or two more of
brass at every port where I touched in the voyage of life； and I
started overboard what modesty and scruples I had remaining； in
order to make room for the stowage。〃
〃Nay； nay；〃 replied Foster； 〃touching scruples and modesty； you
sailed hence in ballast。 But who is this gallant； honest Mike？
is he a Corinthiana cutter like thyself？〃
〃I prithee； know Master Tressilian； bully Foster；〃 replied
Lambourne； presenting his friend in answer to his friend's
question； 〃know him and honour him； for he is a gentleman of many
admirable qualities； and though he traffics not in my line of
business； at least so far as I know； he has； nevertheless； a just
respect and admiration for artists of our class。 He will come to
in time； as seldom fails； but as yet he is only a neophyte； only
a proselyte； and frequents the company of cocks of the game； as a
puny fencer does the schools of the masters； to see how a foil is
handled by the teachers of defence。〃
〃If such be his quality； I will pray your company in another
chamber； honest Mike； for what I have to say to thee is for thy
private ear。Meanwhile； I pray you； sir； to abide us in this
apartment； and without leaving it； there be those in this house
who would be alarmed by the sight of a stranger。〃
Tressilian acquiesced； and the two worthies left the apartment
together； in which he remained alone to await their return。〃
＇See Note 1。 Foster； Lambourne； and the Black Bear。＇
CHAPTER IV。
Not serve two masters？Here's a youth will try it
Would fain serve God； yet give the devil his due；
Says grace before he doth a deed of villainy；
And returns his thanks devoutly when 'tis acted； OLD PLAY。
The room into which the Master of Cumnor Place conducted his
worthy visitant was of greater extent than that in which they had
at first conversed； and had yet more the appearance of
dilapidation。 Large oaken presses； filled with shelves of the
same wood； surrounded the room； and had； at one time； served for
the arrange