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same wood； surrounded the room； and had； at one time； served for
the arrangement of a numerous collection of books； many of which
yet remained； but torn and defaced； covered with dust； deprived
of their costly clasps and bindings； and tossed together in heaps
upon the shelves； as things altogether disregarded； and abandoned
to the pleasure of every spoiler。 The very presses themselves
seemed to have incurred the hostility of those enemies of
learning who had destroyed the volumes with which they had been
heretofore filled。 They were； in several places； dismantled of
their shelves； and otherwise broken and damaged； and were；
moreover； mantled with cobwebs and covered with dust。
〃The men who wrote these books；〃 said Lambourne； looking round
him； 〃little thought whose keeping they were to fall into。〃
〃Nor what yeoman's service they were to do me；〃 quoth Anthony
Foster； 〃the cook hath used them for scouring his pewter； and the
groom hath had nought else to clean my boots with； this many a
month past。〃
〃And yet；〃 said Lambourne； 〃I have been in cities where such
learned commodities would have been deemed too good for such
offices。〃
〃Pshaw； pshaw；〃 answered Foster； 〃'they are Popish trash； every
one of themprivate studies of the mumping old Abbot of
Abingdon。 The nineteenthly of a pure gospel sermon were worth a
cartload of such rakings of the kennel of Rome。〃
〃Gad…a…mercy； Master Tony Fire…the…Fagot！〃 said Lambourne； by
way of reply。
Foster scowled darkly at him； as he replied； 〃Hark ye； friend
Mike； forget that name； and the passage which it relates to； if
you would not have our newly…revived comradeship die a sudden and
a violent death。〃
〃Why；〃 said Michael Lambourne； 〃you were wont to glory in the
share you had in the death of the two old heretical bishops。〃
〃That；〃 said his comrade； 〃was while I was in the gall of
bitterness and bond of iniquity； and applies not to my walk or my
ways now that I am called forth into the lists。 Mr。 Melchisedek
Maultext compared my misfortune in that matter to that of the
Apostle Paul； who kept the clothes of the witnesses who stoned
Saint Stephen。 He held forth on the matter three Sabbaths past；
and illustrated the same by the conduct of an honourable person
present； meaning me。〃
〃I prithee peace； Foster；〃 said Lambourne； 〃for I know not how it
is； I have a sort of creeping comes over my skin when I hear the
devil quote Scripture； and besides； man； how couldst thou have
the heart to quit that convenient old religion； which you could
slip off or on as easily as your glove？ Do I not remember how
you were wont to carry your conscience to confession； as duly as
the month came round？ and when thou hadst it scoured； and
burnished； and whitewashed by the priest； thou wert ever ready
for the worst villainy which could be devised； like a child who
is always readiest to rush into the mire when he has got his
Sunday's clean jerkin on。〃
〃Trouble not thyself about my conscience；〃 said Foster； 〃it is a
thing thou canst not understand； having never had one of thine
own。 But let us rather to the point； and say to me； in one word；
what is thy business with me； and what hopes have drawn thee
hither？〃
〃The hope of bettering myself； to be sure；〃 answered Lambourne；
〃as the old woman said when she leapt over the bridge at
Kingston。 Look you； this purse has all that is left of as round
a sum as a man would wish to carry in his slop…pouch。 You are
here well established； it would seem； and； as I think； well
befriended； for men talk of thy being under some special
protectionnay； stare not like a pig that is stuck； mon； thou
canst not dance in a net and they not see thee。 Now I know such
protection is not purchased for nought； you must have services to
render for it； and in these I propose to help thee。〃
〃But how if I lack no assistance from thee； Mike？ I think thy
modesty might suppose that were a case possible。〃
〃That is to say；〃 retorted Lambourne； 〃that you would engross the
whole work； rather than divide the reward。 But be not over…
greedy； Anthonycovetousness bursts the sack and spills the
grain。 Look you； when the huntsman goes to kill a stag； he takes
with him more dogs than one。 He has the stanch lyme…hound to
track the wounded buck over hill and dale； but he hath also the
fleet gaze…hound to kill him at view。 Thou art the lyme…hound； I
am the gaze…hound； and thy patron will need the aid of both； and
can well afford to requite it。 Thou hast deep sagacityan
unrelenting purposea steady； long…breathed malignity of nature；
that surpasses mine。 But then； I am the bolder； the quicker； the
more ready； both at action and expedient。 Separate； our
properties are not so perfect； but unite them； and we drive the
world before us。 How sayest thoushall we hunt in couples？〃
〃It is a currish proposalthus to thrust thyself upon my private
matters；〃 replied Foster； 〃but thou wert ever an ill…nurtured
whelp。〃
〃You shall have no cause to say so； unless you spurn my
courtesy；〃 said Michael Lambourne； 〃but if so； keep thee well
from me； Sir Knight； as the romance has it。 I will either share
your counsels or traverse them； for I have come here to be busy；
either with thee or against thee。〃
〃Well；〃 said Anthony Foster； 〃since thou dost leave me so fair a
choice； I will rather be thy friend than thine enemy。 Thou art
right； I CAN prefer thee to the service of a patron who has
enough of means to make us both； and an hundred more。 And； to
say truth； thou art well qualified for his service。 Boldness and
dexterity he demandsthe justice…books bear witness in thy
favour； no starting at scruples in his service why； who ever
suspected thee of a conscience？ an assurance he must have who
would follow a courtierand thy brow is as impenetrable as a
Milan visor。 There is but one thing I would fain see amended in
thee。〃
〃And what is that； my most precious friend Anthony？〃 replied
Lambourne； 〃for I swear by the pillow of the Seven Sleepers I
will not be slothful in amending it。〃
〃Why； you gave a sample of it even now；〃 said Foster。 〃Your
speech twangs too much of the old stamp； and you garnish it ever
and anon with singular oaths； that savour of Papistrie。 Besides；
your exterior man is altogether too deboshed and irregular to
become one of his lordship's followers； since he has a reputation
to keep up in the eye of the world。 You must somewhat reform
your dress； upon a more grave and composed fashion； wear your
cloak on both shoulders； and your falling band unrumpled and well
starched。 You must enlarge the brim of your beaver； and diminish
the superfluity of your trunk…hose； go to church； or； which will
be better； to meeting； at least once a month； protest only upon
your faith and conscience； lay aside your swashing look； and
never touch the hilt of your sword but when you would draw the
carnal weapon in good earnest。〃
〃By this light； Anthony； thou art mad；〃 answered Lambourne； 〃and
hast described rather the gentleman…usher to a puritan's wife；
than the follower of an ambitious courtier！ Yes； such a thing as
thou wouldst make of me should wear a book at his girdle inst