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good Christian and a faithful servant； who will spare neither
body nor soul in his master's service。 However； the devil has
lifted him in time； for a Constable of the Hundred came hither
this morning to get old Gaffer Pinniewinks； the trier of witches；
to go with him to the Vale of Whitehorse to comprehend Wayland
Smith； and put him to his probation。 I helped Pinniewinks to
sharpen his pincers and his poking…awl； and I saw the warrant
from Justice Blindas。〃
〃Poohpoohthe devil would laugh both at Blindas and his
warrant； constable and witch…finder to boot；〃 said old Dame
Crank； the Papist laundress； 〃Wayland Smith's flesh would mind
Pinniewinks' awl no more than a cambric ruff minds a hot
piccadilloe…needle。 But tell me； gentlefolks； if the devil ever
had such a hand among ye； as to snatch away your smiths and your
artists from under your nose； when the good Abbots of Abingdon
had their own？ By Our Lady； no！they had their hallowed tapers；
and their holy water； and their relics； and what not； could send
the foulest fiends a…packing。 Go ask a heretic parson to do the
like。 But ours were a comfortable people。〃
〃Very true； Dame Crank；〃 said the hostler； 〃so said Simpkins of
Simonburn when the curate kissed his wife；'They are a
comfortable people；' said he。〃
〃Silence； thou foul…mouthed vermin；〃 said Dame Crank； 〃is it fit
for a heretic horse…boy like thee to handle such a text as the
Catholic clergy？〃
〃In troth no； dame；〃 replied the man of oats； 〃and as you
yourself are now no text for their handling； dame； whatever may
have been the case in your day； I think we had e'en better leave
un alone。〃
At this last exchange of sarcasm； Dame Crank set up her throat；
and began a horrible exclamation against Jack Hostler； under
cover of which Tressilian and his attendant escaped into the
house。
They had no sooner entered a private chamber； to which Goodman
Crane himself had condescended to usher them； and dispatched
their worthy and obsequious host on the errand of procuring wine
and refreshment； than Wayland Smith began to give vent to his
self…importance。
〃You see； sir；〃 said he； addressing Tressilian； 〃that I nothing
fabled in asserting that I possessed fully the mighty mystery of
a farrier； or mareschal； as the French more honourably term us。
These dog…hostlers； who； after all； are the better judges in such
a case； know what credit they should attach to my medicaments。 I
call you to witness； worshipful Master Tressilian； that nought；
save the voice of calumny and the hand of malicious violence；
hath driven me forth from a station in which I held a place alike
useful and honoured。〃
〃I bear witness； my friend； but will reserve my listening；〃
answered Tressilian； 〃for a safer time； unless； indeed； you deem
it essential to your reputation to be translated； like your late
dwelling； by the assistance of a flash of fire。 For you see your
best friends reckon you no better than a mere sorcerer。〃
〃Now； Heaven forgive them；〃 said the artist； 〃who confounded
learned skill with unlawful magic！ I trust a man may be as
skilful； or more so； than the best chirurgeon ever meddled with
horse…flesh； and yet may be upon the matter little more than
other ordinary men； or at the worst no conjurer。〃
〃God forbid else！〃 said Tressilian。 〃But be silent just for the
present； since here comes mine host with an assistant； who seems
something of the least。〃
Everybody about the inn； Dame Crane herself included； had been
indeed so interested and agitated by the story they had heard of
Wayland Smith； and by the new； varying； and more marvellous
editions of the incident which arrived from various quarters；
that mine host； in his righteous determination to accommodate his
guests； had been able to obtain the assistance of none of his
household； saving that of a little boy； a junior tapster； of
about twelve years old； who was called Sampson。
〃I wish；〃 he said； apologizing to his guests； as he set down a
flagon of sack； and promised some food immediately〃I wish the
devil had flown away with my wife and my whole family instead of
this Wayland Smith； who； I daresay； after all said and done； was
much less worthy of the distinction which Satan has done him。〃
〃I hold opinion with you； good fellow；〃 replied Wayland Smith；
〃and I will drink to you upon that argument。〃
〃Not that I would justify any man who deals with the devil；〃 said
mine host； after having pledged Wayland in a rousing draught of
sack； 〃but thatsaw ye ever better sack； my masters？but that；
I say； a man had better deal with a dozen cheats and scoundrel
fellows； such as this Wayland Smith； than with a devil incarnate；
that takes possession of house and home； bed and board。〃
The poor fellow's detail of grievances was here interrupted by
the shrill voice of his helpmate； screaming from the kitchen； to
which he instantly hobbled； craving pardon of his guests。 He was
no sooner gone than Wayland Smith expressed； by every
contemptuous epithet in the language； his utter scorn for a
nincompoop who stuck his head under his wife's apron…string； and
intimated that； saving for the sake of the horses； which required
both rest and food； he would advise his worshipful Master
Tressilian to push on a stage farther； rather than pay a
reckoning to such a mean…spirited； crow…trodden； henpecked
coxcomb； as Gaffer Crane。
The arrival of a large dish of good cow…heel and bacon something
soothed the asperity of the artist； which wholly vanished before
a choice capon； so delicately roasted that the lard frothed on
it； said Wayland； like May…dew on a lily； and both Gaffer Crane
and his good dame became； in his eyes； very painstaking；
accommodating； obliging persons。
According to the manners of the times； the master and his
attendant sat at the same table； and the latter observed； with
regret； how little attention Tressilian paid to his meal。 He
recollected； indeed； the pain he had given by mentioning the
maiden in whose company he had first seen him； but； fearful of
touching upon a topic too tender to be tampered with； he chose to
ascribe his abstinence to another cause。
〃This fare is perhaps too coarse for your worship；〃 said Wayland；
as the limbs of the capon disappeared before his own exertions；
〃but had you dwelt as long as I have done in yonder dungeon；
which Flibbertigibbet has translated to the upper element； a
place where I dared hardly broil my food； lest the smoke should
be seen without； you would think a fair capon a more welcome
dainty。〃
〃If you are pleased； friend；〃 said Tressilian； 〃it is well。
Nevertheless； hasten thy meal if thou canst； For this place is
unfriendly to thy safety； and my concerns crave travelling。〃
Allowing； therefore； their horses no more rest than was
absolutely necessary for them； they pursued their journey by a
forced march as far as Bradford； where they reposed themselves
for the night。
The next morning found them early travellers。 And； not to
fatigue the reader with unnecessary particulars； they traversed
without adventure the counties of Wiltshire and Somerset； and
about noon of the third day after Tressilian's leaving Cumnor；
arrived a