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Tressilian took the letter； which was addressed 〃To the
worshipful Master Edmund Tressilian； our loving kinsmanThese
ride； ride； ridefor thy life； for thy life； for thy life。 〃He
then opened it； and found the following contents：
〃MASTER TRESSILIAN； OUR GOOD FRIEND AND COUSIN；
〃We are at present so ill at ease； and otherwise so unhappily
circumstanced； that we are desirous to have around us those of
our friends on whose loving…kindness we can most especially
repose confidence； amongst whom we hold our good Master
Tressilian one of the foremost and nearest； both in good will and
good ability。 We therefore pray you； with your most convenient
speed； to repair to our poor lodging； at Sayes Court； near
Deptford； where we will treat further with you of matters which
we deem it not fit to commit unto writing。 And so we bid you
heartily farewell； being your loving kinsman to command；
〃RATCLIFFE； EARL OF SUSSEX。〃
〃Send up the messenger instantly； Will Badger；〃 said Tressilian；
and as the man entered the room； he exclaimed； 〃Ah； Stevens； is
it you？ how does my good lord？〃
〃Ill； Master Tressilian；〃 was the messenger's reply； 〃and having
therefore the more need of good friends around him。〃
〃But what is my lord's malady？〃 said Tressilian anxiously； I
heard nothing of his being ill。〃
〃I know not； sir；〃 replied the man； 〃he is very ill at ease。 The
leeches are at a stand； and many of his household suspect foul
practice…witchcraft； or worse。〃
〃What are the symptoms？〃 said Wayland Smith； stepping forward
hastily。
〃Anan？〃 said the messenger； not comprehending his meaning。
〃What does he ail？〃 said Wayland； 〃where lies his disease？〃
The man looked at Tressilian； as if to know whether he should
answer these inquiries from a stranger； and receiving a sign in
the affirmative； he hastily enumerated gradual loss of strength；
nocturnal perspiration； and loss of appetite； faintness； etc。
〃Joined；〃 said Wayland； 〃to a gnawing pain in the stomach； and a
low fever？〃
〃Even so；〃 said the messenger； somewhat surprised。
〃I know how the disease is caused；〃 said the artist； 〃and I know
the cause。 Your master has eaten of the manna of Saint Nicholas。
I know the cure toomy master shall not say I studied in his
laboratory for nothing。〃
〃How mean you？〃 said Tressilian； frowning； 〃we speak of one of
the first nobles of England。 Bethink you； this is no subject for
buffoonery。〃
〃God forbid！〃 said Wayland Smith。 〃I say that I know this
disease； and can cure him。 Remember what I did for Sir Hugh
Robsart；〃
〃We will set forth instantly；〃 said Tressilian。 〃God calls us。〃
Accordingly； hastily mentioning this new motive for his instant
departure； though without alluding to either the suspicions of
Stevens； or the assurances of Wayland Smith； he took the kindest
leave of Sir Hugh and the family at Lidcote Hall； who accompanied
him with prayers and blessings； and； attended by Wayland and the
Earl of Sussex's domestic； travelled with the utmost speed
towards London。
CHAPTER XIII。
Ay； I know you have arsenic；
Vitriol； sal…tartre； argaile； alkaly；
Cinoper： I know all。This fellow； Captain；
Will come in time to be a great distiller；
And give a say （I will not say directly；
But very near） at the philosopher's stone。 THE ALCHEMIST。
Tressilian and his attendants pressed their route with all
dispatch。 He had asked the smith； indeed； when their departure
was resolved on； whether he would not rather choose to avoid
Berkshire； in which he had played a part so conspicuous？ But
Wayland returned a confident answer。 He had employed the short
interval they passed at Lidcote Hall in transforming himself in a
wonderful manner。 His wild and overgrown thicket of beard was
now restrained to two small moustaches on the upper lip； turned
up in a military fashion。 A tailor from the village of Lidcote
（well paid） had exerted his skill； under his customer's
directions； so as completely to alter Wayland's outward man； and
take off from his appearance almost twenty years of age。
Formerly； besmeared with soot and charcoal； overgrown with hair；
and bent double with the nature of his labour； disfigured too by
his odd and fantastic dress； he seemed a man of fifty years old。
But now； in a handsome suit of Tressilian's livery； with a sword
by his side and a buckler on his shoulder； he looked like a gay
ruffling serving…man； whose age might be betwixt thirty and
thirty…five； the very prime of human life。 His loutish； savage…
looking demeanour seemed equally changed； into a forward； sharp；
and impudent alertness of look and action。
When challenged by Tressilian； who desired to know the cause of a
metamorphosis so singular and so absolute； Wayland only answered
by singing a stave from a comedy； which was then new； and was
supposed； among the more favourable judges； to augur some genius
on the part of the author。 We are happy to preserve the couplet；
which ran exactly thus；
〃Ban； ban； ca Caliban
Get a new masterBe a new man。〃
Although Tressilian did not recollect the verses； yet they
reminded him that Wayland had once been a stage player； a
circumstance which； of itself； accounted indifferently well for
the readiness with which he could assume so total a change of
personal appearance。 The artist himself was so confident of his
disguise being completely changed； or of his having completely
changed his disguise； which may be the more correct mode of
speaking； that he regretted they were not to pass near his old
place of retreat。
〃I could venture；〃 he said； 〃in my present dress； and with your
worship's backing； to face Master Justice Blindas； even on a day
of Quarter Sessions； and I would like to know what is become of
Hobgoblin； who is like to play the devil in the world； if he can
once slip the string； and leave his granny and his dominie。Ay；
and the scathed vault！〃 he said； 〃I would willingly have seen
what havoc the explosion of so much gunpowder has made among
Doctor Demetrius Doboobie's retorts and phials。 I warrant me； my
fame haunts the Vale of the Whitehorse long after my body is
rotten； and that many a lout ties up his horse； lays down his
silver groat； and pipes like a sailor whistling in a calm for
Wayland Smith to come and shoe his tit for him。 But the horse
will catch the founders ere the smith answers the call。〃
In this particular； indeed； Wayland proved a true prophet； and so
easily do fables rise； that an obscure tradition of his
extraordinary practice in farriery prevails in the Vale of
Whitehorse even unto this day； and neither the tradition of
Alfred's Victory； nor of the celebrated Pusey Horn； are better
preserved in Berkshire than the wild legend of Wayland Smith。
＇See Note 2； Legend of Wayland Smith。＇
The haste of the travellers admitted their making no stay upon
their journey； save what the refreshment of the horses required；
and as many of the places through which they passed were under
the influence of the Earl of Leicester； or persons immediately
dependent on him； they thought it prudent to disguise their names
and the purpose of their journey。 On such occasions