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things be cared for。 But she is in the case of being commanded
down to yonder Kenilworth revels； and it is most expedientmost
needfulmost necessary that she fly not thither。 Of these
necessities and their causes； it is not needful that she should
know aught； and it is to be thought that her own wish may lead
her to combat all ordinary reasons which can be urged for her
remaining a housekeeper。〃
〃That is but natural；〃 said the alchemist with a strange smile；
which yet bore a greater reference to the human character than
the uninterested and abstracted gaze which his physiognomy had
hitherto expressed； where all seemed to refer to some world
distant from that which was existing around him。
〃It is so；〃 answered Varney； 〃you understand women well； though
it may have been long since you were conversant amongst them。
Well； then； she is not to be contradicted； yet she is not to be
humoured。 Understand mea slight illness； sufficient to take
away the desire of removing from thence； and to make such of your
wise fraternity as may be called in to aid； recommend a quiet
residence at home； will； in one word； be esteemed good service；
and remunerated as such。〃
〃I am not to be asked to affect the House of Life？〃 said the
chemist。
〃On the contrary； we will have thee hanged if thou dost；〃 replied
Varney。
〃And I must；〃 added Alasco； 〃have opportunity to do my turn； and
all facilities for concealment or escape； should there be
detection？〃
〃All； all； and everything； thou infidel in all but the
impossibilities of alchemy。 Why； man； for what dost thou take
me？〃
The old man rose； and taking a light walked towards the end of
the apartment； where was a door that led to the small sleeping…
room destined for his reception during the night。 At the door he
turned round； and slowly repeated Varney's question ere he
answered it。 〃For what do I take thee； Richard Varney？ Why； for
a worse devil than I have been myself。 But I am in your toils；
and I must serve you till my term be out。〃
〃Well； well；〃 answered Varney hastily； 〃be stirring with grey
light。 It may be we shall not need thy medicinedo nought till
I myself come down。 Michael Lambourne shall guide you to the
place of your destination。〃 ＇See Note 7。 Dr。 Julio。＇
When Varney heard the adept's door shut and carefully bolted
within； he stepped towards it； and with similar precaution
carefully locked it on the outside； and took the key from the
lock； muttering to himself； 〃Worse than THEE； thou poisoning
quacksalver and witch…monger； who； if thou art not a bounden
slave to the devil； it is only because he disdains such an
apprentice！ I am a mortal man； and seek by mortal means the
gratification of my passions and advancement of my prospects；
thou art a vassal of hell itselfSo ho； Lambourne！〃 he called
at another door； and Michael made his appearance with a flushed
cheek and an unsteady step。
〃Thou art drunk； thou villain！〃 said Varney to him。
〃Doubtless； noble sir；〃 replied the unabashed Michael； 〃We have
been drinking all even to the glories of the day； and to my noble
Lord of Leicester and his valiant master of the horse。 Drunk！
odds blades and poniards； he that would refuse to swallow a dozen
healths on such an evening is a base besognio； and a puckfoist；
and shall swallow six inches of my dagger！〃
〃Hark ye； scoundrel；〃 said Varney； 〃be sober on the instantI
command thee。 I know thou canst throw off thy drunken folly；
like a fool's coat； at pleasure； and if not； it were the worse
for thee。〃
Lambourne drooped his head； left the apartment； and returned in
two or three minutes with his face composed； his hair adjusted；
his dress in order； and exhibiting as great a difference from his
former self as if the whole man had been changed。
〃Art thou sober now； and dost thou comprehend me？〃 said Varney
sternly。
Lambourne bowed in acquiescence。
〃Thou must presently down to Cumnor Place with the reverend man
of art who sleeps yonder in the little vaulted chamber。 Here is
the key； that thou mayest call him by times。 Take another trusty
fellow with you。 Use him well on the journey； but let him not
escape youpistol him if he attempt it； and I will be your
warrant。 I will give thee letters to Foster。 The doctor is to
occupy the lower apartments of the eastern quadrangle； with
freedom to use the old elaboratory and its implements。 He is to
have no access to the lady； but such as I shall point outonly
she may be amused to see his philosophical jugglery。 Thou wilt
await at Cumnor Place my further orders； and； as thou livest；
beware of the ale…bench and the aqua vitae flask。 Each breath
drawn in Cumnor Place must be kept severed from common air。〃
〃Enough； my lordI mean my worshipful master； soon； I trust； to
be my worshipful knightly master。 You have given me my lesson
and my license； I will execute the one； and not abuse the other。
I will be in the saddle by daybreak。〃
〃Do so； and deserve favour。 Stayere thou goest fill me a cup
of winenot out of that flask； sirrah；〃 as Lambourne was pouring
out from that which Alasco had left half finished； 〃fetch me a
fresh one。〃
Lambourne obeyed； and Varney； after rinsing his mouth with the
liquor； drank a full cup； and said； as he took up a lamp to
retreat to his sleeping apartment； 〃It is strangeI am as little
the slave of fancy as any one； yet I never speak for a few
minutes with this fellow Alasco； but my mouth and lungs feel as
if soiled with the fumes of calcined arsenicpah！〃
So saying； he left the apartment。 Lambourne lingered； to drink a
cup of the freshly…opened flask。 〃It is from Saint John's…Berg；〃
he said； as he paused on the draught to enjoy its flavour； 〃and
has the true relish of the violet。 But I must forbear it now；
that I may one day drink it at my own pleasure。〃 And he quaffed
a goblet of water to quench the fumes of the Rhenish wine；
retired slowly towards the door； made a pause； and then； finding
the temptation irresistible； walked hastily back； and took
another long pull at the wine flask； without the formality of a
cup。
〃Were it not for this accursed custom；〃 he said； 〃I might climb
as high as Varney himself。 But who can climb when the room turns
round with him like a parish…top？ I would the distance were
greater； or the road rougher； betwixt my hand and mouth！ But I
will drink nothing to…morrow save waternothing save fair
water。〃
CHAPTER XIX。
PISTOL。 And tidings do I bring； and lucky joys；
And happy news of price。
FALSTAFF。 I prithee now deliver them like to men of this world。
PISTOL。 A foutra for the world； and worldlings base！
I speak of Africa； and golden joys。 HENRY IV。 PART II。
The public room of the Black Bear at Cumnor； to which the scene
of our story now returns； boasted； on the evening which we treat
of； no ordinary assemblage of guests。 There had been a fair in
the neighbourhood； and the cutting mercer of Abingdon； with some
of the other personages whom the reader has already been made
acquainted with； as friends and customers of Giles Gosling； had
already formed their wonted circle around the evening fire； and
were talking ov