How surprised they were,
then, to see nothing of the sort happen- how they marveled to hear him
answer up promptly, in a confident and untroubled voice, and say:
'There is naught in this riddle that is difficult.' Then,
without so much as a by-your-leave to anybody, he turned and gave this
command, with the easy manner of one accustomed to doing such
things: 'My Lord St. John, go you to my private cabinet in the palace-
for none knoweth the place better than you- and, close down to the
floor, in the left corner remotest from the door that opens from the
antechamber, you shall find in the wall a brazen nail-head; press upon
it and a little jewel closet will fly open which not even you do
know of- no, nor any soul else in all the world but me and the
trusty artisan that did contrive it for me. The first thing that
falleth under your eye will be the Great Seal- fetch it hither.'
All the company wondered at this speech, and wondered still more
to see the little mendicant pick out this peer without hesitancy or
apparent fear of mistake, and call him by name with such a placidly
convincing air of having known him all his life. The peer was almost
surprised into obeying. He even made a movement as if to go, but
quickly recovered his tranquil attitude and confessed his blunder with
a blush. Tom Canty turned upon him and said, sharply:
'Why dost thou hesitate? Hast not heard the king's command? Go!'
The Lord St. John made a deep obeisance- and it was observed
that it was a significantly cautious and non-committal one, it not
being delivered at either of the kings, but at the neutral ground
about half-way between the two- and took his leave.
Pages:
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230