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 medicine--do 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 itself--So 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 instant--Icommand 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 you--pistol 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 out--only 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 lord--I 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.Stay--ere thou goest fill me a cup of wine--not 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 strange--I 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 arsenic--pah!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 Iwill drink nothing to-morrow save water--nothing save fair water.