THE FOOL ERRANT - World eBook Library - World Public Library

say, ha! fair enchantress, do we meet again? A nonchalant mien! I believe few ladies can resist it. But it is not for me to say. I
am, however, convinced of one thing, which is that if you stray about the country at random, proclaiming in a resolute voice that
you are a criminal, in a very short time you will be taken at your word and clapped into gaol— there or in a madhouse. Either
will be uncomfortable—but in neither will you meet your lady. Of that I am positive." He grew warm, he grew declamatory.
"Why, this is extraordinary!" he cried. "Why, sir, how will you get out of this State and into another without a passport? How
will you live when you have spent your money? How can you approach your lady, or anybody's lady, without a coat on your
back or a quattrino in your pocket? I am ashamed to put you questions so elementary, but if you can answer one of them I shall
have done with them."
As I had no answer ready, Issachar proceeded—briskly, confidentially, and with alacrity. "It is indeed lucky for you," he said,
"that you have fallen into my hands; Fra Palamone—that old tusker with the useful foot—would have flayed you alive and sold
the skin. Now, I have everything here that a man of honour can want—a neat jacket"—he produced it—"shoes, stockings,
garters?"—he put them on the bed. "A hat?" He held up a broad-brimmed felt, with a draggled feather which conferred no
benefit upon it. "And now," he continued, "for your trade. Short of chivalry, which involves horse exercise and is to be
condemned on the score of expense, peddling is the very thing for you. I understand your requirements perfectly: put shortly
they are: (a) piety, (b) travel, (c) gallantry; beyond those you need health, reasonable protection from law or lawlessness, honest
profit. Well, take peddling. It is safe, it is easy; you have company, you may make money; you see all the sights and hear all the
news, and you may repent as diligently as you please through all. But my assistance will be better than you can dream of. I am
myself a pedlar, with a small stock left, which (as I am going home to Venice) I shall make over to you at cost price. In addition
to that, I will hand my passport over to you, just as I have given you my coat and hat. Read it, and you will see how exactly
your wheels fall into my ruts." He produced his passport and put it in my hands. I found myself about to be described as
"Issacaro, Ebreo, vendor of pious objects," licensed by the Sacred College and vouched for by the Grand Inquisitor. My
features were said to be fleshy, my nose pendulous, my hair black and curly, my shoulders narrow, my manner assured. I
objected that the description would never pass me over the frontier; but Issachar replied, "Have no concern on that score.
Observe my shoulders, they are as level as your own. Can it be said of my manner that it fails of delicacy? That passport was
no more mine than it is now. The fact is that a passport is needed to distinguish one man from another; and if the traveller have
no particular features, these must be found for him. These crucifixes will save you."
"That," I said, "as a Christian, I am not allowed to deny."
"I have a round score of them left," says he. "Let us figure up the whole. The passport I could not let go for less than two
ducats; upon my soul and honour it cost me near three. The hat, the coat, shoes and stockings—well, can we say less than a
ducat and a half? Surely not. The workmanship alone is worth the money. For the crucifixes, which are very fine, and in the
rococo manner now so much esteemed, I cannot say a quattrino less than four ducats, nor can a Christian, I suppose, set any
bounds to the value he places upon that symbol. My price, therefore, is nominal—an act of charity on my part, which my
sympathy with your sad story moves me to do. I believe you had in your breeches pocket some ten ducats and a few broad
pieces. Supposing I take seven ducats and conclude the bargain—what do you say? Will you shake hands upon it?" He looked
pleasantly at me, holding out his hand.
The crucifixes were large—the image of plaster, the cross of white wood. The price was exorbitant; but I felt the force of his
argument, that no Christian could set bounds to the value of such a symbol. Moreover, the trade attracted me. To walk the
world as a pedlar of crucifixes—could one conceive a nobler employment? I, at least, could not. The merchandise so noble that
it could not be degraded by the merchant, the merchant so ignoble that he must needs be dignified by the merchandise—the
cross, emblem of sacrifice, emblem of divine compassion, divine providence and humility! I must be excused if I saw here
something more than happy coincidence, if I fell into a mood of dangerous exaltation. I embraced my new career with fervour, I
embraced my stock-in-trade. "Oh, thou unique and venerable wood," I cried, "often as thou hast been carried into men's affairs,
in the forefront of red battle, to preside over the consecrations of pontiffs and emperors, to abase kings, to lend criminals a final
hope, never yet hast thou submitted thyself to a sinner in sorer need, but never also found sincerer champion than Francis
Strelley! Under this sign did Constantius Caesar subdue Chosroes; under it shall riotous Francis tread down himself!" I bade
Issachar take his purchase-money; I thanked him warmly for his friendly thoughts of me; and having put on the coat, hat, and
other garments he had sold me, set out once more, after a day's and night's repose, which were complete enough to make
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