Fabiola : or, The church of the catacombs - Digital Repository Services

Cm put Buoh ready faith in mere reports ; and
>, of
doing so lh:m
none were
the comm!
-Try IIP said turning abruptly to the un fortunate attendant
\vlio had brought bun the tidings,
' where heardest thou
about Illi' priest '!
MaMer. 'twas MS 1 told you that two men said thiit a person
ilicy had seen told them he had traveled here with a man
who looked much like a Popish priest.
'
Then if you wish to remain in my service/ retorted Mr.
lliuuins. -take heed tliat you never bring the like uncurtain
reports again to disquiet me.'
CHAPTER VII.
The last days of October had been chilly ; the first of November
dawned cheerless and foggy, and as the day wore on,
eet did not improve. At four o'clock that afternoon the
narrow streets of Pen/mice were dark and dismal, and for some
reason there was not the usual stirot business. An individual,
well wrapt up in a ponderous cloak, was the only person to
lie seen; lie walked with hurried step, appearing absorbed in
thought. The road was one with which he was evidently well
acquainted, for lie mechanically turned up and down, from
street to street, scarcely ever raising his eyes from the ground
until he entered the main thoroughfare, and then he did look
up, and stopped short for the din of voices struck his ear, con-
trasting strangeh- with the previous silence. Stephen Casterman,
for lie it was, ga/ed with some surprise on the motley
group that had collected at the blacksmith's door, and com-
pletely obstructed the pathway The old hump-backed cobbler
was there, with a boot in process of mending ; the carpenter,
with liis rule peeping out of his pocket ; and sturdy little lads,
the sons of fishermen, were standing with their hands behind
their backs, staring up in bewilderment at the smith, a tall man
of gigantic strength, and a person of great importance in the
town.
Thomas Tregarthen, besides being well acquainted with his
knew a liltK- of everything, and was a great talker on all
subjects. On the present occasion he seemed to be haranguing
the people. Casterman determined to ascertain what the matter
was, and pushed his way through the crowd.
'
O, Master Castermau,' exclaimed the little cobbler, 'here
you
arc !
'
'
'
\Vell.' returned Stephen,
what is Thomas Tregarthen talk-
ing to you all about to-day ?'
'
lie was just giving us his ideas on religion. You know
awhile ago the constable searched Sir Reginald's house for a
Papist priest, whom folks said was there : Rethought
it was a
grievous thing to molest so good a gentleman. However, the
constable has offered a reward to any one who shall find the
hiding-place of the said priest ; so the carpenter has been 'on
the look-out.
'
'
Well, what has he found ?
interrupted Casterman, who was
growing impatient.
'
In truth, he found nothing, but he thought he had, and came
to Master Tregarthen's to talk it over in a neighborly way, as
we always do ; I and a couple of others were in the forge at the
tune; and the passers stopping to see what the matter was, there
gathered the crowd you see, and Master Tregarthen got very
warm about religion: he is a marvelously good speaker. I
could listen to him the live-long day.
'
Well,' said Casterman, '
as I have no time to lose in talking
'
and
or in-hearing others talk, I'll wish you all good-afternoon ;
with these words be left his gossiping companion, while the
blacksmith continued preaching in a loud tone against the
horrors and dangers of Popery.
Siephen hurried on his road. At length he stopped before a
lied house in a dirty narrow lane which ran from the harbor
towards the old market place. The nets which hung on the
sides of the dwellings, the strong smell of fish which pervaded
TRUE TO TSl ST.
the atmosphere, and the hardy-looking men in blue home spun
that the i
iMiennen anil their tai
i'o many of the Conner (.'aslei-man was known as a wrecker and .-muggier.
daring
'Too much mist at sea to day tor a boat to venture out? What
think you, Casterman? said one ol the men. Stephen answered
by a kind of grunt, and gave a vigorous push to the door, whose
old hinges creaked and shivered as it Hew open.
The room into which the wrecker entered was small and mis-
erable, and so dark that tlie numerous objects that filled it were
y distinguishable Its sole occupant was an old man,
whose long white beard and straggling locks gave him a
what wild appearance n.s hooked nose and piercing black eyes
betokening a Jewish origin the expression ot his face was far
from agreeabio there being a look at cunniugand deceit imp;
upon it. which had increased with age. Tnis individual was,
when his visitor entered seated in an old chair liis thin bony
hands grasping a leather purse, of whicli lie had been counting one
by one the glittering contents but the moment the door was
pushed open, money and purse had disappeared in the Jew's
pocket.
'Good- afternoon to you Isaac,' said Casterman. 'The Dame
Barnby's child and my own little girl brought you the bundle of
clothes and other small things from the last wreck, did they
not?
ana a worthless lot tdey are. There,
'
'
Yes,' replied the Jew;
he added, dragging some old clothes from under his chair; ' who
do you think would buy that? Why, half the braid is off the
coat, and one of the sleeves is nearly torn to pieces. The fellow
who wore it must have struggled violently,
rocks near Ty-an-donr, may be.'
trying to get up the
'
Perhaps so; but that's no matter. What will you give for
the whole lot? '
An animated discussion ensued between the wrecker and the
Jew, and at length the articles were reluctantly paid for by the
latter
Casterman then produced with an air of triumph a beautiful
diamond ring which he had brought in his pocket.
' What think you of that? he inquired.
The old man took it eagerly m his hand, rubbed the precious
stones, and murmured half to himself-
'Real diamonds, set in gold, eight of them I do declare!
But,' he added in a louder tone, what use is so costly an article
to me i wno in this poor town would purchase it? I can't give
much for it or I should iose by it.'
Why do you speak thus? rcpned Stephen angrily, 'You
know wel. that ah such things as are too costly to find a purchaser
here, you sell to your nephew, who comes from London
town '
'True,' replied Isaac,
'
but he cometh only once in the year,
the journey being long and much beset with dangers; now he
was here not fully two months ago, so I must needs keep this
ring over ten months."
'
\Vell,' said Casterman, 'you won't make me believe that the
keep thereof costs anything. '
He put the ring in his pocket, and advanced towards the door;
Isaac called him back.
'
Come, don't let us quarrel, and don't be off in such a hurry,
Casterman. I was iust going to propose a plan for you to gain
aright good sum of money, therefore ought you to be glad to
give me this ring cheap. Of course yov>wih likewise share \\iib
me half what you will gain by following my plan. Do you
understand?'
'
'
No,' said Casterman. Say what you mean at once, and
don't keep me waiting here.'
'
I will,' replied the Jew hesitatingly. 'I will; butyoupromisa
to give me half?'
'
'
Half what? demanded the wrecker impatiently.
'Why, half the money that I shall make you gain.'
' And why do you want my help? not surely for the pleasure
of sharing some money with me,' said Casterman sarcastically.