Part 3 (1/2)

A Pink Brocade Suit of Perfect Style Mid 18th Century

frolish Costumes, c 1908, p17

It was not in Jim's nature to inquire into his ht do or say He was content to receive and promptly execute his orders, and to worshi+p Carstares with a dog-like devotion, following blindly in his wake, happy as long as he ht serve him

Carstares had found hied fro to the penniless condition of that gentleed him as his own personal servant, and thean invaluable acquisition to ularly wooden countenance, he was by no means a fool, and he had helped Carstares out of lorious and foolhardy career as highwayman He probably understood his somewhat erratic master better than anyone else, and he now divined as in his nificant wink

”'Twas the an expressive thumb towards the

”M'm Mr bumble Bee and friend It would almost appear so I think I do not fully appreciate Mr bumble Bee I find his conduct rather tiresome But it is just possible that he thinks the same of runted scornfully, and an inquiring eye was cocked at hie him by his exterior He may possess a beautiful mind But I do not think so N-no, I really do not think so” He chuckled a little ”Do you know, Jiht!”

”I don't doubt it, your honour 'Twere child's play to trick the fat gentleentleman that I shall have to deal 'Tis with all the officials of this char town, an I ?”

Salter stepped back to the

”Ay, sirwith three others”

”Pre-cisely Be so good as to hand me my snuffbox And my cane Thank you I feel the time has now come for me to put in an appearance Pray, bear in es to London And cultivate a stupid expression Yes, that will do excellently”

Jihtedly; he had assumed no expression of stupidity, and was consequentlyopen the door with an air, and watched ”Sir Anthony” e to the stairs

In the coffee-roo the story of his wrongs, with many an impressive pause, and much emphasis, to the mayor, town-clerk, and beadle of Lewes All three had been fetched by Mr Chilter, his clerk, in obedience to his orders, for the bigger the audience the better pleased was Mr Fudby He was now enjoying himself quite considerably, despite the loss of his precious cash-box

So was not Mr Hedges, the mayor He was a fussy little man who suffered from dyspepsia; he was not interested in the affair, and he did not see as to be done for Mr Fudby Further, he had been haled frory; and, above all, he found Mr Fudby very unattractive Still, a highroad robbery was serious ht out; so he listened to the story with an assuly wise, and, at the properconcern

The more he saw and heard of Mr Fudby, the less he liked him Neither did the town-clerk care for him There was that about Mr Fudby that did not endear him to his fellow-men, especially when they chanced to be his inferiors in the social scale The beadle did not think htly) that the affair had nothing whatever to do with him, he leaned back in his chair and stared stolidly up at the ceiling

The tale Mr Fudby was telling bore surprisingly little resemblance to the truth It was a much embellished version, in which he hiallantry It had been gradually concocted during the journey to Lewes

He was still holding forth when uidly to survey the assehtly, and walked over to the fire He seated himself in an ares had recognised at a glance that here was soneur and wished that Mr Fudby would not speak in so loud a voice But that individual, delighted at having a new auditor, continued his tale with much relish and in a still louder tone

My lord yawned delicately and took a pinch of snuff

”Yes, yes,” fussed Mr Hedges ”But, short of sending to London for the Runners, I do not see what I can do If I send to London, it must, of course, be at your expense, sir”

Mr Fudby bristled

”At my expense, sir? Do ye say at my expense? I am surprised! I repeatI am surprised!”

”Indeed, sir? I can order the town-crier out, describing the horse, anderoffering a reward for the capture of any ed and looked across at the town-clerk”I do not iine that 'twould be of much useeh, Mr Brand?”

The clerk pursed his lips and spread out his hands

”I fear not; I very much fear not I would advise Mr Fudby to have a proclamation posted up round the country” He sat back with the air of one who has contributed his share to the work, and does not intend to offer any rowled Mr Fudby He blew out his cheeks ”'Twill be a grievous expense, though I suppose it must be done, and I cannot but feel that if it had not been for your deplorably cowardly conduct, Chilteryes, cowardly conduct, I sayI ht never have been robbed of my two hundred!” He snuffled a little, and eyed the flushed but silent Chilter with led reproach and scorn ”However, ain, although he cannot remember much about the man himself

Chilter! How did he describe the horse?”

”Oherchestnut, Mr Fudbychestnut, with a half-”

Jack perceived that it was tialass at Mr Chilter

”I beg your pardon?” he drawled

Mr Fudby's eye brightened The fine gentleman was roused to an expression of interest at last He launched forth into his story oncewhich, Mr Hedges came hurriedly to the rescue

”Eryes, Mr Fudbyquite so! Your pardon, sir, I have not the honour of knowing your name?”

”Ferndale,” supplied Jack, ”Sir Anthony Ferndale”

”Eryes-” Mr Hedges bowed ”Pray pardonyou with our-”

”Not at all,” said entlemen have had theermisfortune to be waylaid on their journey here”

Sir Anthony's glass was again levelled at the group His expression betokened entlemen?” he inquired blandly

”Oh, no, no, no, sir! Not allOnly Mrer-”

”Fudby,” said that worthy, and discovered that Sir Anthony was bowing frigidly At once he rose, and resting his knuckles on the table before him, bent his body slowly and painfully Sir Anthony inclined his head, whereupon, to the delight of all the rest, Mr

Fudby bowed again with even greater stateliness than before Mr Hedges observed Sir Anthony's lips to twitch convulsively He waited for Mr Fudby to subside, and then continued: ”YesMr Fudby and Mr-”

”My clerk!” snapped Fudby

Sir Anthony favoured Mr Chilter with his peculiarly sweet sht robbery, you say?”

”Broad daylight!” boomed Mr Fudby

”Eryes, yes,” interposed thea fresh outbreak fro of such an animal as MrerChilterdescribed?”

”'Tis a ,” said Carstares slowly, ”but I have just bought such an one” He glanced round with an inquiring smile and one eyebrow lifted

”Well!” ejaculated Mr Fudby ”Well!”