Now the landlord of the Golden Fleece was a very stout man,--a very stout man indeed.Looking at him as he stood with his hands in his pockets at the portal of his own establishment, I could not but think that he was stouter even than Mr.Horne.But then he was certainly much shorter, and the want of due proportion probably added to his unwieldy appearance.I walked round him once or twice wishfully, measuring him in my eye, and thinking of what texture might be the Sunday best of such a man.The clothes which he then had on were certainly not exactly suited to Mr.Horne's tastes.
He saw that I was observing him, and appeared uneasy and offended.
I had already ascertained that he spoke a little English.Of Flemish I knew literally nothing, and in French, with which probably he was also acquainted, I was by no means voluble.The business which I had to transact was intricate, and I required the use of my mother-tongue.
It was intricate and delicate, and difficult withal.I began by remarking on the weather, but he did not take my remarks kindly.Iam inclined to fancy that he thought I was desirous of borrowing money from him.At any rate he gave me no encouragement in my first advances.
"Vat misfortune?" at last he asked, when I had succeeded in making him understand that a gentleman up stairs required his assistance.
"He has lost these things," and I took hold of my own garments.
"It's a long story, or I'd tell you how; but he has not a pair in the world till he gets back to Brussels,--unless you can lend him one.""Lost hees br-?" and he opened his eyes wide, and looked at me with astonishment.
"Yes, yes, exactly so," said I, interrupting him."Most astonishing thing, isn't it? But it's quite true.""Vas hees money in de pocket?" asked my auspicious landlord.
"No, no, no.It's not so bad as that, his money is all right.Ihad the money, luckily."
"Ah! dat is better.But he have lost hees b-?""Yes, yes;" I was now getting rather impatient."There is no mistake about it.He has lost them as sure as you stand there."And then I proceeded to explain that as the gentleman in question was very stout, and as he, the landlord, was stoat also, he might assist us in this great calamity by a loan from his own wardrobe.
When he found that the money was not in the pocket, and that his bill therefore would be paid, he was not indisposed to be gracious.
He would, he said, desire his servant to take up what was required to Mr.Horne's chamber.I endeavoured to make him understand that a sombre colour would be preferable; but he only answered that he would put the best that he had at the gentleman's disposal.He could not think of offering anything less than his best on such an occasion.And then he turned his back and went his way, muttering as he went something in Flemish, which I believed to be an exclamation of astonishment that any man should, under any circumstances, lose such an article.
It was now getting late; so when I had taken a short stroll by myself, I went to bed without disturbing Mr.Horne again that night.
On the following morning I thought it best not to go to him unless he sent for me; so I desired the boots to let him know that I had ordered breakfast in a private room, and that I would await him there unless he wished to see me.He sent me word back to say that he would be with me very shortly.
He did not keep me waiting above half an hour, but I confess that that half hour was not pleasantly spent.I feared that his temper would be tried in dressing, and that he would not be able to eat his breakfast in a happy state of mind.So that when I heard his heavy footstep advancing along the passage my heart did misgive me, and Ifelt that I was trembling.
That step was certainly slower and more ponderous than usual.There was always a certain dignity in the very sound of his movements, but now this seemed to have been enhanced.To judge merely by the step one would have said that a bishop was coming that way instead of a prebendary.
And then he entered.In the upper half of his august person no alteration was perceptible.The hair was as regular and as graceful as ever, the handkerchief as white, the coat as immaculate; but below his well-filled waistcoat a pair of red plush began to shine in unmitigated splendour, and continued from thence down to within an inch above his knee; nor, as it appeared, could any pulling induce them to descend lower.Mr.Horne always wore black silk stockings,--at least so the world supposed, but it was now apparent that the world had been wrong in presuming him to be guilty of such extravagance.Those, at any rate, which he exhibited on the present occasion were more economical.They were silk to the calf, but thence upwards they continued their career in white cotton.These then followed the plush; first two snowy, full-sized pillars of white, and then two jet columns of flossy silk.Such was the appearance, on that well-remembered morning, of the Rev.Augustus Horne, as he entered the room in which his breakfast was prepared.
I could see at a glance that a dark frown contracted his eyebrows, and that the compressed muscles of his upper lip gave a strange degree of austerity to his open face.He carried his head proudly on high, determined to be dignified in spite of his misfortunes, and advanced two steps into the room without a remark, as though he were able to show that neither red plush nor black cloth could disarrange the equal poise of his mighty mind!
And after all what are a man's garments but the outward husks in which the fruit is kept, duly tempered from the wind?
"The rank is but the guinea stamp, The man's the gowd for a' that."And is not the tailor's art as little worthy, as insignificant as that of the king who makes "A marquis, duke, and a' that"?
Who would be content to think that his manly dignity depended on his coat and waistcoat, or his hold on the world's esteem on any other garment of usual wear? That no such weakness soiled his mind Mr.
Horne was determined to prove; and thus he entered the room with measured tread, and stern dignified demeanour.
