But when the boy observed that neither his own entreaties nor the
menaces of the farrier appeared to change Tressilian's purpose, but
that, on the contrary, he confronted the hammer with his drawn sword,
he exclaimed to the smith in turn, "Wayland, touch him not, or you will
come by the worse!--the gentleman is a true gentleman, and a bold."
"So thou hast betrayed me, Flibbertigibbet?" said the smith; "it shall
be the worse for thee!"
"Be who thou wilt," said Tressilian, "thou art in no danger from me,
so thou tell me the meaning of this practice, and why thou drivest thy
trade in this mysterious fashion."
The smith, however, turning to Tressilian, exclaimed, in a threatening
tone, "Who questions the Keeper of the Crystal Castle of Light, the Lord
of the Green Lion, the Rider of the Red Dragon? Hence!--avoid thee, ere
I summon Talpack with his fiery lance, to quell, crush, and consume!"
These words he uttered with violent gesticulation, mouthing, and
flourishing his hammer.
"Peace, thou vile cozener, with thy gipsy cant!" replied Tressilian
scornfully, "and follow me to the next magistrate, or I will cut thee
over the pate."
"Peace, I pray thee, good Wayland!" said the boy. "Credit me, the
swaggering vein will not pass here; you must cut boon whids." ["Give
good words."--SLANG DIALECT.] "I think, worshipful sir," said the smith, sinking his hammer, and
assuming a more gentle and submissive tone of voice, "that when so poor
a man does his day's job, he might be permitted to work it out after his
own fashion. Your horse is shod, and your farrier paid--what need you
cumber yourself further than to mount and pursue your journey?"
"Nay, friend, you are mistaken," replied Tressilian; "every man has a
right to take the mask from the face of a cheat and a juggler; and your
mode of living raises suspicion that you are both."
"If you are so determined; sir," said the smith, "I cannot help myself
save by force, which I were unwilling to use towards you, Master
Tressilian; not that I fear your weapon, but because I know you to be
a worthy, kind, and well-accomplished gentleman, who would rather help
than harm a poor man that is in a strait."
"Well said, Wayland," said the boy, who had anxiously awaited the issue
of their conference. "But let us to thy den, man, for it is ill for thy
health to stand here talking in the open air."