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The Broad Highway

Chapter 6 WHAT BEFELL ME AT THE WHITE HART

Word Count: 2697    |    Released on: 29/11/2017

e plane of existence to another, that he should fail at once to recognize the full magnitude of that ch

to pay for the meanest night's lodging. And, contrasting the careless ease of a few days since with my present lamentable situation, I fell into a gloomy meditation; and the longer I thought it over, the more dejected I became.

h, though I had been dimly conscious of it for some time, I had before paid no attention. Now, however, I r

companions, for he occupied the head of the table, and I noticed that when ever he spoke

ppin' wi' the pain of it. Come, sirs,' says I, 'who'll give me a black eye; a fiver's all I ask.' Well, up comes a young buck, ready an' willin'. 'Tom,' says 'e, 'I'll take two flaps at that figger-head o' yourn for seven guineas, come, what d'ye say?' I says, 'done,' says I. So my fine gentleman lays by 'is 'at an' cane, strips off 'is right-'and glove, an' 'eavin' back lets fly at me. Bang com

headed man solemnly emptied his tankard, which was the signal for two or three of those nearest to vie fo

and watery as to give one the idea that it was very much overworked, "now, Tom," said he, setting down the refill

us," chime

ed me on the back 'e did, wi' 'is merry own 'and, an' likewise gave me this 'ere pin," saying which, he pointed to a flaming diamond horseshoe which he wore stuck through his neckerchief. The stones were extremely large and handsome, looking very much out of place on the fellow's rough person, and seemed in some part to bear out his story. Though, indeed, as regarded his association with the Prince Regent, whose tastes were at all times peculiar (to say

erd of Ted Jarraway of Swansea bein' knocked out in

o his tankard, "I 'aven't 'eard of no

rybody's heerd o' Buck Vibbot, 'im

ut Ted Jarraway to sleep, I should answer you, Sir Maurice Vibart, com

is mention of my cousin's

and all eyes were turned towards the speaker, a small, red-headed fellow, with a truculent eye. "Com

e of the logs upon the hearth. Then, all at once, Cragg's pipe shivered to fragments on the floor and he leapt to his feet. In one stride, as it seemed, he reached the sp

a fightin' cove myself, and I don't want no trouble-all I asks is, what about Buck Vibart put

in the air, "I says as 'e done it-on a foul!" And he

ul?" cried three

l!" repea

eaded man, "'t were said as i

nother blow of his fist, "an' wot's more, if Buck Vibart sto

o say as he's wonderful quick wi' his 'ma

d put 'im to sleep any time an' anywhere, an' I'd like-ah! I'd like to see the chap as says contrairy!" And here the pugilist scowled round upon his hearers (more e

g, "ah! I'd like to see t

said the one-eyed man soothing

they would,"

leege the gentleman?" inq

ever was born-wish I m

Tom!" purred the one-eyed

an' I'm proud of it. I'd fight any man as ever wore breeches-why, burn m

hen one comes to think of it, is a very handsome sum

guinea-a golden guinea to the man as could stand on 'is pins an' fight me f

And, setting down my empty tankard, I crosse

you," said I,

ord, backing from me until he was stayed by the table, where he stood, staring at me. And once again there fel

h an effort, "you?" and, as he spoke,

t for me was certain, seeing that his back was towards the others, though what he intended to convey I could form no idea, so I assume

me with the stern of his pipe, "'e be a fin

hisself to grow whisker

't got so much as our ol

they whiskers a-peepin' at me over 'is cravat or do my eyes deceive me?

t time, painfully conscious of my bare lips and chin. It was, therefore, with an eff

r that matter, except the humorous gentleman with the watery eye, who can name his own price." The fel

ious for a man to fight; well-I'm your man," and with the w

e the fact that the prospect before me was anything but agreeable; indeed my heart was thumping in a m

ck eye or so, and general pounding from the fellow's knotted fists, was daunting in the extreme. Still, the chance of earning a guinea,

a very altered tone, "sir, yo

lad to get it

rry for it-me 'aving the greatest respec' for-you know who-you understand

id I, "nor do I think it at all necessary; al

f the company, "knock 'i

an' finish 'im," and here came the c

Cragg, shaking his hea

refer, we might manage it very well in

place-plenty of room and nice and soft to fall on. If you would only put off your fightin' till to-morrow, we might cry it through

s over the better, show us your barn." So the landlord called for lanthorns and le

good place and ver

brought off in 'ere; the time Jem Belcher beat 'The Young Ruffian' the Prince o'

e barn. Surprise gave place to noisy astonishment when, after much running to and fro, it was further learned that he had vanished altogether. The inn itself, the stables, and even th

om, and, refusing the officious aid of the One-Eyed Man, put on my coat, readjuste

guinea, ten shillings, or even five, I should be very glad of the chance to earn it." But, seeing how each, wil

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1 Chapter 1 CHIEFLY CONCERNING MY UNCLE'S LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT2 Chapter 2 I SET OUT3 Chapter 3 CONCERNS ITSELF MAINLY WITH A HAT4 Chapter 4 I MEET WITH A GREAT MISFORTUNE5 Chapter 5 THE BAGMAN6 Chapter 6 WHAT BEFELL ME AT THE WHITE HART 7 Chapter 7 OF THE FURTHER PUZZLING BEHAVIOR OF TOM CRAGG, THE PUGILIST8 Chapter 8 WHICH CONCERNS ITSELF WITH A FARMER'S WHISKERS AND A WAISTCOAT9 Chapter 9 IN WHICH I STUMBLE UPON AN AFFAIR OF HONOR.10 Chapter 10 WHICH RELATES THE END OF AN HONORABLE AFFAIR11 Chapter 11 WHICH RELATES A BRIEF PASSAGE-AT-ARMS AT THE CHEQUERS INN12 Chapter 12 THE ONE-LEGGED SOLDIER13 Chapter 13 IN WHICH I FIND AN ANSWER TO MY RIDDLE14 Chapter 14 FURTHER CONCERNING THE GENTLEMAN IN THE BATTERED HAT15 Chapter 15 IN WHICH I MEET WITH A PEDLER BY THE NAME OF GABBING DICK16 Chapter 16 HOW I HEARD THE STEPS OF ONE WHO DOGGED ME IN THE SHADOWS17 Chapter 17 HOW I TALKED WITH A MADMAN IN A WOOD BY MOONLIGHT18 Chapter 18 THE HEDGE-TAVERN19 Chapter 19 IN WHICH I BECOME A SQUIRE OF DAMES20 Chapter 20 CONCERNING DAEMONS IN GENERAL AND ONE IN PARTICULAR21 Chapter 21 JOURNEYS END IN LOVERS' MEETINGS 22 Chapter 22 IN WHICH I MEET WITH A LITERARY TINKER23 Chapter 23 CONCERNING HAPPINESS, A PLOUGHMAN, AND SILVER BUTTONS24 Chapter 24 WHICH INTRODUCES THE READER TO THE ANCIENT25 Chapter 25 OF BLACK GEORGE, THE SMITH, AND HOW WE THREW THE HAMMER26 Chapter 26 WHEREIN I LEARN MORE CONCERNING THE GHOST OF THE RUINED HUT27 Chapter 27 WHICH TELLS HOW AND IN WHAT MANNER I SAW THE GHOST28 Chapter 28 THE HIGHLAND PIPER29 Chapter 29 HOW BLACK GEORGE AND I SHOOK HANDS30 Chapter 30 IN WHICH I FORSWEAR MYSELF AND AM ACCUSED OF POSSESSING THE EVIL EYE 31 Chapter 31 IN WHICH DONALD BIDS ME FAREWELL32 Chapter 32 IN WHICH THIS FIRST BOOK BEGINS TO DRAW TO A CLOSE33 Chapter 33 IN WHICH WE DRAW YET NEARER TO THE END OF THIS FIRST BOOK34 Chapter 34 OF STORM, AND TEMPEST, AND OF THE COMING OF CHARMIAN35 Chapter 35 THE POSTILION36 Chapter 36 WHICH BEARS AMPLE TESTIMONY TO THE STRENGTH OF THE GENTLEMAN'S FISTS37 Chapter 37 WHICH, AMONG OTHER MATTERS, HAS TO DO WITH BRUISES AND BANDAGES38 Chapter 38 IN WHICH I HEAR ILL NEWS OF GEORGE39 Chapter 39 IN WHICH I LEARN OF AN IMPENDING DANGER40 Chapter 40 WHICH NARRATES A SOMEWHAT REMARKABLE CONVERSATION41 Chapter 41 IN WHICH I SEE A VISION IN THE GLORY OF THE MOON, AND EAT OF A POACHED RABBIT42 Chapter 42 WHICH RELATES SOMEWHAT OF CHARMIAN BROWN43 Chapter 43 I AM SUSPECTED OF THE BLACK ART44 Chapter 44 A SHADOW IN THE HEDGE45 Chapter 45 WHO COMES 46 Chapter 46 A PEDLER IN ARCADIA47 Chapter 47 CONCERNING BLACK GEORGE'S LETTER48 Chapter 48 WHICH, BEING IN PARENTHESIS, MAY BE SKIPPED IF THE READER SO DESIRE49 Chapter 49 CONCERNING, AMONG OTHER MATTERS, THE PRICE OF BEEF, AND THE LADY SOPHIA SEFTON OF CAMBOURNE50 Chapter 50 THE OMEN51 Chapter 51 IN WHICH I HEAR NEWS OF SIR MAURICE VIBART52 Chapter 52 HOW I MET BLACK GEORGE AGAIN, AND WHEREIN THE PATIENT READER SHALL FIND A LITTLE BLOOD 53 Chapter 53 HOW I CAME UP OUT OF THE DARK54 Chapter 54 OF THE OPENING OF THE DOOR, AND HOW CHARMIAN BLEW OUT THE LIGHT55 Chapter 55 IN WHICH THE ANCIENT DISCOURSES ON LOVE56 Chapter 56 HOW GABBING DICK, THE PEDLER, SET A HAMMER GOING IN MY HEAD57 Chapter 57 THE VIRGIL BOOK58 Chapter 58 IN WHICH THE READER SHALL FIND LITTLE TO DO WITH THE STORY, AND MAY, THEREFORE, SKIP59 Chapter 59 OF STORM, AND TEMPEST, AND HOW I MET ONE PRAYING IN THE DAWN60 Chapter 60 THE EPILEPTIC61 Chapter 61 IN WHICH I COME TO A DETERMINATION62 Chapter 62 IN WHICH CHARMIAN ANSWERS MY QUESTION63 Chapter 63 CONCERNING THE FATE OF BLACK GEORGE64 Chapter 64 IN WHICH THE ANCIENT IS SURPRISED65 Chapter 65 HOW WE SET OUT FOR BURNHAM HALL66 Chapter 66 IN WHICH I FALL FROM FOLLY INTO MADNESS67 Chapter 67 IN WHICH I FIND PEACE AND JOY AND AN ABIDING SORROW68 Chapter 68 HOW BLACK GEORGE FOUND PRUDENCE IN THE DAWN69 Chapter 69 WHICH SYMPATHIZES WITH A BRASS JACK, A BRACE OF CUTLASSES, AND DIVERS POTS AND PANS70 Chapter 70 THE PREACHER71 Chapter 71 IN WHICH I MEET MY COUSIN, SIR MAURICE VIBART72 Chapter 72 HOW I WENT DOWN INTO THE SHADOWS73 Chapter 73 HOW, IN PLACE OF DEATH, I FOUND THE FULNESS OF LIFE74 Chapter 74 LIGHT AND SHADOW75 Chapter 75 HOW SIR MAURICE KEPT HIS WORD76 Chapter 76 HOW I SET OUT TO FACE MY DESTINY77 Chapter 77 THE BOW STREET RUNNERS78 Chapter 78 WHICH CONCERNS ITSELF, AMONG OTHER MATTERS, WITH THE BOOTS OF THE SATURNINE JEREMY79 Chapter 79 HOW I CAME TO LONDON80 Chapter 80 IN WHICH THIS HISTORY IS ENDED