THE SEED HAVING BEEN CAREFULLY SOWN, WE NOW REAP A GOLDEN HARVEST--WE
TELL EVERYONE WHAT THEY KNEW BEFORE, AND WE ARE LOOKED UPON AS MOST
MARVELLOUS BY MOST MARVELLOUS FOOLS.
We accordingly packed up and departed to another market town. Timothy
dressed in a sombre suit of black, very much like an undertaker, was
provided with a horse, with the following directions: to proceed
leisurely until he was within half a mile of the town of--, and then to
gallop in as fast as he could, stop at the best inn in the place, and
order apartments for the Great Aristodemus, who might be expected in
half an hour. Everything in this world depends upon appearances, that
is, when you intend to gull it; and as everyone in the town had heard of
the Great Aristodemus, so everyone was anxious to know something about
him, and Timothy was pestered with all manner of questions; but he
declared that he was only his courier, and could only tell what other
people said; but then what other people said, by Timothy's account, was
very marvellous indeed. Timothy had hardly time to secure the best
rooms in the hotel, when Melchior, dressed in a long flowing silk gown,
with a wig of long white hair, a square cap, and two or three gold
chains hanging from his neck, certainly most admirably disguised, and
attended by me in the dress of a German student, a wig of long brown
locks hanging down my shoulders, made our appearance in a post-chaise
and four, and drove up to the door of the inn, at a pace which shook
every house in the street, and occasioned every window to be tenanted
with one or more heads to ascertain the cause of this unusual
occurrence, for it was not a very great town, although once of
importance; but the manufactures had been removed, and it was occupied
by those who had become independent by their own exertions, or by those
of their forefathers.
The door of the chaise was opened by the obsequious Timothy, who pushed
away the ostlers and waiters, as if unworthy to approach his master, and
the Great Aristodemus made his appearance. As he ascended the steps of
the door, his passage was for a moment barred by one whose profession
Melchior well knew. "Stand aside, exciseman!" said he, in a commanding
voice. "No one crosses my path with impunity." Astonished at hearing
his profession thus mentioned, the exciseman, who was the greatest bully
in the town, slipped on one side with consternation, and all those
present lifted up their eyes and hands with astonishment. The Great
Aristodemus gained his room, and shut his door; and I went out to pay
for the chaise and order supper, while Timothy and the porters were busy
with our luggage, which was very considerable.
"My master will not see anyone," said I to the landlord: "he quits this
town to-morrow, if the letters arrive which he expects by the post;
therefore, pray get rid of this crowd, and let him be quiet, for he is
very tired, having travelled one hundred and fifty miles since the dawn
of day."
When Tim and I had performed this duty, we joined Melchior in his room,
leaving the news to be circulated. "This promises well," observed
Melchior; "up to the present we have expended much time and money; now
we must see if we cannot recover it tenfold. Japhet, you must take an
opportunity of going out again after supper, and make inquiries of the
landlord what poor people they have in the town, as I am very generous,
and like to relieve them; you may observe, that all the money offered to
me for practising my art, I give away to the poor, having no occasion
for it." This I did, and we then sat down to supper, and having
unpacked our baggage, went to bed, after locking the door of the room,
and taking out the key.
The next morning we had everything in readiness, and as the letters, as
the reader may suppose, did not arrive by the post, we were obliged to
remain, and the landlord ventured to hint to me, that several people
were anxious to consult my master. I replied, that I would speak to
him, but it was necessary to caution those who came, that they must
either offer gold--or nothing at all. I brought his consent to see one
or two, but no more. Now, although we had various apparatus to use,
when required, it was thought that the effect would be greater, if, in
the first instance, everything was simple. Melchior, therefore,
remained sitting at the table, which was covered with a black cloth,
worked with curious devices, and a book of hieroglyphics before him, and
an ivory wand, tipped with gold lying by the book. Timothy standing at
the door, with a short Roman sword buckled round his belt, and I, in a
respectful attitude, behind the Great Aristodemus.
The first person who was admitted was the lady of the mayor of the town;
nothing could be more fortunate, as we had every information relative to
her and her spouse, for people in high places are always talked of.
Aristodemus waved his hand, and I brought forward a chair in silence,
and motioned that she should be seated. Aristodemus looked her in her
face, and then turned over several leaves, until he fixed upon a page,
which he considered attentively. "Mayoress of--, what wouldst thou with
me?"