"It"s to be hoped, for the sake of mankind in general and thehappiness of society, that he is," said Mr Tappertit, rubbing hispalm upon his legs, and looking at it between whiles. "Is yourother hand at all cleaner? Much the same. Well, I"ll owe youanother shake. We"ll suppose it done, if you"ve no objection."
Hugh laughed again, and with such thorough abandonment to his madhumour, that his limbs seemed dislocated, and his whole frame indanger of tumbling to pieces; but Mr Tappertit, so far fromreceiving this extreme merriment with any irritation, was pleasedto regard it with the utmost favour, and even to join in it, so faras one of his gravity and station could, with any regard to thatdecency and decorum which men in high places are expected tomaintain.
Mr Tappertit did not stop here, as many public characters mighthave done, but calling up his brace of lieutenants, introduced Hughto them with high commendation; declaring him to be a man who, atsuch times as those in which they lived, could not be too muchcherished. Further, he did him the honour to remark, that he wouldbe an acquisition of which even the United Bulldogs might be proud;and finding, upon sounding him, that he was quite ready and willingto enter the society (for he was not at all particular, and would have leagued himself that night with anything, or anybody, for anypurpose whatsoever), caused the necessary preliminaries to be goneinto upon the spot. This tribute to his great merit delighted noman more than Mr Dennis, as he himself proclaimed with several rareand surprising oaths; and indeed it gave unmingled satisfaction tothe whole assembly.
"Make anything you like of me!" cried Hugh, flourishing the can hehad emptied more than once. "Put me on any duty you please. I"myour man. I"ll do it. Here"s my captain--here"s my leader. Ha haha! Let him give me the word of command, and I"ll fight the wholeParliament House single-handed, or set a lighted torch to theKing"s Throne itself!" With that, he smote Mr Tappertit on theback, with such violence that his little body seemed to shrink intoa mere nothing; and roared again until the very foundlings near athand were startled in their beds.
In fact, a sense of something whimsical in their companionshipseemed to have taken entire possession of his rude brain. The barefact of being patronised by a great man whom he could have crushedwith one hand, appeared in his eyes so eccentric and humorous, thata kind of ferocious merriment gained the mastery over him, andquite subdued his brutal nature. He roared and roared again; toasted Mr Tappertit a hundred times; declared himself a Bulldog tothe core; and vowed to be faithful to him to the last drop of bloodin his veins.
All these compliments Mr Tappertit received as matters of course-flatteringenough in their way, but entirely attributable to hisvast superiority. His dignified self-possession only delightedHugh the more; and in a word, this giant and dwarf struck up afriendship which bade fair to be of long continuance, as the oneheld it to be his right to command, and the other considered it anexquisite pleasantry to obey. Nor was Hugh by any means a passivefollower, who scrupled to act without precise and definite orders;for when Mr Tappertit mounted on an empty cask which stood by wayof rostrum in the room, and volunteered a speech upon the alarmingcrisis then at hand, he placed himself beside the orator, andthough he grinned from ear to ear at every word he said, threw outsuch expressive hints to scoffers in the management of his cudgel,that those who were at first the most disposed to interrupt, becameremarkably attentive, and were the loudest in their approbation.
It was not all noise and jest, however, at The Boot, nor were thewhole party listeners to the speech. There were some men at theother end of the room (which was a long, low-roofed chamber) in earnest conversation all the time; and when any of this group wentout, fresh people were sure to come in soon afterwards and sit downin their places, as though the others had relieved them on somewatch or duty; which it was pretty clear they did, for thesechanges took place by the clock, at intervals of half an hour.
These persons whispered very much among themselves, and kept aloof,and often looked round, as jealous of their speech being overheard;some two or three among them entered in books what seemed to bereports from the others; when they were not thus employed) one ofthem would turn to the newspapers which were strewn upon the table,and from the St James"s Chronicle, the Herald, Chronicle, orPublic Advertiser, would read to the rest in a low voice somepassage having reference to the topic in which they were all sodeeply interested. But the great attraction was a pamphlet calledThe Thunderer, which espoused their own opinions, and was supposedat that time to emanate directly from the Association. This wasalways in request; and whether read aloud, to an eager knot oflisteners, or by some solitary man, was certain to be followed bystormy talking and excited looks.
In the midst of all his merriment, and admiration of his captain,Hugh was made sensible by these and other tokens, of the presenceof an air of mystery, akin to that which had so much impressed him out of doors. It was impossible to discard a sense that somethingserious was going on, and that under the noisy revel of the public-house, there lurked unseen and dangerous matter. Little affectedby this, however, he was perfectly satisfied with his quarters andwould have remained there till morning, but that his conductor rosesoon after midnight, to go home; Mr Tappertit following hisexample, left him no excuse to stay. So they all three left thehouse together: roaring a No-Popery song until the fieldsresounded with the dismal noise.
Cheer up, captain!" cried Hugh, when they had roared themselves outof breath. "Another stave!"