English
Itwasabrightmorningintheearlypartofsummer;theriverhadresumeditswontedbanksanditsaccustomedpace,andahotsunseemedtobepullingeverythinggreenandbushyandspikyupoutoftheearthtowardshim,asifbystrings.
TheMoleandtheWaterRathadbeenupsincedawn,verybusyonmattersconnectedwithboatsandtheopeningoftheboatingseason;paintingandvarnishing,mendingpaddles,repairingcushions,huntingformissingboat-hooks,andsoon;andwerefinishingbreakfastintheirlittleparlourandeagerlydiscussingtheirplansfortheday,whenaheavyknocksoundedatthedoor.
'Bother!'saidtheRat,alloveregg.'Seewhoitis,Mole,likeagoodchap,sinceyou'vefinished.'
TheMolewenttoattendthesummons,andtheRatheardhimutteracryofsurprise.Thenheflungtheparlourdooropen,andannouncedwithmuchimportance,'Mr.Badger!'
Thiswasawonderfulthing,indeed,thattheBadgershouldpayaformalcallonthem,orindeedonanybody.
Hegenerallyhadtobecaught,ifyouwantedhimbadly,asheslippedquietlyalongahedgerowofanearlymorningoralateevening,orelsehuntedupinhisownhouseinthemiddleoftheWood,whichwasaseriousundertaking.
TheBadgerstrodeheavilyintotheroom,andstoodlookingatthetwoanimalswithanexpressionfullofseriousness.TheRatlethisegg-spoonfallonthetable-cloth,andsatopen-mouthed.
'Thehourhascome!'saidtheBadgeratlastwithgreatsolemnity.
'Whathour?'askedtheRatuneasily,glancingattheclockonthemantelpiece.
'WHOSEhour,youshouldrathersay,'repliedtheBadger.'Why,Toad'shour!ThehourofToad!
IsaidIwouldtakehiminhandassoonasthewinterwaswellover,andI'mgoingtotakehiminhandto-day!'
'Toad'shour,ofcourse!'criedtheMoledelightedly.'Hooray!Iremembernow!WE'LLteachhimtobeasensibleToad!'
'Thisverymorning,'continuedtheBadger,takinganarm-chair,'asIlearntlastnightfromatrustworthysource,anothernewandexceptionallypowerfulmotor-carwillarriveatToadHallonapprovalorreturn.
Atthisverymoment,perhaps,Toadisbusyarrayinghimselfinthosesingularlyhideoushabilimentssodeartohim,whichtransformhimfroma(comparatively)good-lookingToadintoanObjectwhichthrowsanydecent-mindedanimalthatcomesacrossitintoaviolentfit.
Wemustbeupanddoing,ereitistoolate.
YoutwoanimalswillaccompanymeinstantlytoToadHall,andtheworkofrescueshallbeaccomplished.'
'Rightyouare!'criedtheRat,startingup.'We'llrescuethepoorunhappyanimal!We'llconverthim!He'llbethemostconvertedToadthateverwasbeforewe'vedonewithhim!'
Theysetoffuptheroadontheirmissionofmercy,Badgerleadingtheway.
Animalswhenincompanywalkinaproperandsensiblemanner,insinglefile,insteadofsprawlingallacrosstheroadandbeingofnouseorsupporttoeachotherincaseofsuddentroubleordanger.
Theyreachedthecarriage-driveofToadHalltofind,astheBadgerhadanticipated,ashinynewmotor-car,ofgreatsize,paintedabrightred(Toad'sfavouritecolour),standinginfrontofthehouse.
Astheynearedthedooritwasflungopen,andMr.Toad,arrayedingoggles,cap,gaiters,andenormousovercoat,cameswaggeringdownthesteps,drawingonhisgauntletedgloves.
'Hullo!comeon,youfellows!'hecriedcheerfullyoncatchingsightofthem.'You'rejustintimetocomewithmeforajolly—tocomeforajolly—fora—er—jolly——'
Hisheartyaccentsfalteredandfellawayashenoticedthesternunbendinglookonthecountenancesofhissilentfriends,andhisinvitationremainedunfinished.
TheBadgerstrodeupthesteps.'Takehiminside,'hesaidsternlytohiscompanions.
Then,asToadwashustledthroughthedoor,strugglingandprotesting,heturnedtothechauffeurinchargeofthenewmotor-car.
'I'mafraidyouwon'tbewantedto-day,'hesaid.'Mr.Toadhaschangedhismind.Hewillnotrequirethecar.Pleaseunderstandthatthisisfinal.Youneedn'twait.'
Thenhefollowedtheothersinsideandshutthedoor.
'Nowthen!'hesaidtotheToad,whenthefourofthemstoodtogetherintheHall,'firstofall,takethoseridiculousthingsoff!'
'Shan't!'repliedToad,withgreatspirit.'Whatisthemeaningofthisgrossoutrage?Idemandaninstantexplanation.'
'Takethemoffhim,then,youtwo,'orderedtheBadgerbriefly.
TheyhadtolayToadoutonthefloor,kickingandcallingallsortsofnames,beforetheycouldgettoworkproperly.
ThentheRatsatonhim,andtheMolegothismotor-clothesoffhimbitbybit,andtheystoodhimuponhislegsagain.
Agooddealofhisblusteringspiritseemedtohaveevaporatedwiththeremovalofhisfinepanoply.
NowthathewasmerelyToad,andnolongertheTerroroftheHighway,hegiggledfeeblyandlookedfromonetotheotherappealingly,seemingquitetounderstandthesituation.
'Youknewitmustcometothis,soonerorlater,Toad,'theBadgerexplainedseverely.
You'vedisregardedallthewarningswe'vegivenyou,you'vegoneonsquanderingthemoneyyourfatherleftyou,andyou'regettingusanimalsabadnameinthedistrictbyyourfuriousdrivingandyoursmashesandyourrowswiththepolice.
Independenceisallverywell,butweanimalsneverallowourfriendstomakefoolsofthemselvesbeyondacertainlimit;andthatlimityou'vereached.
Now,you'reagoodfellowinmanyrespects,andIdon'twanttobetoohardonyou.
I'llmakeonemoreefforttobringyoutoreason.
Youwillcomewithmeintothesmoking-room,andthereyouwillhearsomefactsaboutyourself;andwe'llseewhetheryoucomeoutofthatroomthesameToadthatyouwentin.'
HetookToadfirmlybythearm,ledhimintothesmoking-room,andclosedthedoorbehindthem.
'THAT'Snogood!'saidtheRatcontemptuously.'TALKINGtoToad'llnevercurehim.He'llSAYanything.'
Theymadethemselvescomfortableinarmchairsandwaitedpatiently.
ThroughthecloseddoortheycouldjusthearthelongcontinuousdroneoftheBadger'svoice,risingandfallinginwavesoforatory;andpresentlytheynoticedthatthesermonbegantobepunctuatedatintervalsbylong-drawnsobs,evidentlyproceedingfromthebosomofToad,whowasasoft-heartedandaffectionatefellow,veryeasilyconverted—forthetimebeing—toanypointofview.
Aftersomethree-quartersofanhourthedooropened,andtheBadgerreappeared,solemnlyleadingbythepawaverylimpanddejectedToad.
Hisskinhungbaggilyabouthim,hislegswobbled,andhischeekswerefurrowedbythetearssoplentifullycalledforthbytheBadger'smovingdiscourse.
'Sitdownthere,Toad,'saidtheBadgerkindly,pointingtoachair.
'Myfriends,'hewenton,'IampleasedtoinformyouthatToadhasatlastseentheerrorofhisways.
Heistrulysorryforhismisguidedconductinthepast,andhehasundertakentogiveupmotor-carsentirelyandforever.
Ihavehissolemnpromisetothateffect.'
'Thatisverygoodnews,'saidtheMolegravely.
'Verygoodnewsindeed,'observedtheRatdubiously,'ifonly—IFonly——'
HewaslookingveryhardatToadashesaidthis,andcouldnothelpthinkingheperceivedsomethingvaguelyresemblingatwinkleinthatanimal'sstillsorrowfuleye.
'There'sonlyonethingmoretobedone,'continuedthegratifiedBadger.
'Toad,Iwantyousolemnlytorepeat,beforeyourfriendshere,whatyoufullyadmittedtomeinthesmoking-roomjustnow.
First,youaresorryforwhatyou'vedone,andyouseethefollyofitall?'
Therewasalong,longpause.Toadlookeddesperatelythiswayandthat,whiletheotheranimalswaitedingravesilence.Atlasthespoke.
'No!'hesaid,alittlesullenly,butstoutly;'I'mNOTsorry.Anditwasn'tfollyatall!Itwassimplyglorious!'
'What?'criedtheBadger,greatlyscandalised.'Youbackslidinganimal,didn'tyoutellmejustnow,inthere——'
'Oh,yes,yes,inTHERE,'saidToadimpatiently.'I'dhavesaidanythinginTHERE.
You'resoeloquent,dearBadger,andsomoving,andsoconvincing,andputallyourpointssofrightfullywell—youcandowhatyoulikewithmeinTHERE,andyouknowit.
ButI'vebeensearchingmymindsince,andgoingoverthingsinit,andIfindthatI'mnotabitsorryorrepentantreally,soit'snoearthlygoodsayingIam;now,isit?'
'Thenyoudon'tpromise,'saidtheBadger,'nevertotouchamotor-caragain?'
'Certainlynot!'repliedToademphatically.'Onthecontrary,Ifaithfullypromisethattheveryfirstmotor-carIsee,poop-poop!offIgoinit!'
'Toldyouso,didn'tI?'observedtheRattotheMole.
'Verywell,then,'saidtheBadgerfirmly,risingtohisfeet.
'Sinceyouwon'tyieldtopersuasion,we'lltrywhatforcecando.
Ifeareditwouldcometothisallalong.
You'veoftenaskedusthreetocomeandstaywithyou,Toad,inthishandsomehouseofyours;well,nowwe'regoingto.
Whenwe'veconvertedyoutoaproperpointofviewwemayquit,butnotbefore.
Takehimupstairs,youtwo,andlockhimupinhisbedroom,whilewearrangemattersbetweenourselves.'
'It'sforyourowngood,Toady,youknow,'saidtheRatkindly,asToad,kickingandstruggling,washauledupthestairsbyhistwofaithfulfriends.
'Thinkwhatfunweshallallhavetogether,justasweusedto,whenyou'vequitegotoverthis—thispainfulattackofyours!'
'We'lltakegreatcareofeverythingforyoutillyou'rewell,Toad,'saidtheMole;'andwe'llseeyourmoneyisn'twasted,asithasbeen.'
'Nomoreofthoseregrettableincidentswiththepolice,Toad,'saidtheRat,astheythrusthimintohisbedroom.
'Andnomoreweeksinhospital,beingorderedaboutbyfemalenurses,Toad,'addedtheMole,turningthekeyonhim.
Theydescendedthestair,Toadshoutingabuseatthemthroughthekeyhole;andthethreefriendsthenmetinconferenceonthesituation.
'It'sgoingtobeatediousbusiness,'saidtheBadger,sighing.'I'veneverseenToadsodetermined.However,wewillseeitout.
Hemustneverbeleftaninstantunguarded.
Weshallhavetotakeitinturnstobewithhim,tillthepoisonhasworkeditselfoutofhissystem.'
Theyarrangedwatchesaccordingly.EachanimaltookitinturnstosleepinToad'sroomatnight,andtheydividedthedayupbetweenthem.
AtfirstToadwasundoubtedlyverytryingtohiscarefulguardians.
Whenhisviolentparoxysmspossessedhimhewouldarrangebedroomchairsinruderesemblanceofamotor-carandwouldcrouchontheforemostofthem,bentforwardandstaringfixedlyahead,makinguncouthandghastlynoises,tilltheclimaxwasreached,when,turningacompletesomersault,hewouldlieprostrateamidsttheruinsofthechairs,apparentlycompletelysatisfiedforthemoment.
Astimepassed,however,thesepainfulseizuresgrewgraduallylessfrequent,andhisfriendsstrovetodiverthismindintofreshchannels.
Buthisinterestinothermattersdidnotseemtorevive,andhegrewapparentlylanguidanddepressed.
OnefinemorningtheRat,whoseturnitwastogoonduty,wentupstairstorelieveBadger,whomhefoundfidgetingtobeoffandstretchhislegsinalongrambleroundhiswoodanddownhisearthsandburrows.
'Toad'sstillinbed,'hetoldtheRat,outsidethedoor.
'Can'tgetmuchoutofhim,except,"Oleavehimalone,hewantsnothing,perhapshe'llbebetterpresently,itmaypassoffintime,don'tbeundulyanxious,"andsoon.Now,youlookout,Rat!
WhenToad'squietandsubmissiveandplayingatbeingtheheroofaSunday-schoolprize,thenhe'sathisartfullest.There'ssuretobesomethingup.Iknowhim.Well,now,Imustbeoff.'
'Howareyouto-day,oldchap?'inquiredtheRatcheerfully,asheapproachedToad'sbedside.
Hehadtowaitsomeminutesforananswer.Atlastafeeblevoicereplied,'Thankyousomuch,dearRatty!Sogoodofyoutoinquire!Butfirsttellmehowyouareyourself,andtheexcellentMole?'
'O,WE'REallright,'repliedtheRat.'Mole,'headdedincautiously,'isgoingoutforarunroundwithBadger.
They'llbeouttillluncheontime,soyouandIwillspendapleasantmorningtogether,andI'lldomybesttoamuseyou.
Nowjumpup,there'sagoodfellow,anddon'tliemopingthereonafinemorninglikethis!'
'Dear,kindRat,'murmuredToad,'howlittleyourealisemycondition,andhowveryfarIamfrom"jumpingup"now—ifever!Butdonottroubleaboutme.
Ihatebeingaburdentomyfriends,andIdonotexpecttobeonemuchlonger.Indeed,Ialmosthopenot.'
'Well,Ihopenot,too,'saidtheRatheartily.
'You'vebeenafinebothertousallthistime,andI'mgladtohearit'sgoingtostop.
Andinweatherlikethis,andtheboatingseasonjustbeginning!It'stoobadofyou,Toad!
Itisn'tthetroublewemind,butyou'remakingusmisssuchanawfullot.'
'I'mafraiditISthetroubleyoumind,though,'repliedtheToadlanguidly.'Icanquiteunderstandit.It'snaturalenough.You'retiredofbotheringaboutme.
Imustn'taskyoutodoanythingfurther.I'manuisance,Iknow.'
'Youare,indeed,'saidtheRat.'ButItellyou,I'dtakeanytroubleonearthforyou,ifonlyyou'dbeasensibleanimal.'
'IfIthoughtthat,Ratty,'murmuredToad,morefeeblythanever,'thenIwouldbegyou—forthelasttime,probably—tosteproundtothevillageasquicklyaspossible—evennowitmaybetoolate—andfetchthedoctor.Butdon'tyoubother.
It'sonlyatrouble,andperhapswemayaswellletthingstaketheircourse.'
'Why,whatdoyouwantadoctorfor?'inquiredtheRat,comingcloserandexamininghim.Hecertainlylayverystillandflat,andhisvoicewasweakerandhismannermuchchanged.
'Surelyyouhavenoticedoflate——'murmuredToad.'But,no—whyshouldyou?Noticingthingsisonlyatrouble.
To-morrow,indeed,youmaybesayingtoyourself,"O,ifonlyIhadnoticedsooner!IfonlyIhaddonesomething!"Butno;it'satrouble.Nevermind—forgetthatIasked.'
'Lookhere,oldman,'saidtheRat,beginningtogetratheralarmed,'ofcourseI'llfetchadoctortoyou,ifyoureallythinkyouwanthim.
Butyoucanhardlybebadenoughforthatyet.Let'stalkaboutsomethingelse.'
'Ifear,dearfriend,'saidToad,withasadsmile,'that"talk"candolittleinacaselikethis—ordoctorseither,forthatmatter;still,onemustgraspattheslighteststraw.
And,bytheway—whileyouareaboutit—IHATEtogiveyouadditionaltrouble,butIhappentorememberthatyouwillpassthedoor—wouldyoumindatthesametimeaskingthelawyertostepup?
Itwouldbeaconveniencetome,andtherearemoments—perhapsIshouldsaythereisAmoment—whenonemustfacedisagreeabletasks,atwhatevercosttoexhaustednature!'
'Alawyer!O,hemustbereallybad!'theaffrightedRatsaidtohimself,ashehurriedfromtheroom,notforgetting,however,tolockthedoorcarefullybehindhim.
Outside,hestoppedtoconsider.Theothertwowerefaraway,andhehadnoonetoconsult.
'It'sbesttobeonthesafeside,'hesaid,onreflection.
'I'veknownToadfancyhimselffrightfullybadbefore,withouttheslightestreason;butI'veneverheardhimaskforalawyer!
Ifthere'snothingreallythematter,thedoctorwilltellhimhe'sanoldass,andcheerhimup;andthatwillbesomethinggained.
I'dbetterhumourhimandgo;itwon'ttakeverylong.'
Soheranofftothevillageonhiserrandofmercy.
TheToad,whohadhoppedlightlyoutofbedassoonasheheardthekeyturnedinthelock,watchedhimeagerlyfromthewindowtillhedisappeareddownthecarriage-drive.
Then,laughingheartily,hedressedasquicklyaspossibleinthesmartestsuithecouldlayhandsonatthemoment,filledhispocketswithcashwhichhetookfromasmalldrawerinthedressing-table,andnext,knottingthesheetsfromhisbedtogetherandtyingoneendoftheimprovisedroperoundthecentralmullionofthehandsomeTudorwindowwhichformedsuchafeatureofhisbedroom,hescrambledout,slidlightlytotheground,and,takingtheoppositedirectiontotheRat,marchedofflightheartedly,whistlingamerrytune.
ItwasagloomyluncheonforRatwhentheBadgerandtheMoleatlengthreturned,andhehadtofacethemattablewithhispitifulandunconvincingstory.
TheBadger'scaustic,nottosaybrutal,remarksmaybeimagined,andthereforepassedover;butitwaspainfultotheRatthateventheMole,thoughhetookhisfriend'ssideasfaraspossible,couldnothelpsaying,'You'vebeenabitofadufferthistime,Ratty!Toad,too,ofallanimals!'
'Hediditawfullywell,'saidthecrestfallenRat.
'HedidYOUawfullywell!'rejoinedtheBadgerhotly.'However,talkingwon'tmendmatters.
He'sgotclearawayforthetime,that'scertain;andtheworstofitis,he'llbesoconceitedwithwhathe'llthinkishisclevernessthathemaycommitanyfolly.
Onecomfortis,we'refreenow,andneedn'twasteanymoreofourprecioustimedoingsentry-go.
Butwe'dbettercontinuetosleepatToadHallforawhilelonger.
Toadmaybebroughtbackatanymoment—onastretcher,orbetweentwopolicemen.'
SospoketheBadger,notknowingwhatthefutureheldinstore,orhowmuchwater,andofhowturbidacharacter,wastorununderbridgesbeforeToadshouldsitateaseagaininhisancestralHall.
Meanwhile,Toad,gayandirresponsible,waswalkingbrisklyalongthehighroad,somemilesfromhome.
Atfirsthehadtakenby-paths,andcrossedmanyfields,andchangedhiscourseseveraltimes,incaseofpursuit;butnow,feelingbythistimesafefromrecapture,andthesunsmilingbrightlyonhim,andallNaturejoininginachorusofapprovaltothesongofself-praisethathisownheartwassingingtohim,healmostdancedalongtheroadinhissatisfactionandconceit.
'Smartpieceofworkthat!'heremarkedtohimselfchuckling.
'Brainagainstbruteforce—andbraincameoutonthetop—asit'sboundtodo.PooroldRatty!My!
won'thecatchitwhentheBadgergetsback!
Aworthyfellow,Ratty,withmanygoodqualities,butverylittleintelligenceandabsolutelynoeducation.
Imusttakehiminhandsomeday,andseeifIcanmakesomethingofhim.'
Filledfullofconceitedthoughtssuchasthesehestrodealong,hisheadintheair,tillhereachedalittletown,wherethesignof'TheRedLion,'swingingacrosstheroadhalfwaydownthemainstreet,remindedhimthathehadnotbreakfastedthatday,andthathewasexceedinglyhungryafterhislongwalk.
HemarchedintotheInn,orderedthebestluncheonthatcouldbeprovidedatsoshortanotice,andsatdowntoeatitinthecoffee-room.
Hewasabouthalf-waythroughhismealwhenanonlytoofamiliarsound,approachingdownthestreet,madehimstartandfalla-tremblingallover.Thepoop-poop!
drewnearerandnearer,thecarcouldbeheardtoturnintotheinn-yardandcometoastop,andToadhadtoholdontothelegofthetabletoconcealhisover-masteringemotion.
Presentlythepartyenteredthecoffee-room,hungry,talkative,andgay,volubleontheirexperiencesofthemorningandthemeritsofthechariotthathadbroughtthemalongsowell.
Toadlistenedeagerly,allears,foratime;atlasthecouldstanditnolonger.
Heslippedoutoftheroomquietly,paidhisbillatthebar,andassoonashegotoutsidesaunteredroundquietlytotheinn-yard.
'Therecannotbeanyharm,'hesaidtohimself,'inmyonlyjustLOOKINGatit!'
Thecarstoodinthemiddleoftheyard,quiteunattended,thestable-helpsandotherhangers-onbeingallattheirdinner.Toadwalkedslowlyroundit,inspecting,criticising,musingdeeply.
'Iwonder,'hesaidtohimselfpresently,'IwonderifthissortofcarSTARTSeasily?'
Nextmoment,hardlyknowinghowitcameabout,hefoundhehadholdofthehandleandwasturningit.
Asthefamiliarsoundbrokeforth,theoldpassionseizedonToadandcompletelymasteredhim,bodyandsoul.
Asifinadreamhefoundhimself,somehow,seatedinthedriver'sseat;asifinadream,hepulledtheleverandswungthecarroundtheyardandoutthroughthearchway;and,asifinadream,allsenseofrightandwrong,allfearofobviousconsequences,seemedtemporarilysuspended.
Heincreasedhispace,andasthecardevouredthestreetandleaptforthonthehighroadthroughtheopencountry,hewasonlyconsciousthathewasToadoncemore,Toadathisbestandhighest,Toadtheterror,thetraffic-queller,theLordofthelonetrail,beforewhomallmustgivewayorbesmittenintonothingnessandeverlastingnight.
Hechantedasheflew,andthecarrespondedwithsonorousdrone;themileswereeatenupunderhimashespedheknewnotwhither,fulfillinghisinstincts,livinghishour,recklessofwhatmightcometohim.
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'Tomymind,'observedtheChairmanoftheBenchofMagistratescheerfully,'theONLYdifficultythatpresentsitselfinthisotherwiseveryclearcaseis,howwecanpossiblymakeitsufficientlyhotfortheincorrigiblerogueandhardenedruffianwhomweseecoweringinthedockbeforeus.
Letmesee:hehasbeenfoundguilty,ontheclearestevidence,first,ofstealingavaluablemotor-car;secondly,ofdrivingtothepublicdanger;and,thirdly,ofgrossimpertinencetotheruralpolice.
Mr.Clerk,willyoutellus,please,whatistheverystiffestpenaltywecanimposeforeachoftheseoffences?
Without,ofcourse,givingtheprisonerthebenefitofanydoubt,becausethereisn'tany.'
TheClerkscratchedhisnosewithhispen.
'Somepeoplewouldconsider,'heobserved,'thatstealingthemotor-carwastheworstoffence;andsoitis.
Butcheekingthepoliceundoubtedlycarriestheseverestpenalty;andsoitought.
Supposingyouweretosaytwelvemonthsforthetheft,whichismild;andthreeyearsforthefuriousdriving,whichislenient;andfifteenyearsforthecheek,whichwasprettybadsortofcheek,judgingbywhatwe'veheardfromthewitness-box,evenifyouonlybelieveone-tenthpartofwhatyouheard,andIneverbelievemoremyself—thosefigures,ifaddedtogethercorrectly,totuptonineteenyears——'
'First-rate!'saidtheChairman.
'—Soyouhadbettermakeitaroundtwentyyearsandbeonthesafeside,'concludedtheClerk.
'Anexcellentsuggestion!'saidtheChairmanapprovingly.'Prisoner!
Pullyourselftogetherandtryandstandupstraight.
It'sgoingtobetwentyyearsforyouthistime.
Andmind,ifyouappearbeforeusagain,uponanychargewhatever,weshallhavetodealwithyouveryseriously!'
ThenthebrutalminionsofthelawfelluponthehaplessToad;loadedhimwithchains,anddraggedhimfromtheCourtHouse,shrieking,praying,protesting;acrossthemarketplace,wheretheplayfulpopulace,alwaysassevereupondetectedcrimeastheyaresympatheticandhelpfulwhenoneismerely'wanted,'assailedhimwithjeers,carrots,andpopularcatch-words;pasthootingschoolchildren,theirinnocentfaceslitupwiththepleasuretheyeverderivefromthesightofagentlemanindifficulties;acrossthehollow-soundingdrawbridge,belowthespikyportcullis,underthefrowningarchwayofthegrimoldcastle,whoseancienttowerssoaredhighoverhead;pastguardroomsfullofgrinningsoldieryoffduty,pastsentrieswhocoughedinahorrid,sarcasticway,becausethatisasmuchasasentryonhispostdaredotoshowhiscontemptandabhorrenceofcrime;uptime-wornwindingstairs,pastmen-at-armsincasquetandcorseletofsteel,dartingthreateninglooksthroughtheirvizards;acrosscourtyards,wheremastiffsstrainedattheirleashandpawedtheairtogetathim;pastancientwarders,theirhalberdsleantagainstthewall,dozingoverapastyandaflagonofbrownale;onandon,pasttherack-chamberandthethumbscrew-room,pasttheturningthatledtotheprivatescaffold,tilltheyreachedthedoorofthegrimmestdungeonthatlayintheheartoftheinnermostkeep.
Thereatlasttheypaused,whereanancientgaolersatfingeringabunchofmightykeys.
'Oddsbodikins!'saidthesergeantofpolice,takingoffhishelmetandwipinghisforehead.
'Rousethee,oldloon,andtakeoverfromusthisvileToad,acriminalofdeepestguiltandmatchlessartfulnessandresource.
Watchandwardhimwithallthyskill;andmarktheewell,greybeard,shouldaughtuntowardbefall,thyoldheadshallanswerforhis—andamurrainonbothofthem!'
Thegaolernoddedgrimly,layinghiswitheredhandontheshoulderofthemiserableToad.
Therustykeycreakedinthelock,thegreatdoorclangedbehindthem;andToadwasahelplessprisonerintheremotestdungeonofthebest-guardedkeepofthestoutestcastleinallthelengthandbreadthofMerryEngland.
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