"For ye see," said "His Majesty"—
"'Mesilf does admire the best,
Av alll that's undher the sun,
To stand faciu' the friend av me sowl,
Wid blunderbus, pistol, or gun.
The word av command it is given,
The wenpon we both av us raises,
Afther which—sure the one laves for home,
Aa' off goes the other to blazes!'"
CHAPTER XXXIV. — HOW THE VIRTUOUS RUSSELL FINDS A FRIEND IN NEED.
It is necessary here to go back for a brief interval in order to take up the fortunes of one who some time ago disappeared from these pages.
The virtuous Russell was alone. He had passed a night which, considering his situation, had not been altogether uncomfortable. He had slept a refreshing sleep, and in the land of dreams had been able to forget the ills of life. Morning came, however, and with his waking thoughts there returned the recollection of the past, and the full consciousness of his present position. He was a captive in a prison from which he could not hope to escape; at the mercy of a powerful and cunning enemy, who knew his secret, and would use every effort to get his money. If he refrained for the present from exerting violence, it was only too probable that this forbearance was but temporary, and that at the last the prisoner must yield.
These were gloomy thoughts, and the good Russell was well-nigh overwhelmed.
But the greatest calamities are often alleviated by comparative trifles; and so it was a trifle which, on this occasion, served to soothe the sorrows of our suffering friend—such a trifle, in fact, as a mere costume. Whether it was that, being a tailor, he was more affected than others by his raiment; or whether it was that a man's dress has, as is claimed, a potent influence which always affects the wearer, need not be discussed; certain it is that just now it was his novel attire which chiefly engaged the thoughts of Russell, and made him less sensible of his misfortunes.
As a dress it was certainly magnificent. The cloth was of the finest quality. Gold was lavished freely upon it—gleaming in the numerous buttons; shining in the profuse lace which glittered over the breast and round the cuffs and round the collar in a flood of glory; sparkling in the hatband; flowing down the skirts like the oil from Aaron's beard. Many a time had his own fancy designed and his own hands fashioned such an array as this for others; but now, as it infolded his own ample person, it shone with new lustre, and threw something of its own lustre around the wearer.