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Barnaby Rudge 400
on your inspired exertions！’
‘It was a famous device in the beginning；’ replied Lord George；
‘an excellent device； and did good service in Scotland。 It was quite
worthy of you。 You remind me not to be a sluggard； Gashford；
when the vineyard is menaced with destruction； and may be
trodden down by Papist feet。 Let the horses be saddled in half…an…
hour。 We must be up and doing！’
He said this with a heightened colour； and in a tone of such
enthusiasm； that the secretary deemed all further prompting
needless； and withdrew。
—‘Dreamed he was a Jew；’ he said thoughtfully； as he closed
the bedroom door。 ‘He may come to that before he dies。 It’s like
enough。 Well！ After a time； and provided I lost nothing by it； I
don’t see why that religion shouldn’t suit me as well as any other。
There are rich men among the Jews； shaving is very
troublesome；—yes； it would suit me well enough。 For the present；
though； we must be Christian to the core。 Our prophetic motto will
suit all creeds in their turn； that’s a comfort。’ Reflecting on this
source of consolation； he reached the sitting…room； and rang the
bell for breakfast。
Lord George was quickly dressed （for his plain toilet was easily
made）； and as he was no less frugal in his repasts than in his
Puritan attire； his share of the meal was soon dispatched。 The
secretary； however； more devoted to the good things of this world；
or more intent on sustaining his strength and spirits for the sake of
the Protestant cause； ate and drank to the last minute； and
required indeed some three or four reminders from John Grueby；
before he could resolve to tear himself away from Mr Willet’s
plentiful providing。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
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Barnaby Rudge 401
At length he came downstairs； wiping his greasy mouth； and
having paid John Willet’s bill； climbed into his saddle。 Lord
George； who had been walking up and down before the house
talking to himself with earnest gestures； mounted his horse； and
returning old John Willet’s stately bow； as well as the parting
salutation of a dozen idlers whom the rumour of a live lord being
about to leave the Maypole had gathered round the porch； they
rode away； with stout John Grueby in the rear。
If Lord George Gordon had appeared in the eyes of Mr Willet；
overnight； a nobleman of somewhat quaint and odd exterior； the
impression was confirmed this morning； and increased a
hundredfold。 Sitting bolt upright upon his bony steed； with his
long； straight hair； dangling about his face and fluttering in the
wind； his limbs all angular and rigid； his elbows stuck out on
either side ungracefully； and his whole frame jogged and shaken
at every motion of his horse’s feet； a more grotesque or more
ungainly figure can hardly be conceived。 In lieu of whip； he
carried in his hand a great gold…headed cane； as large as any
footman carries in these days； and his various modes of holding
this unwieldy weapon—now upright before his face like the sabre
of a horse…soldier； now over his shoulder like a musket； now
between his finger and thumb； but always in some uncouth and
awkward fashion—contributed in no small degree to the absurdity
of his appearance。 Stiff； lank； and solemn； dressed in an unusual
manner； and ostentatiously exhibiting—whether by design or
accident—all his peculiarities of carriage； gesture； and conduct； all
the qualities； natural and artificial； in which he differed from other
men； he might have moved the sternest looker…on to laughter； and
fully provoked the smiles and whispered jests which greeted his
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
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Barnaby Rudge 402
departure from the Maypole inn。
Quite unconscious； however； of the effect he produced； he
trotted on beside his secretary； talking to himself nearly all the
way； until they came within a mile or two of London； when now
and then some passenger went by who knew him by sight； and
pointed him out to some one else； and perhaps stood looking after
him； or cried in jest or earnest as it might be； ‘Hurrah Geordie！ No
Popery！’ At which he would gravely pull off his hat； and bow。
When they reached the town and rode along the streets； these
notices became more frequent； some laughed； some hissed； some
turned their heads and smiled； some wondered who he was； some
ran along the pavement by his side and cheered。 When this
happened in a crush of carts and chairs and coaches； he would
make a dead stop； and pulling off his hat； cry； ‘Gentlemen； No
Popery！’ to which the gentlemen would respond with lusty voices；
and with three times three； and then； on he would go again with a
score or so of the raggedest； following at his horse’s heels； and
shouting till their throats were parched。
The old ladies too—there were a great many old ladies in the
streets； and these all knew him。 Some of them—not those of the
highest rank； but such as sold fruit from baskets and carried
burdens—clapped their shrivelled hands； and raised a weazen；
piping； shrill ‘Hurrah； my lord。’ Others waved their hands or
handkerchiefs； or shook their fans or parasols； or threw up
windows and called in haste to those within； to come and see。 All
these marks of popular esteem； he received with profound gravity
and respect； bowing very low； and so frequently that his hat was
more off his head than on； and looking up at th