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must be inevitably and of necessity wrong。
Mr Willet walked slowly up to the window； flattened his fat nose
against the cold glass； and shading his eyes that his sight might
not be affected by the ruddy glow of the fire； looked abroad。 Then
he walked slowly back to his old seat in the chimney…corner； and；
composing himself in it with a slight shiver； such as a man might
give way to and so acquire an additional relish for the warm blaze；
said； looking round upon his guests：
‘It’ll clear at eleven o’clock。 No sooner and no later。 Not before
and not arterwards。’
‘How do you make out that？’ said a little man in the opposite
corner。 ‘The moon is past the full； and she rises at nine。’
John looked sedately and solemnly at his questioner until he
had brought his mind to bear upon the whole of his observation；
and then made answer； in a tone which seemed to imply that the
moon was peculiarly his business and nobody else’s：
‘Never you mind about the moon。 Don’t you trouble yourself
about her。 You let the moon alone； and I’ll let you alone。’
‘No offence I hope？’ said the little man。
Again John waited leisurely until the observation had
thoroughly penetrated to his brain； and then replying； ‘No offence
as yet；’ applied a light to his pipe and smoked in placid silence；
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Barnaby Rudge 17
now and then casting a sidelong look at a man wrapped in a loose
riding…coat with huge cuffs ornamented with tarnished silver lace
and large metal buttons； who sat apart from the regular
frequenters of the house； and wearing a hat flapped over his face；
which was still further shaded by the hand on which his forehead
rested； looked unsociable enough。
There was another guest； who sat； booted and spurred； at some
distance from the fire also； and whose thoughts—to judge from his
folded arms and knitted brows； and from the untasted liquor
before him—were occupied with other matters than the topics
under discussion or the persons who discussed them。 This was a
young man of about eight…and…twenty； rather above the middle
height； and though of somewhat slight figure； gracefully and
strongly made。 He wore his own dark hair； and was accoutred in a
riding dress； which together with his large boots （resembling in
shape and fashion those worn by our Life Guardsmen at the
present day）； showed indisputable traces of the bad condition of
the roads。 But travel…stained though he was； he was well and even
richly attired； and without being overdressed looked a gallant
gentleman。
Lying upon the table beside him； as he had carelessly thrown
them down； were a heavy riding…whip and a slouched hat； the
latter worn no doubt as being best suited to the inclemency of the
weather。 There； too； were a pair of pistols in a holster…case； and a
short riding…cloak。 Little of his face was visible； except the long
dark lashes which concealed his downcast eyes； but an air of
careless ease and natural gracefulness of demeanour pervaded the
figure； and seemed to comprehend even those slight accessories；
which were all handsome； and in good keeping。
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Barnaby Rudge 18
Towards this young gentleman the eyes of Mr Willet wandered
but once； and then as if in mute inquiry whether he had observed
his silent neighbour。 It was plain that John and the young
gentleman had often met before。 Finding that his look was not
returned； or indeed observed by the person to whom it was
addressed； John gradually concentrated the whole power of his
eyes into one focus； and brought it to bear upon the man in the
flapped hat； at whom he came to stare in course of time with an
intensity so remarkable； that it affected his fireside cronies； who
all； as with one accord； took their pipes from their lips； and stared
with open mouths at the stranger likewise。
The sturdy landlord had a large pair of dull fish…like eyes； and
the little man who had hazarded the remark about the moon （and
who was the parish…clerk and bell…ringer of Chigwell； a village
hard by） had little round black shiny eyes like beads； moreover
this little man wore at the knees of his rusty black breeches； and
on his rusty black coat； and all down his long flapped waistcoat；
little queer buttons like nothing except his eyes； but so like them；
that as they twinkled and glistened in the light of the fire； which
shone too in his bright shoe…buckles； he seemed all eyes from head
to foot； and to be gazing with every one of them at the unknown
customer。 No wonder that a man should grow restless under such
an inspection as this； to say nothing of the eyes belonging to short
Tom Cobb the general chandler and post…office keeper； and long
Phil Parkes the ranger； both of whom； infected by the example of
their companions； regarded him of the flapped hat no less
attentively。
The stranger became restless； perhaps from being exposed to
this raking fire of eyes； perhaps from the nature of his previous
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Barnaby Rudge 19
meditations—most probably from the latter cause； for as he
changed his position and looked hastily round； he started to find
himself the object of such keen regard； and darted an angry and
suspicious glance at the fireside group。 It had the effect of
immediately diverting all eyes to the chimney； except those of
John Willet； who finding himself as it were； caught in the fact； and
not being （as has been already observed） of a very ready nature；
remained staring at his guest in a particularly awkward and
disconcerted manner。
‘Well？’ said the stranger。
Wel