The Printer's Devil Read Online Free PDF Page B

when he did give the word, that Ann or her father (if he should chance to wake) might not know us; although they were like to know only myself, apprentice to Master Pakeman these vii weeks.
    So that night we found ourselves with Roger Southwell outside the house of my master, and Roger bade us anoint our faces with his potion. I put two fingers of my left hand into the pot and felt the substance for the first time: cold and thick it was, an it were a pease-pudding, and vile to the touch; nevertheless I applied it to my face, having no wish to be recognised by my master. Although it is truly said, Audentes fortuna invat; A and in truth I did feel bold, and fortunate too.
    The touch of the unguent called to my mind that time when first I saw Roger use it: as then I saw, so nowfelt a tingling and blurring of my sight; when it was done I felt no different, but the face I saw reflected in a nearby window was not my own. Mayhap we three were so forspoken by our bully-Roger that we no longer saw any strangeness in such a transformation.
    2 little by little
    3 infinite as far as we understand
    4 Fortune favours the daring ( Virgil, The A neid )
    That night was so strange and dream-like an one as I can remember: I must needs set it down ere it fade from my memory. Eager was the air; and Roger passed like unto a shadow into the courtyard of my master’s house, under the light of the stars so pale and cold, and the planets that he doth conjure, and the pale sliver of the moon in her newness, and stood as a player in the theatre transfixed. (Although the canting faithful-broth-ers closed the playhouses when that I was but a child so I do not speak from mine own observation. However they would fain have also closed down the brothels and we do all behold how far they did succeed in this endeavour.).
    —Mistress Ann, he called in a voice so soft as I thought she was not like to hear. Mistress Ann, it is Walter Kyd come with my friends to fetch you away.
    Then above us there opened a casement and Ann Pakeman leaned out, a lanthorn beside her so that although it was a dark night I could see her very clear; her abron locks unbound, her pale Arms and neck; And I was quite stupefied with an heat of mine own.
    —Come, whispered Roger. Come to me, mine own love, and we’ll go hence.
    And then I would swear my heart did stop, for the door below did open and the voice of Master Pakeman called out, Who’s there?
    But Roger smil’d in the darkness, and cast towards him a sprinkling of liquid that sparkled in the starlight as it were very stars itself.
    —See and hear naught but what I desire, Roger rounded in the night’s ear, so soft as a man bespeaking his lover.
    —Who’s there? cried Master Pakeman again.
    —Hush, old man, Pantalone, calls Roger (and in sooth he might have been Old Iniquity), our errand is not with thee but with thy neighbour.
    —Samuel Salter? enquires Master Pakeman, and I saw the cleverness of this Roger Southwell, for my master hath no love for Master Salter and would rejoice to see him discomfited. Whatever glamour Roger had cast was having its effect for it seemed Master Pakeman was confused and knew not that twas his own house which was assailed.
    —Do you but rest silent, quoth Roger, and let us go about our business.
    —Nay, sirra, quoth Master Pakeman, do you have designs gainst Master Salter I must know them, for they may lie with mine own.
    And I saw Roger’s silent smile of triumph. Seest the house of Samuel Salter, he said in a voice the softness of silk; pointing the while at the house of Daniel Pakeman.
    —Aye, says that bemused worthy.
    —Tis my intent, quoth Roger, to steal the man’s wife and thus discomfort him.
    —Twill do so, replied my master. But you will need accomplices.
    In spite of my new semblance my bowels were in turmoil, for Roger then did gesture to the place where we three stood. Without a second glance, Master Pakeman addressed us thus.
    —Welcome, gentles, mine aid is yours in