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butcher； a well…known champion of the Town party； when； the great
University bells ringing to dinner； truce was called between the
combatants； and they retired to their several colleges for refection。
During the boat…race； a gentleman pulling in a canoe； and smoking a
narghilly； had attracted no ordinary attention。 He rowed about a
hundred yards ahead of the boats in the race； so that he could have
a good view of that curious pastime。 If the eight…oars neared him；
with a few rapid strokes of his flashing paddles his boat shot a
furlong ahead； then he would wait； surveying the race； and sending
up volumes of odor from his cool narghilly。
〃Who is he？〃 asked the crowds who panted along the shore；
encouraging； according to Cambridge wont； the efforts of the
oarsmen in the race。 Town and Gown alike asked who it was； who；
with an ease so provoking； in a barque so singular； with a form
seemingly so slight； but a skill so prodigious； beat their best
men。 No answer could be given to the query； save that a gentleman
in a dark travelling…chariot； preceded by six fourgons and a
courier； had arrived the day before at the 〃Hoop Inn；〃 opposite
Brazenose； and that the stranger of the canoe seemed to be the
individual in question。
No wonder the boat； that all admired so； could compete with any
that ever was wrought by Cambridge artificer or Putney workman。
That boatslim； shining； and shooting through the water like a
pike after a small fishwas a caique from Tophana； it had
distanced the Sultan's oarsmen and the best crews of the Capitan
Pasha in the Bosphorus； it was the workmanship of Togrul…Beg；
Caikjee Bashee of his Highness。 The Bashee had refused fifty
thousand tomauns from Count Boutenieff； the Russian Ambassador； for
that little marvel。 When his head was taken off； the Father of
Believers presented the boat to Rafael Mendoza。
It was Rafael Mendoza that saved the Turkish monarchy after the
battle of Nezeeb。 By sending three millions of piastres to the
Seraskier； by bribing Colonel de St。 Cornichon； the French envoy in
the camp of the victorious Ibrahim； the march of the Egyptian army
was stoppedthe menaced empire of the Ottomans was saved from
ruin； the Marchioness of Stokepogis； our ambassador's lady；
appeared in a suite of diamonds which outblazed even the Romanoff
jewels； and Rafael Mendoza obtained the little caique。 He never
travelled without it。 It was scarcely heavier than an arm…chair。
Baroni； the courier； had carried it down to the Cam that morning；
and Rafael had seen the singular sport which we have mentioned。
The dinner over； the young men rushed from their colleges； flushed；
full…fed； and eager for battle。 If the Gown was angry； the Town；
too； was on the alert。 From Iffly and Barnwell； from factory and
mill； from wharf and warehouse； the Town poured out to meet the
enemy； and their battle was soon general。 From the Addenbrook's
hospital to the Blenheim turnpike； all Cambridge was in an uproar
the college gates closedthe shops barricadedthe shop…boys away
in support of their brother townsmenthe battle raged； and the
Gown had the worst of the fight。
A luncheon of many courses had been provided for Rafael Mendoza at
his inn； but he smiled at the clumsy efforts of the university
cooks to entertain him； and a couple of dates and a glass of water
formed his meal。 In vain the discomfited landlord pressed him to
partake of the slighted banquet。 〃A breakfast！ psha！〃 said he。
〃My good man； I have nineteen cooks； at salaries rising from four
hundred a year。 I can have a dinner at any hour； but a Town and
Gown row〃 （a brickbat here flying through the window crashed the
caraffe of water in Mendoza's hand）〃a Town and Gown row is a
novelty to me。 The Town has the best of it； clearly； though： the
men outnumber the lads。 Ha； a good blow！ How that tall townsman
went down before yonder slim young fellow in the scarlet trencher
cap。〃
〃That is the Lord Codlingsby；〃 the landlord said。
〃A light weight； but a pretty fighter；〃 Mendoza remarked。 〃Well
hit with your left； Lord Codlingsby； well parried； Lord Codlingsby；
claret drawn； by Jupiter！〃
〃Ours is werry fine；〃 the landlord said。 〃Will your Highness have
Chateau Margaux or Lafitte？〃
〃He never can be going to match himself against that bargeman！〃
Rafael exclaimed； as an enormous boatmanno other than Rullock
indeed； the most famous bruiser of Cambridge； and before whose
fists the Gownsmen went down like ninepinsfought his way up to
the spot where； with admirable spirit and resolution； Lord
Codlingsby and one or two of his friends were making head against a
number of the town。
The young noble faced the huge champion with the gallantry of his
race； but was no match for the enemy's strength and weight and
sinew； and went down at every round。 The brutal fellow had no
mercy on the lad。 His savage treatment chafed Mendoza as he viewed
the unequal combat from the inn…window。 〃Hold your hand！〃 he cried
to this Goliath； 〃don't you see he's but a boy？〃
〃Down he goes again！〃 the bargeman cried； not heeding the
interruption。 〃Down he goes again： I likes wapping a lord！〃
〃Coward！〃 shouted Mendoza； and to fling open the window amidst a
shower of brickbats； to vault over the balcony； to slide down one
of the pillars to the ground； was an instant's work。
At the next he stood before the enormous bargeman。
。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。
After the coroner's inquest； Mendoza gave ten thousand pounds to
each of the bargeman's ten children； and it was thus his first
acquaintance was formed with Lord Codlingsby。
But we are lingering on the threshold of the house in Holywell
Street。 Let us go in。
III。
Godfrey and Rafael passed from the street into the outer shop of
the old mansion in Holywell Street。 It was a masquerade warehouse
to all appearance。 A dark…eyed damsel of the nation was standing
at the dark and grimy counter； strewed with old feathers； old
yellow hoots； old stage mantles； painted masks； blind and yet
gazing at you with a look of sad death…like intelligence from the
vacancy behind their sockets。
A medical student was trying one of the doublets of orange…tawny
and silver； slashed with dirty light blue。 He was going to a
masquerade that night。 He thought Polly Pattens would admire him
in the dressPolly Pattens； the fairest of maids…of…all…workthe
Borough Venus； adored by half the youth of Guy's。
〃You look like a prince in it； Mr。 Lint；〃 pretty Rachel said；
coaxing him with her beady black eyes。
〃It IS the cheese；〃 replied Mr。 Lint； 〃it ain't the dress that
don't suit； my rose of Sharon； it's the FIGURE。 Hullo； Rafael； is
that you； my lad of sealing…wax？ Come and intercede for me with
this wild gazelle； she says I can't have it under fifteen bob for
the night。 And it's too much： cuss me if it's not too much； unless
you'll take my little bill at two months； Rafael。〃
〃There's a sweet pretty brigand's dress you may have for half de
monish；〃 Rafael replied； 〃there's a splendid clown for eight bob；
but for dat Spanish dress； selp ma Moshesh； Mistraer Lint； ve'd ask
a guinea of any but you。 Here's a gentlemansh just come to look at
it。 Look 'ear； Mr。 Brownsh； did you ever shee a nisher ting dan
dat？〃 So saying； Rafael turned to Lord Codlingsby with the utmost
gravity； and displayed to him the garment about which the young
medicus was haggling。
〃Cheap at the money；〃 Codlingsby replied； 〃if you won't make up
your mind； sir； I should like to engage it myself。〃 But the
thought that another should appear before Polly Pattens in that
costume was too much for Mr。 Lint； he agreed to pay the fifteen
shillings for the garment。 And Rafael； pocketing the money with
perfect simplicity； said； 〃Dis vay； Mr。 Brownsh： dere's someting
vill shoot you in the next shop。〃
Lord Codlingsby followed him； wondering。
〃You are surprised at our system；〃 said Rafael； marking the evident
bewilderment of his friend。 〃Confess you would call it meanness
my huckstering with yonder young fool。 I call it simplicity。 Why
throw away a shilling without need？ Our race never did。 A
shilling is four men's bread： shall I disdain to defile my fingers
by holding them out relief in their necessity？ It is you who are
meanyou Normansnot we of the ancient race。 You have your
vulgar measurement for great things and small。 You call a thousand
pounds respectable； and a shekel despicable。 Psha； my Codlingsby！
One is as the other。 I trade in pennies and in millions。 I am
above or below neither。〃
They were passing through a second shop； smelling strongly of
cedar； and； in fact； piled up with bales of those pencils which the
young Hebrews are in the habit of vending through the streets。 〃I
have sold bundles and bundles of these；〃 said Rafael。 〃My little
broth