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Feathertop: A Moralized Legend
Hemanagedhisgold-headedcanewithanairygrace,peculiartothefinegentlemenoftheperiod;and,togivethehighestpossiblefinishtohisequipment,hehadlacerufflesathiswrist,ofamostetherealdelicacy,sufficientlyavouchinghowidleandaristocraticmustbethehandswhichtheyhalfconcealed.
Itwasaremarkablepointintheaccoutrementofthisbrilliantpersonagethatheheldinhislefthandafantastickindofapipe,withanexquisitelypaintedbowlandanambermouthpiece.Thisheappliedtohislipsasoftenaseveryfiveorsixpaces,andinhaledadeepwhiffofsmoke,which,afterbeingretainedamomentinhislungs,mightbeseentoeddygracefullyfromhismouthandnostrils.
Asmaywellbesupposed,thestreetwasallastirtofindoutthestranger’sname.
"Itissomegreatnobleman,beyondquestion,"saidoneofthetownspeople."Doyouseethestarathisbreast?"
"Nay;itistoobrighttobeseen,"saidanother."Yes;hemustneedsbeanobleman,asyousay.Butbywhatconveyance,thinkyou,canhislordshiphavevoyagedortravelledhither?Therehasbeennovesselfromtheoldcountryforamonthpast;andifhehavearrivedoverlandfromthesouthward,praywherearehisattendantsandequipage?"
"Heneedsnoequipagetosetoffhisrank,"remarkedathird."Ifhecameamongusinrags,nobilitywouldshinethroughaholeinhiselbow.Ineversawsuchdignityofaspect.HehastheoldNormanbloodinhisveins,Iwarranthim."
"IrathertakehimtobeaDutchman,oroneofyourhighGermans,"saidanothercitizen."Themenofthosecountrieshavealwaysthepipeattheirmouths.
