"His mission, sir?"
"He speaks of himself as one chosen by God to work His will, and
asks but to live until this mission, whatever it is, be
accomplished. A strange being!" said the little Preacher,
puffing at his empty pipe again as we walked on side by side, "a
dark, incomprehensible man, and a very, very wretched one--poor
soul!"
"Wretched?" said I, "is not that our human lot? 'Man is born to
sorrow as the sparks fly upward,' and Job was accounted wise in
his generation."
"That was a cry from the depths of despond; but Job stood, at
last, upon the heights, and felt once more God's blessed sun, and
rejoiced--even as we should. But, as regards this stranger, he
is one who would seem to have suffered some great wrong, the
continued thought of which has unhinged his mind; his heart seems
broken--dead. I have, sitting beside his delirious couch, heard
him babble a terrible indictment against some man; I have also
heard him pray, and his prayers have been all for vengeance."
"Poor fellow!" said I, "it were better we had left him to die in
his ditch, for if death does not bring oblivion, it may bring a
change of scene."
"Sir," said the Preacher, laying his hand upon my arm, "such
bitterness in one so young is unnatural; you are in some trouble,
I would that I might aid you, be your friend--know you better--"
"Oh, sir! that is easily done. I am a blacksmith, hardworking,
sober, and useful to my fellows; they call me Peter Smith. A
certain time since I was a useless dreamer; spending more money
in a week than I now earn in a year, and getting very little for
it. I was studious, egotistical, and pedantic, wasting my time
upon impossible translations that nobody wanted--and they knew me
as--Peter Vibart."
"Vibart!" exclaimed the Preacher, starting and looking up at me.
"Vibart!" I nodded.
"Related in any way to--Sir Maurice Vibart?"
"His cousin, sir." My companion appeared lost in thought, for he
was puffing at his empty pipe again.
"Do you happen to know Sir Maurice?" I inquired.
"No," returned the Preacher; "no, sir, but I have heard mention
of him, and lately, though just when, or where, I cannot for the
life of me recall."
"Why, the name is familiar to a great many people," said I; "you
see, he is rather a famous character, in his way."