Shortly
afterwards Dan made his appearance. With wonder and dismay did he
behold the ravages committed in his treasure-house--"confusion worse
confounded."
"Beshrew me, but thou art a restless tenant. I did not tell thee to
tumble my wardrobe into haycocks."
"I was long a-watching," said the pilgrim; "and, in good troth, I became
over curious to know the capacity of thy sty. What tidings from my
lady's chamber?"
"A plague on her husband's humours! Maude says it were as much as a
Jew's thumb were worth to get thee privily to an audience, but she hath
urged my lady to distribute the alms herself to-day; so betake thee to
the kitchen; Maude will contrive thou shalt have some token of approach.
St Anthony! but thou hast bestirred thee bravely; such another guest,
and I might as well set fire to the whole budget. If thou be'st bent on
such another rummage in the kitchen, the cook will whack thy pate with
the spit, holy and hooded though it be."
Dan led the way to this arena of gigantic gastronomy. It was a vast and
smoky den, such as could only exist in those days of feudal
magnificence. An immense furnace was fed by huge blocks of wood, which
the ravening flame seized and in a moment enveloped in its embrace.
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