"
"Six ells, three nails, and an odd inch, besides the broad thumbs,"
replied Timothy.
"Right:--she reckoned on a good snip for waste; but let no more be sent
than the embroiderer calls for."
"Not a thread," grunted Dodge.
A pause ensued. Some question was evidently hesitating on the merchant's
tongue. Twice did his lips move, but the word fell unuttered. The affair
was, however, finally disposed of as follows:--
"Hast heard of aught, Timothy, touching the private matter that I
unfolded yesterday?" Cornelius put on as careless an aspect as the
disquietude of his brow could needs carry, but the inquiry was evidently
one of no ordinary interest. He twisted the points of his doublet, tied
and untied the silk cords from his ruff, waiting Dodge's answer in a
posture not much belying the anxiety he wished to conceal.
"Why, master, an' it were of woman's humours, the old seer himself could
not unriddle their pranks."
Cornelius sighed, making the following hasty reply:--
"Thinkest thou this same seer could not give me a lift from out my
trouble?"
"This same seer, I wot," replied Dodge, "is sore perplexed: some evil
and mischievous aspect doth afflict the horoscope of the nation--Mars
being conjunct with Venus and the Dragon's tail.
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