``Partake！’’quothAthelstane；``Ihavebeenpartakingfivetimesto-day——andyetamorselofthatsavouryhamwerenotaltogetherforeigntothematter；andIprayyou，fairsir，todomereasoninacupofwine。’’
Theguests，thoughstillagapewithastonishment，pledgedtheirresuscitatedlandlord，whothusproceededinhisstory：——Hehadindeednowmanymoreauditorsthanthosetowhomitwascommenced，forEdith，havinggivencertainnecessaryordersforarrangingmatterswithintheCastle，hadfollowedthedead-aliveuptothestranger’sapartmentattendedbyasmanyoftheguests，maleandfemale，ascouldsqueezeintothesmallroom，whileothers，crowdingthestaircase，caughtupanerroneouseditionofthestory，andtransmitteditstillmoreinaccuratelytothosebeneath，whoagainsentitforthtothevulgarwithout，inafashiontotallyirreconcilabletotherealfact。Athelstane，however，wentonasfollows，withthehistoryofhisescape：——
``Findingmyselffreedfromthestaple，Idraggedmyselfupstairsaswellasamanloadedwithshackles，andemaciatedwithfasting，might；andaftermuchgropingabout，Iwasatlengthdirected，bythesoundofajollyroundelay，totheapartmentwheretheworthySacristan，anitsopleaseye，washoldingadevil’smasswithahugebeetle-browed，broad-shoulderedbrotherofthegrey-frockandcowl，wholookedmuchmorelikeathiefthanaclergyman。Iburstinuponthem，andthefashionofmygrave-clothes，aswellastheclankingofmychains，madememoreresembleaninhabitantoftheotherworldthanofthis。Bothstoodaghast；
butwhenIknockeddowntheSacristanwithmyfist，theotherfellow，hispot-companion，fetchedablowatmewithahugequarter-staff。’’
``ThismustbeourFriarTuck，foracount’sransom，’’