david elginbrod-第111章
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his tale。 He was compelled to lay it aside； and betake himself to a
stroll and a pipe。
As he went down stairs； he met Miss Talbot。
〃You're soon tired of home； Mr。 Sutherland。 You haven't been in
above half an hour； and you're out again already。〃
〃Why； you see； Miss Talbot； I want a pipe very much。〃
〃Well； you ain't going to the public house to smoke it； are you？〃
〃No；〃 answered Hugh laughing。 〃But you know； Miss Talbot； you made
it part of the agreement that I shouldn't smoke indoors。 So I'm
going to smoke in the street。〃
〃Now； think of being taken that way！〃 retorted Miss Talbot； with an
injured air。 〃Why； that was before I knew anything about you。 Go up
stairs directly； and smoke your pipe； and when the room can't hold
any more； you can open the windows。 Your smoke won't do any harm；
Mr。 Sutherland。 But I'm very sorry you quarrelled with Mrs。
Appleditch。 She's a hard woman； and over fond of her money and her
drawing…room； and for those boys of hersthe Lord have mercy on
them； for she has none！ But she's a true Christian for all that；
and does a power of good among the poor people。〃
〃What does she give them； Miss Talbot？〃
〃Oh！she gives themhm…mtracts and things。 You know；〃 she
added； perceiving the weakness of her position； 〃people's souls
should come first。 And poor Mrs。 Appleditchyou seesome folks is
made stickier than others； and their money sticks to them； somehow；
that they can't part with itpoor woman！〃
To this Hugh had no answer at hand； for though Miss Talbot's logic
was more than questionable； her charity was perfectly sound； and
Hugh felt that he had not been forbearing enough with the mother of
the future pastors。 So he went back to his room； lighted his pipe；
and smoked till he fell asleep over a small volume of morbid modern
divinity； which Miss Talbot had lent him。 I do not mention the name
of the book； lest some of my acquaintance should abuse me； and
others it； more than either deserves。 Hugh； however； found the best
refuge from the diseased self…consciousness which it endeavoured to
rouse； and which is a kind of spiritual somnambulism； in an hour of
God's good sleep； into a means of which the book was temporarily
elevated。 When he woke he found himself greatly refreshed by the
influence it had exercised upon him。
It was now the hour for the daily pretence of going to dine。 So he
went out。 But all he had was some bread； which he ate as he walked
about。 Loitering here； and trifling there； passing five minutes
over a volume on every bookstall in Holborn； and comparing the
shapes of the meerschaums in every tobacconist's window； time ambled
gently along with him； and it struck nine just as he found himself
at Falconer's door。
〃You are ready； then？〃 said Falconer。
〃Quite。〃
〃Will you take anything before you go？ I think we had better have
some supper first。 It is early for our project。〃
This was a welcome proposal to Hugh。 Cold meat and ale were
excellent preparatives for what might be required of him； for a
tendency to collapse in a certain region； called by courtesy the
chest； is not favourable to deeds of valour。 By the time he had
spent ten minutes in the discharge of the agreeable duty suggested；
he felt himself ready for anything that might fall to his lot。
The friends set out together； and； under the guidance of the two
foremost bumps upon Falconer's forehead； soon arrived at the place
he judged to be that indicated by Euphra。 It was very different
from the place Hugh had pictured to himself。 Yet in everything it
corresponded to her description。
〃Are we not great fools； Sutherland； to set out on such a chase；
with the dream of a sick girl for our only guide？〃
〃I am sure you don't think so； else you would not have gone。〃
〃I think we can afford the small risk to our reputation involved in
the chase of this same wild…goose。 There is enough of strange
testimony about things of the sort to justify us in attending to the
hint。 Besides； if we neglected it； it would be mortifying to find
out some day； perhaps a hundred years after this； that it was a true
hint。 It is altogether different from giving ourselves up to the
pursuit of such things。But this ought to be the house；〃 he added；
going up to one that had a rather more respectable look than the
rest。
He knocked at the door。 An elderly woman half opened it and looked
at them suspiciously。
〃Will you take my card to the foreign gentleman who is lodging with
you； and say I am happy to wait upon him？〃 said Falconer。
She glanced at him again； and turned inwards； hesitating whether to
leave the door half…open or not。 Falconer stood so close to it；
however； that she was afraid to shut it in his face。
〃Now； Sutherland； follow me；〃 whispered Falconer； as soon as the
woman had disappeared on the stair。
Hugh followed behind the moving tower of his friend； who strode with
long； noiseless strides till he reached the stair。 That he took
three steps at a time。 They went up two flights； and reached the
top just as the woman was laying her hand on the lock of the
back…room door。 She turned and faced them。
〃Speak one word；〃 said Falconer； in a hissing whisper； 〃and〃
He completed the sentence by an awfully threatening gesture。 She
drew back in terror； and yielded her place at the door。
〃Come in；〃 bawled some one； in second answer to the knock she had
already given。
〃It is he！〃 said Hugh； trembling with excitement。
〃Hush！〃 said Falconer； and went in。
Hugh followed。 He know the back of the count at once。 He was
seated at a table； apparently writing； but； going nearer； they saw
that he was drawing。 A single closer glance showed them the
portrait of Euphra growing under his hand。 In order to intensify
his will and concentrate it upon her； he was drawing her portrait
from memory。 But at the moment they caught sight of it； the wretch；
aware of a hostile presence； sprang to his feet； and reached the
chimney…piece at one bound； whence he caught up a sword。
〃Take care； Falconer；〃 cried Hugh； 〃that weapon is poisoned。 He is
no every…day villain you have to deal with。〃
He remembered the cat。
Funkelstein made a sudden lunge at Hugh； his face pale with hatred
and anger。 But a blow from Falconer's huge fist； travelling faster
than the point of his weapon； stretched him on the floor。 Such was
Falconer's impetus； that it hurled both him and the table across the
fallen villain。 Falconer was up in a moment。 Not so Funkelstein。
There was plenty of time for Hugh to secure the rapier； and for
Falconer to secure its owner； before he came to himself。
〃Where's my ring？〃 said Hugh； the moment he opened his eyes。
〃Gentlemen； I protest；〃 began Funkelstein； in a voice upon which the
cord that bound his wrists had an evident influence。
〃No chaff！〃 said Falconer。 〃We've got all our feathers。 Hand over
the two rings； or be the security for them yourself。〃
〃What witness have you against me？〃
〃The best of witnessesMiss Cameron。〃
〃And me；〃 added Hugh。
〃Gentlemen； I am very sorry。 I yielded to temptation。 I meant to
restore the diamond after the joke had been played out； but I was
forced to part with it。〃
〃The joke is played out； you see；〃 said Falconer。 〃So you had better
produce the other bauble you stole at the same time。〃
〃I have not got it。〃
〃Come； come； that's too much。 Nobody would give you more than five
shillings for it。 And you knew what it was worth when you took it。
Sutherland； you stand over him while I search the room。 This
portrait may as well be put out of the way first。〃
As he spoke； Falconer tore the portrait and threw it into the fire。
He then turned to a cupboard in the room。 Whether it was that
Funkelstein feared further revelations； I do not know； but he
quailed。
〃I have not got it；〃 he repeated； however。
〃You lie；〃 answered Falconer。
〃I would give it you if I could。〃
〃You shall。〃
The Bohemian looked contemptible enough now； despite the
handsomeness of his features。 It needed freedom； and the absence of
any urgency； to enable him to personate a gentleman。 Given those
conditions； he succeeded。 But as soon as he was disturb
