david elginbrod-第112章
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conditions； he succeeded。 But as soon as he was disturbed； the
gloss vanished； and the true nature came out； that of a ruffian and
a sneak。 He quite quivered at the look with which Falconer turned
again to the cupboard。
〃Stop；〃 he cried； 〃here it is。〃
And muttering what sounded like curses； he pulled out of his bosom
the ring； suspended from his neck
〃Sutherland；〃 said Falconer； taking the ring； 〃secure that rapier；
and be careful with it。 We will have its point tested。
Meantime；〃here he turned again to his prisoner〃I give you
warning that the moment I leave this house； I go to Scotland
Yard。Do you know the place？ I there recommend the police to look
after you； and they will mind what I say。 If you leave London； a
message will be sent； wherever you go； that you had better be
watched。 My advice to you is； to stay where you are as long as you
can。 I shall meet you again。〃
They left him on the floor； to the care of his landlady； whom they
found outside the room； speechless with terror。
As soon as they were in the square； on which the moon was now
shining； as it had shone in Euphra's dream the night before；
Falconer gave the ring to Hugh。
〃Take it to a jeweller's； Sutherland； and get it cleaned； before you
give it to Miss Cameron。〃
〃I will；〃 answered Hugh； and added； 〃I don't know how to thank you。〃
〃Then don't；〃 said Falconer； with a smile。
When they reached the end of the street； he turned； and bade Hugh
good night。
〃Take care of that cowardly thing。 It may be as you say。〃
Hugh turned towards home。 Falconer dived into a court； and was out
of sight in a moment。
CHAPTER XXI。
THE LAST GROAT。
Thou hast been
As one； in suffering all； that suffers nothing；
A man that fortune's buffets and rewards
Hast ta'en with equal thanks； and blessed are those
Whose blood and judgment are so well commingled
That they are not a pipe for fortune's finger
To sound what stop she please。
Hamlet。
Most friends befriend themselves with friendship's show。
SOUTHWELL。
Hugh took the ring to Mrs。 Elton's； and gave it into Margaret's
hand。 She brought him back a message of warmest thanks from Euphra。
She had asked for writing materials at once； and was now
communicating the good news to Mr。 Arnold； in Madeira。
〃I have never seen her look so happy；〃 added Margaret。 〃She hopes to
be able to see you in the evening； if you would not mind calling
again。〃
Hugh did call； and saw her。 She received him most kindly。 He was
distressed to see how altered she was。 The fire of one life seemed
dying outflowing away and spending from her eyes； which it
illuminated with too much light as it passed out。 But the fire of
another life； the immortal life； which lies in thought and feeling；
in truth and love divine； which death cannot touch； because it is
not of his kind； was growing as fast。 He sat with her for an hour；
and then went。
This chapter of his own history concluded； Hugh returned with fresh
energy to his novel； and worked at it as his invention gave him
scope。 There was the more necessity that he should make progress；
from the fact that； having sent his mother the greater part of the
salary he had received from Mr。 Arnold； he was now reduced to his
last sovereign。 Poverty looks rather ugly when she comes so close
as this。 But she had not yet accosted him； and with a sovereign in
his pocket； and last week's rent paid； a bachelor is certainly not
poverty…stricken； at least when he is as independent； not only of
other people； but of himself； as Hugh was。 Still； without more
money than that a man walks in fetters； and is ready to forget that
the various restraints he is under are not incompatible with most
honourable freedom。 So Hugh worked as hard as he could to finish
his novel； and succeeded within a week。 Then the real anxiety
began。 He carried it； with much doubtful hope； to one of the
principal publishing houses。 Had he been more selfishly wise； he
would have put it into the hands of Falconer to negotiate for him。
But he thought he had given him quite trouble enough already。 So
he went without an introduction even。 The manuscript was received
politely； and attention was promised。 But a week passed； and
another； and another。 A human soul was in commotion about the meat
that perishethand the manuscript lay all the time
unread；forgotten in a drawer。
At length he reached his last coin。 He had had no meat for several
days； except once that he dined at Mrs。 Elton's。 But he would not
borrow till absolutely compelled； and sixpence would keep him alive
another day。 In the morning he had some breakfast （for he knew his
books were worth enough to pay all he owed Miss Talbot）； and then he
wandered out。 Through the streets he paced and paced； looking in at
all the silversmiths' and printsellers' windows； and solacing his
poverty with a favourite amusement of his in uneasy circumstances；
an amusement cheap enough for a Scotchman reduced to his last
sixpencecastle…building。 This is not altogether a bad employment
where hope has laid the foundation； but it is rather a heartless one
where the imagination has to draw the ground plan as well as the
elevations。 The latter； however； was not quite Hugh's condition
yet。He returned at night； carefully avoiding the cook…shops and
their kindred snares； with a silver groat in his pocket still。 But
he crawled up stairs rather feebly； it must be confessed； for a
youth with limbs moulded in the fashion of his。
He found a letter waiting him； from a friend of his mother；
informing him that she was dangerously ill； and urging him to set
off immediately for home。 This was like the blast of fiery breath
from the dragon's maw； which overthrew the Red…cross knightbut
into the well of life； where all his wounds were healed；
andandwellboard and lodging provided him gratis。
When he had read the letter； he fell on his knees； and said to his
father in heaven： 〃What am I to do？〃
There was no lake with golden pieces in its bottom； whence a fish
might bring him a coin。 Nor in all the wide London lay there one he
could claim as his； but the groat in his pocket。
He rose with the simple resolution to go and tell Falconer。 He
went。 He was not at home。 Emboldened by necessity； Hugh left his
card； with the words on it： 〃Come to me； I need you。〃 He then
returned； packed a few necessaries； and sat down to wait。 But he
had not sat five minutes before Falconer entered。
〃What's the matter； Sutherland； my dear fellow？ You haven't pricked
yourself with that skewer； have you？〃
Hugh handed him the letter with one hand； and when he had read it；
held out the fourpenny piece in the other hand； to be read likewise。
Falconer understood at once。
〃Sutherland；〃 he said； in a tone of reproof； 〃it is a shame of you
to forget that men are brothers。 Are not two who come out of the
heart of God； as closely related as if they had lain in the womb of
one mother？ Why did you not tell me？ You have sufferedI am sure
you have。〃
〃I havea little；〃 Hugh confessed。 〃I am getting rather low in
fact。 I haven't had quite enough to eat。〃
He said this to excuse the tears which Falconer's kindnessnot
hungercompelled from their cells。
〃But；〃 he added； 〃I would have come to you as soon as the fourpence
was gone； or at least； if I hadn't got another before I was very
hungry again。〃
〃Good heavens！〃 exclaimed Falconer； half angrily。 Then pulling out
his watch； 〃We have two hours；〃 said he； 〃before a train starts for
the north。 Come to my place。〃
Hugh rose and obeyed。 Falconer's attendant soon brought them a
plentiful supper from a neighbouring shop； after which Falconer got
out one of his bottles of port； well known to his more intimate
friends； and Hugh thought no more about money than if he had had his
purse full。 If it had not been for anxiety about his mother； he
would have been happier than he had ever been in his life before。
For； crossing in the night the wavering； heaving morass of the
world； had he not set his foot upon one spot which did not shake；
the summit； indeed； of a mighty Plutonic rock； that went down
widening away to the very centr
