david elginbrod-第70部分

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further　progress。

〃I'm　fully　at　your　service；　sir。〃

〃When　will　you　be　off　duty？〃

〃At　nine　o'clock　preceesely。〃

〃Come　to　No。　13；Square；　and　ask　for　me。　　It's　not　far。〃

〃Wi'　pleesir；　sir；　'gin　'twar　twise　as　far。〃

Hugh　would　not　have　ventured　to　ask　him　to　his　house　on　Sunday
night；　when　no　refreshments　could　be　procured；　had　he　not　remembered
a　small　pig　（Anglic？stone　bottle）　of　real　mountain　dew；　which　he
had　carried　with　him　when　he　went　to　Arnstead；　and　which　had　lain
unopened　in　one　of　his　boxes。

Miss　Talbot　received　her　lodger　with　more　show　of　pleasure　than
usual；　for　he　came　lapped　in　the　odour　of　the　deacon's　sanctity。
But　she　was　considerably　alarmed　and　beyond　measure　shocked　when
the　policeman　called　and　requested　to　see　him。　　Sally　had　rushed　in
to　her　mistress　in　dismay。

〃Please'm；　there's　a　pleaceman　wants　Mr。　Sutherland。　　Oh！　lor'm！〃

〃Well；　go　and　let　Mr。　Sutherland　know；　you　stupid　girl；〃　answered
her　mistress；　trembling。

〃Oh！　lor'm！〃　was　all　Sally's　reply；　as　she　vanished　to　bear　the
awful　tidings　to　Hugh。

〃He　can't　have　been　housebreaking　already；〃　said　Miss　Talbot　to
herself；　as　she　confessed　afterwards。　〃But　it　may　be　forgery　or
embezzlement。　　I　told　the　poor　deluded　young　man　that　the　way　of
transgressors　was　hard。〃

〃Please；　sir；　you're　wanted；　sir；〃　said　Sally；　out　of　breath；　and
pale　as　her　Sunday　apron。

〃Who　wants　me？〃　asked　Hugh。

〃Please；　sir；　the　pleaceman；　sir；〃　answered　Sally；　and　burst　into
tears。

Hugh　was　perfectly　bewildered　by　the　girl's　behaviour；　and　said　in　a
tone　of　surprise：

〃Well；　show　him　up；　then。〃

〃Ooh！　sir；〃　said　Sally；　with　a　Plutonic　sigh；　and　began　to　undo　the
hooks　of　her　dress；　〃if　you　wouldn't　mind；　sir；　just　put　on　my　frock
and　apron；　and　take　a　jug　in　your　hand；　an'　the　pleaceman'll　never
look　at　you。　　I'll　take　care　of　everything　till　you　come　back；　sir。〃
And　again　she　burst　into　tears。

Sally　was　a　great　reader　of　the　Family　Herald；　and　knew　that　this
was　an　orthodox　plan　of　rescuing　a　prisoner。　　The　kindness　of　her
anxiety　moderated　the　expression　of　Hugh's　amusement；　and　having
convinced　her　that　he　was　in　no　danger；　he　easily　prevailed　upon　her
to　bring　the　policeman　upstairs。

Over　a　tumbler　of　toddy；　the　weaker　ingredients　of　which　were
procured　by　Sally's　glad　connivance；　with　a　lingering　idea　of
propitiation；　and　a　gentle　hint　that　Missus　mustn't　knowthe　two
Scotchmen；　seated　at　opposite　corners　of　the　fire；　had　a　long　chat。
They　began　about　the　old　country；　and　the　places　and　people　they
both　knew；　and　both　didn't　know。　　If　they　had　met　on　the　shores　of
the　central　lake　of　Africa；　they　could　scarcely　have　been　more
couthy　together。　　At　length　Hugh　referred　to　the　object　of　his
application　to　MacPherson。

〃What　plan　would　you　have　me　pursue；　John；　to　get　hold　of　a　man　in
London？〃

〃I　could　manage　that　for　ye；　sir。　　I　ken　maist　the　haill　mengie　o'
the　detaictives。〃

〃But　you　see；　unfortunately；　I　don't　wish；　for　particular　reasons；
that　the　police　should　have　anything　to　do　with　it。〃

〃Ay！　ay！　　Hm！　　Hm！　　I　see　brawly。　　Ye'll　be　efter　a　stray　sheep；　nae
doot？〃

Hugh　did　not　reply；　so　leaving　him　to　form　any　conclusion　he
pleased。

〃Ye　see；〃　MacPherson　continued；　〃it's　no　that　easy　to　a　body　that's
no　up　to　the　trade。　　Hae　ye　ony　clue　like；　to　set　ye　spierin'　upo'？〃

〃Not　the　least。〃

The　man　pondered　a　while。

〃I　hae't；〃　he　exclaimed　at　last。　〃What　a　fule　I　was　no　to　think　o'
that　afore！　　Gin't　be　a　puir　bit　yow…lammie　like；　'at　ye're　efter；
I'll　tell　ye　what：　there's　ae　man；　a　countryman　o'　our　ain；　an'　a
gentleman　forbye；　that'll　do　mair　for　ye　in　that　way；　nor　a'　the
detaictives　thegither；　an'　that's　Robert　Falconer；　Esquire。I　ken
him　weel。〃

〃But　I　don't；〃　said　Hugh。

〃But　I'll　introduce　ye　till　'im。　　He　bides　close　at　han'　here；　roun'
twa　corners　jist。　　An'　I'm　thinkin'　he'll　be　at　hame　the　noo；　for　I
saw　him　gaein　that　get；　afore　ye　cam'　up　to　me。　　An'　the　suner　we
gang；　the　better；　for　he's　no　aye　to　be　gotten　hand　o'。　　Fegs！　he
may　be　in　Shoreditch　or　this。〃

〃But　will　he　not　consider　it　an　intrusion？〃

〃Na；　na；　there's　no　fear　o'　that。　　He's　ony　man's　an'　ilka　woman's
freenso　be　he　can　do　them　a　guid　turn；　but　he's　no　for　drinkin'
and　daffin'　an'　that。　　Come　awa'；　Maister　Sutherlan'；　he's　yer　verra
man。〃

Thus　urged；　Hugh　rose　and　accompanied　the　policeman。　　He　took　him
round　rather　more　than　two　corners；　but　within　five　minutes　they
stood　at　Mr。　Falconer's　door。　　John　rang。　　The　door　opened　without
visible　service；　and　they　ascended　to　the　first　floor；　which　was
enclosed　something　after　the　Scotch　fashion。　　Here　a　respectable
looking　woman　awaited　their　ascent。

〃Is　Mr。　Falconer　at　hom'；　mem？〃　said　Hugh's　guide。

〃He　is；　but　I　think　he's　just　going　out　again。〃

〃Will　ye　tell　him；　mem；　'at　hoo　John　MacPherson；　the　policeman；
would　like　sair　to　see　him？〃

〃I　will；〃　she　answered；　and　went　in；　leaving　them　at　the　door。

She　returned　in　a　moment；　and；　inviting　them　to　enter；　ushered　them
into　a　large　bare　room；　in　which　there　was　just　light　enough　for
Hugh　to　recognize；　to　his　astonishment；　the　unmistakeable　figure　of
the　man　whom　he　had　met　in　Whitechapel；　and　whom　he　had　afterwards
seen　apparently　watching　him　from　the　gallery　of　the　Olympic
Theatre。

〃How　are　you；　MacPherson？〃　said　a　deep　powerful　voice；　out　of　the
gloom。

〃Verra　weel；　I　thank　ye；　Mr。　Falconer。　　Hoo　are　ye　yersel'；　sir？〃

〃Very　well　too；　thank　you。　　Who　is　with　you？〃

〃It's　a　gentleman；　sir；　by　the　name　o'　Mr。　Sutherlan'；　wha　wants
your　help；　sir；　aboot　somebody　or　ither　'at　he's　enteresstit　in；
wha's　disappeared。〃

Falconer　advanced；　and；　bowing　to　Hugh　said；　very　graciously：

〃I　shall　be　most　happy　to　serve　Mr。　Sutherland；　if　in　my　power。　　Our
friend　MacPherson　has　rather　too　exalted　an　idea　of　my　capabilities；
however。〃

〃Weel；　Maister　Falconer；　I　only　jist　spier　at　yersel'；　whether　or　no
ye　was　ever　dung　wi'　onything　ye　took　in　han'。〃

Falconer　made　no　reply　to　this。　　There　was　the　story　of　a　whole　life
in　his　silencepast　and　to　come。

He　merely　said：

〃You　can　leave　the　gentleman　with　me；　then；　John。　I'll　take　care　of
him。〃

〃No　fear　o'　that；　sir。　　Deil　a　bit！　though　a'　the　policemen　i'
Lonnon　war　efter　'im。〃

〃I'm　much　obliged　to　you　for　bringing　him。〃

〃The　obligation's　mine　siran'　the　gentleman's。　　Good　nicht；　sir。
Good　nicht；　Mr。　Sutherlan'。　　Ye'll　ken　whaur　to　fin'　me　gin　ye　want
me。　　Yon's　my　beat　for　anither　fortnicht。〃

〃And　you　know　my　quarters；〃　said　Hugh；　shaking　him　by　the　hand。　〃I
am　greatly　obliged　to　you。〃

〃Not　a　bit；　sir。　　Or　gin　ye　war；　ye　sud　be　hertily　welcome。〃

〃Bring　candles；　Mrs。　Ashton；〃　Falconer　called　from　the　door。　　Then；
turning　to　Hugh；　〃Sit　down；　Mr。　Sutherland；〃　he　said；　〃if　you　can
find　a　chair　that　is　not　illegally　occupied　already。　　Perhaps　we　had
better　wait　for　the　candles。　　What　a　pleasant　day　we　have　had！〃

〃Then　you　have　been　more　pleasantly　occupied　than　I　have；〃　thought
Hugh；　to　whose　mind　returned　the　images　of　the　Appleditch　family　and
its　drawing…room；　followed　by　the　anticipation　of　the　distasteful
duties　of　the　morrow。　　But　he　only　said：

〃It　has　been　a　most　pleasant　day。〃

〃I　spent　it　strangely；〃　said　Falconer。

Here　the　candles　were　brought　in。

The　two　men　looked　at　each　other　full　in　the　face。　　Hugh　saw　that　he
had　not　been　in　error。　　The　same　remarkable　countenance　was　before
him。　　Falconer　smiled。

〃We　have　met　before；〃　said　he。

〃We　have；〃　said　Hugh。

〃I　had　a　conviction　we　should　be　better　acquainted；　but　I　did　not
expect　it　so　soon。〃

〃Are　you　a　clairvoyant；　then？〃

〃Not　in　the　least。〃

〃Or；　perhaps；　being　a　Scotchman；　you　have　the　second　sight？〃

〃I　am　hardly　Celt　enough　for　that。　　But　I　am　a　sort　of　a　seer；　after
allfrom　an　instinct　of　the　spiritual　relations　of　things；　I　hope；
not　in　the　least　from　the　nervo…material　side。〃

〃I　think　I　understand　you。〃

〃Are　you　at　leisure？〃

〃Entirely。〃

〃Had　we　not　better　walk；　then？　　I　have　to　go　as　far　as　Somers
Townno　great　way；　and　we　can　talk　as　well　walking　as　sitting。〃

〃With　pleasure；〃　answered　Hugh；　rising。

〃Will　you　take　anything　before　you　go？　　A　glass　of　port？　　It　is　the
only　wine　I　happen　to　have。〃

〃Not　a　drop；　thank　you。　　I　seldom　taste　anything　stronger　than
water。〃

〃I　like　that。　　But　I　like　a　glass　of　port　too。　　Come　then。〃

And　Falconer　roseand　a　great　rising　it　was；　for；　as　I　have　said；
he　was　two　or　three　inches　taller　than　Hugh；　and　much　broader　across
the　shoulders；　and　Hugh　was　no　stripling　now。　　He　could　not　help
thinking　again　of　his　old　friend；　David　Elginbrod；　to　whom　he　had　to
look　up　to　find　the　living　eyes　of　him；　just　as　now　he　looked　up　to
find　Falconer's。　　But　there　was　a　great　difference　between　those
organs　in　the　two　men。　　David's　had　been　of　an　ordinary　size；　pure
keen　blue；　sparkling　out　of　cerulean　depths　of　peace　and　hope；　full
of　lambent　gleams　when　he　was　loving　any　one；　and　ever　ready　to　be
dimmed　with　the　mists　of　rising　emotion。　　All　that　Hugh　could　yet
discover　of　Falconer's　eyes　was；　that　they　were　large；　and　black　as
night；　and　set　so　far　back　in　his　head；　that　each　gleamed　out　of　its
caverned　arch　like　the　reversed　torch　of　the　Greek　Genius　of　Death；
just　before　going　out　in　night。　　Either　the　frontal　sinus　was　very
large；　or　his　observant　faculties　were　peculiarly　developed。

They　went　out；　and　walked　for　some　distance　in　silence。　　Hugh
ventured　to　say　at　length：

〃You　said　you　had　spent　the　day　strangely：　may　I　ask　how？〃

〃In　a　condemned　cell　in　Newgate；〃　answered　Falconer。　〃I　am　not　in
the　habit　of　going　to　such　places；　but　the　man　wanted　to　see　me；　and
I　went。〃

As　Falconer　said　no　more；　and　as　Hugh　was　afraid　of　showing　anything
like　vulgar　curiosity；　this　thread　of　conversation　broke。　　Nothing
worth　recording　passed　until　they　entered　a　narrow　court　in　Somers
Town。

〃Are　you　afraid　of　infection？〃　　Falconer　said。

〃Not　in　the　least；　if　there　be　any　reason　for　exposing　myself　to
it。〃

〃That　is　right。And　I　need　not　ask　if　you　are　in　good　health。〃

〃I　am　in　perfect　health。〃

〃Then　I　need　not　mind　asking　you　to　wait　for　me　till　I　come　out　of
this　house。　　There　is　typhus　in　it