按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
great and troubled curiosity； and a certain chill of fear；
possessed his spirit。 The conduct of the man with the chin…
beard； the terms of the letter； and the explosion of the
early morning； fitted together like parts in some obscure and
mischievous imbroglio。 Evil was certainly afoot； evil；
secrecy； terror； and falsehood were the conditions and the
passions of the people among whom he had begun to move； like
a blind puppet； and he who began as a puppet； his experience
told him； was often doomed to perish as a victim。
From the stupor of deep thought into which he had glided with
the letter in his hand； he was awakened by the clatter of the
bell。 He glanced from the window； and； conceive his horror
and surprise when he beheld； clustered on the steps； in the
front garden and on the pavement of the street； a formidable
posse of police！ He started to the full possession of his
powers and courage。 Escape； and escape at any cost； was the
one idea that possessed him。 Swiftly and silently he
redescended the creaking stairs； he was already in the
passage when a second and more imperious summons from the
door awoke the echoes of the empty house； nor had the bell
ceased to jangle before he had bestridden the window…sill of
the parlour and was lowering himself into the garden。 His
coat was hooked upon the iron flower…basket； for a moment he
hung dependent heels and head below； and then； with the noise
of rending cloth； and followed by several pots； he dropped
upon the sod。 Once more the bell was rung； and now with
furious and repeated peals。 The desperate Challoner turned
his eyes on every side。 They fell upon the ladder； and he
ran to it； and with strenuous but unavailing effort sought to
raise it from the ground。 Suddenly the weight； which was
thus resisting his whole strength； began to lighten in his
hands； the ladder； like a thing of life； reared its bulk from
off the sod； and Challoner； leaping back with a cry of almost
superstitious terror； beheld the whole structure mount； foot
by foot； against the face of the retaining wall。 At the same
time； two heads were dimly visible above the parapet； and he
was hailed by a guarded whistle。 Something in its modulation
recalled； like an echo； the whistle of the man with the chin…
beard；
Had he chanced upon a means of escape prepared beforehand by
those very miscreants whose messenger and gull he had become？
Was this； indeed； a means of safety； or but the starting…
point of further complication and disaster？ He paused not to
reflect。 Scarce was the ladder reared to its full length
than he had sprung already on the rounds； hand over hand；
swift as an ape； he scaled the tottering stairway。 Strong
arms received； embraced； and helped him； he was lifted and
set once more upon the earth； and with the spasm of his alarm
yet unsubsided； found himself in the company of two rough…
looking men； in the paved back yard of one of the tall houses
that crowned the summit of the hill。 Meanwhile； from below；
the note of the bell had been succeeded by the sound of
vigorous and redoubling blows。
'Are you all out？' asked one of his companions； and； as soon
as he had babbled an answer in the affirmative； the rope was
cut from the top round； and the ladder thrust roughly back
into the garden； where it fell and broke with clattering
reverberations。 Its fall was hailed with many broken cries；
for the whole of Richard Street was now in high emotion； the
people crowding to the windows or clambering on the garden
walls。 The same man who had already addressed Challoner
seized him by the arm； whisked him through the basement of
the house and across the street upon the other side； and
before the unfortunate adventurer had time to realise his
situation； a door was opened； and he was thrust into a low
and dark compartment。
'Bedad；' observed his guide； 'there was no time to lose。 Is
M'Guire gone； or was it you that whistled？
'M'Guire is gone；' said Challoner。
The guide now struck a light。 'Ah；' said he； 'this will
never do。 You dare not go upon the streets in such a figure。
Wait quietly here and I will bring you something decent。'
With that the man was gone； and Challoner； his attention thus
rudely awakened； began ruefully to consider the havoc that
had been worked in his attire。 His hat was gone； his
trousers were cruelly ripped； and the best part of one tail
of his very elegant frockcoat had been left hanging from the
iron crockets of the window。 He had scarce had time to
measure these disasters when his host re…entered the
apartment and proceeded； without a word； to envelop the
refined and urbane Challoner in a long ulster of the cheapest
material； and of a pattern so gross and vulgar that his
spirit sickened at the sight。 This calumnious disguise was
crowned and completed by a soft felt hat of the Tyrolese
design； and several sizes too small。 At another moment
Challoner would simply have refused to issue forth upon the
world thus travestied； but the desire to escape from Glasgow
was now too strongly and too exclusively impressed upon his
mind。 With one haggard glance at the spotted tails of his
new coat； he inquired what was to pay for this accoutrement。
The man assured him that the whole expense was easily met
from funds in his possession； and begged him； instead of
wasting time； to make his best speed out of the
neighbourhood。
The young man was not loath to take the hint。 True to his
usual courtesy； he thanked the speaker and complimented him
upon his taste in greatcoats； and leaving the man somewhat
abashed by these remarks and the manner of their delivery； he
hurried forth into the lamplit city。 The last train was gone
ere； after many deviations； he had reached the terminus。
Attired as he was he dared not present himself at any
reputable inn； and he felt keenly that the unassuming dignity
of his demeanour would serve to attract attention； perhaps
mirth and possibly suspicion； in any humbler hostelry。 He
was thus condemned to pass the solemn and uneventful hours of
a whole night in pacing the streets of Glasgow； supperless； a
figure of fun for all beholders； waiting the dawn； with hope
indeed； but with unconquerable shrinkings； and above all
things； filled with a profound sense of the folly and
weakness of his conduct。 It may be conceived with what
curses he assailed the memory of the fair narrator of Hyde
Park； her parting laughter rang in his ears all night with
damning mockery and iteration； and when he could spare a
thought from this chief artificer of his confusion； it was to
expend his wrath on Somerset and the career of the amateur
detective。 With the coming of day； he found in a shy milk…
shop the means to appease his hunger。 There were still many
hours to wait before the departure of the South express；
these he passed wandering with indescribable fatigue in the
obscurer by…streets of the city； and at length slipped
quietly into the station and took his place in the darkest
corner of a third…class carriage。 Here； all day long； he
jolted