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！
from her account； that Mr。 Jones had already suffered acutely
in his health from Mrs。 Luxmore's visit； and that nothing
short of a full explanation could allay the invalid's
uneasiness。 Somerset； somewhat staring； told what he thought
fit of the affair。
'Is that all？' cried the woman。 'As God sees you； is that
all？'
'My good woman；' said the young man； 'I have no idea what you
can be driving at。 Suppose the lady were my friend's wife；
suppose she were my fairy godmother； suppose she were the
Queen of Portugal； and how should that affect yourself or Mr。
Jones？'
'Blessed Mary！' cried the nurse； 'it's he that will be glad
to hear it！'
And immediately she fled upstairs。
Somerset； on his part； returned to the dining…room； and with
a very thoughtful brow and ruminating many theories； disposed
of the remainder of the bottle。 It was port； and port is a
wine； sole among its equals and superiors； that can in some
degree support the competition of tobacco。 Sipping； smoking；
and theorising； Somerset moved on from suspicion to
suspicion； from resolve to resolve； still growing braver and
rosier as the bottle ebbed。 He was a sceptic； none prouder
of the name； he had no horror at command； whether for crimes
or vices； but beheld and embraced the world； with an immoral
approbation； the frequent consequence of youth and health。
At the same time； he felt convinced that he dwelt under the
same roof with secret malefactors； and the unregenerate
instinct of the chase impelled him to severity。 The bottle
had run low； the summer sun had finally withdrawn； and at the
same moment； night and the pangs of hunger recalled him from
his dreams。
He went forth； and dined in the Criterion： a dinner in
consonance； not so much with his purse； as with the admirable
wine he had discussed。 What with one thing and another； it
was long past midnight when he returned home。 A cab was at
the door； and entering the hall； Somerset found himself face
to face with one of the most regular of the few who visited
Mr。 Jones： a man of powerful figure； strong lineaments； and
a chin…beard in the American fashion。 This person was
carrying on one shoulder a black portmanteau； seemingly of
considerable weight。 That he should find a visitor removing
baggage in the dead of night； recalled some odd stories to
the young man's memory； he had heard of lodgers who thus
gradually drained away； not only their own effects； but the
very furniture and fittings of the house that sheltered them；
and now； in a mood between pleasantry and suspicion； and
aping the manner of a drunkard； he roughly bumped against the
man with the chin…beard and knocked the portmanteau from his
shoulder to the floor。 With a face struck suddenly as white
as paper； the man with the chin…beard called lamentably on
the name of his maker； and fell in a mere heap on the mat at
the foot of the stairs。 At the same time； though only for a
single instant； the heads of the sick lodger and the Irish
nurse popped out like rabbits over the banisters of the first
floor； and on both the same scare and pallor were apparent。
The sight of this incredible emotion turned Somerset to
stone； and he continued speechless； while the man gathered
himself together； and； with the help of the handrail and
audibly thanking God； scrambled once more upon his feet。
'What in Heaven's name ails you？' gasped the young man as
soon as he could find words and utterance。
'Have you a drop of brandy？' returned the other。 'I am
sick。'
Somerset administered two drams； one after the other； to the
man with the chin…beard； who then； somewhat restored； began
to confound himself in apologies for what he called his
miserable nervousness； the result； he said； of a long course
of dumb ague； and having taken leave with a hand that still
sweated and trembled； he gingerly resumed his burthen and
departed。
Somerset retired to bed but not to sleep。 What； he asked
himself； had been the contents of the black portmanteau？
Stolen goods？ the carcase of one murdered？ or … and at the
thought he sat upright in bed … an infernal machine？ He took
a solemn vow that he would set these doubts at rest； and with
the next morning； installed himself beside the dining…room
window； vigilant with eye； and ear； to await and profit by
the earliest opportunity。
The hours went heavily by。 Within the house there was no
circumstance of novelty； unless it might be that the nurse
more frequently made little journeys round the corner of the
square； and before afternoon was somewhat loose of speech and
gait。 A little after six； however； there came round the
corner of the gardens a very handsome and elegantly dressed
young woman； who paused a little way off； and for some time；
and with frequent sighs； contemplated the front of the
Superfluous Mansion。 It was not the first time that she had
thus stood afar and looked upon it； like our common parents
at the gates of Eden； and the young man had already had
occasion to remark the lively slimness of her carriage； and
had already been the butt of a chance arrow from her eye。 He
hailed her coming； then； with pleasant feelings； and moved a
little nearer to the window to enjoy the sight。 What was his
surprise； however； when； as if with a sensible effort； she
drew near； mounted the steps and tapped discreetly at the
door！ He made haste to get before the Irish nurse； who was
not improbably asleep； and had the satisfaction to receive
this gracious visitor in person。
She inquired for Mr。 Jones； and then； without transition；
asked the young man if he were the person of the house （and
at the words； he thought he could perceive her to be
smiling）； 'because；' she added； 'if you are； I should like to
see some of the other rooms。' Somerset told her he was under
an engagement to receive no other lodgers； but she assured
him that would be no matter； as these were friends of Mr。
Jones's。 'And；' she continued； moving suddenly to the
dining…room door； 'let us begin here。' Somerset was too late
to prevent her entering； and perhaps he lacked the courage to
essay。 'Ah！' she cried； 'how changed it is！'
'Madam；' cried the young man； 'since your entrance； it is I
who have the right to say so。'
She received this inane compliment with a demure and
conscious droop of the eyelids； and gracefully steering her
dress among the mingled litter； now with a smile； now with a
sigh； reviewed the wonders of the two apartments。 She gazed
upon the cartoons with sparkling eyes； and a heightened
colour； and in a somewhat breathless voice； expressed a high
opinion of their merits。 She praised the effective
disposition of the rockery； and in the bedroom； of which
Somerset had vainly endeavoured to defend the entry； she
fairly broke forth in admiration。 'How simple and manly！'
she cried： 'none of that effeminacy of neatness； which is so
detestable in a man！' Hard upon this； telling him； before he
had time to reply； that she very well knew her way； and would
trouble him no further； she took her leave with an engaging