david elginbrod-第78节

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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。〃

〃I　will　wait　with　pleasure。　　I　will　go　with　you　if　I　can　be　of　any
use。〃

〃There　is　no　occasion。　　It　is　not　your　business　this　time。〃

So　saying；　Falconer　opened　the　door；　and　walked　in。

Said　Hugh　to　himself：　〃I　must　tell　this　man　the　whole　story；　and
with　it　all　my　own。〃

In　a　few　minutes　Falconer　rejoined　him；　looking　solemn；　but　with　a
kind　of　relieved　expression　on　his　face。

〃The　poor　fellow　is　gone；〃　said　he。

〃Ah！〃

〃What　a　thing　it　must　be；　Mr。　Sutherland；　for　a　man　to　break　out　of
the　choke…damp　of　a　typhus　fever　into　the　clear　air　of　the　life
beyond！〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Hugh；　adding；　after　a　slight　hesitation；　〃if　he　be　at
all　prepared　for　the　change。〃

〃Where　a　change　belongs　to　the　natural　order　of　things；〃　said
Falconer；　〃and　arrives　inevitably　at　some　hour；　there　must　always　be
more　or　less　preparedness　for　it。　　Besides；　I　think　a　man　is
generally　prepared　for　a　breath　of　fresh　air。〃

Hugh　did　not　reply；　for　he　felt　that　he　did　not　fully　comprehend　his
new　acquaintance。　　But　he　had　a　strong　suspicion　that　it　was　because
he　moved　in　a　higher　region　than　himself。

〃If　you　will　still　accompany　me；〃　resumed　Falconer；　who　had　not　yet
adverted　to　Hugh's　object　in　seeking　his　acquaintance；　〃you　will；　I
think；　be　soon　compelled　to　believe　that；　at　whatever　time　death　may
arrive；　or　in　whatever　condition　the　man　may　be　at　the　time；　it
comes　as　the　best　and　only　good　that　can　at　that　moment　reach　him。
We　are；　perhaps；　too　much　in　the　habit　of　thinking　of　death　as　the
culmination　of　disease；　which；　regarded　only　in　itself；　is　an　evil；
and　a　terrible　evil。　　But　I　think　rather　of　death　as　the　first　pulse
of　the　new　strength；　shaking　itself　free　from　the　old　mouldy
remnants　of　earth…garments；　that　it　may　begin　in　freedom　the　new
life　that　grows　out　of　the　old。　　The　caterpillar　dies　into　the
butterfly。　　Who　knows　but　disease　may　be　the　coming；　the　keener
life；　breaking　into　this；　and　beginning　to　destroy　like　fire　the
inferior　modes