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Page 18
"No dollar of his money has been through our hands since winter of
Eighteen thirty-five--six, Mr. Helwyse, sir,--winter following your
and your respected father's departure for foreign parts," stated Mr.
Dyke, straightening his mouth, and planting his fist on his hip.
"Hm--hm!" murmured the President, standing thin and bent before the
empty fireplace, a coat-tail over each arm.
"You have heard nothing of him since then?"
"Nothing, Mr. Helwyse, sir! Reverend Manetho Glyphic--understood to be
the Doctor's adopted son--came here and effected the transfer, under
authority, of course, of his foster-father's signature. Where the
property is at this moment, how invested with what returns, neither
the President nor I can inform you, sir."
"Hm--hm!" remarked Mr. MacGentle again. It was a favorite comment of
his upon business topics.
"It is possible I may be a very wealthy man," said Balder, when Mr.
Dyke had made his resolute bow and withdrawn. "But I hope my uncle is
alive. It would be a loss not to have known so eccentric a man. I have
a miniature of him which I have often studied, so that I shall know
him when we meet. Can he be married, do you think?"
"Why no, Balder; no, I should hardly think so," answered Mr.
MacGentle, who, at the departure of his confidential clerk, had
relapsed into his unofficial position and manner. "By the way, do
_you_ contemplate that step?"
"It is said to be an impediment to great enterprises. I could learn
little by domestic life that I could not learn better otherwise."
"Hm,--we could not do without woman, you know."
"If I could marry Woman, I would do it," said the young man,
unblushingly. "But a single crumb from that great loaf would be of no
use to me."
"Ah, you haven't learned to appreciate women! You never knew your
mother, Balder; and your sister was lost before she was old enough to
be anything to you. By the way, I have always cherished a hope that
she might yet be found. Perhaps she may,--perhaps she may."
Balder looked perplexed, till, thinking the old gentleman might be
referring to a reunion in a future state, he said,--
"You believe that people recognize one another in the next world, Mr.
MacGentle?"
"Perhaps,--perhaps; but why not here as well?" murmured the other, in
reply; and Balder, suspecting a return of absent-mindedness, yielded
the point. He had grown up in the belief that his twin-sister had died
in her infancy; but his venerable friend appeared to be under a
different impression.
"I shall go to New York, and try to find my uncle, or some trace of
him," said he. "If I'm unsuccessful, I mean to come back here, and
settle as a physician."
"What is your specialty?"
"I'm an eye-doctor. The Boston people are not all clear-eyed, I hope."
"Not all,--I should say not all; perhaps you may be able to help me,
to begin with," said Mr. MacGentle, with a gleam of melancholy humor.
"I will ask Mr. Dyke about the chances for a practice he knows
everything. And, Balder," he added, when the young man rose to go,
"let me hear from you, and see you again sometimes, whatever may
happen to you in the way of fortune. I'm rather a lonely old man,--a
lonely old man, Balder."
"I'll be here again very soon, unless I get married, or commit a
murder or some such enormity," rejoined Helwyse, his long mustache
curling to, his smile. They shook hands,--the vigorous young god of
the sun and the faded old wraith of Brahmanism,--with a friendly look
into each other's eyes.
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