|
Main
- books.jibble.org
My Books
- IRC Hacks
Misc. Articles
- Meaning of Jibble
- M4 Su Doku
- Computer Scrapbooking
- Setting up Java
- Bootable Java
- Cookies in Java
- Dynamic Graphs
- Social Shakespeare
External Links
- Paul Mutton
- Jibble Photo Gallery
- Jibble Forums
- Google Landmarks
- Jibble Shop
- Free Books
- Intershot Ltd
|
books.jibble.org
Previous Page
| Next Page
Page 33
"You have called at a rather inauspicious time, Mr. Gryce," said the
latter, glancing at the card which he held in his hand. "What may
your business be? Something to do with politics, I suppose."
I surveyed the man in amazement. Was this great politician stooping to
act a part, or had he forgotten our physiognomies as completely as
appeared?
"Our business is not politics," replied Mr. Gryce; "but fully as
important. May I request the doors be closed?"
I thought Mr. Blake looked surprised, but he immediately stepped to
the door and shut it. Then coming back, he looked at Mr. Gryce more
closely and a change took place in his manner.
"I think I have seen you before," said he.
Mr. Gryce bowed with just the suspicion of a smile. "I have had the
honor of consulting you before in this very house," observed he.
A look of full recognition passed over the dignified countenance of
the man before us.
"I remember," said he, shrugging his shoulders in the old way. "You
are interested in some servant girl or other who ran away from this
house a week or so ago. Have you found her?" This with no apparent
concern.
"We think we have," rejoined Mr. Gryce with some solemnity. "The
river gives up its prey now and then, Mr. Blake."
Still only that look of natural surprise.
"Indeed! You do not mean to say she has drowned herself? I am sorry
for that, a girl who had once lived in my house. What trouble could
she have had to drive her to such an act?"
Mr. Gryce advanced a step nearer the gentleman.
"That is what we have come here to learn," said he with a deliberation
that yet was not lacking in the respect due to a man so universally
esteemed as Mr. Blake. "You who have seen her so lately ought to be
able to throw some light upon the subject at least."
"Mr.--" he again glanced at the card, "Mr. Gryce,--excuse me--I
believe I told you when you were here before that I had no
remembrance of this girl at all. That if such a person was in my house
I did not know it, and that all questions put to me on that subject
would be so much labor thrown away."
Mr. Gryce bowed. "I remember," said he. "I was not alluding to any
connection you may have had with the girl in this house, but to the
interview you were seen to have with her on the corner of Broome
Street some days ago. You had such an interview, did you not?"
A flush, deep as it was sudden, swept over Mr. Blake's usually unmoved
cheek. "You are transgressing sir," said he and stopped. Though a man
of intense personal pride, he had but little of that quality called
temper, or perhaps if he had, thought it unwise to display it on this
occasion. "I saw and spoke to a girl on the corner of that street
some days ago," he went on more mildly, "but that she was the one who
lived here, I neither knew at the time nor feel willing to believe now
without positive proof." Then in a deep ringing tone the stateliness
of which it would be impossible to describe, he inquired, "Have the
city authorities presumed to put a spy on my movements, that the fact
of my speaking to a poor forsaken creature on the corner of the
street should be not only noted but remembered?"
"Mr. Blake," observed Mr. Gryce, and I declare I was proud of my
superior at that moment, "no man who is a true citizen and a
Christian should object to have his steps followed, when by his own
thoughtlessness, perhaps, he has incurred a suspicion which demands
it."
"And do you mean to say that I have been followed," inquired he,
clenching his hand and looking steadily, but with a blanching cheek,
first at Mr. Gryce then at me.
"It was indispensable," quoth that functionary gently.
Previous Page
| Next Page
|
|