Lord Kilgobbin. Lever Charles James

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СКАЧАТЬ write with freedom.’

      ‘As for instance: “J. Atlee, 48 Old Square, Trinity College, Dublin.”’

      ‘Well, I did not think of that at the moment,’ said Walpole, smiling. ‘Now,’ continued he, ‘though I have written all this, it is so blotted and disgraceful generally – done with the left hand, and while in great pain – that I think it would be as well not to send the letter, but simply a message – ’

      Atlee nodded, and Walpole went on: ‘A message to say that I was wishing to write, but unable; and that if I had her permission, so soon as my fingers could hold a pen, to finish – yes, to finish that communication I had already begun, and if she felt there was no inconvenience in writing to me, under cover to your care, I should pledge myself to devote all my zeal and my best services to her interests.’

      ‘In fact, I am to lead her to suppose she ought to have the most implicit confidence in you, and to believe in me, because I say so.’

      ‘I do not exactly see that these are my instructions to you.’

      ‘Well, you certainly want to write to her.’

      ‘I don’t know that I do.’

      ‘At all events, you want her to write to you.’

      ‘You are nearer the mark now.’

      ‘That ought not to be very difficult to arrange. I’ll go down now and have a cup of tea, and I may, I hope, come up and see you again before bed-time.’

      ‘Wait one moment,’ cried Walpole, as the other was about to leave the room. ‘Do you see a small tray on that table yonder, with some trinkets? Yes, that is it. Well, will you do me the favour to choose something amongst them as your fee? Come, come, you know you are my doctor now, and I insist on this. There’s nothing of any value there, and you will have no misgivings.’

      ‘Am I to take it haphazard?’ asked Atlee.

      ‘Whatever you like,’ said the other indolently.

      ‘I have selected a ring,’ said Atlee, as he drew it on his finger.

      ‘Not an opal?’

      ‘Yes, it is an opal with brilliants round it.’

      ‘I’d rather you’d taken all the rest than that. Not that I ever wear it, but somehow it has a bit of memory attached to it!’

      ‘Do you know,’ said Atlee gravely, ‘you are adding immensely to the value I desired to see in it? I wanted something as a souvenir of you – what the Germans call an Andenken, and here is evidently what has some secret clue to your affections. It was not an old love-token?’

      ‘No; or I should certainly not part with it.’

      ‘It did not belong to a friend now no more?’

      ‘Nor that either,’ said he, smiling at the other’s persistent curiosity.

      ‘Then if it be neither the gift of an old love nor a lost friend, I’ll not relinquish it,’ cried Joe.

      ‘Be it so,’ said Walpole, half carelessly. ‘Mine was a mere caprice after all. It is linked with a reminiscence – there’s the whole of it; but if you care for it, pray keep it.’

      ‘I do care for it, and I will keep it.’

      It was a very peculiar smile that curled Walpole’s lip as he heard this speech, and there was an expression in his eyes that seemed to say, ‘What manner of man is this, what sort of nature, new and strange to me, is he made of?’

      ‘Bye-bye!’ said Atlee carelessly, and he strolled away.

      CHAPTER XV

IN THE GARDEN AT DUSK

      When Atlee quitted Walpole’s room, he was far too full of doubt and speculation to wish to join the company in the drawing-room. He had need of time to collect his thoughts, too, and arrange his plans. This sudden departure of his would, he well knew, displease Kearney. It would savour of a degree of impertinence, in treating their hospitality so cavalierly, that Dick was certain to resent, and not less certain to attribute to a tuft-hunting weakness on Atlee’s part of which he had frequently declared he detected signs in Joe’s character.

      ‘Be it so. I’ll only say, you’ll not see me cultivate “swells” for the pleasure of their society, or even the charms of their cookery. If I turn them to no better uses than display, Master Dick, you may sneer freely at me. I have long wanted to make acquaintance with one of these fellows, and luck has now given me the chance. Let us see if I know how to profit by it.’

      And, thus muttering to himself, he took his way to the farmyard, to find a messenger to despatch to the village for post-horses.

      The fact that he was not the owner of a half-crown in the world very painfully impressed itself on a negotiation, which, to be prompt, should be prepaid, and which he was endeavouring to explain to two or three very idle but very incredulous listeners – not one of whom could be induced to accept a ten miles’ tramp on a drizzling night without the prompting of a tip in advance.

      ‘It’s every step of eight miles,’ cried one.

      ‘No, but it’s ten,’ asseverated another with energy, ‘by rayson that you must go by the road. There’s nobody would venture across the bog in the dark.’

      ‘Wid five shillings in my hand – ’

      ‘And five more when ye come back,’ continued another, who was terrified at the low estimate so rashly adventured.

      ‘If one had even a shilling or two to pay for a drink when he got in to Kilbeggan wet through and shivering – ’

      The speaker was not permitted to finish his ignominiously low proposal, and a low growl of disapprobation smothered his words.

      ‘Do you mean to tell me,’ said Joe angrily, ‘that there’s not a man here will step over to the town to order a chaise and post-horses?’

      ‘And if yer honour will put his hand in his pocket and tempt us with a couple of crown-pieces, there’s no saying what we wouldn’t do,’ said a little bandy old fellow, who was washing his face at the pump.

      ‘And are crown-pieces so plentiful with you down here that you can earn them so easily?’ said Atlee, with a sneer.

      ‘Be me sowl, yer honour, it’s thinking that they’re not so aisy to come at, makes us a bit lazy this evening!’ said a ragged fellow, with a grin, which was quickly followed by a hearty laugh from those around him.

      Something that sounded like a titter above his head made Atlee look up, and there, exactly over where he stood, was Nina, leaning over a little stone balcony in front of a window, an amused witness of the scene beneath.

      ‘I have two words for yourself,’ cried he to her in Italian. ‘Will you come down to the garden for one moment?’

      ‘Cannot the two words be said in the drawing-room?’ asked she, half saucily, in the same language.

      ‘No, they cannot be said in the drawing-room,’ continued he sternly.

      ‘It’s dropping rain. I should get wet.’

      ‘Take СКАЧАТЬ