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第85章

a simpleton-第85章

小说: a simpleton 字数: 每页4000字

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than risk a premature declaration。  But more than one cause drove
him to a bolder course; his passion; which increased in violence by
contact with its beautiful object; and also a great uneasiness he
felt at not hearing from Phoebe。  This silence was ominous。  He and
she knew each other; and what the other was capable of。  He knew
she was the woman to cross the seas after him; if Staines left the
diggings; and any explanation took place that might point to his
whereabouts。

These double causes precipitated matters; and at last he began to
throw more devotion into his manner; and having so prepared her for
a few days; he took his opportunity and said; one day; 〃We are both
unhappy。  Give me the right to console you。〃

She colored high; and said; 〃You have consoled me more than all the
world。  But there is a limit; always will be。〃

One less adroit would have brought her to the point; but this
artist only sighed; and let the arrow rankle。  By this means he
out…fenced her; for now she had listened to a declaration and not
stopped it short。

He played melancholy for a day or two; and then he tried her
another way。  He said; 〃I promised your dying husband to be your
protector; and a father to his child。  I see but one way to keep my
word; and that gives me courage to speakwithout that I never
could。  Rosa; I loved you years ago; I am unmarried for your sake。
Let me be your husband; and a father to your child。〃

Rosa shook her head。  〃I COULD not marry again。  I esteem you; I am
very grateful to you: and I know I behaved ill to you before。  If I
could marry again; it would be you。  But I cannot。  Oh; never! never!〃

〃Then we both are to be unhappy all our days。〃

〃I shall; as I ought to be。  You will not; I hope。  I shall miss
you sadly; but; for all that; I advise you to leave me。  You will
carry my everlasting gratitude; go where you will; that and my
esteem are all I have to give。〃

〃I will go;〃 said he; 〃and I hope he who is gone will forgive my
want of courage。〃

〃He who is gone took my promise never to marry again。〃

〃Dying men see clearer。  I am sure he wishedno matter; it is too
delicate。〃  He kissed her hand and went out; a picture of dejection。

Mrs。 Staines shed a tear for him。

Nothing was heard of him for several days; and Rosa pitied him more
and more; and felt a certain discontent with herself; and doubt
whether she had done right。

Matters were in this state; when one morning Emily came screaming
in from the garden; 〃The child!Master Christie!Where is he?
Where is he?〃

The house was alarmed。  The garden searched; the adjoining paddock。
The child was gone。

Emily was examined; and owned; with many sobs and hysterical cries;
that she had put him down in the summer…house for a minute; while
she went to ask the gardener for some balm; balm tea being a
favorite drink of hers。  〃But there was nobody near that I saw;〃
she sobbed。

Further inquiry proved; however; that a tall gypsy woman had been
seen prowling about that morning; and suspicion instantly fastened
on her。  Servants were sent out right and left; but nothing
discovered; and the agonized mother; terrified out of her wits; had
Falcon telegraphed to immediately。

He came galloping down that very evening; and heard the story。  He
galloped into Gravesend; and after seeing the police; sent word out
he should advertise。  He placarded Gravesend with bills; offering a
reward of a thousand pounds; the child to be brought to him; and no
questions asked。

Meantime the police and many of the neighboring gentry came about
the miserable mother with their vague ideas。

Down comes Falcon again next day; tells what he has done; and
treats them all with contempt。  〃Don't you be afraid; Mrs。
Staines;〃 said he。  〃You will get him back。  I have taken the sure
way。  This sort of rogues dare not go near the police; and the
police can't find them。  You have no enemies; it is only some woman
that has fancied a beautiful child。  Well; she can have them by the
score; for a thousand pounds。〃

He was the only one with a real idea; the woman saw it; and clung
to him。  He left late at night。

Next morning out came the advertisements; and he sent her a handful
by special messenger。  His zeal and activity kept her bereaved
heart from utter despair。

At eleven that night came a telegraph:


〃I have got him。  Coming down by special train。〃


Then what a burst of joy and gratitude!  The very walls of the
house seemed to ring with it as a harp rings with music。  A special
train; too! he would not let the mother yearn all night。

At one in the morning he drove up with the child and a hired nurse。

Imagine the scene!  The mother's screams of joy; her furious
kisses; her cooing; her tears; and all the miracles of nature at
such a time。  The servants all mingled with their employers in the
general rapture; and Emily; who was pale as death; cried and
sobbed; and said; 〃Oh; ma'am; I'll never let him out of my sight
again; no; not for one minute。〃  Falcon made her a signal; and went
out。  She met him in the garden。

She was much agitated; and cried; 〃Oh; you did well to bring him
to…day。  I could not have kept it another hour。  I'm a wretch。〃

〃You are a good kind girl; and here's the fifty pounds I promised
you。〃

〃Well; and I have earned it。〃

〃Of course you have。  Meet me in the garden to…morrow morning; and
I'll show you you have done a kind thing to your mistress; as well
as me。  And as for the fifty pounds; that is NOTHING; do you hear?
it is nothing at all; compared with what I will do for you; if you
will be true to me; and hold your tongue。〃

〃Oh! as for that; my tongue shan't betray you; nor shame ME。  You
are a gentleman; and I do think you love her; or I would not help
you。〃

So she salved her nursemaid's consciencewith the help of the
fifty pounds。

The mother was left to her rapture that night。  In the morning
Falcon told his tale。

〃At two P。M。 a man had called on him; and had produced one of his
advertisements; and had asked him if that was all squareno
bobbies on the lurk。  'All square; my fine fellow。'  'Well;' said
he; 'I suppose you are a gentleman。'  'I am of that opinion too。'
'Well; sir;' says he; 'I know a party as has FOUND a young gent as
comes werry nigh your advertisement。'  'It will be a very lucky
find to that party;' I said; 'if he is on the square。'  'Oh; WE are
always on the square; when the blunt is put down。'  'The blunt for
the child; when you like; and where you like;' said I。  'You are
the right sort;' said he。  'I am;' replied I。  'Will you come and
see if it is all right?' said he。  'In a minute;' said I。  Stepped
into my bedroom; and loaded my six…shooter。〃

〃What is that?〃 said Lusignan。

〃A revolver with six barrels: by the by; the very same I killed the
lion with。  Ugh! I never think of that scene without feeling a
little quiver; and my nerves are pretty good; too。  Well; he took
me into an awful part of the town; down a filthy close; into some
boozing kenI beg pardon; some thieves' public…house。〃

〃Oh; my dear friend;〃 said Rosa; 〃were you not frightened?〃

〃Shall I tell you the truth; or play the hero?  I think I'll tell
YOU the truth。  I felt a little frightened; lest they should get my
money and my life; without my getting my godson: that is what I
call him now。  Well; two ugly dogs came in; and said; 'Let us see
the flimsies; before you see the kid。'

〃'That is rather sharp practice; I think;' said I; 'however; here's
the swag; and here's the watch…dog。'  So I put down the notes; and
my hand over them with my revolver cocked; and ready to fire。〃

〃Yes; yes;〃 said Rosa pantingly。  〃Ah; you were a match for them。〃

〃Well; Mrs。 Staines; if I was writing you a novel; I suppose I
should tell you the rogues recoiled; but the truth is they only
laughed; and were quite pleased。  'Swell's in earnest;' said one;
'Jem; show the kid。'  Jem whistled; and in came a great tall black
gypsy woman; with the darling。  My heart was in my mouth; but I
would not let them see it。  I said; 'It is all right。  Take half
the notes here; and half at the door。'  They agreed; and then I did
it quick; walked to the 

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