the choir invisible-第14章

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he　pursued；　and　he　had　once　told　her　with　smiling　candour　that　if　she　did　not　mind　the　pursuit；　he　did　not　mind　the　chase。　Only；　he　never　urged　it　into　the　presence　of　Mrs。　Falconer；　of　whom　alone　he　stood　in　speechless；　easily　comprehensible　awe。　Perhaps　to…nightas　Amy　had　never　seen　him　in　ball…dressshe　might　begin　to　succumb；　he　had　just　placed　her　under　obligation　to　him　by　an　unexpected　stroke　of　good　fortune；　and　finally　he　had　executed　one　neat　stratagem　at　the　expense　of　Mr。　Bradford　and　another　at　the　expense　of　John　Gray。　So　that　esteeming　himself　in　a　fair　way　to　gratify　one　passion　and　having　already　gratified　the　other；　he　leaned　back　in　his　chair；　smiling；　smoking；　drinking。

He　had　just　risen　to　pinch　the　wick　in　the　lamp　overhead　when　a　knock　sounded　on　the　door；　and　to　his　surprise　and　displeasurefor　he　thought　he　had　bolted　itthere　entered　without　waiting　to　be　bidden　a　low；　broadchested；　barefooted；　blond　fellow；　his　brown…tow　breeches　rolled　up　to　his　knees；　showing　a　pair　of　fine　white　calves；　a　clean　shirt　thrown　open　at　the　neck　and　rolled　up　to　the　elbows；　displaying　a　noble　pair　of　arms；　a　ruddy　shine　on　his　good…humoured　face；　a　drenched　look　about　his　short；　thick；　whitish　hair；　and　a　comfortable　smell　of　soap　emanating　from　his　entire　person。

Seeing　him；　O'Bannon　looked　less　displeased；　but　keeping　his　seat　and　merely　taking　the　pipe　from　his　lips；　he　said；　with　an　air　of　sarcasm；　〃I　would　have　invited　you　to　come　in；　Peter；　but　I　see　you　have　not　waited　for　the　invitation。〃

Peter　deigned　no　reply；　but　walking　forward；　he　clapped　down　on　the　oak　slab　a　round　handful　of　shillings　and　pence。　〃Count　it；　and　see　if　it's　all　there；〃　he　said；　taking　a　short　cob　pipe　out　of　his　mouth　and　planting　his　other　hand　stoutly　on　his　hip。　〃What's　this　for？〃　O'Bannon　spoke　in　a　tone　of　wounded　astonishment。

〃What　do　you　suppose　it's　for？　Didn't　I　hear　you've　been　out　collecting？〃　〃Well；　you　have　had　an　advertisement　running　in　the　paper　for　some　time。〃　〃That's　what　it's　for　then！　And　what's　more；　I've　got　the　money　to　pay　for　a　better　one；　whenever　you'll　write　it。〃

〃Sit　down；　sit　down；　sit　down！〃　O'Bannon　jumped　from　his　chair；　hurried　across　the　rooma　little　unsteadilyemptied　a　pile　of　things　on　the　floor；　and　dragged　back　a　heavy　oak　stool。　〃Sit　down。　And　Peter？〃　he　added　inquiringly；　tapping　his　empty　drinking…cup。

Peter　nodded　his　willingness。　O'Bannoli　drew　a　key　from　his　pocket　and　shook　it　temptingly　under　Peter's　nose。　Then　he　bolted　the　door　and　unlocked　the　cupboard；　displaying　a　shelf　filled　with　bottles。

〃All　for　advertisements！〃　he　said；　waving　his　hand　at　the　collection。　〃And　a　joke　on　Mr。　Bradford。　Fourth…proof　French　brandy；　Jamaica　rum；　Holland　gin；　cherry　bounce；　Martinique　cordial；　Madeira；　port；　sherry；　cider。　All　for　advertisements！　Two　or　three　of　these　dealers　have　been　running　bills　up；　and　to…day　I　stepped　in　and　told　them　we'd　submit　to　be　paid　in　merchandise　of　this　kind。　And　here's　the　merchandise。　　What　brand　of　merchandise　will　you　take？〃　〃We　had　better　take　what　you　have　been　taking。〃

〃As　you　please。〃　He　brought　forward　another　drinking…cup　and　a　bottle。

〃Hold　on！〃　cried　Peter；　laying　a　hand　on　his　arm。　〃My　advertisement　first！〃

〃As　you　please。〃　〃About　twice　as　long　as　the　other　one；〃　instructed　Peter。　〃As　you　please。〃　O'Bannon　set　the　bottle　down；　took　up　a　goose…quill；　and　drew　a　sheet　of　paper　before　him。

〃My　business　is　increasing；〃　prompted　Peter　still　further；　with　a　puzzled　look　as　to　what　should　come　next。　〃Put　that　in！〃　〃Of　course；〃　said　O'Bannon。　〃I　always　put　that　in。〃

He　was　thinking　impatiently　about　the　ball　and　he　wrote　out　something　quickly　and　read　it　aloud　with　a　thick；　unsteady　utterance：

〃'Mr。　Peter　Springle　continues　to　carry　on　the　blacksmith　business　opposite　the　Sign　of　the　Indian　Queen。　Mr。　Springle　cannot　be　rivalled　in　his　shoeing　of　horses。　He　keeps　on　hand　a　constant　supply　of　axes；　chains；　and　hoes；　which　he　will　sell　at　prices　usually　asked'〃

〃Stop；〃　interrupted　Peter　who　had　sniffed　a　strange；　delicious　odour　of　personal　praise　in　the　second　sentence。　〃You　might　say　something　more　about　me；　before　you　bring　in　the　axes。〃

〃As　you　please。〃　〃'Mr。　Peter　Springle　executes　his　work　with　satisfaction　and　despatch；　his　work　is　second　to　none　in　Kentucky；　no　one　surpasses　him；　he　is　a　noted　horseshoer；　he　does　nothing　but　shoe　horses。'〃　He　looked　at　Peter　inquiringly。　〃That　sounds　more　like　it；〃　admitted　Peter。

〃Is　that　enough？〃

〃Oh；　if　that's　all　you　can　say！〃〃'Mr。　Springle　devotes　himself　entirely　to　the　shoeing　of　fine　horses；　fine　horses　are　often　injured　by　neglect　in　shoeing；　Mr。　Springle　does　not　injure　fine　horses；　but　shoes　them　all　around　with　new　shoes　at　one　dollar　for　each　horse。'〃

〃Better；〃　said　Peter。〃　Only；　don't　say　so　much　about　the　horses！　Say　more　about〃

〃'Mr。　　Springle　is　the　greatest　blacksmith　that　ever　left　New　Jersey'〃〃Or　that　ever　lived　I'll　New　Jersey。〃

O'Bannon　rose　and　pinched　the　cotton　wick；　seized　the　bottle；　and　poured　out　more　liquor。

〃Peter；〃　he　said；　squaring　himself；　〃I'm　going　to　let　you　into　a　secret。　If　you　were　not　drunk；　I　wouldn't　tell　you。　You'll　forget　it　by　morning。〃

〃If　I　were　half　as　drunk　as　you　are；　I　couldn't　listen；〃　retorted　Peter。　〃I　don't　want　to　know　any　secrets。　I　tell　everything　I　know。〃

〃You　don't　know　any　secrets？　You　don't　know　that　last　week　Horatio　Turpin　sold　a　ten　dollar　horse　in　front　of　your　shop　for　a　hundred　because　he　had〃

〃Oh；　I　know　some　secrets　about　horses；〃　admitted　Peter；　carelessly。　〃It's　a　secret　about　a　horse　I'm　going　to　tell　you；〃　said　O'Bannon。

〃Here　is　an　advertisement　that　has　been　left　to　be　inserted　in　the　next　paper：　'Lost；　on　Tuesday　evening；　on　the　road　between　Frankfort　and　Lexington；　a　bundle　of　clothes　tied　up　in　a　blue…and…white　checked　cotton　neckerchief；　and　containing　one　white　muslin　dress；　a　pale…blue　silk　coat；　two　thin　white　muslin　handkerchiefs；　one　pair　long　kid　glovesstraw　colourone　pair　white　kid　shoes；　two　cambric　handkerchiefs；　and　some　other　things。　Whoever　will　deliver　said　clothes　to　the　printer；　or　give　information　so　that　they　can　be　got；　will　be　liberally　rewarded　on　application　to　him。'

〃And　here；　Peter；　is　another　advertisement。　Found；　on　Tuesday　evening；　on　the　road　between　Lexington　and　Frankfort；　a　bundle　of　clothes　tied　in　a　blue…and…white　neckerchief。　The　owner　can　recover　property　by　calling　on　the　printer。'〃

He　pushed　the　papers　away　from　him。

〃Yesterday　morning　who　should　slip　around　here　but　Amy　Falconer。　And　then；　in　such　a　voice；　she　began。　How　she　had　come　to　town　the　day　before；　and　had　brought　her　party　dress。　How　the　bundle　was　lost。　How　she　had　come　to　inquire　whether　any　one　had　left　the　clothes　to　be　advertised；　or　whether　I　wouldn't　put　an　advertisement　in　the　paper；　or；　if　they　were　left　at　my　office　before　Thursday　evening；　whether　I　wouldn't　send　them　to　her　at　once。〃

〃Ahem！〃　said　Peter　drily；　but　with　moisture　in　his　eyes。

〃She　hadn't　more　than　gone　before　who　should　come　in　here　but　a　boy　bringing　this　same　bundle　of　clothes　with　a　note　from　John　Gray；　saying　that　he　had　found　them　in　the　public　road　yesterday；　and　asking　me　to　send　them　at　once　to　the　owner；　if　I　should　hear　who　she　was；　if　not；　to　advertise　them。〃

〃That's　no　secret；〃　said　Peter　contemptuously。

〃I　might　have　sent　that　bundle　straight　to　the　owner　of　it。　But；　when　I　have　anything　against　a　man；　I　always　forgive　him；　only　I　get　even　with　him　first。〃

〃What　are　you　hammering　at？〃　cried　Peter；　bringing　his　fist　down　on　the　table。　〃Hit　the　nail　on　the　head。〃

〃Now　I've　got　no　grudge　against　her；〃　continued　O'Bannon。　〃I'd　hate　her　if　I　could。　I've　tried　hard　enough；　but　I　can't。　She　may　treat　me　as　she　pleases：　it's　all　the　same　to　me　as　soon　as　she　smiles。　But　as　for　this　redheaded　Scotch…Irishman〃

〃Stop！〃　said　Peter。　〃Not　a　word　against　him！〃　O'Bannon　stared。

〃He's　no　friend　of　yours；〃　said　he；　reflectively。

〃He　is！〃

〃Oh；　is　he？　Well；　only　the　other　day　I　heard　him　say　that　he　thought　a　good　deal　more　of　your　shoes　than　he　did　of　you；〃　cried　O'Bannon；　laughing　sarcastically。

Peter　made　no　reply；　but　his　neck　seemed　to　swell　and　his　face　to　be　getting　purple。