Stranica 196 [196]
OCR
144 OLIVER tall and dark, and wore a large cloak. He had the air of a stranger, and seemed, by a certain haggardness in his look, as well as by the dusty soils on his dress, to have travelled some distance. He eyed Bumble askance as he entered, but scarcely deigned to nod his head in acknowledgment of his salutation. Mr. Bumble had quite dignity enough for two, supposing even that the stranger had been sine teenitiae so he drank his gin-and-water in silence, and read the portance. It so happened, however,—as it will happen very often when men fall into company under such circumstances, — that Mr. Bumble felt every now and then a powerful inducement, which he could not resist, to steal a look at the stranger, and that whenever he did so he withdrew his eyes in some confusion, to find that the stranger was at that moment stealing a look at him. Mr. Bumble’s awkwardness was enhanced by the very remarkable expression of the stranger’s eye, which was keen and bright, but shadowed by a scowl of distrust and suspicion unlike anything he had observed before, and most repulsive to behold. When they had encountered each other’s glance several times in this way, the stranger, in a harsh, deep voice, broke silence. “Were you looking for me,” he said, “when you peered in at the window 2” “Not that I am aware of, unless you re Mr. .’ Here Mr. Bumble stopped short, for he was curious to know the stranger’s name, and thought in his impatience he might supply the blank. ‘| see you were not,” said the stranger, an expression of quiet sarcasm playing known my name. You don’t know it, and I should recommend you not to ingnire." 1 meant no harm, young man," observed Mr. Bumble, majestically. s And have done none,” said the stranger. Another silence succeeded this short dialogue, which was again broken by the stranger. “I have seen you before, I think,” said he. “You were differently dressed at that time, and I only passed you in the street, but I should know you again. You were beadle here once, were you not ?” TWIST. “T was,” said Mr. Bumble, in some surprise. “ Porochial beadle.” * Just so,” rejoined the other, noddin his head. “It was in that diretto? saw you. What are you now?” “Master of the workhouse,” rejoined Mr. Bumble, slowly and impressively, to check any undue familiarity the stranger might otherwise assume. " Master of the workhouse, young man!” “You have the same eye to your own interest that you always have had, I doubt not?” resumed the stranger, looking keenly into Mr. Bumble’s eyes as he raised them in astonishment at the question. “Don’t scruple to answer freely, man. I know you pretty well, you see.” 6 [ suppose a married man," replied Mr. Bumble, shading his eyes with his hand, and surveying the stranger from head to foot in evident perplexity, “is not more averse to turning an honest penny when he can than a single one. Porochial officers are not so well paid that they can afford to refuse any little extra fee, when it comes to them in a civil and proper manner.” The stranger smiled, and nodded his head again, as much as to say he found he had not mistaken his man: then rang the bell. | “ Fill this glass again,” he said, handing Mr. Bumble’s empty tumbler to the landlord. “Let it be strong and hot. You like it so, I suppose ?” * Not too strong,” replied Mr. Bumble, with a delicate cough. ‘You understand what that means, landlord !” said the stranger, drily. The host smiled, disappeared, and shortly afterwards returned with a steaming jorum, of which the first gulph brought the water into Mr. Bumble’s eyes. 6 Now listen to me,” said the stranger, after closing the door and window. "1 came down to this place to-day to find you out, and, by one of those chances which the devil throws in the way of his friends sometimes, you walked into the very room I was sitting in while you were uppermost in my mind. I want some information from you, and don’t ask you to give it for nothing, slight as it Is. Put up that to begin with.” As he spoke he pushed a couple of sovereigns across the table to his companion carefully, as though unwilling that the clinking of the money should be heard without; and when Mr. Bumble had scrupulously examined the coins to see that they were genuine, and put them up
