按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
somebody or other； they think。No friend of Mr。 Falconer's would be
after another for any mischief；' said my hostess。
'But who is this Mr。 Falconer？Is Long Bob and he both the same
alias？' asked a third。
'Why； Bessy； ain't you no better than that damned Slicer； who ought
to ha' been hung up to dry this many a year？ But to be sure you
'ain't been long in our quarter。 Why； every child hereabouts knows
Mr。 Falconer。 Ask Bobby there。'
'Who's Mr。 Falconer； Bobby？'
A child's voice made reply；
'A man with a long； long beard； that goes about； and sometimes grows
tired and sits on a door…step。 I see him once。 But he ain't Mr。
Falconer； nor Long Bob neither；' added Bobby in a mysterious tone。
'I know who he is。'
'What do you mean； Bobby？ Who is he； then？'
The child answered very slowly and solemnly；
'He's Jesus Christ。'
The woman burst into a rude laugh。
'Well；' said Bobby in an offended tone； 'Slicer's own Tom says so；
and Polly too。 We all says so。 He allus pats me on the head； and
gives me a penny。'
Here Bobby began to cry； bitterly offended at the way Bessy had
received his information； after considering him sufficiently
important to have his opinion asked。
'True enough；' said his mother。 'I see him once a…sittin' on a
door…step； lookin' straight afore him； and worn…out like； an' a lot
o' them childer standin' all about him； an' starin' at him as mum as
mice； for fear of disturbin' of him。 When I come near； he got up
with a smile on his face； and give each on 'em a penny all round；
and walked away。 Some do say he's a bit crazed like； but I never
saw no sign o' that； and if any one ought to know； that one's Job's
Mary； and you may believe me when I tell you that he was here night
an' mornin' for a week； and after that off and on； when we was all
down in the cholerer。 Ne'er a one of us would ha' come through but
for him。'
I made an attempt to rise。 The woman came to my bedside。
'How does the gentleman feel hisself now？' she asked kindly。
'Better； thank you；' I said。 'I am ashamed of lying like this； but I
feel very queer。'
'And it's no wonder； when that devil Slicer give you one o' his even
down blows on the top o' your head。 Nobody knows what he carry in
his sleeve that he do it withonly you've got off well； young man；
and that I tell you； with a decent cut like that。 Only don't you go
tryin' to get up now。 Don't be in a hurry till your blood comes
back like。'
I lay still again for a little。 When I lifted my hand to my head； I
found it was bandaged up。 I tried again to rise。 The woman went to
the door； and called out；
'Job； the gentleman's feelin' better。 He'll soon be able to move； I
think。 What will you do with him now？'
'I'll go and get a cab；' said Job； and I heard him go down a stair。
I raised myself； and got on the floor； but found I could not stand。
By the time the cab arrived； however； I was able to crawl to it。
When Job came； I saw the same tall thin man in the long dress coat。
His head was bound up too。
'I am sorry to see you too have been hurtfor my sake； of course；'
I said。 'Is it a bad blow？'
'Oh！ it ain't over much。 I got in with a smeller afore he came
right down with his slogger。 But I say； I hope as how you are a
friend of Mr。 Falconer's； for you see we can't afford the likes of
this in this quarter for every chance that falls in Slicer's way。
Gentlemen has no business here。'
'On the contrary； I mean to come again soon； to thank you all for
being so good to me。'
'Well； when you comes next； you'd better come with him； you know。'
'You mean with Mr。 Falconer？'
'Yes； who else？ But are you able to go now？ for the sooner you're
out of this the better。'
'Quite able。 Just give me your arm。'
He offered it kindly。 Taking a grateful farewell of my hostess； I
put my hand in my pocket； but there was nothing there。 Job led me
to the mouth of the court； where a cab； evidently of a sort with the
neighbourhood； was waiting for us。 I got in。 Job was shutting the
door。
'Come along with me； Job；' I said。 'I'm going straight to Mr。
Falconer's。 He will like to see you； especially after your kindness
to me。'
'Well； I don't mind if I do look arter you a little longer； for to
tell the truth；' said Job； as he opened the door； and got in beside
me； 'I don't over and above like the look of thehorse。'
'It's no use trying to rob me over again；' I said； but he gave no
reply。 He only shouted to the cabman to drive to John Street；
telling him the number。
I can scarcely recall anything more till we reached Falconer's
chambers。 Job got out and rang the bell。 Mrs。 Ashton came down。
Her master was not come home。
'Tell Mr。 Falconer；' I said； 'that I'm all right； only I couldn't
make anything of it。'
'Tell him；' growled Job； 'that he's got his head broken； and won't
be out o' bed to…morrow。 That's the way with them fine…bred ones。
They lies a…bed when the likes o' me must go out what they calls
a…custamongering； broken head and all。'
'You shall stay at home for a week if you like； Jobthat is if I've
got enough to give you a week's earnings。 I'm not sure though till
I look； for I'm not a rich man any more than yourself。'
'Rubbish！' said Job as he got in again； 'I was only flummuxing the
old un。 Bless your heart； sir； I wouldn't stay innot for nothink。
Not for a bit of a pat on the crown； nohow。 Home ain't none so
nice a place to go snoozing innohow。 Where do you go to；
gov'nor？'
I told him。 When I got out； and was opening the door； leaning on
his arm； I said I was very glad they hadn't taken my keys。
'Slicer nor Savoury Sam neither's none the better o' you； and I
hopes you're not much the worse for them；' said Job； as he put into
my hands my purse and watch。 'Count it； gov'nor； and see if it's all
right。 Them pusses is mannyfactered express for the convenience o'
the fakers。 Take my advice； sir； and keep a yellow dump （sovereign）
in yer coat…tails； a flatch yenork （half…crown） in yer waistcoat；
and yer yeneps （pence） in yer breeches。 You won't lose much nohow
then。 Good…night； sir； and I wish you better。'
'But I must give you something for plaster；' I said。 'You'll take a
yellow dump； at least？'
'We'll talk about that another day；' said Job； and with a second
still heartier good…night； he left me。 I managed to crawl up to my
room； and fell on my bed once more fainting。 But I soon recovered
sufficiently to undress and get into it。 I was feverish all night
and next day； but towards evening begun to recover。
I kept expecting Falconer to come and inquire after me； but he never
came。 Nor did he appear the next day or the next； and I began to be
very uneasy about him。 The fourth day I sent for a cab； and drove
to John Street。 He was at home； but Mrs。 Ashton； instead of showing
me into his room； led me into her kitchen； and left me there。
A minute after； Falconer came to me。 The instant I saw him I
understood it all。 I read it in his face： he had found his father。
CHAPTER XII。
ANDREW AT LAST。
Having at length persuaded the woman to go with him； Falconer made
her take his arm； and led her off the bridge。 In Parliament Street
he was looking about for a cab as they walked on； when a man he did
not know； stopped； touched his hat； and addressed him。
'I'm thinkin'； sir； ye'll be sair wantit at hame the nicht It wad be
better to gang at ance； an' lat the puir fowk luik efter themsels
for ae nicht。'
'I'm sorry I dinna ken ye； man。 Do ye ken me？'
'Fine that； Mr。 Falconer。 There's mony ane kens you and praises
God。'
'God be praised！' returned Falconer。 'Why am I wanted at home？'
''Deed I wad raither not say； sir。Hey！'
This last exclamation was addressed to a cab just disappearing down
King Street from Whitehall。 The driver heard； turned； and in a
moment more was by their side。
'Ye had better gang into her an' awa' hame； and lea' the poor lassie
to me。 I'll tak guid care o' her。'
She clung to Falconer's arm。 The man opened the door of the cab。
Falconer put her in； told the driver to go to Queen Square； and if
he could not make haste； to stop the first cab that could； got in
himself； thanked his unknown friend； who did not seem quite
satisfied； and drove off。
Happily Miss St。 John was at home； and there was no delay。 Neither
was any explanation of more than six words necessary。 He jumped
again into the cab and drove home。 Fortunately for his mood； though
in fact it mattered little for any result； the horse was fresh； and
both able and willing。
When he entered John Street； he came to observe before reaching his
own door that a good many men were about in little quiet
groupssome twenty or so； here and there。 When he let himself in
with his pa