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！
knocked up old Macewen out of bed； and explained affairs to
him as he sat and shivered in a dressing…gown。 And before
that I had been to the High Street； where they have heard
nothing of your dead body； so that I incline to the idea that
you dreamed it。'
'Catch me！' said John。
'Well； the police never do know anything；' assented
Alexander； 'and at any rate； they have despatched a man to
inquire and to recover your trousers and your money； so that
really your bill is now fairly clean； and I see but one lion
in your path … the governor。'
'I'll be turned out again； you'll see；' said John； dismally。
'I don't imagine so；' returned the other； 'not if you do what
Flora and I have arranged； and your business now is to dress；
and lose no time about it。 Is your watch right？ Well； you
have a quarter of an hour。 By five minutes before the half…
hour you must be at table； in your old seat； under Uncle
Duthie's picture。 Flora will be there to keep you
countenance； and we shall see what we shall see。'
'Wouldn't it be wiser for me to stay in bed？' said John。
'If you mean to manage your own concerns； you can do
precisely what you like；' replied Alexander； 'but if you are
not in your place five minutes before the half…hour I wash my
hands of you； for one。'
And thereupon he departed。 He had spoken warmly； but the
truth is； his heart was somewhat troubled。 And as he hung
over the balusters； watching for his father to appear； he had
hard ado to keep himself braced for the encounter that must
follow。
'If he takes it well； I shall be lucky；' he reflected。
'If he takes it ill； why it'll be a herring across John's
tracks； and perhaps all for the best。 He's a confounded
muff； this brother of mine； but he seems a decent soul。'
At that stage a door opened below with a certain emphasis；
and Mr。 Nicholson was seen solemnly to descend the stairs；
and pass into his own apartment。 Alexander followed； quaking
inwardly； but with a steady face。 He knocked； was bidden to
enter； and found his father standing in front of the forced
drawer； to which he pointed as he spoke。
'This is a most extraordinary thing；' said he； 'I have been
robbed！'
'I was afraid you would notice it；' observed his son； 'it
made such a beastly hash of the table。'
'You were afraid I would notice it？' repeated Mr。 Nicholson。
'And； pray； what may that mean？'
'That I was a thief； sir；' returned Alexander。 'I took all
the money in case the servants should get hold of it； and
here is the change； and a note of my expenditure。 You were
gone to bed； you see； and I did not feel at liberty to knock
you up； but I think when you have heard the circumstances；
you will do me justice。 The fact is； I have reason to
believe there has been some dreadful error about my brother
John； the sooner it can be cleared up the better for all
parties； it was a piece of business； sir … and so I took it；
and decided； on my own responsibility； to send a telegram to
San Francisco。 Thanks to my quickness we may hear to…night。
There appears to be no doubt； sir； that John has been
abominably used。'
'When did this take place？' asked the father。
'Last night； sir； after you were asleep；' was the reply。
'It's most extraordinary；' said Mr。 Nicholson。 'Do you mean
to say you have been out all night？'
'All night； as you say； sir。 I have been to the telegraph
and the police office； and Mr。 Macewen's。 Oh； I had my hands
full；' said Alexander。
'Very irregular；' said the father。 'You think of no one but
yourself。'
'I do not see that I have much to gain in bringing back my
elder brother；' returned Alexander； shrewdly。
The answer pleased the old man； he smiled。 'Well； well； I
will go into this after breakfast；' said he。
'I'm sorry about the table；' said the son。
'The table is a small matter； I think nothing of that；' said
the father。
'It's another example；' continued the son； 'of the
awkwardness of a man having no money of his own。 If I had a
proper allowance； like other fellows of my age； this would
have been quite unnecessary。'
'A proper allowance！' repeated his father； in tones of
blighting sarcasm； for the expression was not new to him。 'I
have never grudged you money for any proper purpose。'
'No doubt； no doubt；' said Alexander； 'but then you see you
aren't always on the spot to have the thing explained to you。
Last night； for instance … '
'You could have wakened me last night；' interrupted his
father。
'Was it not some similar affair that first got John into a
mess？' asked the son； skilfully evading the point。
But the father was not less adroit。 'And pray； sir； how did
you come and go out of the house？' he asked。
'I forgot to lock the door； it seems；' replied Alexander。
'I have had cause to complain of that too often；' said Mr。
Nicholson。 'But still I do not understand。 Did you keep the
servants up？'
'I propose to go into all that at length after breakfast；'
returned Alexander。 'There is the half…hour going； we must
not keep Miss Mackenzie waiting。'
And greatly daring； he opened the door。
Even Alexander； who； it must have been perceived was on terms
of comparative freedom with his parent … even Alexander had
never before dared to cut short an interview in this high…
handed fashion。 But the truth is； the very mass of his son's
delinquencies daunted the old gentleman。 He was like the man
with the cart of apples … this was beyond him！ That
Alexander should have spoiled his table； taken his money；
stayed out all night； and then coolly acknowledged all； was
something undreamed of in the Nicholsonian philosophy； and
transcended comment。 The return of the change； which the old
gentleman still carried in his hand； had been a feature of
imposing impudence； it had dealt him a staggering blow。 Then
there was the reference to John's original flight … a subject
which he always kept resolutely curtained in his own mind；
for he was a man who loved to have made no mistakes； and when
he feared he might have made one kept the papers sealed。 In
view of all these surprises and reminders； and of his son's
composed and masterful demeanour； there began to creep on Mr。
Nicholson a sickly misgiving。 He seemed beyond his depth； if
he did or said anything； he might come to regret it。 The
young man； besides； as he had pointed out himself； was
playing a generous part。 And if wrong had been done … and
done to one who was； after； and in spite of； all； a Nicholson
… it should certainly be righted。
All things considered； monstrous as it was to be cut short in
his inquiries； the old gentleman submitted； pocketed the
change； and followed his son into the dining…room。 During
these few steps he once more mentally revolted； and once
more； and this time finally； laid down his arms： a still；
small voice in his bosom having informed him authentically of
a piece of news； that he was afraid of Alexander。 The
strange thing was that he was pleased to be afraid of him。
He was proud of his son； he might be proud of him； the boy
had character and grit； and knew what he was doing。
These were his reflections as he turned the corner of the
dining…room door。 Miss Mackenzie was in the place of honour；
conjuring with a tea…pot and a cosy； and； behold！ there was
another person present； a large； portly； whiskered man of a
very comfortable and respectable air； who now rose from his
seat and came forward； holding out his hand。
'Good…morning； father；' said he。
Of the contention of feeling that ran high in Mr。 Nicholson's
starched bosom； no outward sign was visible； nor did he delay
long to make a choice of conduct。 Yet in that interval he
had reviewed a great field of possibilities both past and
future； whether it was possible he had not been perfectly
wise in his treatment of John； whether