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A little after； he got to his feet very sore and shaken； the
poorer by a purse which contained exactly one penny postage…
stamp； by a cambric handkerchief； and by the all…important
envelope。
Here was a young man on whom； at the highest point of lovely
exaltation； there had fallen a blow too sharp to be supported
alone； and not many hundred yards away his greatest friend
was sitting at supper … ay； and even expecting him。 Was it
not in the nature of man that he should run there？ He went
in quest of sympathy … in quest of that droll article that we
all suppose ourselves to want when in a strait； and have
agreed to call advice； and he went； besides； with vague but
rather splendid expectations of relief。 Alan was rich； or
would be so when he came of age。 By a stroke of the pen he
might remedy this misfortune； and avert that dreaded
interview with Mr。 Nicholson； from which John now shrunk in
imagination as the hand draws back from fire。
Close under the Calton Hill there runs a certain narrow
avenue； part street； part by…road。 The head of it faces the
doors of the prison； its tail descends into the sunless slums
of the Low Calton。 On one hand it is overhung by the crags
of the hill； on the other by an old graveyard。 Between these
two the roadway runs in a trench； sparsely lighted at night；
sparsely frequented by day； and bordered； when it was cleared
the place of tombs； by dingy and ambiguous houses。 One of
these was the house of Colette； and at his door our ill…
starred John was presently beating for admittance。 In an
evil hour he satisfied the jealous inquiries of the
contraband hotel…keeper； in an evil hour he penetrated into
the somewhat unsavoury interior。 Alan； to be sure； was
there； seated in a room lighted by noisy gas…jets； beside a
dirty table…cloth； engaged on a coarse meal； and in the
company of several tipsy members of the junior bar。 But Alan
was not sober； he had lost a thousand pounds upon a horse…
race； had received the news at dinner…time； and was now； in
default of any possible means of extrication； drowning the
memory of his predicament。 He to help John！ The thing was
impossible； he couldn't help himself。
'If you have a beast of a father；' said he； 'I can tell you I
have a brute of a trustee。'
'I'm not going to hear my father called a beast；' said John
with a beating heart； feeling that he risked the last sound
rivet of the chain that bound him to life。
But Alan was quite good…natured。
'All right； old fellow；' said he。 'Mos' respec'able man your
father。' And he introduced his friend to his companions as
'old Nicholson the what…d'ye…call…um's son。'
John sat in dumb agony。 Colette's foul walls and maculate
table…linen； and even down to Colette's villainous casters；
seemed like objects in a nightmare。 And just then there came
a knock and a scurrying； the police； so lamentably absent
from the Calton Hill； appeared upon the scene； and the party；
taken FLAGRANTE DELICTO； with their glasses at their elbow；
were seized； marched up to the police office； and all duly
summoned to appear as witnesses in the consequent case
against that arch…shebeener； Colette。
It was a sorrowful and a mightily sobered company that came
forth again。 The vague terror of public opinion weighed
generally on them all； but there were private and particular
horrors on the minds of individuals。 Alan stood in dread of
his trustee； already sorely tried。 One of the group was the
son of a country minister； another of a judge； John； the
unhappiest of all； had David Nicholson to father； the idea of
facing whom on such a scandalous subject was physically
sickening。 They stood awhile consulting under the buttresses
of Saint Giles； thence they adjourned to the lodgings of one
of the number in North Castle Street； where （for that matter）
they might have had quite as good a supper； and far better
drink； than in the dangerous paradise from which they had
been routed。 There； over an almost tearful glass； they
debated their position。 Each explained he had the world to
lose if the affair went on； and he appeared as a witness。 It
was remarkable what bright prospects were just then in the
very act of opening before each of that little company of
youths； and what pious consideration for the feelings of
their families began now to well from them。 Each； moreover；
was in an odd state of destitution。 Not one could bear his
share of the fine； not one but evinced a wonderful twinkle of
hope that each of the others （in succession） was the very man
who could step in to make good the deficit。 One took a high
hand； he could not pay his share； if it went to a trial； he
should bolt； he had always felt the English Bar to be his
true sphere。 Another branched out into touching details
about his family； and was not listened to。 John； in the
midst of this disorderly competition of poverty and meanness；
sat stunned； contemplating the mountain bulk of his
misfortunes。
At last； upon a pledge that each should apply to his family
with a common frankness； this convention of unhappy young
asses broke up； went down the common stair； and in the grey
of the spring morning； with the streets lying dead empty all
about them； the lamps burning on into the daylight in
diminished lustre； and the birds beginning to sound
premonitory notes from the groves of the town gardens； went
each his own way with bowed head and echoing footfall。
The rooks were awake in Randolph Crescent； but the windows
looked down； discreetly blinded； on the return of the
prodigal。 John's pass…key was a recent privilege； this was
the first time it had been used； and； oh！ with what a
sickening sense of his unworthiness he now inserted it into
the well…oiled lock and entered that citadel of the
proprieties！ All slept； the gas in the hall had been left
faintly burning to light his return； a dreadful stillness
reigned； broken by the deep ticking of the eight…day clock。
He put the gas out； and sat on a chair in the hall； waiting
and counting the minutes； longing for any human countenance。
But when at last he heard the alarm spring its rattle in the
lower story； and the servants begin to be about； he instantly
lost heart； and fled to his own room； where he threw himself
upon the bed。
CHAPTER III … IN WHICH JOHN ENJOYS THE HARVEST HOME
SHORTLY after breakfast； at which he assisted with a highly
tragical countenance； John sought his father where he sat；
presumably in religious meditation； on the Sabbath mornings。
The old gentleman looked up with that sour； inquisitive
expression that came so near to smiling and was so different
in effect。
'This is a time when I do not like to be disturbed；' he said。
'I know that；' returned John； 'but I have … I want … I've
made a dreadful mess of it；' he broke out； and turned to the
window。
Mr。 Nicholson sat silent for an appreciable time； while his
unhappy son surveyed the poles in the back green； and a
certain yellow cat that was perched upon the wall。 Despair
sat upon John as he gazed； and he raged to think of the
dreadful series of his misdeeds； and the essential innocence
that lay behind them。
'Well；' said the father； with an obvious effort； but in very
quiet tones； 'what is it？'
'Maclean gave me four hundred pounds to put in the bank；
sir；' began John； 'and I'm sorry to say that I've been robbed
of it！'
'Robbed of it？' cried Mr。 Nicholson； with a strong rising
inflection。 'Robbed？ Be careful what you say； John！'
'I can't say anything else； sir； I was just robbed of it；'
said John； in desperation； sullenly。
'And where and when did this extraordinary event take place？'
inquired the father。
'On the Calton Hill about twelve last night。'
'The Calton Hill？' repeated Mr。 Nicholson。 'And what were
you doing there at such a time of the night？'
'Nothing