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Henceforth we have to follow the spectacle of a man who was a
mere whip…top for calamity； on whose unmerited misadventures
not even the humourist can look without pity； and not even
the philosopher without alarm。
That same night the clerk entered upon a bout of drunkenness
so consistent as to surprise even his intimate acquaintance。
He was speedily ejected from the boarding…house； deposited
his portmanteau with a perfect stranger； who did not even
catch his name； wandered he knew not where； and was at last
hove…to； all standing； in a hospital at Sacramento。 There；
under the impenetrable ALIAS of the number of his bed； the
crapulous being lay for some more days unconscious of all
things； and of one thing in particular： that the police were
after him。 Two months had come and gone before the
convalescent in the Sacramento hospital was identified with
Kirkman； the absconding San Francisco clerk； even then； there
must elapse nearly a fortnight more till the perfect stranger
could be hunted up； the portmanteau recovered； and John's
letter carried at length to its destination； the seal still
unbroken； the inclosure still intact。
Meanwhile； John had gone upon his holidays without a word；
which was irregular； and there had disappeared with him a
certain sum of money； which was out of all bounds of
palliation。 But he was known to be careless； and believed to
be honest； the manager besides had a regard for him； and
little was said； although something was no doubt thought；
until the fortnight was finally at an end； and the time had
come for John to reappear。 Then； indeed； the affair began to
look black； and when inquiries were made； and the penniless
clerk was found to have amassed thousands of dollars； and
kept them secretly in a rival establishment； the stoutest of
his friends abandoned him； the books were overhauled for
traces of ancient and artful fraud； and though none were
found； there still prevailed a general impression of loss。
The telegraph was set in motion； and the correspondent of the
bank in Edinburgh； for which place it was understood that
John had armed himself with extensive credits； was warned to
communicate with the police。
Now this correspondent was a friend of Mr。 Nicholson's； he
was well acquainted with the tale of John's calamitous
disappearance from Edinburgh； and putting one thing with
another； hasted with the first word of this scandal； not to
the police； but to his friend。 The old gentleman had long
regarded his son as one dead； John's place had been taken；
the memory of his faults had already fallen to be one of
those old aches； which awaken again indeed upon occasion； but
which we can always vanquish by an effort of the will； and to
have the long lost resuscitated in a fresh disgrace was
doubly bitter。
'Macewen；' said the old man； 'this must be hushed up； if
possible。 If I give you a cheek for this sum； about which
they are certain； could you take it on yourself to let the
matter rest？'
'I will；' said Macewen。 'I will take the risk of it。'
'You understand；' resumed Mr。 Nicholson； speaking precisely；
but with ashen lips； 'I do this for my family； not for that
unhappy young man。 If it should turn out that these
suspicions are correct； and he has embezzled large sums； he
must lie on his bed as he has made it。' And then looking up
at Macewen with a nod； and one of his strange smiles： 'Good…
bye；' said he； and Macewen； perceiving the case to be too
grave for consolation； took himself off； and blessed God on
his way home that he was childless。
CHAPTER V … THE PRODIGAL'S RETURN
BY a little after noon on the eve of Christmas； John had left
his portmanteau in the cloak…room； and stepped forth into
Princes Street with a wonderful expansion of the soul； such
as men enjoy on the completion of long…nourished schemes。 He
was at home again； incognito and rich； presently he could
enter his father's house by means of the pass…key； which he
had piously preserved through all his wanderings； he would
throw down the borrowed money； there would be a
reconciliation； the details of which he frequently arranged；
and he saw himself； during the next month； made welcome in
many stately houses at many frigid dinner…parties； taking his
share in the conversation with the freedom of the man and the
traveller； and laying down the law upon finance with the
authority of the successful investor。 But this programme was
not to be begun before evening … not till just before dinner；
indeed； at which meal the reassembled family were to sit
roseate； and the best wine； the modern fatted calf； should
flow for the prodigal's return。
Meanwhile he walked familiar streets； merry reminiscences
crowding round him； sad ones also； both with the same
surprising pathos。 The keen frosty air； the low； rosy；
wintry sun； the castle； hailing him like an old acquaintance；
the names of friends on door…plates； the sight of friends
whom he seemed to recognise； and whom he eagerly avoided； in
the streets； the pleasant chant of the north…country accent；
the dome of St。 George's reminding him of his last
penitential moments in the lane； and of that King of Glory
whose name had echoed ever since in the saddest corner of his
memory； and the gutters where he had learned to slide； and
the shop where he had bought his skates； and the stones on
which he had trod； and the railings in which he had rattled
his clachan as he went to school； and all those thousand and
one nameless particulars； which the eye sees without noting；
which the memory keeps indeed yet without knowing； and which；
taken one with another； build up for us the aspect of the
place that we call home： all these besieged him； as he went；
with both delight and sadness。
His first visit was for Houston； who had a house on Regent
Terrace； kept for him in old days by an aunt。 The door was
opened （to his surprise） upon the chain； and a voice asked
him from within what he wanted。
'I want Mr。 Houston … Mr。 Alan Houston；' said he。
'And who are ye？' said the voice。
'This is most extraordinary；' thought John； and then aloud he
told his name。
'No' young Mr。 John？' cried the voice； with a sudden increase
of Scotch accent； testifying to a friendlier feeling。
'The very same；' said John。
And the old butler removed his defences； remarking only 'I
thocht ye were that man。' But his master was not there； he
was staying； it appeared； at the house in Murrayfield； and
though the butler would have been glad enough to have taken
his place and given all the news of the family； John； struck
with a little chill； was eager to be gone。 Only； the door
was scarce closed again； before he regretted that he had not
asked about 'that man。'
He was to pay no more visits till he had seen his father and
made all well at home； Alan had been the only possible
exception； and John had not time to go as far as Murrayfield。
But here he was on Regent Terrace； there was nothing to
prevent him going round the end of the hill； and looking from
without on the Mackenzies' house。 As he went； he reflected
that Flora must now be a woman of near his own age； and it
was within the bounds of possibility that she was married；
but this dishonourable doubt he dammed down。
There was the house； sure enough； but the door was of another
colour； and what was this … two door…plates？ He drew nearer；
the top one bore； with dignified simplicity； the words； 'Mr。
Proudfoot'； the lower one was more explicit； and informed the
passer…by that here was likewise the abode of 'Mr。 J。 A。
Dunlop Proudfoot； Advocate。' The Proudfoots must be rich；
for no advocate could look to have much business in so remote
a quarter； and John hated them for their wealth and for their
name； and for the sake of the house they desecrated with
their presence。 He remembered a Proudfoot he had seen at
school； no