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a millionaire of rough-and-ready-µÚ11ÕÂ

С˵£º a millionaire of rough-and-ready ×ÖÊý£º ÿҳ3500×Ö

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who¡¡had¡¡always¡¡retained¡¡his¡¡old¡¡farmer¡­like¡¡habit¡¡of¡¡taking¡¡off¡¡his
coat¡¡with¡¡his¡¡hat¡¡on¡¡entering¡¡his¡¡own¡¡house£»¡¡and¡¡appearing¡¡in¡¡his
shirt¡­sleeves£»¡¡to¡¡indicate¡¡domestic¡¡ease¡¡and¡¡security£»¡¡was¡¡obliged
to¡¡replace¡¡it£»¡¡on¡¡account¡¡of¡¡the¡¡chill¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡had¡¡never¡¡felt¡¡at¡¡home
in¡¡this¡¡room¡£¡¡¡¡Its¡¡strangeness¡¡had¡¡lately¡¡been¡¡heightened¡¡by¡¡Mrs¡£
Mulrady's¡¡purchase¡¡of¡¡a¡¡family¡¡portrait¡¡of¡¡some¡¡one¡¡she¡¡didn't
know£»¡¡but¡¡who£»¡¡she¡¡had¡¡alleged£»¡¡resembled¡¡her¡¡¡¨Uncle¡¡Bob£»¡¨¡¡which
hung¡¡on¡¡the¡¡wall¡¡beside¡¡some¡¡paintings¡¡in¡¡massive¡¡frames¡£¡¡¡¡Mr¡£
Mulrady¡¡cast¡¡a¡¡hurried¡¡glance¡¡at¡¡the¡¡portrait¡¡that£»¡¡on¡¡the¡¡strength
of¡¡a¡¡high¡¡coat¡­collar¡¡and¡¡high¡¡top¡¡curlboth¡¡rolled¡¡with¡¡equal
precision¡¡and¡¡singular¡¡sameness¡¡of¡¡colorhad¡¡always¡¡glared¡¡at
Mulrady¡¡as¡¡if¡¡HE¡¡was¡¡the¡¡intruder£»¡¡and£»¡¡passing¡¡through¡¡his¡¡wife's
gorgeous¡¡bedroom£»¡¡entered¡¡the¡¡little¡¡dressing¡­room£»¡¡where¡¡he¡¡still
slept¡¡on¡¡the¡¡smallest¡¡of¡¡cots£»¡¡with¡¡hastily¡¡improvised
surroundings£»¡¡as¡¡if¡¡he¡¡was¡¡a¡¡bailiff¡¡in¡¡¡¨possession¡£¡¨¡¡¡¡He¡¡didn't
linger¡¡here¡¡long£»¡¡but£»¡¡taking¡¡a¡¡key¡¡from¡¡a¡¡drawer£»¡¡continued¡¡up¡¡the
staircase£»¡¡to¡¡the¡¡ominous¡¡funeral¡¡marches¡¡of¡¡the¡¡beating¡¡rain¡¡on
the¡¡skylight£»¡¡and¡¡paused¡¡on¡¡the¡¡landing¡¡to¡¡glance¡¡into¡¡his¡¡son's
and¡¡daughter's¡¡bedrooms£»¡¡duplicates¡¡of¡¡the¡¡bizarre¡¡extravagance
below¡£¡¡¡¡If¡¡he¡¡were¡¡seeking¡¡some¡¡characteristic¡¡traces¡¡of¡¡his¡¡absent
family£»¡¡they¡¡certainly¡¡were¡¡not¡¡here¡¡in¡¡the¡¡painted¡¡and¡¡still¡¡damp
blazoning¡¡of¡¡their¡¡later¡¡successes¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡ascended¡¡another¡¡staircase£»
and£»¡¡passing¡¡to¡¡the¡¡wing¡¡of¡¡the¡¡house£»¡¡paused¡¡before¡¡a¡¡small¡¡door£»
which¡¡was¡¡locked¡£¡¡¡¡Already¡¡the¡¡ostentatious¡¡decorations¡¡of¡¡wall¡¡and
passages¡¡were¡¡left¡¡behind£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡plain¡¡lath¡­and¡­plaster¡¡partition
of¡¡the¡¡attic¡¡lay¡¡before¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡unlocked¡¡the¡¡door£»¡¡and¡¡threw¡¡it
open¡£


CHAPTER¡¡V


The¡¡apartment¡¡he¡¡entered¡¡was¡¡really¡¡only¡¡a¡¡lumber¡­room¡¡or¡¡loft¡¡over
the¡¡wing¡¡of¡¡the¡¡house£»¡¡which¡¡had¡¡been¡¡left¡¡bare¡¡and¡¡unfinished£»¡¡and
which¡¡revealed¡¡in¡¡its¡¡meagre¡¡skeleton¡¡of¡¡beams¡¡and¡¡joints¡¡the
hollow¡¡sham¡¡of¡¡the¡¡whole¡¡structure¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡in¡¡more¡¡violent¡¡contrast
to¡¡the¡¡fresher¡¡glories¡¡of¡¡the¡¡other¡¡part¡¡of¡¡the¡¡house¡¡were¡¡its
contents£»¡¡which¡¡were¡¡the¡¡heterogeneous¡¡collection¡¡of¡¡old¡¡furniture£»
old¡¡luggage£»¡¡and¡¡cast¡­off¡¡clothing£»¡¡left¡¡over¡¡from¡¡the¡¡past¡¡life¡¡in
the¡¡old¡¡cabin¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡a¡¡much¡¡plainer¡¡record¡¡of¡¡the¡¡simple
beginnings¡¡of¡¡the¡¡family¡¡than¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Mulrady¡¡cared¡¡to¡¡have¡¡remain¡¡in
evidence£»¡¡and¡¡for¡¡that¡¡reason¡¡it¡¡had¡¡been¡¡relegated¡¡to¡¡the¡¡hidden
recesses¡¡of¡¡the¡¡new¡¡house£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡hope¡¡that¡¡it¡¡might¡¡absorb¡¡or
digest¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡There¡¡were¡¡old¡¡cribs£»¡¡in¡¡which¡¡the¡¡infant¡¡limbs¡¡of
Mamie¡¡and¡¡Abner¡¡had¡¡been¡¡tucked¡¡up£»¡¡old¡¡looking¡­glasses£»¡¡that¡¡had
reflected¡¡their¡¡shining£»¡¡soapy¡¡faces£»¡¡and¡¡Mamie's¡¡best¡¡chip¡¡Sunday
hat£»¡¡an¡¡old¡¡sewing¡­machine£»¡¡that¡¡had¡¡been¡¡worn¡¡out¡¡in¡¡active
service£»¡¡old¡¡patchwork¡¡quilts£»¡¡an¡¡old¡¡accordion£»¡¡to¡¡whose¡¡long
drawn¡¡inspirations¡¡Mamie¡¡had¡¡sung¡¡hymns£»¡¡old¡¡pictures£»¡¡books£»¡¡and
old¡¡toys¡£¡¡¡¡There¡¡were¡¡one¡¡or¡¡two¡¡old¡¡chromos£»¡¡and£»¡¡stuck¡¡in¡¡an¡¡old
frame£»¡¡a¡¡colored¡¡print¡¡from¡¡the¡¡¡¨Illustrated¡¡London¡¡News¡¨¡¡of¡¡a
Christmas¡¡gathering¡¡in¡¡an¡¡old¡¡English¡¡country¡¡house¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡stopped
and¡¡picked¡¡up¡¡this¡¡print£»¡¡which¡¡he¡¡had¡¡often¡¡seen¡¡before£»¡¡gazing¡¡at
it¡¡with¡¡a¡¡new¡¡and¡¡singular¡¡interest¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡wondered¡¡if¡¡Mamie¡¡had¡¡seen
anything¡¡of¡¡this¡¡kind¡¡in¡¡England£»¡¡and¡¡why¡¡couldn't¡¡he¡¡have¡¡had
something¡¡like¡¡it¡¡here£»¡¡in¡¡their¡¡own¡¡fine¡¡house£»¡¡with¡¡themselves
and¡¡a¡¡few¡¡friends£¿¡¡¡¡He¡¡remembered¡¡a¡¡past¡¡Christmas£»¡¡when¡¡he¡¡had
bought¡¡Mamie¡¡that¡¡now¡¡headless¡¡doll¡¡with¡¡the¡¡few¡¡coins¡¡that¡¡were
left¡¡him¡¡after¡¡buying¡¡their¡¡frugal¡¡Christmas¡¡dinner¡£¡¡¡¡There¡¡was¡¡an
old¡¡spotted¡¡hobby¡­horse¡¡that¡¡another¡¡Christmas¡¡had¡¡brought¡¡to
AbnerAbner£»¡¡who¡¡would¡¡be¡¡driving¡¡a¡¡fast¡¡trotter¡¡to¡­morrow¡¡at¡¡the
Springs£¡¡¡¡¡How¡¡everything¡¡had¡¡changed£¡¡¡¡¡How¡¡they¡¡all¡¡had¡¡got¡¡up¡¡in
the¡¡world£»¡¡and¡¡how¡¡far¡¡beyond¡¡this¡¡kind¡¡of¡¡thingand¡¡yetyet¡¡it
would¡¡have¡¡been¡¡rather¡¡comfortable¡¡to¡¡have¡¡all¡¡been¡¡together¡¡again
here¡£¡¡¡¡Would¡¡THEY¡¡have¡¡been¡¡more¡¡comfortable£¿¡¡¡¡No£¡¡¡¡¡Yet¡¡then¡¡he
might¡¡have¡¡had¡¡something¡¡to¡¡do£»¡¡and¡¡been¡¡less¡¡lonely¡¡to¡­morrow¡£
What¡¡of¡¡that£¿¡¡¡¡He¡¡HAD¡¡something¡¡to¡¡do£º¡¡to¡¡look¡¡after¡¡this¡¡immense
fortune¡£¡¡¡¡What¡¡more¡¡could¡¡a¡¡man¡¡want£»¡¡or¡¡should¡¡he¡¡want£¿¡¡¡¡It¡¡was
rather¡¡mean¡¡in¡¡him£»¡¡able¡¡to¡¡give¡¡his¡¡wife¡¡and¡¡children¡¡everything
they¡¡wanted£»¡¡to¡¡be¡¡wanting¡¡anything¡¡more¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡laid¡¡down¡¡the¡¡print
gently£»¡¡after¡¡dusting¡¡its¡¡glass¡¡and¡¡frame¡¡with¡¡his¡¡silk
handkerchief£»¡¡and¡¡slowly¡¡left¡¡the¡¡room¡£

The¡¡drum¡­beat¡¡of¡¡the¡¡rain¡¡followed¡¡him¡¡down¡¡the¡¡staircase£»¡¡but¡¡he
shut¡¡it¡¡out¡¡with¡¡his¡¡other¡¡thoughts£»¡¡when¡¡he¡¡again¡¡closed¡¡the¡¡door
of¡¡his¡¡office¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡set¡¡diligently¡¡to¡¡work¡¡by¡¡the¡¡declining¡¡winter
light£»¡¡until¡¡he¡¡was¡¡interrupted¡¡by¡¡the¡¡entrance¡¡of¡¡his¡¡Chinese
waiter¡¡to¡¡tell¡¡him¡¡that¡¡supperwhich¡¡was¡¡the¡¡meal¡¡that¡¡Mulrady
religiously¡¡adhered¡¡to¡¡in¡¡place¡¡of¡¡the¡¡late¡¡dinner¡¡of¡¡civilization
was¡¡ready¡¡in¡¡the¡¡dining¡­room¡£¡¡¡¡Mulrady¡¡mechanically¡¡obeyed¡¡the
summons£»¡¡but¡¡on¡¡entering¡¡the¡¡room¡¡the¡¡oasis¡¡of¡¡a¡¡few¡¡plates¡¡in¡¡a
desert¡¡of¡¡white¡¡table¡­cloth¡¡which¡¡awaited¡¡him¡¡made¡¡him¡¡hesitate¡£
In¡¡its¡¡best¡¡aspect£»¡¡the¡¡high¡¡dark¡¡Gothic¡¡mahogany¡¡ecclesiastical
sideboard¡¡and¡¡chairs¡¡of¡¡this¡¡room£»¡¡which¡¡looked¡¡like¡¡the
appointments¡¡of¡¡a¡¡mortuary¡¡chapel£»¡¡were¡¡not¡¡exhilarating£»¡¡and¡¡to¡­
day£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡light¡¡of¡¡the¡¡rain¡­filmed¡¡windows¡¡and¡¡the¡¡feeble¡¡rays¡¡of
a¡¡lamp¡¡half¡­obscured¡¡by¡¡the¡¡dark¡¡shining¡¡walls£»¡¡it¡¡was¡¡most
depressing¡£

¡¨You¡¡kin¡¡take¡¡up¡¡supper¡¡into¡¡my¡¡office£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Mulrady£»¡¡with¡¡a
sudden¡¡inspiration¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨I'll¡¡eat¡¡it¡¡there¡£¡¨

He¡¡ate¡¡it¡¡there£»¡¡with¡¡his¡¡usual¡¡healthy¡¡appetite£»¡¡which¡¡did¡¡not
require¡¡even¡¡the¡¡stimulation¡¡of¡¡company¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡had¡¡just¡¡finished£»
when¡¡his¡¡Irish¡¡cookthe¡¡one¡¡female¡¡servant¡¡of¡¡the¡¡housecame¡¡to
ask¡¡permission¡¡to¡¡be¡¡absent¡¡that¡¡evening¡¡and¡¡the¡¡next¡¡day¡£

¡¨I¡¡suppose¡¡the¡¡likes¡¡of¡¡your¡¡honor¡¡won't¡¡be¡¡at¡¡home¡¡on¡¡the
Christmas¡¡Day£¿¡¡¡¡And¡¡it's¡¡me¡¡cousins¡¡from¡¡the¡¡old¡¡counthry¡¡at¡¡Rough¡­
and¡­Ready¡¡that¡¡are¡¡invitin'¡¡me¡£¡¨

¡¨Why¡¡don't¡¡you¡¡ask¡¡them¡¡over¡¡here£¿¡¨¡¡said¡¡Mulrady£»¡¡with¡¡another
vague¡¡inspiration¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨I'll¡¡stand¡¡treat¡£¡¨

¡¨Lord¡¡preserve¡¡you¡¡for¡¡a¡¡jinerous¡¡gintleman£¡¡¡¡¡But¡¡it's¡¡the¡¡likes¡¡of
them¡¡and¡¡myself¡¡that¡¡wouldn't¡¡be¡¡at¡¡home¡¡here¡¡on¡¡such¡¡a¡¡day¡£¡¨

There¡¡was¡¡so¡¡much¡¡truth¡¡in¡¡this¡¡that¡¡Mulrady¡¡checked¡¡a¡¡sigh¡¡as¡¡he
gave¡¡the¡¡required¡¡permission£»¡¡without¡¡saying¡¡that¡¡he¡¡had¡¡intended
to¡¡remain¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡could¡¡cook¡¡his¡¡own¡¡breakfast£º¡¡he¡¡had¡¡done¡¡it¡¡before£»
and¡¡it¡¡would¡¡be¡¡something¡¡to¡¡occupy¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¡As¡¡to¡¡his¡¡dinner£»¡¡perhaps
he¡¡could¡¡go¡¡to¡¡the¡¡hotel¡¡at¡¡Rough¡­and¡­Ready¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡worked¡¡on¡¡until
the¡¡night¡¡had¡¡well¡¡advanced¡£¡¡¡¡Then£»¡¡overcome¡¡with¡¡a¡¡certain
restlessness¡¡that¡¡disturbed¡¡him£»¡¡he¡¡was¡¡forced¡¡to¡¡put¡¡his¡¡books¡¡and
papers¡¡away¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡had¡¡begun¡¡to¡¡blow¡¡in¡¡fitful¡¡gusts£»¡¡and
occasionally¡¡the¡¡rain¡¡was¡¡driven¡¡softly¡¡across¡¡the¡¡panes¡¡like¡¡the
passing¡¡of¡¡childish¡¡fingers¡£¡¡¡¡This¡¡disturbed¡¡him¡¡more¡¡than¡¡the
monotony¡¡of¡¡silence£»¡¡for¡¡he¡¡was¡¡not¡¡a¡¡nervous¡¡man¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡seldom¡¡read
a¡¡book£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡county¡¡paper¡¡furnished¡¡him¡¡only¡¡the¡¡financial¡¡and
mercantile¡¡news¡¡which¡¡was¡¡part¡¡of¡¡his¡¡business¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡knew¡¡he¡¡could
not¡¡sleep¡¡if¡¡he¡¡went¡¡to¡¡bed¡£¡¡¡¡At¡¡last¡¡he¡¡rose£»¡¡opened¡¡the¡¡window£»
and¡¡looked¡¡out¡¡from¡¡pure¡¡idleness¡¡of¡¡occupation¡£¡¡¡¡A¡¡splash¡¡of
wheels¡¡in¡¡the¡¡distant¡¡muddy¡¡road¡¡and¡¡fragments¡¡of¡¡a¡¡drunken¡¡song
showed¡¡signs¡¡of¡¡an¡¡early¡¡wandering¡¡reveller¡£¡¡¡¡There¡¡were¡¡no¡¡lights
to¡¡be¡¡seen¡¡at¡¡the¡¡closed¡¡works£»¡¡a¡¡profound¡¡darkness¡¡encompassed¡¡the
house£»¡¡as¡¡if¡¡the¡¡distant¡¡pines¡¡in¡¡the¡¡hollow¡¡had¡¡moved¡¡up¡¡and¡¡round
it¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡silence¡¡was¡¡broken¡¡now¡¡only¡¡by¡¡the¡¡occasional¡¡sighing¡¡of
wind¡¡and¡¡rain¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡not¡¡an¡¡inviting¡¡night¡¡for¡¡a¡¡perfunctory
walk£»¡¡but¡¡an¡¡idea¡¡struck¡¡himhe¡¡would¡¡call¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡Slinns£»¡¡and
anticipate¡¡his¡¡next¡¡day's¡¡visit£¡¡¡¡¡They¡¡would¡¡probably¡¡have¡¡company£»
and¡¡be¡¡glad¡¡to¡¡see¡¡him£º¡¡he¡¡could¡¡tell¡¡the¡¡girls¡¡of¡¡Mamie¡¡and¡¡her
success¡£¡¡¡¡That¡¡he¡¡had¡¡not¡¡thought¡¡of¡¡this¡¡before¡¡was¡¡a¡¡proof¡¡of¡¡his
usual¡¡self¡­contained¡¡isolation£»¡¡that¡¡he¡¡thought¡¡of¡¡it¡¡now¡¡was¡¡an
equal¡¡proof¡¡that¡¡he¡¡was¡¡becoming¡¡at¡¡last¡¡accessible¡¡to¡¡loneliness¡£
He¡¡was¡¡angry¡¡with¡¡himself¡¡for¡¡what¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡him¡¡a¡¡selfish
weakness¡£

He¡¡returned¡¡to¡¡his¡¡office£»¡¡and£»¡¡putting¡¡the¡¡envelope¡¡that¡¡had¡¡been
lying¡¡on¡¡Slinn's¡¡desk¡¡in¡¡his¡¡pocket£»¡¡threw¡¡a¡¡serape¡¡over¡¡his
shoulders£»¡¡and¡¡locked¡¡the¡¡front¡¡door¡¡of¡¡the¡¡house¡¡behind¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¡It
was¡¡well¡¡that¡¡the¡¡way¡¡was¡¡a¡¡familiar¡¡one¡¡to¡¡him£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡his¡¡feet
instinctively¡¡found¡¡the¡¡trail£»¡¡for¡¡the¡¡night¡¡was¡¡very¡¡dark¡£¡¡¡¡At
times¡¡he¡¡was¡¡warned¡¡only¡¡by¡¡the¡¡gurgling¡¡of¡¡water¡¡of¡¡little
rivulets¡¡that¡¡descended¡¡the¡¡hill¡¡and¡¡crossed¡¡his¡¡path¡£¡¡¡¡Without¡¡the
slightest¡¡fear£»¡¡and¡¡with¡¡neither¡¡imagination¡¡nor¡¡sensitiveness£»¡¡he
recalled¡¡how£»¡¡the¡¡winter¡¡before£»¡¡one¡¡of¡¡Don¡¡Caesar's¡¡vaqueros£»
crossing¡¡this¡¡hill¡¡at¡¡night£»¡¡had¡¡fallen¡¡down¡¡the¡¡chasm¡¡of¡¡a
landslip¡¡caused¡¡by¡¡the¡¡rain£»¡¡and¡¡was¡¡found¡¡the¡¡next¡¡morning¡¡with
his¡¡neck¡¡broken¡¡in¡¡the¡¡gully¡£¡¡¡¡Don¡¡Caesar¡¡had¡¡to¡¡take¡¡care¡¡of¡¡the
man's¡¡family¡£¡¡¡¡Suppose¡¡such¡¡an¡¡accident¡¡should¡¡happen¡¡to¡¡him£¿
Well£»¡¡he¡¡had¡¡made¡¡his¡¡will¡£¡¡¡¡His¡¡wife¡¡and¡¡children¡¡would¡¡be
provided¡¡for£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡work¡¡of¡¡the¡¡mine¡¡would¡¡go¡¡on¡¡all¡¡the¡¡same£»¡¡he
had¡¡arranged¡¡for¡¡that¡£¡¡¡¡Would¡¡anybody¡¡miss¡¡him£¿¡¡¡¡Would¡¡his¡¡wife£»¡¡or
his¡¡son£»¡¡or¡¡his¡¡daughter£¿¡¡¡¡No¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡felt¡¡such¡¡a¡¡sudden¡¡and
overwhelming¡¡conviction¡¡of¡¡the¡¡truth¡¡of¡¡this¡¡that¡¡he¡¡stopped¡¡as
suddenly¡¡as¡¡if¡¡the¡¡chasm¡¡had¡¡opened¡¡before¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¡No£¡¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡the
truth¡£¡¡¡¡If¡¡he¡¡were¡¡to¡¡disappear¡¡forever¡¡in¡¡the¡¡darkness¡¡of¡¡the
Christmas¡¡night¡¡there¡¡was¡¡none¡¡to¡¡feel¡¡his¡¡loss¡£¡¡¡¡His¡¡wife¡¡would
take¡¡care¡¡of¡¡Mamie£»¡¡his¡¡son¡¡would¡¡take¡¡care¡¡of¡¡himself£»¡¡as¡¡he¡¡had
beforerelieved¡¡of¡¡even¡¡the¡¡scant¡¡paternal¡¡authority¡¡he¡¡rebelled
against¡£¡¡¡¡A¡¡more¡¡imaginative¡¡man¡¡than¡¡Mulrady¡¡would¡¡have¡¡combated
or¡¡have¡¡followed¡¡out¡¡this¡¡idea£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡dismissed¡¡it£»¡¡to¡¡the
millionaire's¡¡matter¡­of¡­fact¡¡mind¡¡it¡¡was¡¡a¡¡deduction¡¡that£»¡¡having
once¡¡presented¡¡itself¡¡to¡¡his¡¡perception£»¡¡was¡¡already¡¡a¡¡recognized
fact¡£¡¡¡¡For¡¡the¡¡first¡¡time¡¡in¡¡his¡¡life¡¡he¡¡felt¡¡a¡¡sudden¡¡instinct¡¡of
something¡¡like¡¡aversion¡¡towards¡¡his¡¡family£»¡¡a¡¡feeling¡¡that¡¡even¡¡his
son's¡¡dissipation¡¡and¡¡criminality¡¡had¡¡never¡¡provoked¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡hurried
on¡¡angrily¡¡through¡¡the¡¡darkness¡£

It¡¡was¡¡very¡¡strange£»¡¡the¡¡old¡¡house¡¡should¡¡be¡¡almost¡¡before¡¡him¡¡now£»
across¡¡the¡¡hollow£»¡¡yet¡¡there¡¡were¡¡no¡¡indications¡¡of¡¡light£¡¡¡¡¡It¡¡was
not¡¡until¡¡he¡¡actually¡¡reached¡¡the¡¡garden¡¡fence£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡black¡¡bulk
of¡¡shadow¡¡rose¡¡out¡¡against¡¡the¡¡sky£»¡¡that¡¡he¡¡saw¡¡a¡¡faint¡¡ray¡¡of
light¡¡from¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡lean¡­to¡¡windows¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡went¡¡to¡¡the¡¡front¡¡door
and¡¡knocked¡£¡¡¡¡After¡¡waiting¡¡in¡¡vain¡¡for¡¡a¡¡reply£»¡¡he¡¡knocked¡¡again¡£
The¡¡second¡¡knock¡¡proving¡¡equally¡¡futile£»¡¡he¡¡tried¡¡the¡¡door£»¡¡it¡¡was
unlocked£»¡¡and£»¡¡pushing¡¡it¡¡open£»¡¡he¡¡walked¡¡in¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡narrow¡¡passage
was¡¡quite¡¡dark£»¡¡but¡¡from¡¡his¡¡knowledge¡¡of¡¡the¡¡house¡¡he¡¡knew¡¡the
¡¨lean¡­to¡¨¡¡was¡¡next¡¡to¡¡the¡¡kitchen£»¡¡and£»¡¡passing¡¡through¡¡the¡¡dining¡­
room¡¡into¡¡it£»¡¡he¡¡opened¡¡the¡¡door¡¡of¡¡the¡¡little¡¡room¡¡from¡¡which¡¡the
light¡¡proceeded¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡came¡¡from¡¡a¡¡single¡¡candle¡¡on¡¡a¡¡small¡¡table£»
and¡¡beside¡¡it£»¡¡with¡¡his¡¡eyes¡¡moodily¡¡fixed¡¡on¡¡the¡¡dying¡¡embers¡¡of
the¡¡fire£»¡¡sat¡¡old¡¡Slinn¡£¡¡¡¡There¡¡was¡¡no¡¡other¡¡light¡¡nor¡¡another
human¡¡being¡¡in¡¡the¡¡whole¡¡house¡£

For¡¡the¡¡instant¡¡Mulrady£»¡¡forgetting¡¡his¡¡own¡¡feelings¡¡in¡¡the¡¡mute
picture¡¡of¡¡the¡¡utter¡¡desolation¡¡of¡¡the¡¡helpless¡¡man£»¡¡remained
speechless¡¡on¡¡the¡¡threshold¡£¡¡¡¡Then£»¡¡recalling¡¡himself£»¡¡he¡¡stepped
forward¡¡and¡¡laid¡¡his¡¡hand¡¡gayly¡¡on¡¡the¡¡bowed¡¡shoulders¡£

¡¨Rouse¡¡up¡¡out¡¡o'¡¡this£»¡¡old¡¡man£¡¡¡¡¡Come£¡¡¡this¡¡won't¡¡do¡£¡¡¡¡Look£¡¡¡¡¡I've
run¡¡over¡¡here¡¡in¡¡the¡¡rain£»¡¡jist¡¡to¡¡have¡¡a¡¡sociable¡¡time¡¡with¡¡you
all¡£¡¨

¡¨I¡¡knew¡¡it£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡the¡¡old¡¡man£»¡¡without¡¡looking¡¡up£»¡¡¡¨I¡¡knew¡¡y

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