He has
done me once or twice, you see; and so I try to take it
out of him. By the way, you might send him down twenty
pounds to-morrow, Hetty. It's time for an instalment."
What a gossip you will think me, Bertie? But when I
begin, my memory brings everything back so clearly, and
I write on and on almost unconsciously. Besides, this
fellow is such a mixture of qualities, that I could never
give you any idea of him by myself; and so I just try to
repeat to you what he says, and what he does, so that you
may build up your own picture of the man. I know that he
has always interested you, and that he does so more now
than ever since our fates have drawn us together again.
After dinner, we went into the back room, which was
the most extraordinary contrast to the front one, having
only a plain deal table, and half-a-dozen kitchen chairs
scattered about on a linoleum floor. At one end was an
electric battery and a big magnet. At the other, a
packing case with several pistols and a litter of
cartridges upon it. A rook rifle was leaning tip against
it, and looking round I saw that the walls were all
pocked with bullet marks.
"What's this, then?" I asked, rolling my eyes round.
"Hetty, what's this?" he asked, with his pipe in his
hand and his head cocked sideways.
"Naval supremacy and the command of the seas," said
she, like a child repeating a lesson.
"That's it he shouted, stabbing at me with the amber.
Pages:
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120