woreover
his
evening
clothes
was
new
and
handsome
.
"
No
wonder
,
"
he
thought
bitterly
,
"
the
fellow
has
been
living
on
me
for
a
week
!
"
He
stood
by
the
cue-rack
looking
at
him
for
some
time
,
and
then
he
said
with
a
cold
ironic
dignity
that
(
if
he
had
known
it
)
came
oddly
from
his
boyish
lips
:
"
I
hope
you
are
making
yourself
quite
comfortable
?
"
Marmaduke
put
down
his
cigar
and
stared
:
"
Uncommonly
attentive
and
polite
of
you
to
inquire
,
"
he
said
at
last
,
with
a
dubious
smile
,
which
showed
a
row
of
very
white
teeth
,
"
whoever
you
are
.
If
it
will
relieve
your
mind
at
all
to
know
,
young
man
,
I
'm
happy
to
say
I
am
tolerably
comfortable
,
thanks
.
"
"
I
—
I
concluded
as
much
,
"
said
Paul
,
nearly
choked
with
rage
.
"
You
've
been
very
nicely
brought
up
,
"
said
Uncle
Marmaduke
,
"
I
can
see
that
at
a
glance
.
So
you
've
come
in
here
,
like
me
,
eh
?
because
the
children
bore
you
,
and
you
want
a
quiet
gossip
over
the
world
in
general
?
Sit
down
then
,
take
a
cigar
,
if
you
do
n't
think
it
will
make
you
very
unwell
.
I
should
n't
recommend
it
myself
,
you
know
,
before
supper
—
but
you
're
a
man
of
the
world
and
know
what
's
good
for
you
.
Come
along
,
enjoy
yourself
till
you
find
yourself
getting
queer
—
then
drop
it
.
"
Mr.
Bultitude
had
always
detested
the
man
—
there
was
an
underbred
swagger
and
familiarity
in
his
manner
that
made
him
indescribably
offensive
;
just
now
he
seemed
doubly
detestable
,
and
yet
Paul
by
a
strong
effort
succeeded
in
controlling
his
temper
.
He
could
not
afford
to
make
enemies
just
then
,
and
objectionable
as
the
man
was
,
his
astuteness
made
him
a
valuable
ally
;
he
determined
,
without
considering
the
risk
of
making
such
a
confident
,
to
tell
him
all
and
ask
his
advice
and
help
.
"
Do
n't
you
know
me
,
Paradine
?
"
"
I
do
n't
think
I
have
the
privilege
—
you
're
one
of
Miss
Barbara
's
numerous
young
friends
,
I
suppose
?
and
yet
,
now
I
look
at
you
,
you
do
n't
seem
to
be
exactly
got
up
for
an
evening
party
;
there
's
something
in
your
voice
,
too
,
I
ought
to
know
.
"
"
You
ought
,
"
said
Paul
,
with
a
gulp
.
"
My
name
is
Paul
Bultitude
!
"
"
To
be
sure
!
"
cried
Marmaduke
.
"
By
Jove
,
then
,
you
're
my
young
nephew
,
do
n't
you
know
;
I
'm
your
long-lost
uncle
,
my
boy
,
I
am
indeed
(
I
'll
excuse
you
from
coming
to
my
arms
,
however
;
I
never
was
good
at
family
embraces
)
.
But
,
I
say
,
you
little
rascal
,
you
've
never
been
asked
to
these
festivities
,
you
ought
to
be
miles
away
,
fast
asleep
in
your
bed
at
school
.
What
in
the
name
of
wonder
are
you
doing
here
?
"
"
I
've
—
left
school
,
"
said
Paul
.
"
So
I
perceive
.
Sulky
because
they
left
you
out
of
all
this
,
eh
?
Thought
you
'd
turn
up
in
the
middle
of
the
banquet
,
like
the
spectre
bridegroom
—
'
the
worms
they
crawled
in
,
and
the
worms
they
crawled
out
,
'
eh
?
Well
,
I
like
your
pluck
,
but
,
ahem
—
I
'm
afraid
you
'll
find
they
've
rather
an
unpleasant
way
of
laying
your
kind
of
apparitions
.
"
"
Never
mind
about
that
,
"
said
Paul
hurriedly
;
"
I
have
something
I
must
tell
you
—
I
've
no
time
to
lose
.
I
'm
a
desperate
man
!
"
"
You
are
,
"
Paradine
assented
with
a
loud
laugh
,
"
oh
,
you
are
indeed
!
'
a
desperate
man
.
'
Capital
!
a
stern
chase
,
eh
?
the
schoolmaster
close
behind
with
the
birch
!
It
's
quite
exciting
,
you
know
,
but
,
seriously
,
I
'm
very
much
afraid
you
'll
catch
it
!
"
"
If
,
"
began
Mr.
Bultitude
in
great
embarrassment
,
"
if
I
was
to
tell
you
that
I
was
not
myself
at
all
—
but
somebody
else
,
a
—
in
fact
,
an
entirely
different
person
from
what
I
seem
to
you
to
be
—
I
suppose
you
would
laugh
?
"
"
I
beg
your
pardon
,
"
said
his
brother-in-law
politely
,
"
I
do
n't
think
I
quite
catch
the
idea
.
"
"
When
I
assure
you
now
,
solemnly
,
as
I
stand
here
before
you
,
that
I
am
not
the
miserable
boy
whose
form
I
am
condemned
to
—
to
wear
,
you
'll
say
it
is
incredible
?
"
"
Not
at
all
—
by
no
means
,
I
quite
believe
you
.
Only
(
really
it
's
a
mere
detail
)
,
but
I
should
rather
like
to
know
,
if
you
're
not
that
particular
boy
,
what
other
boy
you
may
happen
to
be
.
You
'll
forgive
my
curiosity
.
"
"
I
'm
not
a
boy
at
all
—
I
'm
your
own
unhappy
brother-in-law
,
Paul
!
You
do
n't
believe
me
,
I
see
.
"
"
Oh
,
pardon
me
,
it
's
perfectly
clear
!
you
're
not
your
own
son
,
but
your
own
father
—
it
's
a
little
confusing
at
first
,
but
no
doubt
common
enough
.
I
'm
glad
you
mentioned
it
,
though
.
"
"
Go
on
,
"
said
Paul
bitterly
,
"
make
light
of
it
—
you
fancy
you
are
being
very
clever
,
but
you
will
find
out
the
truth
in
time
!
"
"
Not
without
external
assistance
,
I
'm
afraid
,
"
said
Paradine
calmly
.
"
A
more
awful
little
liar
for
your
age
I
never
saw
!
"
"
I
'm
tired
of
this
,
"
said
Paul
.
"
Only
listen
to
reason
and
common
sense
!
"
"
Only
give
me
a
chance
.
"
"
I
tell
you
,
"
protested
Paul
earnestly
,
"
it
's
the
sober
awful
truth
—
I
'm
not
a
boy
,
it
's
years
since
I
was
a
boy
—
I
'm
a
middle-aged
man
,
thrust
into
this
,
this
humiliating
form
.
"
"
Do
n't
say
that
,
"
murmured
the
other
;
"
it
's
an
excellent
fit
—
very
becoming
,
I
assure
you
.
"
"
Do
you
want
to
drive
me
mad
with
your
clumsy
jeers
?
"
cried
Paul
.
"
Look
at
me
.
Do
I
speak
,
do
I
behave
,
like
an
ordinary
schoolboy
?
"
"
I
really
hope
not
—
for
the
sake
of
the
rising
generation
,
"
said
Uncle
Marmaduke
,
chuckling
at
his
own
powers
of
repartee
.
"
You
are
very
jaunty
to-day
—
you
look
as
if
you
were
well
off
,
"
said
Paul
slowly
.
"
I
remember
a
time
when
a
certain
bill
was
presented
to
me
,
drawn
by
you
,
and
appearing
to
be
accepted
(
long
before
I
ever
saw
it
)
by
me
.
I
consented
to
meet
it
for
my
poor
Maria
's
sake
,
and
because
to
disown
my
signature
would
have
ruined
you
for
life
.
Do
you
remember
how
you
went
down
on
your
knees
in
my
private
room
and
swore
you
would
reform
and
be
a
credit
to
your
family
yet
?
You
were
n't
quite
so
well
off
,
or
so
jaunty
then
,
unless
I
am
very
much
mistaken
.
"
These
words
had
an
extraordinary
effect
upon
Uncle
Marmaduke
;
he
turned
ashy
white
,
and
his
quick
eyes
shifted
restlessly
as
he
half
rose
from
his
chair
and
threw
away
his
unfinished
cigar
.
"
You
young
hound
!
"
he
said
,
breathing
hard
and
speaking
under
his
breath
.
"
How
did
you
get
hold
of
that
—
that
lying
story
?
Your
father
must
have
let
it
out
!
Why
do
you
bring
up
bygones
like
this
?
You
—
you
're
a
confounded
,
disagreeable
little
prig
!
Who
told
you
to
play
an
ill-natured
trick
of
this
sort
on
an
uncle
,
who
may
have
been
wild
and
reckless
in
his
youth
—
was
in
fact
—
but
who
never
,
never
misused
his
relation
towards
you
as
—
as
an
uncle
?
"
"
How
did
I
get
hold
of
the
story
?
"
said
Paul
,
observing
the
impression
he
had
made
.
"
Do
you
think
if
I
were
really
a
boy
of
thirteen
I
should
know
as
much
about
you
as
I
do
?
Do
you
want
to
know
more
?
Ask
,
if
you
dare
!
Shall
I
tell
you
how
it
was
you
left
your
army
coach
without
going
up
for
examination
?
Will
you
have
the
story
of
your
career
in
my
old
friend
Parkinson
's
counting-house
,
or
the
real
reason
of
your
trip
to
New
York
,
or
what
it
was
that
made
your
father
add
that
codicil
,
cutting
you
off
with
a
set
of
engravings
of
the
'
Rake
's
Progress
,
'
and
a
guinea
to
pay
for
framing
them
?
I
can
tell
you
all
about
it
,
if
you
care
to
hear
.
"
"
No
!
"
shrieked
Paradine
,
"
I
wo
n't
listen
.
When
you
grow
up
,
ask
your
father
to
buy
you
a
cheap
Society
journal
.
You
're
cut
out
for
an
editor
of
one
.
It
does
n't
interest
me
.
"
"
Do
you
believe
my
story
or
not
?
"
asked
Paul
.
"
I
do
n't
know
.
Who
could
believe
it
?
"
said
the
other
sullenly
.
"
How
can
you
possibly
account
for
it
?
"
"
Do
you
remember
giving
Maria
a
little
sandal-wood
box
with
a
small
stone
in
it
?
"
said
Paul
.
"
I
have
some
recollection
of
giving
her
something
of
that
kind
.
A
curiosity
,
was
n't
it
?
"
"
I
wish
I
had
never
seen
it
.
That
infernal
stone
,
Paradine
,
has
done
all
this
to
me
.
Did
no
one
tell
you
it
was
supposed
to
have
any
magic
power
?
"
"
Why
,
now
I
think
of
it
,
that
old
black
rascal
,
Bindabun
Doss
,
did
try
to
humbug
me
with
some
such
story
;
said
it
was
believed
to
be
a
talisman
,
but
the
secret
was
lost
.
I
thought
it
was
just
his
stingy
way
of
trying
to
make
the
rubbish
out
as
something
priceless
,
as
it
ought
to
have
been
,
considering
all
I
did
for
the
old
ruffian
.
"
"
You
told
Maria
it
was
a
talisman
.
Bindabun
what's-his-name
was
right
.
It
is
a
talisman
of
the
deadliest
sort
.
I
'll
soon
convince
you
,
if
you
will
only
hear
me
out
.
"
And
then
,
in
white-hot
wrath
and
indignation
,
Mr.
Bultitude
began
to
tell
the
story
I
have
already
attempted
to
sketch
here
,
dwelling
bitterly
on
Dick
's
heartless
selfishness
and
cruelty
,
and
piteously
on
his
own
incredible
sufferings
,
while
Uncle
Marmaduke
,
lolling
back
in
his
armchair
with
an
attempt
(
which
was
soon
abandoned
)
to
retain
a
smile
of
amused
scepticism
on
his
face
,
heard
him
out
in
complete
silence
and
with
all
due
gravity
.
Indeed
,
Paul
's
manner
left
him
no
room
for
further
unbelief
.
His
tale
,
wild
and
improbable
as
it
was
,
was
too
consistent
and
elaborate
for
any
schoolboy
to
have
invented
,
and
,
besides
,
the
imposture
would
have
been
so
entirely
purposeless
.
When
his
brother-in-law
had
come
to
the
end
of
his
sad
history
,
Paradine
was
silent
for
some
time
.
It
was
some
relief
to
know
that
the
darkest
secrets
of
his
life
had
not
been
ferreted
out
by
a
phenomenally
sharp
nephew
;
but
the
change
in
the
situation
was
not
without
its
drawbacks
—
it
remained
to
be
seen
how
it
might
affect
himself
.
He
already
saw
his
reign
in
Westbourne
Terrace
threatened
with
a
speedy
determination
unless
he
played
his
cards
well
.
"
Well
,
"
he
said
at
last
,
with
a
swift
,
keen
glance
at
Paul
,
who
sat
anxiously
waiting
for
his
next
words
;
"
suppose
I
were
to
say
that
I
think
there
may
be
something
in
this
story
of
yours
,
what
then
?
What
is
it
you
want
me
to
do
for
you
?
"
"
Why
,
"
said
Paul
,
"
with
all
you
owe
to
me
,
now
you
know
the
horrible
injustice
I
have
had
to
bear
,
you
surely
do
n't
mean
to
say
that
you
wo
n't
help
me
to
right
myself
?
"
"
And
if
I
did
help
you
,
what
then
?
"
"
Why
,
I
should
be
able
to
recover
all
I
have
lost
,
of
course
,
"
said
Mr.
Bultitude
.
He
thought
his
brother-in-law
had
grown
very
dull
.
"
Ah
,
but
I
mean
,
what
's
to
become
of
me
?
"
"
You
?
"
repeated
Paul
(
he
had
not
thought
of
that
)
.
"
Well
,
hum
,
from
what
I
know
and
what
you
know
that
I
know
about
your
past
life
,
you
ca
n't
expect
me
to
encourage
you
to
remain
here
?
"
"
No
,
"
said
Uncle
Marmaduke
.
"
Of
course
not
;
very
right
and
proper
.
"
"
But
,
"
said
Paul
,
willing
to
make
all
reasonable
concessions
,
"
anything
I
can
do
to
advance
your
prospects
—
such
as
paying
your
passage
out
to
New
York
,
you
know
,
and
so
on
—
I
should
be
very
ready
to
do
.
"
"
Thank
you
!
"
said
the
other
.
"
And
even
,
if
necessary
,
provide
you
with
a
small
fund
to
start
afresh
upon
—
honestly
,
"
said
Paul
;
"
you
will
not
find
me
difficult
to
deal
with
.
"
"
It
's
a
dazzling
proposition
,
"
remarked
Paradine
drily
.
"
You
have
such
an
alluring
way
of
putting
things
.
But
the
fact
,
is
,
you
'll
hardly
believe
it
,
but
I
'm
remarkably
well
off
here
.
I
am
indeed
.
Your
son
,
you
know
,
though
not
you
(
except
as
a
mere
matter
of
form
)
,
really
makes
,
as
they
say
of
the
marmalade
in
the
advertisements
,
an
admirable
substitute
.
I
doubt
,
I
do
assure
you
,
whether
you
yourself
would
have
received
me
with
quite
the
same
warmth
and
hospitality
I
have
met
with
from
him
.
"
"
So
do
I
,
"
said
Paul
;
"
very
much
.
"
"
Just
so
;
for
,
without
your
admirable
business
capacity
and
extraordinary
firmness
of
character
,
you
know
,
he
has
,
if
you
'll
excuse
my
saying
so
,
a
more
open
guileless
nature
,
a
more
entire
and
touching
faith
in
his
fellow-man
and
brother-in-law
,
than
were
ever
yours
.
"
"
To
say
that
to
me
,
"
said
Paul
hotly
,
"
is
nothing
less
than
sheer
impudence
.
"
"
My
dear
Paul
(
it
does
seem
deuced
odd
to
be
talking
to
a
little
shrimp
like
you
as
a
grown-up
brother-in-law
.
I
shall
get
used
to
it
presently
,
I
daresay
)
.
I
flatter
myself
I
am
a
man
of
the
world
.
We
're
dealing
with
one
another
now
,
as
the
lawyers
have
it
,
at
arm
's
length
.
Just
put
yourself
in
my
place
(
you
're
so
remarkably
good
at
putting
yourself
in
other
people
's
places
,
you
know
)
.
Look
at
the
thing
from
my
point
of
view
.
Accidentally
dropping
in
at
your
offices
to
negotiate
(
if
I
could
)
a
small
temporary
loan
from
anyone
I
chanced
to
meet
on
the
premises
,
I
find
myself
,
to
my
surprise
,
welcomed
with
effusion
into
what
I
then
imagined
to
be
your
arms
.
More
than
that
,
I
was
invited
here
for
an
indefinite
time
,
all
my
little
eccentricities
unmentioned
,
overlooked
.
I
was
deeply
touched
(
it
struck
me
,
I
confess
,
at
one
time
that
you
must
be
touched
too
)
,
but
I
made
the
best
use
of
my
opportunities
.
I
made
hay
while
the
sun
shone
.
"
"
Do
you
mean
to
make
me
lose
my
temper
?
"
interrupted
Paul
.
"
It
will
not
take
much
more
.
"
"
I
have
no
objection
.
I
find
men
as
a
rule
easier
to
deal
with
when
they
have
once
lost
their
temper
,
their
heads
so
often
go
too
.
But
to
return
:
a
man
with
nerve
and
his
fair
share
of
brains
,
like
myself
,
only
wants
a
capitalist
(
he
need
not
be
a
millionaire
)
at
his
back
to
conquer
the
world
.
It
's
not
by
any
means
my
first
campaign
,
and
I
've
had
my
reverses
,
but
I
see
victory
in
my
grasp
,
sir
,
in
my
grasp
at
last
!
"
Paul
groaned
.
"
Now
you
—
it
's
not
your
fault
,
I
know
,
a
mere
defect
of
constitution
;
but
you
,
as
a
speculator
,
were
,
if
I
may
venture
to
put
it
so
,
not
worth
your
salt
;
no
boldness
,
no
dash
,
all
caution
.
But
your
promising
son
is
a
regular
whale
on
speculation
,
and
I
may
tell
you
that
we
stand
in
together
in
some
little
ventures
that
would
very
probably
make
your
hair
stand
on
end
—
you
would
n't
have
touched
them
.
And
yet
there
's
money
in
every
one
of
them
.
"
"
My
money
!
"
said
Paul
savagely
;
"
and
it
wo
n't
come
out
again
.
"
"
You
do
n't
know
much
about
these
things
,
you
see
,
"
said
Marmaduke
;
"
I
tell
you
I
have
my
eye
on
some
fine
openings
for
capital
.
"
"
Your
pockets
always
were
very
fine
openings
for
capital
,
"
retorted
Paul
.
"
Ha
,
ha
,
deuced
sharp
that
!
But
,
to
come
to
the
point
,
you
were
always
a
sensible
practical
kind
of
a
fellow
,
and
you
must
see
,
that
,
for
me
to
back
you
up
and
upset
this
young
rascal
who
has
stepped
into
your
slippers
,
might
be
morally
meritorious
enough
,
but
,
treating
it
from
a
purely
pecuniary
point
of
view
,
it
's
not
business
.
"
"
I
see
,
"
said
Mr.
Bultitude
heavily
;
"
then
you
side
against
me
?
"
"
Did
I
ever
say
I
would
side
against
you
?
Let
us
hear
first
what
you
propose
to
do
.
"
Paul
,
upon
this
,
explained
that
,
as
he
believed
the
Stone
still
retained
its
power
of
granting
one
wish
to
any
other
person
who
happened
to
get
hold
of
it
,
his
idea
was
to
get
possession
of
it
somehow
from
Dick
,
who
probably
would
have
it
about
him
somewhere
,
and
then
pass
it
on
to
some
one
whom
he
could
trust
not
to
misuse
it
so
basely
.
"
A
good
idea
that
,
Paul
,
my
boy
,
"
said
Paradine
,
smiling
;
"
but
you
do
n't
imagine
our
young
friend
would
be
quite
such
an
idiot
as
not
to
see
your
game
!
Why
,
he
would
pitch
the
Stone
in
the
gutter
or
stamp
it
to
powder
,
rather
than
let
you
get
hold
of
it
.
"
"
He
's
quite
capable
of
it
,
"
said
Paul
;
"
in
fact
,
he
threatened
to
do
worse
than
that
.
I
doubt
if
I
shall
ever
be
able
to
manage
it
myself
;
but
what
am
I
to
do
?
I
must
try
,
and
I
've
no
time
to
lose
about
it
either
.
"
"
I
tell
you
this
,
"
said
Marmaduke
,
"
if
you
let
him
see
you
here
,
it
's
all
up
with
you
.
What
you
want
is
some
friend
to
manage
this
for
you
,
some
one
he
wo
n't
suspect
.
Now
,
suppose
I
were
willing
to
risk
it
for
you
?
"
"
You
!
"
cried
Paul
,
with
involuntary
distrust
.
"
Why
not
?
"
said
Marmaduke
,
with
a
touch
of
feeling
.
"
Ah
,
I
see
,
you
ca
n't
trust
me
.
You
've
got
an
idea
into
your
head
that
I
'm
a
thorough-paced
rascal
,
without
a
trace
of
human
feeling
about
me
.
I
daresay
I
deserve
it
,
I
daresay
I
do
;
but
it
's
not
generous
,
my
boy
,
for
all
that
.
I
hope
to
show
you
your
mistake
yet
,
if
you
give
me
the
chance
.
You
allow
yourself
to
be
prejudiced
by
the
past
,
that
's
where
you
make
your
mistake
.
I
only
put
before
you
clearly
and
plainly
what
it
was
I
was
giving
up
in
helping
you
.
A
fellow
may
have
a
hard
cynical
kind
of
way
of
putting
things
,
and
yet
,
take
my
word
for
it
,
Paul
,
have
a
heart
as
tender
as
a
spring
chicken
underneath
.
I
believe
I
'm
something
like
that
myself
.
I
tell
you
I
'm
sorry
for
you
.
I
do
n't
like
to
see
a
family
man
of
your
position
in
such
a
regular
deuce
of
a
hole
.
I
feel
bound
to
give
you
a
lift
out
of
it
,
and
let
my
prospects
take
their
own
chance
.
I
leave
the
gratitude
to
you
.
When
I
've
done
,
kick
me
down
the
doorsteps
if
you
like
.
I
shall
go
out
into
the
world
with
the
glow
of
self-approval
(
and
rapid
motion
)
warming
my
system
.
Take
my
advice
,
do
n't
attempt
to
tackle
Master
Dick
yourself
.
Leave
him
to
me
.
"
"
If
I
could
only
make
up
my
mind
to
trust
you
!
"
muttered
Paul
.
"
The
old
distrust
!
"
cried
Marmaduke
;
"
you
ca
n't
forget
.
You
wo
n't
believe
a
poor
devil
like
me
can
have
any
gratitude
,
any
disinterestedness
left
in
him
.
Never
mind
,
I
'll
go
.
I
'll
leave
it
to
you
.
I
'll
send
Dick
in
here
,
and
we
shall
see
whether
he
's
such
a
fool
as
you
think
him
.
"
"
No
,
"
said
Paul
,
"
no
;
I
feel
you
're
right
;
that
would
never
do
.
"
"
It
would
be
for
my
advantage
,
I
think
,
"
said
the
other
,
"
but
you
had
better
take
me
while
I
am
in
a
magnanimous
mood
,
the
opportunity
may
never
occur
again
.
Come
,
am
I
to
help
you
or
not
?
Yes
or
no
?
"
"
I
must
accept
,
"
said
Paul
reluctantly
;
"
I
ca
n't
find
Boaler
now
,
and
it
might
take
hours
to
make
him
see
what
I
wanted
.
I
'll
trust
to
your
honour
.
What
shall
I
do
?
"
"
Do
?
Get
away
from
this
,
he
'll
be
coming
in
here
very
soon
to
see
me
.
Run
away
and
play
with
the
children
or
hide
in
the
china
closet
—
anything
but
stay
here
.
"
"
I
—
I
must
be
here
while
you
are
managing
him
,
"
objected
Paul
.
"
Nonsense
!
"
said
Paradine
angrily
.
"
I
tell
you
it
will
spoil
all
,
unless
you
—
who
's
that
?
it
's
his
step
—
too
late
now
—
dash
it
all
!
Behind
that
screen
,
quick
—
do
n't
move
for
your
life
till
I
tell
you
you
may
come
out
!
"
Mr.
Bultitude
had
no
choice
;
there
was
just
time
to
set
up
an
old
folding
screen
which
stood
in
a
corner
of
the
room
and
slip
behind
it
before
the
door
opened
.
It
might
not
be
the
highest
wisdom
to
trust
everything
to
his
new
ally
in
this
manner
;
but
what
else
could
he
do
,
except
stand
by
in
forced
inactivity
while
the
momentous
duel
was
being
fought
out
?
Just
then
,
at
all
events
,
he
saw
no
other
course
.
18.
Run
to
Earth
"
The
is
noon
in
this
hous
schuld
bynde
me
this
night
.
"
Dick
burst
open
the
door
of
the
billiard-room
rather
suddenly
,
and
then
stood
holding
on
to
the
handle
and
smiling
down
upon
his
relative
in
a
happy
and
affectionate
but
rather
weak
manner
.
"
So
here
you
are
!
"
he
said
.
"
Been
lookin
'
for
you
everywhere
.
What
's
good
of
shutting
'
self
in
here
?
Come
up
and
play
gamesh
.
No
?
Come
in
and
have
shupper
.
I
've
had
shupper
.
"
"
So
I
perceive
,
"
observed
Uncle
Marmaduke
;
and
the
fact
was
certainly
obvious
enough
.
"
Tell
y'what
I
did
,
"
giggled
the
wretched
Dick
.
"
You
know
I
never
did
get
what
I
call
regular
good
blow
out
—
always
some
one
to
shay
'
had
quite
'
nough
'
'
fore
I
'd
begun
.
So
I
thought
this
time
I
would
have
a
tuck-in
till
—
till
I
felt
tired
,
and
I
—
he-he-he
—
I
got
down
'
fore
anybody
elsh
and
helped
myshelf
.
Had
first
go-in
.
No
one
to
help
to
thingsh
.
No
girlsh
to
bother
.
It
was
prime
!
When
they
've
all
gone
up
again
you
and
me
'll
go
in
and
have
shome
more
,
eh
?
"
"
You
're
a
model
host
,
"
said
his
uncle
.
"
It
's
a
good
shupper
,
"
Dick
went
on
.
"
I
ought
to
know
.
I
've
had
some
of
everything
.
It'sh
almost
too
good
for
kids
.
But
it'sh
a
good
thing
I
went
in
first
.
After
I
'd
been
in
a
little
time
I
saw
a
sponge-cake
on
the
table
,
and
when
I
tried
it
,
what
d'ye
think
I
found
?
It
was
as
full
inside
of
brandy-an'-sherry
as
it
could
be
.
All
it
could
do
to
shtand
!
I
saw
d'rectly
it
wash
n't
in
condition
come
to
table
,
and
I
said
,
'
Take
it
away
!
take
it
away
!
It'sh
drunk
;
it'sh
a
dishgraceful
sight
for
children
!
'
But
they
would
n't
take
it
away
;
sho
I
had
to
take
it
away
.
But
you
ca
n't
take
away
a
whole
tipshy-cake
!
"
"
I
am
quite
sure
you
did
your
best
,
"
murmured
Paradine
.
"
Been
having
such
gamesh
upstairs
!
"
said
Dick
,
with
another
giggle
.
"
That
lil
'
Dolly
Merridew
's
jolly
girl
.
Not
sho
nice
as
Dulcie
,
though
.
Here
,
you
,
let'sh
go
up
and
let
off
fireworksh
on
balcony
,
eh
?
Letsh
have
jolly
lark
!
"
"
No
,
no
,
"
said
his
uncle
.
"
You
and
I
are
too
old
for
that
sort
of
thing
.
You
should
leave
the
larks
to
the
young
fellows
.
"
"
How
do
you
know
I
'm
too
old
for
sorterthing
?
"
said
Dick
,
with
an
offended
air
.
"
Well
,
you
're
not
a
young
man
any
longer
,
you
know
.
You
ought
to
behave
like
the
steady
old
buffer
you
look
.
"
"
Why
?
"
demanded
Dick
;
"
why
should
I
behave
like
shteady
ole
buffer
,
when
I
do
n't
feel
shteady
ole
buffer
?
What
do
you
want
shpoil
fun
for
?
Tell
you
I
shall
do
jus
'
zackly
wharriplease
.
And
,
if
you
shay
any
more
,
I
'll
punch
y
'
head
!
"
"
No
,
no
,
"
said
his
uncle
,
slightly
alarmed
at
this
intimation
.
"
Come
,
you
're
not
going
to
quarrel
with
me
,
I
'm
sure
!
"
"
All
ri
'
,
"
said
Dick
.
"
No
;
I
won
'
quarrel
.
Don
'
wanter
quarrel
anybody
.
"
"
That
's
right
,
"
said
Paradine
.
"
I
knew
you
were
a
noble
fellow
!
"
"
Sho
I
am
,
"
said
Dick
,
shaking
hands
with
effusion
.
"
Sho
are
you
.
Nearly
ash
noble
'
sh
me
.
There
,
you
're
jolly
good
fellow
.
I
say
,
I
've
goo
'
mind
tell
you
something
.
Make
you
laugh
.
But
I
wo
n't
;
not
now
.
"
"
Oh
,
you
can
tell
me
,
"
said
Marmaduke
.
"
No
secrets
between
friends
,
you
know
.
"
"
Sha
n't
tell
you
now
,
"
said
Dick
.
"
Keep
shecret
little
longer
.
"
"
Do
you
know
,
my
friend
,
that
there
's
something
very
odd
about
you
I
've
noticed
lately
?
Something
that
makes
me
almost
fancy
sometimes
you
're
not
what
you
pretend
to
be
.
"
Dick
sat
down
heavily
on
one
of
the
leather
benches
placed
against
the
wall
.
"
Eh
,
what
d'you
shay
?
"
he
gasped
.
"
Shay
tharragain
.
"
"
You
look
to
me
,
"
said
Marmaduke
slowly
,
"
like
some
one
excellently
made
up
for
the
part
of
heavy
father
,
without
a
notion
how
to
play
it
.
Dick
,
you
young
dog
,
you
see
I
know
you
!
You
ca
n't
take
me
in
with
all
this
.
You
'd
better
tell
me
all
about
it
.
"
Dick
seemed
almost
sobered
by
this
shock
.
"
You
've
found
me
out
,
"
he
repeated
dully
.
"
Then
it
's
all
up
.
If
you
've
found
me
out
,
everybody
elsh
can
find
me
out
!
"
"
No
,
no
;
it
's
not
so
bad
as
that
,
my
boy
.
I
've
better
eyes
than
most
people
,
and
then
I
had
the
privilege
of
knowing
your
excellent
father
rather
well
once
upon
a
time
.
You
have
n't
studied
his
little
peculiarities
closely
enough
;
but
you
'll
improve
.
By
the
way
,
where
is
your
excellent
father
all
this
time
?
"
"
He
's
all
right
,
"
said
Dick
,
beginning
to
chuckle
.
"
He-he
.
He
's
at
school
,
he
is
!
"
"
At
school
.
You
mean
to
say
you
've
put
him
to
school
at
his
time
of
life
!
He
's
rather
old
for
that
sort
of
thing
,
is
n't
he
?
They
do
n't
take
him
on
the
ordinary
terms
,
do
they
?
"
"
Ah
,
"
said
Dick
,
"
that'sh
where
it
is
.
He
is
n't
old
,
you
see
,
now
,
to
look
at
.
"
"
Not
old
to
look
at
!
Then
how
on
earth
—
—
I
should
like
to
know
how
you
managed
all
that
.
What
have
you
been
doing
to
the
poor
gentleman
?
"
"
That'sh
my
affair
,
"
said
Dick
.
"
An
'
if
I
don
'
tell
you
you
won
'
find
that
out
anyway
!
"
"
There
's
only
one
way
you
could
have
done
it
,
"
said
Paradine
,
pretending
to
hesitate
.
"
It
must
have
been
done
by
some
meddling
with
magic
.
Now
what
—
—
Let
me
see
—
yes
—
—
Surely
the
Stone
I
brought
your
poor
mother
from
India
was
given
to
me
as
a
talisman
of
some
sort
?
You
ca
n't
have
been
sharp
enough
to
get
hold
of
that
!
"
"
How
did
you
know
?
"
cried
Dick
sharply
.
"
Who
told
you
?
"
"
I
am
right
,
then
?
Well
,
you
are
a
clever
fellow
.
I
should
like
to
know
how
you
did
it
,
now
?
"
"
Did
it
with
the
Shtone
,
"
said
Dick
,
evidently
discomposed
by
such
unexpected
penetration
,
but
unable
to
prevent
a
little
natural
complacency
.
"
All
my
own
idea
.
No
one
helped
me
.
It
—
it
wash
n't
sho
bad
for
me
,
wash
it
?
"
"
Bad
!
it
was
capital
!
"
cried
Marmaduke
enthusiastically
.
"
It
was
a
stroke
of
genius
!
And
so
my
Indian
Stone
has
done
all
this
for
you
.
Sounds
like
an
Arabian
Night
,
by
Jove
!
By-the-by
,
you
do
n't
happen
to
have
it
about
you
,
do
you
?
I
should
rather
like
to
look
at
it
again
.
It
's
a
real
curiosity
after
this
.
"
Paul
trembled
with
anxiety
.
Would
Dick
be
induced
to
part
with
it
?
If
so
,
he
was
saved
!
But
Dick
looked
at
his
uncle
's
outstretched
hand
,
and
wagged
his
head
with
tipsy
cunning
.
"
I
dareshay
you
would
,
"
he
said
,
"
but
I
'm
not
sho
green
as
all
that
.
Do
n't
let
that
Stone
out
of
my
hands
for
anyone
.
"
"
Why
,
I
only
wanted
to
look
at
it
for
a
minute
or
two
,
"
said
Marmaduke
;
"
I
would
n't
hurt
it
or
lose
it
.
"
"
You
won
'
get
chance
,
"
said
Dick
.
"
Oh
,
very
well
,
"
said
Paradine
carelessly
,
"
just
as
you
please
,
it
does
n't
matter
;
though
when
we
come
to
talk
things
over
a
little
,
you
may
find
it
better
to
trust
me
more
than
that
.
"
"
Wha
'
do
you
mean
?
"
said
Dick
uneasily
.
"
Well
,
I
'll
try
to
explain
as
well
as
I
can
,
my
boy
(
drink
a
little
of
this
soda
water
first
,
it
's
an
excellent
thing
after
supper
)
;
there
,
you
're
better
now
,
are
n't
you
?
Now
,
I
've
found
you
out
,
as
you
see
;
but
only
because
I
knew
something
of
the
powers
of
this
Stone
of
yours
,
and
guessed
the
rest
.
It
does
n't
at
all
follow
that
other
people
,
who
know
nothing
at
all
,
will
be
as
sharp
;
if
you
're
more
careful
about
your
behaviour
in
future
—
unless
,
unless
,
young
fellow
—
—
"
and
here
he
paused
meaningly
.
"
Unless
what
?
"
asked
Dick
suspiciously
.
"
Unless
I
chose
to
tell
them
what
I
've
found
out
.
"
"
What
would
you
tell
them
?
"
said
Dick
.
"
What
?
Why
,
what
I
know
of
this
talisman
;
tell
them
to
use
their
eyes
;
they
would
n't
be
very
long
before
they
found
out
that
something
was
wrong
.
And
when
one
or
two
of
your
father
's
friends
once
get
hold
of
the
idea
,
your
game
will
be
very
soon
over
—
you
know
that
as
well
as
I
do
.
"
"
But
,
"
stammered
Dick
,
"
you
would
n't
go
and
do
beastly
mean
thing
like
that
?
I
've
not
been
bad
fellow
to
you
.
"
"
The
meanness
,
my
dear
boy
,
depends
entirely
upon
the
view
you
take
of
it
.
Now
,
the
question
with
me
,
as
a
man
of
honour
(
and
I
may
tell
you
an
over-nice
sense
of
honour
has
been
a
drawback
I
've
had
to
struggle
against
all
my
life
)
,
the
question
with
me
is
this
:
Is
it
not
my
plain
duty
to
step
in
and
put
a
stop
to
this
topsy-turvy
state
of
things
,
to
show
you
up
as
the
barefaced
young
impostor
you
are
,
and
restore
my
unhappy
brother-in-law
to
his
proper
position
?
"
"
Very
well
expressed
,
"
thought
Paul
,
who
had
been
getting
uncomfortable
;
"
he
has
a
heart
,
as
he
said
,
after
all
!
"
"
How
does
that
seem
to
strike
you
?
"
added
Paradine
.
"
It
shtrikes
me
as
awful
rot
,
"
said
Dick
,
with
refreshing
candour
.
"
It
's
the
language
of
conscience
,
but
I
do
n't
expect
you
to
see
it
in
the
same
light
.
I
do
n't
mind
confessing
to
you
,
either
,
that
I
'm
a
poor
devil
to
whom
money
and
a
safe
and
respectable
position
(
all
of
which
I
have
here
)
are
great
considerations
.
But
whenever
I
see
the
finger
of
duty
and
honour
and
family
affection
all
beckoning
me
along
a
particular
road
,
I
make
a
point
of
obeying
their
monitions
—
occasionally
.
I
do
n't
mean
to
say
that
I
never
have
bolted
down
a
back
way
,
instead
,
when
it
was
made
worth
my
while
,
or
that
I
never
will
.
"
"
I
wonder
what
he
's
driving
at
now
,
"
thought
Paul
.
"
I
do
n't
know
about
duty
and
honour
,
and
all
that
,
"
said
Dick
;
"
my
head
aches
,
it
's
the
noise
they
're
making
upstairs
.
Are
you
goin
'
to
tell
?
"
"
The
fact
is
,
my
dear
boy
,
that
when
one
has
had
a
keen
sense
of
honour
in
constant
use
for
several
years
,
it
's
like
most
other
articles
,
apt
to
become
a
little
the
worse
for
wear
.
Mine
is
not
what
it
used
to
be
,
Dicky
(
that
's
your
name
,
is
n't
it
?
)
.
Our
powers
fail
as
we
grow
old
.
"
"
I
don
'
know
what
you
're
talking
about
!
"
said
Dick
helplessly
.
"
Do
tell
me
what
you
mean
to
do
.
"
"
Well
then
,
your
head
's
clear
enough
to
understand
this
much
,
I
hope
,
"
said
Paradine
a
little
impatiently
,
"
that
,
if
I
did
my
duty
and
exposed
you
,
you
would
n't
be
able
to
keep
up
the
farce
for
a
single
hour
,
in
spite
of
all
your
personal
advantages
—
you
know
that
,
do
n't
you
?
"
"
I
shpose
I
know
that
,
"
said
Dick
feebly
.
"
You
know
too
,
that
if
I
could
be
induced
—
mind
,
I
do
n't
say
I
can
—
to
hold
my
tongue
and
stay
on
here
and
look
after
you
and
keep
you
from
betraying
yourself
by
any
more
of
these
schoolboy
follies
,
there
's
not
much
fear
that
anyone
else
will
ever
find
out
the
secret
—
—
"
"
Which
are
you
going
to
do
,
then
?
"
said
Dick
.
"
Suppose
I
say
that
I
like
you
,
that
you
have
shown
me
more
kindness
in
a
single
week
than
ever
your
respectable
father
has
since
I
first
made
his
acquaintance
?
Suppose
I
say
that
I
am
willing
to
let
the
sense
of
honour
and
duty
,
and
all
the
rest
of
it
,
go
overboard
together
;
that
we
two
together
are
a
match
for
Papa
,
wherever
he
may
be
and
whatever
he
chooses
to
say
and
do
?
"
There
was
a
veiled
defiance
in
his
voice
that
seemed
meant
for
more
than
Dick
,
and
alarmed
Mr.
Bultitude
;
however
,
he
tried
to
calm
his
uneasiness
and
persuade
himself
that
it
was
part
of
the
plot
.
"
Will
you
say
that
?
"
cried
Dick
excitedly
.
"
On
one
condition
,
which
I
'll
tell
you
by-and-by
.
Yes
,
I
'll
stand
by
you
,
my
boy
,
I
'll
coach
you
till
I
make
you
a
man
of
business
every
bit
as
good
as
your
father
,
and
a
much
better
man
of
the
world
.
I
'll
show
you
how
to
realise
a
colossal
fortune
if
you
only
take
my
advice
.
And
we
'll
pack
Papa
off
to
some
place
abroad
where
he
'll
have
no
holidays
and
give
no
trouble
!
"
"
No
,
"
said
Dick
firmly
;
"
I
wo
n't
have
that
.
After
all
,
he
's
my
governor
.
"
"
Do
what
you
like
with
him
then
,
he
ca
n't
do
much
harm
.
I
tell
you
,
I
'll
do
all
this
,
on
one
condition
—
it
's
a
very
simple
one
—
—
"
"
What
is
it
?
"
asked
Dick
.
"
This
.
You
have
,
somewhere
or
other
,
the
Stone
that
has
done
all
this
for
you
—
you
may
have
it
about
you
at
this
very
moment
—
ah
!
"
(
as
Dick
made
a
sudden
movement
towards
his
white
waistcoat
)
"
I
thought
so
!
Well
,
I
want
that
Stone
.
You
were
afraid
to
leave
it
in
my
hands
for
a
minute
or
two
just
now
;
you
must
trust
me
with
it
altogether
.
"
Paul
was
relieved
;
of
course
this
was
merely
an
artifice
to
recover
the
Garudâ
Stone
,
and
Marmaduke
was
not
playing
him
false
after
all
—
he
waited
breathlessly
for
Dick
's
answer
.
"
No
,
"
said
Dick
,
"
I
ca
n't
do
that
;
I
want
it
too
.
"
"
Why
,
man
,
what
use
is
it
to
you
?
it
only
gives
you
one
wish
,
you
ca
n't
use
it
again
.
"
Dick
mumbled
something
about
his
being
ill
,
and
Barbara
wishing
him
well
again
.
"
I
suppose
I
can
do
that
as
well
as
Barbara
,
"
said
his
uncle
.
"
Come
,
do
n't
be
obstinate
,
give
me
the
Stone
;
it
's
very
important
that
it
should
be
in
safe
hands
.
"
"
No
,
"
said
Dick
obstinately
;
he
was
fumbling
all
the
time
irresolutely
in
his
pockets
;
"
I
mean
to
keep
it
myself
.
"
"
Very
well
then
,
I
have
done
with
you
.
To-morrow
morning
I
shall
step
up
to
Mincing
Lane
,
and
then
to
your
father
's
solicitor
.
I
think
his
offices
are
in
Bedford
Row
,
but
I
can
easily
find
out
at
your
father
's
place
.
After
that
,
young
man
,
you
'll
have
a
very
short
time
to
amuse
yourself
in
,
so
make
the
best
of
it
.
"
"
No
,
do
n't
leave
me
,
let
me
alone
for
a
minute
,
"
pleaded
Dick
,
still
fumbling
.
At
this
a
sudden
suspicion
of
his
brother-in-law
's
motives
for
wishing
to
get
the
Stone
into
his
own
hands
overcame
all
Paul
's
prudence
.
If
he
was
so
clever
in
deceiving
Dick
,
might
he
not
be
cheating
him
,
too
,
just
as
completely
?
He
could
wait
no
longer
,
but
burst
from
behind
the
screen
and
rushed
in
between
the
pair
.
"
Go
back
!
"
screamed
Paradine
.
"
You
infernal
old
idiot
,
you
've
ruined
everything
!
"
"
I
wo
n't
go
back
,
"
said
Paul
,
"
I
do
n't
believe
in
you
.
I
'll
hide
no
longer
.
Dick
,
I
forbid
you
to
trust
that
man
.
"
Dick
had
risen
in
horror
at
the
sudden
apparition
,
and
staggered
back
against
the
wall
,
where
he
stood
staring
stupidly
at
his
unfortunate
father
with
fixed
and
vacant
eyes
.
"
Badly
as
you
've
treated
me
,
I
'd
rather
trust
you
than
that
shifty
plausible
fellow
there
.
Just
look
at
me
,
Dick
,
and
then
say
if
you
can
let
this
cruelty
go
on
.
If
you
knew
all
I
've
suffered
since
I
have
been
among
those
infernal
boys
,
you
would
pity
me
,
you
would
indeed
...
.
If
you
send
me
back
there
again
,
it
will
kill
me
...
.
You
know
as
well
as
I
do
that
it
is
worse
for
me
than
ever
it
could
be
for
you
...
.
You
ca
n't
really
justify
yourself
because
of
a
thoughtless
wish
of
mine
,
spoken
without
the
least
intention
of
being
taken
at
my
word
.
Dick
,
I
may
not
have
shown
as
much
affection
for
you
as
I
might
have
done
,
but
I
do
n't
think
I
deserve
all
this
.
Be
generous
with
me
now
,
and
I
swear
you
will
never
regret
it
.
"
Dick
's
lips
moved
;
there
really
was
something
like
pity
and
repentance
in
his
face
,
muddled
and
dazed
as
his
general
expression
was
by
his
recent
over-indulgence
,
but
he
said
nothing
.
"
Give
papa
the
Stone
by
all
means
,
"
sneered
Paradine
.
"
If
you
do
,
he
will
find
some
one
to
wish
the
pair
of
you
back
again
,
and
then
,
back
you
go
to
school
again
,
the
laughing-stock
of
everybody
,
you
silly
young
cub
!
"
"
Do
n't
listen
to
him
,
Dick
,
"
urged
Paul
.
"
Give
it
to
me
,
for
Heaven
's
sake
;
if
you
let
him
have
it
,
he
'll
use
it
to
ruin
us
all
.
"
But
Dick
turned
his
white
face
to
the
rival
claimants
and
said
,
getting
the
words
out
with
difficulty
:
"
Papa
,
I
'm
shorry
.
It
is
a
shame
.
If
I
had
the
Shtone
,
I
really
would
give
it
you
,
upon
my
word-an'-honour
I
would
.
But
—
but
,
now
I
ca
n't
ever
give
it
up
to
you
.
It'sh
gone
.
Losht
!
"
"
Lost
!
"
cried
Marmaduke
.
"
When
,
where
?
When
do
you
last
recollect
seeing
it
?
you
must
know
!
"
"
In
the
morning
,
"
said
Dick
,
twirling
his
chain
,
where
part
of
the
cheap
gilt
fastening
still
hung
.
"
No
;
afternoon
.
I
do
n't
know
,
"
he
added
helplessly
.
Paul
sank
down
on
a
chair
with
a
heartbroken
groan
;
a
moment
ago
he
had
felt
himself
very
near
his
goal
,
he
had
regained
something
of
his
old
influence
over
Dick
,
he
had
actually
managed
to
touch
his
heart
—
and
now
it
was
all
in
vain
!
Paradine
's
jaw
fell
;
he
,
too
,
had
had
his
dreams
of
doing
wonderful
things
with
the
talisman
after
he
had
cajoled
Dick
to
part
with
it
.
Whether
the
restoration
of
his
brother-in-law
formed
any
part
of
his
programme
,
it
is
better
,
perhaps
,
not
to
inquire
.
His
dreams
were
scattered
now
;
the
Stone
might
be
anywhere
,
buried
in
London
mud
,
lying
on
railway
ballast
,
or
ground
to
powder
by
cartwheels
.
There
was
little
chance
,
indeed
,
that
even
the
most
liberal
rewards
would
lead
to
discovery
.
He
swore
long
and
comprehensively
.
As
for
Mr.
Bultitude
,
he
sat
motionless
in
his
chair
,
staring
in
dull
,
speechless
reproach
at
the
conscience-stricken
Dick
,
who
stood
in
the
corner
blinking
and
whimpering
with
an
abject
penitence
,
odd
and
painful
to
see
in
one
of
his
portly
form
.
The
children
had
now
apparently
finished
supper
,
for
there
were
sounds
above
as
of
dancing
,
and
"
Sir
Roger
de
Coverley
,
"
with
its
rollicking
,
never-wearying
repetition
,
was
distinctly
audible
above
the
din
and
laughter
.
Once
before
,
a
week
ago
that
very
day
,
had
that
heartless
piano
mocked
him
with
its
untimely
gaiety
.
But
things
were
not
at
their
worst
even
yet
,
for
,
while
they
sat
like
this
,
there
was
a
sharp
,
short
peal
at
the
house-bell
,
followed
by
loud
and
rather
angry
knocking
,
for
carriages
being
no
longer
expected
,
the
servants
and
waiters
had
now
closed
the
front-door
,
and
left
the
passage
for
the
supper-room
.
"
The
visitors
'
bell
!
"
cried
Paul
,
roused
from
his
apathy
;
and
he
rushed
to
the
window
which
commanded
a
side-view
of
the
portico
;
it
might
be
only
a
servant
calling
for
one
of
the
children
,
but
he
feared
the
worst
,
and
could
not
rest
till
he
knew
it
.
It
was
a
rash
thing
to
do
,
for
as
he
drew
the
blind
,
he
saw
a
large
person
in
a
heavy
Inverness
cloak
standing
on
the
steps
,
and
(
which
was
worse
)
the
person
both
saw
and
recognised
him
!
With
fascinated
horror
,
Mr.
Bultitude
saw
the
Doctor
's
small
grey
eyes
fixed
angrily
on
him
,
and
knew
that
he
was
hunted
down
at
last
.
He
turned
to
the
other
two
with
a
sort
of
ghastly
composure
:
"
It
's
all
over
now
,
"
he
said
.
"
I
've
just
seen
Dr.
Grimstone
standing
on
my
doorstep
;
he
has
come
after
me
.
"
Uncle
Marmaduke
gave
a
malicious
little
laugh
:
"
I
'm
sorry
for
you
,
my
friend
,
"
he
said
,
"
but
I
really
ca
n't
help
it
.
"
"
You
can
,
"
said
Paul
;
"
you
can
tell
him
what
you
know
.
You
can
save
me
.
"
"
Very
poor
economy
that
,
"
said
Marmaduke
airily
.
"
I
prefer
spending
to
saving
,
always
did
.
I
have
my
own
interests
to
consider
,
my
dear
Paul
.
"
"
Dick
,
"
said
poor
Mr.
Bultitude
,
disgusted
at
this
exhibition
of
selfishness
,
"
you
said
you
were
sorry
just
now
.
Will
you
tell
him
the
truth
?
"
But
Dick
was
quite
unnerved
,
he
cowered
away
,
almost
crying
;
"
I
dare
n't
,
I
dare
n't
,
"
he
stammered
;
"
I
—
I
ca
n't
go
back
to
the
fellows
like
this
.
I
'm
afraid
to
tell
him
.
I
—
I
want
to
hide
somewhere
.
"
And
certainly
he
was
in
no
condition
to
convince
an
angry
schoolmaster
of
anything
whatever
,
except
that
he
was
in
a
state
very
unbecoming
to
the
head
of
a
family
.
It
was
all
over
;
Paul
saw
that
too
well
,
he
dashed
frantically
from
the
fatal
billiard-room
,
and
in
the
hall
met
Boaler
preparing
to
admit
the
visitor
.
"
Do
n't
open
the
door
!
"
he
screamed
.
"
Keep
him
out
,
you
must
n't
let
him
in
.
It
's
Dr.
Grimstone
.
"
Boaler
,
surprised
as
he
naturally
was
at
his
young
master
's
unaccountable
appearance
and
evident
panic
,
nevertheless
never
moved
a
muscle
of
his
face
;
he
was
one
of
those
perfectly
bred
servants
,
who
,
if
they
chanced
to
open
the
door
to
a
ghoul
or
a
skeleton
,
would
merely
inquire
,
"
What
name
,
if
you
please
?
"
"
I
must
go
and
ask
your
Par
,
then
,
Master
Dick
;
there
's
time
to
'
ook
it
upstairs
while
I
'm
gone
.
I
wo
n't
say
nothing
,
"
he
added
compassionately
.
Paul
lost
no
time
in
following
this
suggestion
,
but
rushed
upstairs
,
two
or
three
steps
at
the
time
,
stumbling
at
every
flight
,
with
a
hideous
nightmare
feeling
that
some
invisible
thing
behind
was
trying
to
trip
up
his
heels
.
He
rushed
blindly
past
the
conservatory
,
which
was
lit
up
by
Chinese
lanterns
and
crowded
with
little
"
Kate
Greenaway
"
maidens
crowned
with
fantastic
headdresses
out
of
the
crackers
,
and
comparing
presents
with
boy-lovers
;
he
upset
perspiring
waiters
with
glasses
and
trays
,
and
scattered
the
children
sitting
on
the
stairs
,
as
he
bounded
on
in
his
reckless
flight
,
leaving
crashes
of
glass
behind
him
.
He
had
no
clear
idea
of
what
he
meant
to
do
;
he
thought
of
barricading
himself
in
his
bedroom
and
hiding
in
the
wardrobe
;
he
had
desperate
notions
of
getting
on
to
the
housetop
by
means
of
a
step-ladder
and
the
sky-light
above
the
nursery
landing
;
on
one
point
he
was
resolved
—
he
would
not
be
retaken
alive
!
Never
before
in
this
commonplace
London
world
of
ours
was
an
unfortunate
householder
hunted
up
his
own
staircase
in
this
distressing
manner
;
even
his
terror
did
not
blind
him
to
the
extreme
ignominy
and
injustice
of
his
position
.
And
below
he
heard
the
bell
ringing
more
and
more
impatiently
,
as
the
Doctor
still
remained
on
the
wrong
side
of
the
door
.
In
another
minute
he
must
be
admitted
—
and
then
!
Who
will
not
sympathise
with
Mr.
Bultitude
as
he
approaches
the
crisis
of
his
misfortunes
?
I
protest
,
for
my
own
part
,
that
as
I
am
compelled
to
describe
him
springing
from
step
to
step
in
wild
terror
,
like
a
highly
respectable
chamois
before
some
Alpine
marksman
,
my
own
heart
bleeds
for
him
,
and
I
hasten
to
end
my
distressing
tale
,
and
make
the
rest
of
it
as
little
painful
as
I
may
with
honesty
.
19.
The
Reckoning
Montr
.
The
father
is
victorious
.
Belf
.
Let
us
haste
To
gratulate
his
conquest
.
1st
Capt.
We
to
mourn
The
fortune
of
the
son
.
Poor
Mr.
Bultitude
,
springing
wildly
upstairs
in
a
last
desperate
effort
to
avoid
capture
,
had
now
almost
reached
his
goal
.
Just
above
him
was
the
nursery
landing
,
with
its
little
wooden
gate
,
and
near
it
,
leaning
against
the
wall
,
was
a
pair
of
kitchen
steps
,
with
which
he
had
hopes
of
reaching
the
roof
,
or
the
cistern
loft
,
or
some
other
safe
and
inaccessible
place
.
Better
a
night
spent
on
the
slates
amongst
the
chimney-pots
than
a
bed
in
that
terrible
No.
6
Dormitory
!
But
here
,
too
,
fate
was
against
him
.
He
was
not
more
than
half-a-dozen
steps
from
the
top
,
when
,
to
his
unspeakable
horror
,
he
saw
a
small
form
in
a
white
frock
and
cardinal-red
sash
come
running
out
of
the
nursery
,
and
begin
to
descend
slowly
and
cautiously
,
clinging
to
the
banisters
with
one
chubby
little
hand
.
It
was
his
youngest
son
,
Roly
,
and
as
soon
as
he
saw
this
,
he
lost
hope
once
and
for
all
;
he
could
not
escape
being
recognised
,
the
child
would
probably
refuse
to
leave
him
,
and
even
if
he
did
contrive
to
get
away
from
him
,
it
would
be
hopeless
to
make
Roly
understand
that
he
was
not
to
betray
his
hiding-place
.
So
he
stopped
on
the
stairs
,
aghast
at
this
new
misfortune
,
and
feeling
himself
at
the
end
of
all
his
resources
.
Roly
knew
him
at
once
,
and
began
to
dance
delightedly
up
and
down
on
the
stair
in
his
little
bronze
shoes
.
"
Buzzer
Dicky
,
"
he
cried
,
"
dear
buzzer
Dicky
,
tum
'
ome
to
party
!
"
"
It
's
not
brother
Dicky
,
"
said
Paul
miserably
;
"
it
's
all
a
mistake
.
"
"
Oh
,
but
it
is
though
,
"
said
Roly
;
"
and
you
do
n't
know
what
Roly
's
found
.
"
"
No
,
no
,
"
said
Paul
,
trying
to
pass
(
which
,
as
Roly
persisted
in
leaping
joyously
from
side
to
side
of
the
narrow
stair
,
was
difficult
)
;
"
you
shall
show
me
another
time
.
I
'm
in
a
hurry
,
my
boy
,
I
've
got
an
appointment
.
"
"
Roly
's
got
something
better
than
that
,
"
observed
the
child
.
Mr.
Bultitude
,
in
spite
of
his
terror
,
was
too
much
afraid
of
hurting
him
by
brushing
roughly
past
to
attempt
such
a
thing
,
so
he
tried
diplomacy
.
"
Well
,
what
has
Roly
found
—
a
cracker
?
"
"
No
,
no
,
better
than
a
cwacker
—
you
guess
.
"
"
I
ca
n't
guess
,
"
said
Paul
;
"
never
mind
,
I
do
n't
want
to
know
.
"
"
Well
then
,
"
said
Roly
,
"
there
.
"
And
he
slowly
unclosed
a
fat
little
fist
,
and
in
it
Paul
saw
,
with
a
revulsion
of
feeling
that
turned
him
dizzy
and
faint
,
the
priceless
talisman
itself
,
the
identical
Garudâ
Stone
,
with
part
of
the
frail
gilt
ring
still
attached
to
it
.
The
fastening
had
probably
given
way
during
Master
Dick
's
uproarious
revels
in
the
drawing-room
,
and
Roly
must
have
picked
it
up
on
the
carpet
shortly
afterwards
.
"
Is
n't
it
a
pitty
sing
?
"
said
Roly
,
insisting
that
his
treasure
should
be
duly
admired
.
"
A
very
pretty
thing
,
"
said
his
father
,
hoarse
and
panting
;
"
but
it
's
mine
,
Roly
,
it
's
mine
!
"
And
he
tried
to
snatch
it
,
but
Roly
closed
his
fist
over
it
and
pouted
,
"
It
is
n't
yours
,
"
he
said
,
"
it
's
Roly
's
.
Roly
found
it
.
"
Paul
's
fears
rose
again
;
would
he
be
wrecked
in
port
after
all
?
His
ear
,
unnaturally
strained
,
caught
the
sound
of
the
front
door
being
opened
,
he
heard
the
Doctor
's
deep
voice
booming
faintly
below
,
then
the
noise
of
persons
ascending
.
"
Roly
shall
have
it
,
then
,
"
he
said
perfidiously
,
"
if
he
will
say
after
me
what
I
tell
him
.
Say
,
'
I
wish
