ltthefragrance,andsawtheredsparkofacigartheduskoutlineofaman,too,benttowardsmeoverthewicket.
“YouseeIammeditatinginthefieldateventide,”continuedthisshade.“Godknowsit’scoolwork!especiallyasinsteadofRebeccaonacamel’shump,withbraceletsonherarmsandaringinhernose,Fatesendsmeonlyacounting-houseclerk,inagreytweedwrapper.”Thevoicewasfamiliartome—itssecondutteranceenabledmetoseizethespeaker’sidentity.
“Mr.Hunsden!goodevening.”
“Goodevening,indeed!yes,butyouwouldhavepassedmewithoutrecognitionifIhadnotbeensocivilastospeakfirst.”
“Ididnotknowyou.”
“Afamousexcuse!YououghttohaveknownmeIknewyou,thoughyouweregoingaheadlikeasteam-engine.Arethepoliceafteryou?”
“Itwouldn’tbeworththeirwhileI’mnotofconsequenceenoughtoattractthem.”
“Alas,poorshepherd!Alackandwell-a-day!Whatathemeforregret,andhowdowninthemouthyoumustbe,judgingfromthesoundofyourvoice!Butsinceyou’renotrunningfromthepolice,fromwhomareyourunning?thedevil?”
“Onthecontrary,Iamgoingposttohim.”
“Thatiswell—you’rejustinluck:thisisTuesdayeveningtherearescoresofmarketgigsandcartsreturningtoDinnefordto-nightandhe,orsomeofhis,haveaseatinallregularlyso,ifyou’llstepinandsithalf-an-hourinmybachelor’sparlour,youmaycatchhimashepasseswithoutmuchtrouble.Ithinkthoughyou’dbetterlethimaloneto-night,he’llhavesomanycustomerstoserveTuesdayishisbusydayinX——andDinnefordcomeinatallevents.”
Heswungthewicketopenashespoke.
“Doyoureallywishmetogoin?”Iasked.
“Asyouplease—I’maloneyourcompanyforanhourortwowouldbeagreeabletomebut,ifyoudon’tchoosetofavourmesofar,I’llnotpressthepoint.Ihatetoboreanyone.”
ItsuitedmetoaccepttheinvitationasitsuitedHunsdentogiveit.Ipassedthroughthegate,andfollowedhimtothefrontdoor,whichheopenedthencewetraversedapassage,andenteredhisparlourthedoorbeingshut,hepointedmetoanarm-chairbythehearthIsatdown,andglancedroundme.
Itwasacomfortableroom,atoncesnugandhandsomethebrightgratewasfilledwithag