IRE-ENTEREDthetownahungrymanthedinnerIhadforgottenrecurredseductivelytomyrecollectionanditwaswithaquickstepandsharpappetiteIascendedthenarrowstreetleadingtomylodgings.ItwasdarkwhenIopenedthefrontdoorandwalkedintothehouse.Iwonderedhowmyfirewouldbethenightwascold,andIshudderedattheprospectofagratefullofsparklesscinders.Tomyjoyfulsurprise,Ifound,onenteringmysitting-room,agoodfireandacleanhearth.Ihadhardlynoticedthisphenomenon,whenIbecameawareofanothersubjectforwondermentthechairIusuallyoccupiednearthehearthwasalreadyfilledapersonsattherewithhisarmsfoldedonhischest,andhislegsstretchedoutontherug.Short-sightedasIam,doubtfulaswasthegleamofthefirelight,amoment’sexaminationenabledmetorecognizeinthispersonmyacquaintance,Mr.Hunsden.Icouldnotofcoursebemuchpleasedtoseehim,consideringthemannerinwhichIhadpartedfromhimthenightbefore,andasIwalkedtothehearth,stirredthefire,andsaidcoolly,“Goodevening,”mydemeanourevincedaslittlecordialityasIfeltyetIwonderedinmyownmindwhathadbroughthimthereandIwondered,also,whatmotiveshadinducedhimtointerferesoactivelybetweenmeandEdwarditwastohim,itappeared,thatIowedmywelcomedismissalstillIcouldnotbringmyselftoaskhimquestions,toshowanyeagernessofcuriosityifhechosetoexplain,hemight,buttheexplanationshouldbeaperfectlyvoluntaryoneonhispartIthoughthewasenteringuponit.
“Youowemeadebtofgratitude,”werehisfirstwords.
“DoI?”saidI“Ihopeitisnotalargeone,forIammuchtoopoortochargemyselfwithheavyliabilitiesofanykind.”
“Thendeclareyourselfbankruptatonce,forthisliabilityisatonweightatleast.WhenIcameinIfoundyourfireout,andIhaditlitagain,andmadethatsulkydrabofaservantstayandblowatitwiththebellowstillithadburntupproperlynow,say‘Thankyou!’”
“NottillIhavehadsomethingtoeatIcanthanknobodywhileIamsofamished.”
Irangthebellandorderedteaandsomecoldmeat.
“Coldmeat!”exclaimedHunsden,astheservantclosedthedoor,“whatagluttonyouareman!Meatwithtea!you’lldieofeatingtoomuch.”
“No,Mr.Hunsden,Ishallnot.”IfeltanecessityforcontradictinghimIwas