e,independenttravellerbutatlastthethingswereremoved,thetwogentlemenlefttheroomsuddenlytheillusionceased,realityandbusinesscameback.I,abondsmanjustreleasedfromtheyoke,freedforoneweekfromtwenty-oneyearsofconstraint,must,ofnecessity,resumethefettersofdependency.HardlyhadItastedthedelightofbeingwithoutamasterwhendutyissuedhersternmandate:“Goforthandseekanotherservice.”IneverlingeroverapainfulandnecessarytaskInevertakepleasurebeforebusiness,itisnotinmynaturetodosoimpossibletoenjoyaleisurelywalkoverthecity,thoughIperceivedthemorningwasveryfine,untilIhadfirstpresentedMr.Hunsden’sletterofintroduction,andgotfairlyontothetrackofanewsituation.Wrenchingmymindfromlibertyanddelight,Iseizedmyhat,andforcedmyreluctantbodyoutoftheHotelde——intotheforeignstreet.
Itwasafineday,butIwouldnotlookattheblueskyoratthestatelyhousesroundmemymindwasbentononething,findingout“Mr.Brown,Numero—,RueRoyale,”forsomyletterwasaddressed.BydintofinquiryIsucceededIstoodatlastatthedesireddoor,knocked,askedforMr.Brown,andwasadmitted.
Beingshownintoasmallbreakfast-room,Ifoundmyselfinthepresenceofanelderlygentleman—verygrave,business-like,andrespectable-looking.IpresentedMr.Hunsden’sletterhereceivedmeverycivilly.Afteralittledesultoryconversationheaskedmeiftherewasanythinginwhichhisadviceorexperiencecouldbeofuse.Isaid,“Yes,”andthenproceededtotellhimthatIwasnotagentlemanoffortune,travellingforpleasure,butanex-counting-houseclerk,whowantedemploymentofsomekind,andthatimmediatelytoo.HerepliedthatasafriendofMr.Hunsden’shewouldbewillingtoassistmeaswellashecould.AftersomemeditationhenamedaplaceinamercantilehouseatLiege,andanotherinabookseller’sshopatLouvain.
“Clerkandshopman!”murmuredItomyself.“No.”Ishookmyhead.IhadtriedthehighstoolIhateditIbelievedtherewereotheroccupationsthatwouldsuitmebetterbesidesIdidnotwishtoleaveBrussels.
“IknowofnoplaceinBrussels,”answeredMr.Brown,“unlessindeedyouweredisposedtoturnyourattentiontoteaching.IamacquaintedwiththedirectorofalargeestablishmentwhoisinwantofaprofessorofEnglishandLatin.”
Ithoughttwominutes,thenIseizedtheideaeagerly.
“Theverything,sir!”saidI.
“But,”askedhe,“doyouunderstandFrenchwellenoughtoteachBelgianboysEnglish?”
FortunatelyIcouldanswerthisquestionintheaffirmativehavingstudiedFrenchunderaFrenchman,Icouldspeakthelanguageintelligiblyt