him.Hehadgrownthinandcareworn,andhadlosttheloud,cheerymannerforwhichhehadbeenremarkable.
“‘Thegovernorisdying,’werethefirstwordshesaid.
“‘Impossible!’Icried.‘Whatisthematter?’
“‘Apoplexy.Nervousshock,He’sbeenonthevergeallday.Idoubtifweshallfindhimalive.’
“Iwas,asyoumaythink,Watson,horrifiedatthisunexpectednews.
“‘Whathascausedit?’Iasked.
“‘Ah,thatisthepoint.Jumpinandwecantalkitoverwhilewedrive.Yourememberthatfellowwhocameupontheeveningbeforeyouleftus?’
“‘Perfectly.’
“‘Doyouknowwhoitwasthatweletintothehousethatday?’
“‘Ihavenoidea.’
“‘Itwasthedevil,Holmes,’hecried.
“Istaredathiminastonishment.
“‘Yes,itwasthedevilhimself.Wehavenothadapeacefulhoursince—notone.Thegovernorhasneverhelduphisheadfromthatevening,andnowthelifehasbeencrushedoutofhimandhisheartbroken,allthroughthisaccursedHudson.’
“‘Whatpowerhadhe,then?’
“‘Ah,thatiswhatIwouldgivesomuchtoknow.Thekindly,charitable,goodoldgovernor—howcouldhehavefallenintotheclutchesofsucharuffian!ButIamsogladthatyouhavecome,Holmes.Itrustverymuchtoyourjudgmentanddiscretion,andIknowthatyouwilladvisemeforthebest.’
“Weweredashingalongthesmoothwhitecountryroad,withthelongstretchoftheBroadsinfrontofusglimmeringintheredlightofthesettingsun.FromagroveuponourleftIcouldalreadyseethehighchimneysandtheflag-staffwhichmarkedthesquire’sdwelling.
“‘Myfathermadethefellowgardener,’saidmycompanion,‘andthen,asthatdidnotsatisfyhim,hewaspromotedtobebutler.Thehouseseemedtobeathismercy,andhewanderedaboutanddidwhathechoseinit.Themaidscomplainedofhisdrunkenhabitsandhisvilelanguage.Thedadraisedtheirwagesallroundtorecompensethemfortheannoyance.Thefellowwouldtaketheboatandmyfather’sbestgunandtreathimselftolittleshootingtrips.Andallthiswithsuchasneering,leering,insolentfacethatIwouldhaveknockedhimdowntwentytimesoverifhehadbeenamanofmyownage.Itellyou,Holmes,IhavehadtokeepatightholduponmyselfallthistimeandnowIamaskingmyselfwhether,ifIhadletmyselfgoalittlemore,Imightnothavebeenawiserman.
“‘Well,matterswentfrombadtoworsewithus,andthisanimalHudsonbecamemoreandmoreintrusive,untilatlast,onmakingsomeinsolentreplytomyfatherinmypresenceoneday,Itookhimbytheshouldersandturnedhimoutoftheroom.Heslunkawaywithalividfaceandtwovenomouseyeswhichutteredmorethreatsthanhistonguecoulddo.Idon’tknowwhatpassedbetweenthepoordadandhimafterthat,butthedadcametomenextdayandaskedmewhetherIwouldmindapologisingtoHudson.Irefused,asyoucanimagine,andaskedmyfatherhowhecouldallowsuchawretchtotakesuchlibertieswithhimselfandhishousehold.
“‘“Ah,myboy,”saidhe,“itisallverywelltotalk,butyoudon’tknowhowIamplaced.Butyoushallknow,Victor.I’llseethatyoushallknow,comewhatmay.Youwouldn’tbelieveharmofyourpooroldfather,wouldyou,lad?”Hewasverymuchmoved,andshuthimselfupinthestudyallday,whereIcouldseethroughthewindowthathewaswritingbusily.
“‘Thateveningtherecamewhatseemedtometobeagrandrelease,forHudsontoldusthathewasgoingtoleaveus.Hewalkedintothedining-roomaswesatafterdinner,andannouncedhisintentioninthethickvoiceofahalf-drunkenman.
“‘“I’vehadenoughofNorfolk,”saidhe.“I’llrundowntoMr.BeddoesinHampshire.He’llbeasgladtoseemeasyouwere,Idaresay.”
“‘“You’renotgoingawayinanunkindspirit,Hudson,Ihope,”saidmyfather,withatamenesswhichmademybloodboil.
“‘“I’venothadmy’pology,”saidhesulkily,glancinginmydirection.
“‘“Victor,youwillacknowledgethatyouhaveusedthisworthyfellowratherroughly,”saidthedad,turningtome.
“‘“Onthecontrary,Ithinkthatwehav