Похищенный
Chapter 27
”
“Indeed,sir,”saidI,“thesemonthsareveryeasilyfilledup;butyetbeforeItoldmystory,IwouldbegladtoknowthatIwastalkingtoafriend.”
“Thisistoargueinacircle,”saidthelawyer.“IcannotbeconvincedtillIhaveheardyou.IcannotbeyourfriendtillIamproperlyinformed.Ifyouweremoretrustful,itwouldbetterbefityourtimeoflife.Andyouknow,Mr.Balfour,wehaveaproverbinthecountrythatevil-doersareayeevil-dreaders.”
“Youarenottoforget,sir,”saidI,“thatIhavealreadysufferedbymytrustfulness;andwasshippedofftobeaslavebytheverymanthat(ifIrightlyunderstand)isyouremployer?”
AllthiswhileIhadbeengaininggroundwithMr.Rankeillor,andinproportionasIgainedground,gainingconfidence.Butatthissally,whichImadewithsomethingofasmilemyself,hefairlylaughedaloud.
“No,no,”saidhe,“itisnotsobadasthat.Fui,nonsum.Iwasindeedyouruncle’smanofbusiness;butwhileyou(imberbisjuveniscustoderemoto)weregallivantinginthewest,agooddealofwaterhasrununderthebridges;andifyourearsdidnotsing,itwasnotforlackofbeingtalkedabout.Ontheverydayofyourseadisaster,Mr.Campbellstalkedintomyoffice,demandingyoufromallthewinds.Ihadneverheardofyourexistence;butIhadknownyourfather;andfrommattersinmycompetence(tobetoucheduponhereafter)Iwasdisposedtofeartheworst.Mr.
