Похищенный
Chapter 28
Isaiditwasanoddchance,andsmiledoutofpoliteness;butwhatheldmealltheafternooninwonder,hekeptreturninganddwellingonthisstory,andtellingitagainwithfreshdetailsandlaughter;sothatIbeganatlasttobequiteputoutofcountenanceandfeelashamedformyfriend’sfolly.
TowardsthetimeIhadappointedwithAlan,wesetoutfromthehouse,Mr.RankeillorandIarminarm,andTorrancefollowingbehindwiththedeedinhispocketandacoveredbasketinhishand.Allthroughthetown,thelawyerwasbowingrightandleft,andcontinuallybeingbutton-holedbygentlemenonmattersofburghorprivatebusiness;andIcouldseehewasonegreatlylookeduptointhecounty.Atlastwewereclearofthehouses,andbegantogoalongthesideofthehavenandtowardstheHawesInnandtheFerrypier,thesceneofmymisfortune.Icouldnotlookupontheplacewithoutemotion,recallinghowmanythathadbeentherewithmethatdaywerenownomore:Ransometaken,Icouldhope,fromtheeviltocome;ShuanpassedwhereIdarednotfollowhim;andthepoorsoulsthathadgonedownwiththebriginherlastplunge.Allthese,andthebrigherself,Ihadoutlived;andcomethroughthesehardshipsandfearfulperilswithoutscath.Myonlythoughtshouldhavebeenofgratitude;andyetIcouldnotbeholdtheplacewithoutsorrowforothersandachillofrecollectedfear.
Iwassothinkingwhen,uponasudden,Mr.Rankeillorcriedout,clappedhishandtohispockets,andbegantolaugh.
