Похищенный
Chapter 5
Iaskedhimsoberlytonamehispleasure.
“O,pleasure!”sayshe;andthenbegantosing:
“Forit’smydelight,ofashinynight,
Intheseasonoftheyear.”
“Well,”saidI,“ifyouhavenobusinessatall,Iwillevenbesounmannerlyastoshutyouout.”
“Stay,brother!”hecried.“Haveyounofunaboutyou?ordoyouwanttogetmethrashed?I’vebroughtaletterfromoldHeasyoasytoMr.Belflower.”Heshowedmealetterashespoke.“AndIsay,mate,”headded,“I’mmortalhungry.”
“Well,”saidI,“comeintothehouse,andyoushallhaveabiteifIgoemptyforit.”
WiththatIbroughthiminandsethimdowntomyownplace,wherehefell-togreedilyontheremainsofbreakfast,winkingtomebetweenwhiles,andmakingmanyfaces,whichIthinkthepoorsoulconsideredmanly.Meanwhile,myunclehadreadtheletterandsatthinking;then,suddenly,hegottohisfeetwithagreatairofliveliness,andpulledmeapartintothefarthestcorneroftheroom.
“Readthat,”saidhe,andputtheletterinmyhand.
Hereitis,lyingbeforemeasIwrite:
“TheHawesInn,attheQueen’sFerry.
“Sir,—Ilieherewithmyhawserupanddown,andsendmycabin-boytoinforme.Ifyouhaveanyfurthercommandsforover-seas,to-daywillbethelastoccasion,asthewindwillserveuswelloutofthefirth.IwillnotseektodenythatIhavehadcrosseswithyourdoer,Mr.Rankeillor;ofwhich,ifnotspeedilyreddup,youmaylooketoseesomelossesfollow.
