Різдвяна історія
Chapter 4
‘Whendidhedie?’inquiredanother.
‘Lastnight,Ibelieve.’
‘Why,whatwasthematterwithhim?’askedathird,takingavastquantityofsnuffoutofaverylargesnuff-box.‘Ithoughthe’dneverdie.’
‘Godknows,’saidthefirst,withayawn.
‘Whathashedonewithhismoney?’askedared-facedgentlemanwithapendulousexcrescenceontheendofhisnose,thatshooklikethegillsofaturkey-cock.
‘Ihaven’theard,’saidthemanwiththelargechin,yawningagain.‘Leftittohiscompany,perhaps.Hehasn’tleftittome.That’sallIknow.’
Thispleasantrywasreceivedwithagenerallaugh.
‘It’slikelytobeaverycheapfuneral,’saidthesamespeaker;‘foruponmylifeIdon’tknowofanybodytogotoit.Supposewemakeupapartyandvolunteer?’
‘Idon’tmindgoingifalunchisprovided,’observedthegentlemanwiththeexcrescenceonhisnose.‘ButImustbefed,ifImakeone!’
Anotherlaugh.
‘Well,Iamthemostdisinterestedamongyou,afterall,’saidthefirstspeaker,‘forIneverwearblackgloves,andInevereatlunch.ButI’lloffertogo,ifanybodyelsewill.WhenIcometothinkofit,I’mnotatallsurethatIwasn’thismostparticularfriend;forweusedtostopandspeakwheneverwemet.Bye,bye.’
Speakersandlistenersstrolledaway,andmixedwithothergroups.Scroogeknewthemen,andlookedtowardstheSpiritforanexplanation.
ThePhantomglidedonintoastreet.Itsfingerpointedtotwopersonsmeeting.
