Викрадений
Chapter 3
FromthisIwasawakenedbyhissharpvoice.
“Yourfather’sbeenlongdead?”heasked.
“Threeweeks,sir,”saidI.
“Hewasasecretman,Alexander—asecret,silentman,”hecontinued.“Heneversaidmucklewhenhewasyoung.He’llneverhavespokenmuckleofme?”
“Ineverknew,sir,tillyoutolditmeyourself,thathehadanybrother.”
“Dearme,dearme!”saidEbenezer.“NoryetofShaws,Idaresay?”
“Notsomuchasthename,sir,”saidI.
“Tothinko’that!”saidhe.“Astrangenatureofaman!”Forallthat,heseemedsingularlysatisfied,butwhetherwithhimself,orme,orwiththisconductofmyfather’s,wasmorethanIcouldread.Certainly,however,heseemedtobeoutgrowingthatdistaste,orill-will,thathehadconceivedatfirstagainstmyperson;forpresentlyhejumpedup,cameacrosstheroombehindme,andhitmeasmackupontheshoulder.“We’llagreefineyet!”hecried.“I’mjustasgladIletyouin.Andnowcomeawa’toyourbed.”
Tomysurprise,helitnolamporcandle,butsetforthintothedarkpassage,gropedhisway,breathingdeeply,upaflightofsteps,andpausedbeforeadoor,whichheunlocked.Iwascloseuponhisheels,havingstumbledafterhimasbestImight;andthenhebademegoin,forthatwasmychamber.Ididashebid,butpausedafterafewsteps,andbeggedalighttogotobedwith.
“Hoot-toot!”saidUncleEbenezer,“there’safinemoon.”
“Neithermoonnorstar,sir,andpit-mirk,”saidI.“Icannaeseethebed.
