Викрадений
Chapter 23
ButAlanandClunyweremostofthetimeatthecards,andIamclearthatAlanmusthavebegunbywinning;forIremembersittingup,andseeingthemhardatit,andagreatglitteringpileofasmuchassixtyorahundredguineasonthetable.Itlookedstrangeenough,toseeallthiswealthinanestuponacliff-side,wattledaboutgrowingtrees.Andeventhen,IthoughtitseemeddeepwaterforAlantoberiding,whohadnobetterbattle-horsethanagreenpurseandamatteroffivepounds.
Theluck,itseems,changedonthesecondday.AboutnoonIwaswakenedasusualfordinner,andasusualrefusedtoeat,andwasgivenadramwithsomebitterinfusionwhichthebarberhadprescribed.ThesunwasshininginattheopendooroftheCage,andthisdazzledandoffendedme.Clunysatatthetable,bitingthepackofcards.Alanhadstoopedoverthebed,andhadhisfaceclosetomyeyes;towhich,troubledastheywerewiththefever,itseemedofthemostshockingbigness.
Heaskedmeforaloanofmymoney.
“Whatfor?”saidI.
“O,justforaloan,”saidhe.
“Butwhy?”Irepeated.“Idon’tsee.”
“Hut,David!”saidAlan,“yewouldnaegrudgemealoan?”
Iwould,though,ifIhadhadmysenses!ButallIthoughtofthenwastogethisfaceaway,andIhandedhimmymoney.
Onthemorningofthethirdday,whenwehadbeenforty-eighthoursintheCage,Iawokewithagreatreliefofspirits,veryweakandwearyindeed,butseeingthingsoftherightsizeandwiththeirhonest,everydayappearance.
