Викрадений

           “There,”saidhe,“that’llshowyou!I’maqueerman,andstrangewi’strangers;butmywordismybond,andthere’stheproofofit.”

           Now,myuncleseemedsomiserlythatIwasstruckdumbbythissuddengenerosity,andcouldfindnowordsinwhichtothankhim.

           “Noaword!”saidhe.“Naethanks;Iwantnaethanks.Idomyduty.I’mnosayingthateverybodywouldhavedoneit;butformypart(thoughI’macarefulbody,too)it’sapleasuretometodotherightbymybrother’sson;andit’sapleasuretometothinkthatnowwe’llagreeassuchnearfriendsshould.”

           IspokehiminreturnashandsomelyasIwasable;butallthewhileIwaswonderingwhatwouldcomenext,andwhyhehadpartedwithhispreciousguineas;forastothereasonhehadgiven,ababywouldhaverefusedit.

           Presentlyhelookedtowardsmesideways.

           “Andseehere,”sayshe,“titfortat.”

           ItoldhimIwasreadytoprovemygratitudeinanyreasonabledegree,andthenwaited,lookingforsomemonstrousdemand.Andyet,whenatlasthepluckedupcouragetospeak,itwasonlytotellme(veryproperly,asIthought)thathewasgrowingoldandalittlebroken,andthathewouldexpectmetohelphimwiththehouseandthebitgarden.

           Ianswered,andexpressedmyreadinesstoserve.

           “Well,”hesaid,“let’sbegin.”Hepulledoutofhispocketarustykey.“There,”sayshe,“there’sthekeyofthestair-toweratthefarendofthehouse.Yecanonlywinintoitfromtheoutside,forthatpartofthehouseisnofinished.