FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   41   42   43   44   45   46   47   48   49   50   51   52   53   54   55   56   57   58   59   60   61   62   63   64   >>  
trong against him. I knew his father had not been of this stamp. "And I am Mr. Richard Carvel, grandson to Mr. Lionel Carvel, of Carvel Hall, in Maryland," I replied, much in the same way. He thrust his hands into his breeches and stared very hard. "You?" he said finally, with something very near a laugh. "Sir, a gentleman's word usually suffices!" I cried. He changed his tone a little. "Your pardon, Mr. Carvel," he said, "but we men of business have need to be careful. Let us sit, and I will examine your letters. Your determination must have been suddenly taken," he added, "for I have nothing from Mr. Carvel on the subject of your coming." "Letters! You have heard nothing!" I gasped, and there stopped short and clinched the table. "Has not my grandfather written of my disappearance?" Immediately his expression went back to the one he had met me with. "Pardon me," he said again. I composed myself as best I could in the face of his incredulity, swallowing with an effort the aversion I felt to giving him my story. "I think it strange he has not informed you," I said; "I was kidnapped near Annapolis last Christmas-time, and put on board of a slaver, from which I was rescued by great good fortune, and brought to Scotland. And I have but just made my way to London." "The thing is not likely, Mr.--, Mr.--," he said, drumming impatiently on the board. Then I lost control of myself. "As sure as I am heir to Carvel Hall, Mr. Dix," I cried, rising, "you shall pay for your insolence by forfeiting your agency!" Now the roan was a natural coward, with a sneer for some and a smirk for others. He went to the smirk. "I am but looking to Mr. Carvel's interests the best I know how," he replied; "and if indeed you be Mr. Richard Carvel, then you must applaud my caution, sir, in seeking proofs." "Proofs I have none," I cried; "the very clothes on my back are borrowed from a Scotch seaman. My God, Mr. Dix, do I look like a rogue?" "Were I to advance money upon appearances, sir, I should be insolvent in a fortnight. But stay," he cried uneasily, as I flung back my chair, "stay, sir. Is there no one of your province in the town to attest your identity?" "Ay, that there is," I said bitterly; "you shall hear from Mr. Manners soon, I promise you." "Pray, Mr. Carvel," he said, overtaking me on the stairs, "you will surely allow the situation to be--extraordinary, you will surely commend my discretion. P
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   41   42   43   44   45   46   47   48   49   50   51   52   53   54   55   56   57   58   59   60   61   62   63   64   >>  



Top keywords:

Carvel

 

surely

 

replied

 
Richard
 
commend
 

extraordinary

 
interests
 

impatiently

 

control

 

drumming


London
 

agency

 

natural

 

forfeiting

 

insolence

 
discretion
 

rising

 

coward

 

clothes

 
overtaking

uneasily

 
appearances
 

insolvent

 

fortnight

 

province

 

bitterly

 

promise

 
attest
 

identity

 

stairs


Manners

 

borrowed

 

Scotch

 

situation

 

caution

 

seeking

 

proofs

 

Proofs

 

seaman

 

advance


applaud

 

effort

 

business

 

pardon

 

suffices

 

changed

 
careful
 

suddenly

 

subject

 

determination