work that he had done by me; and there I had to lie and take his kind, false, felon’s hand in mine.
“My poor dear fellow,” he cried, “I’m most sorry to find you like this. But I was afraid of it last night. It’s all this infernally strong air!”
How I longed to tell him what it was, and to see his face! The thought of Eva alone restrained me, and I retorted as before, in a tone I strove to make as friendly, that it was his admirable wine and nothing else.
“But you took hardly any.”
“I shouldn’t
you strike the beck - and you’ll find a good pool or two. I may have to go to Lancaster the day after to-morrow, but I shall give you a call when I get back.”
With that we parted, as good friends as ever. I observed that my regret at losing him was shared by the boots, who stood beside me on the steps as his hansom rattled off.