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he wore now。 With the desperate resolution to leave no chance
untried of producing an impression on Miss Gwilt； he had cast
aside his dreary black garments； he had even mustered the courage
to wear his blue satin cravat。 His coat was a riding…coat of
light gray。 He had ordered it； with a vindictive subtlety of
purpose； to be made on the pattern of a coat that he had seen
Allan wear。 His waistcoat was white； his trousers were of the
gayest summer pattern； in the largest check。 His wig was oiled
and scented； and brushed round； on either side； to hide the
wrinkles on his temples。 He was an object to laugh at； he was an
object to weep over。 His enemies； if a creature so wretched could
have had enemies； would have forgiven him； on seeing him in his
new dress。 His friendshad any of his friends been leftwould
have been less distressed if they had looked at him in his coffin
than if they had looked at him as he was now。 Incessantly
restless； he paced the room from end to end。 Now he looked at his
watch； now he looked out of the window； now he looked at the
well…furnished breakfast…tablealways with the same wistful；
uneasy inquiry in his eyes。 The waiter coming in； with the urn of
boiling water； was addressed for the fiftieth time in the one
form of words which the miserable creature seemed to be capable
of uttering that morning： 〃My son is coming to breakfast。 My son
is very particular。 I want everything of the besthot things and
cold thingsand tea and coffeeand all the rest of it； waiter；
all the rest of it。〃 For the fiftieth time； he now reiterated
those anxious words。 For the fiftieth time； the impenetrable
waiter had just returned his one pacifying answer； 〃All right；
sir； you may leave it to me〃when the sound of leisurely
footsteps was heard on the stairs； the door opened； and the
long…expected son sauntered indolently into the room； with a neat
little black leather bag in his hand。
〃Well done； old gentleman！〃 said Bashwood the younger； surveying
his father's dress with a smile of sardonic encouragement。
〃You're ready to be married to Miss Gwilt at a moment's notice！〃
The father took the son's hand； and tried to echo the son's
laugh。
〃You have such good spirits； Jemmy；〃 he said； using the name in
its familiar form； as he had been accustomed to use it in happier
days。 〃You always had good spirits； my dear； from a child。 Come
and sit down； I've ordered you a nice breakfast。 Everything of
the best！ everything of the best！ What a relief it is to see you！
Oh； dear； dear； what a relief it is to see you。〃 He stopped and
sat down at the table； his face flushed with the effort to
control the impatience that was devouring him。 〃Tell me about
her！〃 he burst out； giving up the effort with a sudden
self…abandonment。 〃I shall die； Jemmy； if I wait for it any
longer。 Tell me！ tell me！ tell me！〃
〃One thing at a time；〃 said Bashwood the younger； perfectly
unmoved by his father's impatience。 〃We'll try the breakfast
first； and come to the lady afterward！ Gently does it； old
gentlemangently does it！〃
He put his leather bag on a chair； and sat down opposite to his
father； composed； and smiling； and humming a little tune。
No ordinary observation； applying the ordinary rules of analysis；
would have detected the character of Bashwood the younger in his
face。 His youthful look； aided by his light hair and his plump
beardless cheeks； his easy manner and his ever…ready smile； his
eyes which met unshrinkingly the eyes of every one whom he
addressed； all combined to make the impression of him a favorable
impression in the general mind。 No eye for reading character； but
such an eye as belongs to one person； perhaps； in ten thousand；
could have penetrated the smoothly deceptive surface of this man；
and have seen him for what he really wasthe vile creature whom
the viler need of Society has fashioned for its own use。 There he
satthe Confidential Spy of modern times； whose business is
steadily enlarging； whose Private Inquiry Offices are steadily on
the increase。 There he satthe necessary Detective attendant on
the progress of our national civilization； a man who was； in this
instance at least； the legitimate and intelligible product of the
vocation that employed him； a man professionally ready on the
merest suspicion （if the merest suspicion paid him） to get under
our beds； and to look through gimlet…holes in our doors； a man
who would have been useless to his employers if he could have
felt a touch of human sympathy in his father's presence； and who
would have deservedly forfeited his situation if； under any
circumstances whatever； he had been personally accessible to a
sense of pity or a sense of shame。
〃Gently does it； old gentleman；〃 he repeated； lifting the covers
from the dishes； and looking under them one after the other all
round the table。 〃Gently does it！〃
〃Don't be angry with me； Jemmy；〃 pleaded his father。 〃Try； if you
can； to think how anxious I must be。 I got your letter so long
ago as yesterday morning。 I have had to travel all the way from
Thorpe AmbroseI have had to get through the dreadful long
evening and the dreadful long nightwith your letter telling me
that you had found out who she is； and telling me nothing more。
Suspense is very hard to bear； Jemmy； when you come to my age。
What was it prevented you； my dear； from coming to me when I got
here yesterday evening？〃
〃A little dinner at Richmond；〃 said Bashwood the younger。 〃Give
me some tea。〃
Mr。 Bashwood tried to comply with the request； but the hand with
which he lifted the teapot trembled so unmanageably that the tea
missed the cup and streamed out on the cloth。 〃I'm very sorry； I
can't help trembling when I'm anxious；〃 said the old man； as his
son took the tea…pot out of his hand。 〃I'm afraid you bear me
malice； Jemmy； for what happened when I was last in town。 I own I
was obstinate and unreasonable about going back to Thorpe
Ambrose。 I'm more sensible now。 You were quite right in taking it
all on yourself； as soon as I showed you the veiled lady when we
saw her come out of the hotel； and you were quite right to send
me back the same day to my business in the steward's office at
the Great House。〃 He watched the effect of these concessions on
his son； and ventured doubtfully on another entreaty。 〃If you
won't tell me anything else just yet；〃 he said； faintly； 〃will
you tell me how you found her out。 Do； Jemmy； do！〃
Bashwood the younger looked up from his plate。 〃I'll tell you
that；〃 he said。 〃The reckoning up of Miss Gwilt has cost more
money and taken more time than I expected； and the sooner we come
to a settlement about it； the sooner we shall get to what you
want to know。〃
Without a word of expostulation； the father laid his dingy old
pocket…book and his purse on the table before the son。 Bashwood
the younger looked into the purse； observed； with a contemptuous
elevation of the eyebrows； that it held no more than a sovereign
and some silver； and returned it intact。 The pocket…book； on
being opened next； proved to contain four five…pound notes。
Bashwood the younger transferred three of the notes to his own
keeping； and handed the pocket…book back t