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great hands at argument。 What do you think of that argument？ I
think it's unanswerableand I'm off to Somersetshire to…morrow。〃
With those words； the new possessor of eight thousand a year
dashed into the head clerk's office； and invited that functionary
to a cruise on the high seas； with a smack on the shoulder which
was heard distinctly by his masters in the next room。 The firm
looked in interrogative wonder at Mr。 Brock。 A client who could
see a position among the landed gentry of England waiting for
him； without being in a hurry to occupy it at the earliest
possible opportunity； was a client of whom they possessed no
previous experience。
〃He must have been very oddly brought up；〃 said the lawyers to
the rector。
〃Very oddly；〃 said the rector to the lawyers。
A last leap over one month more brought Mr。 Brock to the present
timeto the bedroom at Castletown； in which he was sitting
thinking； and to the anxiety which was obstinately intruding
itself between him and his night's rest。 That anxiety was no
unfamiliar enemy to the rector's peace of mind。 It had first
found him out in Somersetshire six months since； and it had now
followed him to the Isle of Man under the inveterately obtrusive
form of Ozias Midwinter。
The change in Allan's future prospects had worked no
corresponding alteration in his perverse fancy for the castaway
at the village inn。 In the midst of the consultations with the
lawyers he had found time to visit Midwinter； and on the journey
back with the rector there was Allan's friend in the carriage；
returning with them to Somersetshire by Allan's own invitation。
The ex…usher's hair had grown again on his shaven skull； and his
dress showed the renovating influence of an accession of
pecuniary means； but in all other respects the man was unchanged。
He met Mr。 Brock's distrust with the old uncomplaining
resignation to it； he maintained the same suspicious silence on
the subject of his relatives and his early life； he spoke of
Allan's kindness to him with the same undisciplined fervor of
gratitude and surprise。 〃I have done what I could； sir；〃 he said
to Mr。 Brock； while Allan was asleep in the railway carriage。 〃I
have kept out of Mr。 Armadale's way； and I have not even answered
his last letter to me。 More than that is more than I can do。 I
don't ask you to consider my own feeling toward the only human
creature who has never suspected and never ill…treated me。 I can
resist my own feeling； but I can't resist the young gentleman
himself。 There's not another like him in the world。 If we are to
be parted again； it must be his doing or yoursnot mine。 The
dog's master has whistled；〃 said this strange man； with a
momentary outburst of the hidden passion in him； and a sudden
springing of angry tears in his wild brown eyes； 〃and it is hard；
sir； to blame the dog when the dog comes。〃
Once more Mr。 Brock's humanity got the better of Mr。 Brock's
caution。 He determined to wait； and see what the coming days of
social intercourse might bring forth。
The days passed； the yacht was rigged and fitted for sea； a
cruise was arranged to the Welsh coastand Midwinter the Secret
was the same Midwinter still。 Confinement on board a little
vessel of five…and…thirty tons offered no great attraction to a
man of Mr。 Brock's time of life。 But he sailed on the trial trip
of the yacht nevertheless； rather than trust Allan alone with his
new friend。
Would the close companionship of the three on their cruise tempt
the man into talking of his own affairs？ No； he was ready enough
on other subjects； especially if Allan led the way to them。 But
not a word escaped him about himself。 Mr。 Brock tried him with
questions about his recent inheritance； and was answered as he
had been answered once already at the Somersetshire inn。 It was a
curious coincidence； Midwinter admitted； that Mr。 Armadale's
prospects and his own prospects should both have unexpectedly
changed for the better about the same time。 But there the
resemblance ended。 It was no large fortune that had fallen into
his lap； though it was enough for his wants。 It had not
reconciled him with his relations； for the money had not come to
him as a matter of kindness； but as a matter of right。 As for the
circumstance which had led to his communicating with his family；
it was not worth mentioning； seeing that the temporary renewal of
intercourse which had followed had produced no friendly results。
Nothing had come of it but the moneyand； with the money； an
anxiety which troubled him sometimes； when he woke in the small
hours of the morning。
At those last words he became suddenly silent； as if for once his
well…guarded tongue had betrayed him。
Mr。 Brock seized the opportunity； and bluntly asked him what the
nature of the anxiety might be。 Did it relate to money？ No； it
related to a Letter which had been waiting for him for many
years。 Had he received the letter？ Not yet； it had been left
under charge of one of the partners in the firm which had man
aged the business of his inheritance for him； the partner had
been absent from England； and the letter； locked up among his own
private papers； could not be got at till he returned。 He was
expected back toward the latter part of that present May； and； if
Midwinter could be sure where the cruise would take them to at
the close of the month； he thought he would write and have the
letter forwarded。 Had he any family reasons to be anxious about
it？ None that he knew of； he was curious to see what had been
waiting for him for many years； and that was all。 So he answered
the rector's questions； with his tawny face turned away over the
low bulwark of the yacht； and his fishing…line dragging in his
supple brown hands。
Favored by wind and weather； the little vessel had done wonders
on her trial trip。 Before the period fixed for the duration of
the cruise had half expired； the yacht was as high up on the
Welsh coast as Holyhead； and Allan； eager for adventure in
unknown regions； had declared boldly for an extension of the
voyage northward to the Isle of Man。 Having ascertained from
reliable authority that the weather really promised well for a
cruise in that quarter； and that； in the event of any unforeseen
necessity for return； the railway was accessible by the steamer
from Douglas to Liverpool； Mr。 Brock agreed to his pupil's
proposal。 By that night's post he wrote to Allan's lawyers and to
his own rectory； indicating Douglas in the Isle of Man as the
next address to which letters might be forwarded。 At the
post…office he met Midwinter； who had just dropped a letter into
the box。 Remembering what he had said on board the yacht； Mr。
Brock concluded that they had both taken the same precaution； and
had ordered their correspondence to be forwarded to the same
place。
Late the next day they set sail for the Isle of Man。
For a few hours all went well； but sunset brought with it the
signs of a coming change。 With the darkness the wind rose to a
gale； and the question whether Allan and his journeymen had or
had not built a stout sea…boat was seriously tested for the first
time。 All that night； after trying vainly to bear up for
Holyhea