登陆注册
5386000000250

第250章

"She's done us," said the spy. "They were married here this morning."The old man's body swayed for a moment from one side to the other. The instant after, his eyes closed and his head fell forward toward the front seat of the cab. "Drive to the hospital!" cried his son. "He's in a fit. This is what comes of putting myself out of my way to please my father," he muttered, sullenly raising Mr. Bashwood's head, and loosening his cravat.

"A nice morning's work. Upon my soul, a nice morning's work!"The hospital was near, and the house surgeon was at his post.

"Will he come out of it?" asked Bashwood the younger, roughly.

"Who are _you?_" asked the surgeon, sharply, on his side.

"I am his son."

"I shouldn't have thought it," rejoined the surgeon, taking the restoratives that were handed to him by the nurse, and turning from the son to the father with an air of relief which he was at no pains to conceal. "Yes," he added, after a minute or two; "your father will come out of it this time.""When can he be moved away from here?"

"He can be moved from the hospital in an hour or two."The spy laid a card on the table. "I'll come back for him or send for him," he said. "I suppose I can go now, if I leave my name and address?" With those words, he put on his hat, and walked out.

"He's a brute!" said the nurse.

"No," said the surgeon, quietly. "He's a man."* * * * * * *

Between nine and ten o'clock that night, Mr. Bashwood awoke in his bed at the inn in the Borough. He had slept for some hours since he had been brought back from the hospital; and his mind and body were now slowly recovering together.

A light was burning on the bedside table, and a letter lay on it, waiting for him till he was awake. It was in his son's handwriting, and it contained these words:

"MY DEAR DAD--Having seen you safe out of the hospital, and back at your hotel, I think I may fairly claim to have done my duty by you, and may consider myself free to look after my own affairs.

Business will prevent me from seeing you to-night; and I don't think it at all likely I shall be in your neighborhood to-morrow morning. My advice to you is to go back to Thorpe Ambrose, and to stick to your employment in the steward's office. Wherever Mr.

Armadale may be, he must, sooner or later, write to you on business. I wash my hands of the whole matter, mind, so far as Iam concerned, from this time forth. But if _you_ like to go on with it, my professional opinion is (though you couldn't hinder his marriage), you may part him from his wife.

"Pray take care of yourself.

"Your affectionate son, "JAMES BASHWOOD."The letter dropped from the old man's feeble hands. "I wish Jemmy could have come to see me to-night," he thought. "But it's very kind of him to advise me, all the same."He turned wearily on the pillow, and read the letter a second time. "Yes," he said, "there's nothing left for me but to go back. I'm too poor and too old to hunt after them all by myself."He closed his eyes: the tears trickled slowly over his wrinkled cheeks. "I've been a trouble to Jemmy," he murmured, faintly;"I've been a sad trouble, I'm afraid, to poor Jemmy!" In a minute more his weakness overpowered him, and he fell asleep again.

The clock of the neighboring church struck. It was ten. As the bell tolled the hour, the tidal train--with Midwinter and his wife among the passengers--was speeding nearer and nearer to Paris. As the bell tolled the hour, the watch on board Allan's outward-bound yacht had sighted the light-house off the Land's End, and had set the course of the vessel for Ushant and Finisterre.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 与神婚:狂恋三千年

    与神婚:狂恋三千年

    他是高高在上的十二祖巫,生性凉薄,为人厉狠,那放诞不羁的外表下,只愿为一名女子痴守他本是下界一名小小地仙,温润暖心,医术超群,在下界三千年,只为找到当年的救命恩人。她原本是一名不起眼的小偷,一次任务失败,糟小人暗算后,流落到了异世。成为了凡界大国的“九公主”,原本八竿子打不到一边的两人,却因为她顶着一张与那女子极为相似的脸而钩在一起……
  • 魔道独行

    魔道独行

    红颜哭我便怒与天为敌又如何,拔刀一挥血洗一城那堪世人怎么说,为爱之人与世为敌,这等痴心,这等气魄,天下男儿谁人能做到?为你入魔是对是错没想过,只可笑你却和我分你右我左,好男人常有,但懂男儿心的女人却无,所付出的一切,是对是错?真的没想过。看好男儿为心爱之人魔道独行!
  • 陪楼

    陪楼

    《陪楼》揭示了鼓浪屿沦陷时的动荡不安和抗日时的狂风暴雨融入中国婢女救拔团、厦门沦陷、鼓浪屿事件、厦门中秋博饼等历史文化,呈现百年厦门全景以女佣阿秀的一生为主线,讲述了小人物的悲欢离合、情感命运与家国情怀以独特的视角打开了一扇厦门百年历史的窗口,同时也尽情展现出鼓浪屿中西文化交融的魅力小说弥漫着一种不随流水即随风的温婉的鼓浪屿情调长篇小说《陪楼》是一部以闽南地方特色为背景的小说,故事发生在上个世纪三十年代的鼓浪屿,融入中国婢女救拔团、厦门沦陷、鼓浪屿事件、厦门中秋博饼等历史文化,呈现百年厦门全景。
  • 快乐之钟,在此刻敲响

    快乐之钟,在此刻敲响

    自信是成功的前提,快乐是生活调味剂。本书所选取的小故事不仅充满了幽默色彩,还流露出机敏智慧的闪光。阅读本书,既能培养孩子的幽默感,使其眼中的世界变得五彩缤纷,充满乐趣,又能让孩子树立自信,从而坚强地迎接人生中的挑战。
  • 无尽冒险路

    无尽冒险路

    秦逆天与朋友爬山时失足落谷,醒来之后发现自己身处虚清法则之通天大陆的世界。他凭借自己活着时玩《传奇》的经验,一步一步从手无寸铁的弱者成长为称霸一方大陆的强者。
  • 冷酷战神大辽王妃

    冷酷战神大辽王妃

    一曲远古凄美的爱情悲歌!一位颠国女子泣血而书的血色山河!周旋在两名帝王之间可歌可泣的悲壮人寰!第一部————————她是名将遗孤,绝世红颜,冰雪聪明,也是先王临终前钦定的七王妃;他是战功显赫的大宋王爷却被迫娶了自已最厌恶的人;他是大辽万人景仰的‘战神’,一生只有一个女人;妾妃的陷害,满门蒙冤!丈夫的冷眼,最终将她的一生当做贡品送到敌军手中。痴心在痛恨中被肆虐;屈辱在苟且偷生中暴发,倾世美貌,顾盼神飞,一笑倾城,二笑颠国!迎风而立站在高处,三千青丝迎风扬展向云海飞扬,指点大军杀向将自已推下火坑的仇人,血染红了山河,也染红了她的双眼!当他追悔莫及,再次将她拥入怀时,她淡然一笑,平静无波:“闵,错过了就是错过了”!本文的女主并非软弱之辈,为了报血海深仇,将会做出一些为达目的不折手段的事情甚至牵扯到民族的大义,不过并不是盲目无分寸.与天真单纯的少年时代很有出入.请大家不要在乎女主的转变,投出您支持的一票,为麟儿的独立喝彩吧!呵^-^!^_^!!!!也为偶喝彩!!!!!!在移动手机阅读平台上使用的名称为《大辽王妃:战神王爷好冷酷》
  • 我的似水年华

    我的似水年华

    他给不了我爱情,只能给我一片无尽的落寞,这份落寞让我窒息。我总是一次又一次的望着他远去的背影,那是我永远都追不上的人,直到有一天,那个男人回归,一切,都变了!
  • 故事新编:鲁迅作品精选(感悟文学大师经典)

    故事新编:鲁迅作品精选(感悟文学大师经典)

    本套丛书选文广泛、丰富,且把阅读文学与掌握知识结合起来,既能增进广大读者阅读经典文学的乐趣,又能使我们体悟人生的智慧和生活哲理。
  • 无须讨好世界,且让自己欢喜

    无须讨好世界,且让自己欢喜

    本书从事业、爱情及其生活方式等各个方面,探讨如何可以做自己喜欢的事、爱自己爱的人、过自己想要过的生活,以及如何与焦虑、抑郁、悲伤、孤独等负面情绪相处,如何寻找更为积极的方式与态度应对成长过程与生命本身必须应对的困境与麻烦。作者的心理咨询师身份和专业素养让这本书充满哲学思辨与积极心理学的味道。相信这本书能够陪伴读者寻找成长与改变的可能和契机,找到自己生命中的幸福与快乐。
  • 医学发明

    医学发明

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。