登陆注册
5455200000048

第48章

WE posted five-and-thirty miles, then stopped for a couple of hours to rest, and wait for a night coach running northward.

On getting into this vehicle we were fortunate enough to find the fourth inside place not occupied. Mrs. Baggs showed her sense of the freedom from restraint thus obtained by tying a huge red comforter round her head like a turban, and immediately falling fast asleep. This gave Alicia and me full liberty to talk as we pleased. Our conversation was for the most part of that particular kind which is not of the smallest importance to any third person in the whole world. One portion of it, however, was an exception to this general rule. It had a very positive influence on my fortunes, and it is, therefore, I hope, of sufficient importance to bear being communicated to the reader.

We had changed horses for the fourth time, had seated ourselves comfortably in our places, and had heard Mrs. Baggs resume the kindred occupations of sleeping and snoring, when Alicia whispered to me:

"I must have no secrets, now, from you-- must I, Frank?""You must have anything you like, do anything you like, and say anything you like. You must never ask leave--but only grant it!""Shall you always tell me that, Frank?"

I did not answer in words, but the conversation suffered a momentary interruption. Of what nature, susceptible people will easily imagine. As for the hard-hearted I don't write for them.

"My secret need not alarm you," Alicia went on, in tones that began to sound rather sadly; "it is only about a tiny pasteboard box that I can carry in the bosom of my dress. But it has got three diamonds in it, Frank, and one beautiful ruby. Did you ever give me credit for having so much that was valuable about me?--shall I give it you to keep for me?"I remembered directly Old File's story of Mrs. Dulcifer's elopement, and of the jewels she had taken with her. It was easy to guess, after what I had heard, that the poor woman had secretly preserved some of her little property for the benefit of her child.

"I have no present need of money, darling," I answered; "keep the box in its present enviable position." I stopped there, saying nothing of the thought that was really uppermost in my mind. If any unforeseen accident placed me within the grip of the law, Ishould not now have the double trial to endure of leaving my wife for a prison, and leaving her helpless.

Morning dawned and found us still awake. The sun rose, Mrs. Baggs left off snoring, and we arrived at the last stage before the coach stopped.

I got out to see about some tea for my traveling companions, and looked up at the outside passengers. One of them seated in the dickey looked down at me. He was a countryman in a smock-frock, with a green patch over one of his eyes. Something in the expression of his uncovered eye made me pause--reflect--turn away uneasily--and then look again at him furtively. A sudden shudder ran through me from top to toe; my heart sank; and my head began to feel giddy. The countryman in the dickey was no other than the Bow Street runner in disguise.

I kept away from the coach till the fresh horses were on the point of starting, for I was afraid to let Alicia see my face, after making that fatal discovery. She noticed how pale I was when I got in. I made the best excuse I could; and gently insisted on her trying to sleep a little after being awake all night. She lay back in her corner; and Mrs. Baggs, comforted with a morning dram in her tea, fell asleep again. I had thus an hour's leisure before me to think what I should do next.

Screw was not in company with the runner this time. He must have managed to ident ify me somewhere, and the officer doubtless knew my personal appearance well enough now to follow and make sure of me without help. That I was the man whom he was tracking could not be doubted: his disguise and his position on the top of the coach proved it only too plainly.

But why had he not seized me at once? Probably because he had some ulterior purpose to serve, which would have been thwarted by my immediate apprehension. What that purpose was I did my best to fathom, and, as I thought, succeeded in the attempt. What I was to do when the coach stopped was a more difficult point to settle. To give the runner the slip, with two women to take care of, was simply impossible. To treat him, as I had treated Screw at the red-brick house, was equally out of the question, for he was certain to give me no chance of catching him alone. To keep him in ignorance of the real object of my journey, and thereby to delay his discovering himself and attempting to make me a prisoner, seemed the only plan on the safety of which I could place the smallest reliance. If I had ever had any idea of following the example of other runaway lovers, and going to Gretna Green, I should now have abandoned it. All roads in that direction would betray what the purpose of my journey was if Itook them. Some large town in Scotland would be the safest destination that I could publicly advertise myself as bound for.

Why not boldly say that I was going with the two ladies to Edinburgh?

Such was the plan of action which I now adopted.

同类推荐
  • 妇女双名记

    妇女双名记

    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。
  • 异部宗轮论

    异部宗轮论

    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。
  • 皇黎一统志

    皇黎一统志

    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。
  • 注华严经题法界观门颂引

    注华严经题法界观门颂引

    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。
  • 五经算术

    五经算术

    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。
热门推荐
  • 神州古情

    神州古情

    科学已经证实,史前存在着高度文明!许多科学家承认:科学的尽头是神学!现代神学是史前高度文明的留存吗?有人说此文笔力强劲,有人说此文没有文笔,却无一差评......最后声明:此书非学霸看不懂,能看懂的都是大神......
  • 都市毒奶师

    都市毒奶师

    柯西,一个地狱级别的倒霉蛋。只要他祝福的人,无一例外都遭了殃。被招进了特工组织后成为了一名毒奶师。听说你对我柯西有意见?那我就祝你事事顺心,长命百岁!小奶一口,我就问你慌不慌。门牌号436599236欢迎来玩。我们一起看一看,在异空间言出法随的柯西能够带来什么样的奇遇。
  • 菊花尘(二)

    菊花尘(二)

    事件发生于明治42年秋。这年秋天,韩国总监伊藤博文于哈尔滨车站身中三枪倒地。划破满洲寂静夜晚的三发枪声,正如日俄战争以来,低靡而暗潮汹涌的平稳世局的响声。不仅季节,连时势也走向暗黑的冬季而舞落最后一片落叶。地点是包围着旧德川幕府广大的武士豪邸白砂町的一隅。入夜突然一阵狂风,风声切破了闇夜,又再次凝结成寂静。此时武士豪邸外长长的石墙,仿佛连夜尘也一扫而清般浮现一条丝带般的白色夜景——至少在那时如此。
  • 萌狐要逆天:邪少快护驾

    萌狐要逆天:邪少快护驾

    天啊!她居然穿越了,基于前世活得太他嘛的累,这次既然重生那就好好的做人呗,只要人不犯她,她绝不犯人,当她还没弄清这里是牛朝还是马代时,某妃来势凶凶,好吧!看你是女人的份上,她就免为其难的为来人整容了,...
  • 战神大人萌萌哒

    战神大人萌萌哒

    隋倾城承认她真的弱爆了。身为一个捕妖师,居然被那只俊美的大妖怪故意露出獠牙就吓得昏倒,从此被他这个傲娇闷骚到爆的大妖怪吃得死死的。不仅死乞白赖地缠上她,还光明正大地霸占她的家,无辜地闯入她的生活,肆无忌惮的无恶不作,把戏弄她当做妖生中的最大乐趣。“她是我宠的,就应该无法无天。”他淡漠地微微勾唇,另一只手一把搂过受委屈的她。他会在她难过时笨拙而霸道的警告她不准哭,他会在她受委屈时第一个感到替她出气,他……俊美而霸道的妖怪大人,在慢慢爱上她啊。
  • 教你学滑雪

    教你学滑雪

    水上运动是集竞争性、观赏性和刺激性于一体的、富有现代文明特征的竞技体育项目。它是为了区别于陆上和空中体育项目,全部过程或主要过程都在水下、水面或水上进行的体育项目。
  • 重生之帝妃倾而

    重生之帝妃倾而

    她重生到雪国幽都却是废材一个,然而婢女紫怡却杀她夺她身份,看她如何夺回,后发现原来婢女夺她身份另有原因?!这件事幕后到底有什么内幕?如何逆天而行,如何看她站到最顶端!还有那个夙辰皇,又足一个什么样的人???
  • 慈禧集权的秘密

    慈禧集权的秘密

    《慈禧集权的秘密》讲述的是慈禧一生在皇宫里执掌政治权利的秘密。
  • 快穿之男神咋是萌妹子

    快穿之男神咋是萌妹子

    苏晗莫名其妙的踏上了拯救男神的路上。请问这小短腿是怎么回事?靠!你不要过来了!某男:怎么办?我就是喜欢你腿短的样子。......某男:宝贝,你理理我,我错了。(男女身心健康1V1。速度慢,见谅昂)
  • 看见

    看见

    本期我们为读者推荐央视著名主持人柴静的《看见》。可以说,这是接续崔永元“实话实说”之后的另一种版本的“实话”,或更切近实话。推开汹涌的日常泡沫之后,柴静看见了什么?她看见了被人类抽取胆汁的黑熊在“担架”上叫喊,一个市长从拒访到接访到吓得面如土色,为了五毛钱打官司的郝劲松,为与环保局打官司几乎耗尽所有的陈法庆,智慧、尖锐而又寂寞的陈虻……他们在这个时代的意义场里交替出现,是一部部值得深思的“现代启示录”。从后台到前台到台下到直逼泥地,直逼潮湿的生活现场,这是一个人的个性化的、短兵相接的“看见”。