CHAPTER 2

Aftercombating,fornearlyaweek,thefeelingwhichimpelledmetorevisittheplaceIhadquittedunderthecircumstancesalreadydetailed,IyieldedtoitatlengthanddeterminingthatthistimeIwouldpresentmyselfbythelightofday,bentmystepsthitherearlyinthemorning. Iwalkedpastthehouse,andtookseveralturnsinthestreet,withthatkindofhesitationwhichisnaturaltoamanwhoisconsciousthatthevisitheisabouttopayisunexpected,andmaynotbeveryacceptable.However,asthedooroftheshopwasshut,anditdidnotappearlikelythatIshouldberecognizedbythosewithin,ifIcontinuedmerelytopassupanddownbeforeit,Isoonconqueredthisirresolution,andfoundmyselfintheCuriosityDealer’swarehouse. Theoldmanandanotherpersonweretogetherinthebackpart,andthereseemedtohavebeenhighwordsbetweenthem,fortheirvoiceswhichwereraisedtoaveryhighpitchsuddenlystoppedonmyentering,andtheoldmanadvancinghastilytowardsme,saidinatremuloustonethathewasverygladIhadcome. ‘Youinterruptedusatacriticalmoment,’saidhe,pointingtothemanwhomIhadfoundincompanywithhim‘thisfellowwillmurdermeoneofthesedays.Hewouldhavedoneso,longago,ifhehaddared.’ ‘Bah!Youwouldswearawaymylifeifyoucould,’returnedtheother,afterbestowingastareandafrownonme‘weallknowthat!’ ‘IalmostthinkIcould,’criedtheoldman,turningfeeblyuponhim.‘Ifoaths,orprayers,orwords,couldridmeofyou,theyshould.Iwouldbequitofyou,andwouldberelievedifyouweredead.’ ‘Iknowit,’returnedtheother.‘Isaidso,didn’tI?Butneitheroaths,orprayers,norwords,willkillme,andthereforeIlive,andmeantolive.’ ‘Andhismotherdied!’criedtheoldman,passionatelyclaspinghishandsandlookingupward‘andthisisHeaven’sjustice!’ Theotherstoodloungingwithhisfootuponachair,andregardedhimwithacontemptuoussneer.Hewasayoungmanofone-and-twentyorthereaboutswellmade,andcertainlyhandsome,thoughtheexpressionofhisfacewasfarfromprepossessing,havingincommonwithhismannerandevenhisdress,adissipated,insolentairwhichrepelledone. ‘Justiceornojustice,’saidtheyoungfellow,‘hereIamandhereIshallstoptillsuchtimeasIthinkfittogo,unlessyousendforassistancetoputmeout—whichyouwon’tdo,Iknow.ItellyouagainthatIwanttoseemysister.’ ‘Yoursister!’saidtheoldmanbitterly. ‘Ah!Youcan’tchangetherelationship,’returnedtheother.‘Ifyoucould,you’dhavedoneitlongago.Iwanttoseemysister,thatyoukeepcoopeduphere,poisoninghermindwithyourslysecretsandpretendinganaffectionforherthatyoumayworkhertodeath,andaddafewscrapedshillingseveryweektothemon