第78部分(第2/7 页)

ve　read　the　figures　wrong—it　may　be　two　thousand！”

“It　is　written　in　letters；　not　figures；—twenty　thousand。”

I　again　felt　rather　like　an　individual　of　but　average　gastronomical　powers　sitting　down　to　feast　alone　at　a　table　spread　with　provisions　for　a　hundred。　Mr。　Rivers　rose　now　and　put　his　cloak　on。

“If　it　were　not　such　a　very　wild　night；”　he　said；　“I　would　send　Hannah　down　to　keep　you　pany：　you　look　too　desperately　miserable　to　be　left　alone。　But　Hannah；　poor　woman！　could　not　stride　the　drifts　so　well　as　I：　her　legs　are　not　quite　so　long：　so　I　must　e’en　leave　you　to　your　sorrows。　Good…night。”

He　was　lifting　the　latch：　a　sudden　thought　occurred　to　me。　“Stop　one　minute！”　I　cried。

“Well？”

“It　puzzles　me　to　know　why　Mr。　Briggs　wrote　to　you　about　me；　or　how　he　knew　you；　or　could　fancy　that　you；　living　in　such　an　out…of…the…　way　place；　had　the　power　to　aid　in　my　discovery。”

“Oh！　I　am　a　clergyman；”　he　said；　“and　the　clergy　are　often　appealed　to　about　odd　matters。”　Again　the　latch　rattled。

“No；　that　does　not　satisfy　me！”　I　exclaimed：　and　indeed　there　was　something　in　the　hasty　and　unexplanatory　reply　which；　instead　of　allaying；　piqued　my　curiosity　more　than　ever。

“It　is　a　very　strange　piece　of　business；”　I　added；　“I　must　know　more　about　it。”

“Another　time。”

“No；　to…night！—to…night！”　and　as　he　turned　from　the　door；　I　placed　myself　between　it　and　him。　He　looked　rather　embarrassed。

“You　certainly　shall　not　go　till　you　have　told　me　all；”　I　said。

“I　would　rather　not　just　now。”

“You　shall！—you　must！”

“I　would　rather　Diana　or　Mary　informed　you。”

Of　course　these　objections　wrought　my　eagerness　to　a　climax：　gratified　it　must　be；　and　that　without　delay；　and　I　told　him　so。