Eve's Ransom

t wind had loaded the air with moisture, which dripped at moments, thinly and sluggishly, from a featureless sky. The lamps, just lighted, cast

; this and the long note of an engine-whistle wailing far off seemed to i

e a turret which vomited crimson flame. This fierce, infernal glare seemed to lack the irradiating quality of earthly fires; with hard, though fluctuating outline, it leapt towards the kindred night, and diffused a blotchy darkness. In the opposite direction, over

sage bearing the stamp of commerce; the other, younger by more than twenty years, habited in a way which made it; difficult to as certain his social standing, and looking about him with eyes suggestive of anything but prudence o

was roaring, grinding, creaking and a final yell of brake-tortured wheels. Making at once for the nearest third-class carriage, the man in the seedy overcoat sprang to a place, and threw himself care

o stoppage before Birmingham: then the door

n had started, the elder man leaned

ink your name mu

" was the b

't remem

urned the other, crossing his legs,

it astounded the hearer, who sat for an instant with stari

e you repent that, and be more careful with your tongue in future. Now, mind what

ously. He was tall, but slightl

you?" pursued his companion, whose name w

m wh

d. I suppose that's

the language of an educated man, but with a trace of t

r insulting talk, then?

ered as I t

his hands on his knees, and scrut

had something to say to you, but I

a look of scorn,

sober as

e civil answers t

right have you

e. You called me scoundrel.

fellows who go bankrupt t

hows how little you know of the world, my lad. You got it

e habit of tel

nce in the world between commercial failure and rascality. If you go down to Liverpool, and ask men of credit for their opinion about Charles Edward Dengate, you'll have a lesson that

ard s

e whole, it would be

But wait a bit I was devilish near thrashing you a few minutes ago;

r your own satisfaction, I can tell you it's a wise resolve not to interfere with

ese words, quietly as they were ut

e to a bad

likely that I sh

look here. I'm talking civilly, and I say again it's for your advantage. I had

your sorrow

derstand you're a draughtsm

re capable of un

the window of the carriage and

well-dressed man. "How to make money, for in

flaring chimneys, which the train

nd make inquiries about me. You'll find I h

nd importance in the young man's eyes. Nor did anything in his look or speech conflict with

" said Hilliard, "is

There's no such thing as a debt, ex

k of going into Parliament. You

that if your father were alive at this moment, I sho

stood it already that I

you (of course I had a first-class ticket) because I wanted to form an opinion of your character. I've been told you drink, and I see that you do, and I'm sorry for it. You'll be

his scornful eyes; the last wo

," pursued the other. "I've been there myself; I know h

u own bu

day. There's a difference, isn't there? It comes of minding my business, you see. You'll never make anything like it; you find it easier to abuse people who work than to w

pay your debts," th

ll except your father, and he never could see things in the right light. I went through the bankruptcy court,

ence ha'penny

r hundred and thirty-six pounds, but he didn't rank as an ordinary creditor, and if I had paid him after my bankruptcy it w

he train to slacken speed. Darkness had fallen, an

elieve me,"

don

the lamp in the carriage. The train came to a standsti

and any money you get you're pretty sure to make a bad use of. But

liste

am, and to make you feel ashamed of yo

e men gazed at each other, Dengate superbly triump

nd no more. It isn't a legal debt, so I shall pay no interest. But go with me when we g

d had uncrossed his legs, and sat b

our opinion of me?

e it till I have

se. And what's more, I've still half a mind to give you a good thrashing before I give you the cheque. There's ju

this. Again he fixed his eye

g to pay me four hundred

ou'll go to the devil with it,

. If this is a joke, keep out of my way

ll you. I reserve to myself the right of thr

k into the corner, and did not speak again un