Johnny Ludlow, First Series

the breath nowhere. He reached the train, pushed head-foremost into a carriage, and then remembered the tickets. "Bless my heart?" he exclaimed, as he jumped

d a guard who was passing.

the railway clocks for being slow. Had Tod been there he would have told him to his face that the watch was fast, braving all retort, for the Squire believed in his watc

ats there, Johnny

nto the greatest flurry conceivable; and the first thing I saw was himself blocking up the ticket-place, and undoing his pocket-book with nervous fingers. He had some loose gold a

he Squire, drawing out one fr

nswer, in the surly tone

nting to take their tickets in turn, and knowing that he was keeping them flurried him all the more. He stood at the back a moment, put the roll of notes into his case, fastened it and returned

ference," he cried, holding out his watch to me. "It is a s

sir, and mine is with the r

your watch to be regulated the first opportunity, sir; do

we got in. He had a large signet-ring on one hand, and a lavender glove on the other. The other three seats opposite to us were vacant. Next to me sat a little man with a fresh colour and gold spectacles, who was already reading; and beyond him, in the corner, face to face with the dark man, was a lunatic. That's to mention him politely. Of all the restless, fidgety, worrying, hot-tempered passengers that ever put themselves into a carriage to travel with

door, and touched his hat, which had a c

icket,

us looked up. The gentleman took the ticket from the

aper, Wilkins. The Time

my l

ed the guard, sending the door back for a

e soft white powder, seen plain enough through her veil. She took the longest gaze at the dark gentleman, bending a little forward to do it; for, as he was in a line with her, and also had his head

lord. They are expecting the pa

can get me one at the

ell, my

not an express-train, and we should have to stop at several stations. Where the Squire and I had been staying does not

changing seats

tions of politeness with him when he went travelling, at once got up to offer her the corner. But she declined it, saying she was

her ask him in a loud whisper, as th

n't know many of the peers myself, except those

ttle dog, an ugly, hairy, vile-tempered Scotch terrier, had been kept concealed under the lady's jacket, and

ou bark at the gentleman? H

lunatic, starting up in a passion. "Dogs don

unatic had to sit down again; and the lady defied him, so to say, coolly avowing that she

. She seemed to want to grow confidential with him; but the Squire did not seem to care for it, thoug

e so negligent? There's

had when we first reached the carriage was certain; for, as the Squire went stumbling in,

out while we were getti

y. "After passing the next station, we dash into the long tunnel. T

ord, in a chaffing kind of tone, but with a good-nat

up loudly, and tried to make a spring at him; upon w

ant station, one not likely to be halted at for above a minute. The lunatic twisted hi

e lord, quietly putting him down.

He must have been out already, though

imes, my lord? I

is not lighted, Wilkins. See the

d out the lunatic after Wilkins, who went flying off. "Sending us o

the lunatic sat quiet, watching the lamp, and for the light that was to be dropped into it from the top; and so did I, and so did the lady. We w

The lord sat down on his seat again, an angry frown cross

the lord. "Not with my servant, I think: he i

on the line, though I don't often travel on it. This is management

t; but it is not of so much consequence," said the noblem

out and bite us? Who's to know there won't be an accident in the tunnel? A light is a p

at us with a good-natured smile; as much as to say that none of us looked l

nod or two that you'd hardly have matched for defying impudence. "You'll be good, won't you, Wasp? But I should like the lam

ngers that were either nervous or angry, and then disturbed the little gentleman next him, who had read his big bo

ut resentfully, as we dashed wi

g frightfully. The Squire pushed it away in a commotion. Though well accustomed to dogs he always fought shy of strange ones. The lady chattered and laughed, and did not seem to

t the window," c

the dog, or whether he went of his own accord, the beast sprang to

ly, but in the same tone of authority he had used to his servant about the lamp. "I have not the slightest objection to dogs myself, but many

, and he went back to his seat again. When we emerged out

the law of you. It is perfectly monstrous that any one, putting themselves into a first-class carriage, should at

and wishing to conciliate him. "The poor little bijou is frightened at darkness, and leape

s there, just as it had been on first entering. The train was drawn up to the next station

ilkins, when I told you t

ard," answered Wilkins. "I caught sight of him running up to his van-door at the last mom

instantly." Lifting his hat to us by way of farewell, he disappeared; and the lunatic began upon the guard as if he were com

mp. And the Squire smiled at the familiar word, so common in our ear

'em all burning," said he. There was no mistaking the home accent

m Worcesters

. Leastways from St. John's

that you can't put empty lamps into first-class carriages on this line without bei

, that I've told the truth in saying the lamps were all right when we started: how this one can have got do

g yourself," growled the lunatic. But he said

his head against the curtain, and shut his eyes to do the same; the little man, as before, never looked off his book; and the lunatic frantically shifted himself ever

, and even the lunatic, with a forgiving smile, a polite good morning. I had moved to that end, and was watching the lady's wonderful back hair as she stepped out, when all in a moment the Squi

ed too; she laid hold of the Squire's arm, and went with him into the station-master's room. And there we were: us three, and the guard,

he knew Squire Todhetley by reputation. The pocket-book had been safe just before we entered the tunnel; the Squire was certain of that, having felt it. He had sat

id; "fifty pounds in five-pound n

you could travel with all that about you, and

?" suddenly demanded the lunatic, turning upon her without warning, hi

she answered, in indi

e no risk in travelling with a coat unbuttoned,

to ascertain that they had not been rifled. Re-assured on the point, she sat down

have some experience in these things. I sat completely off my guard, a prey for anybody, my hands stretched out before me, grappling with that dog, that seemed-why, goodness me! yes he did

pecially at the guard and station-master, who had not been in the carriag

ngs with his mouth. He must have snatched the case out of your pocket,

lunatic, while the Sq

llain! beast! it is he that

it time to speak, "but he could not have dropped it ou

re was the other window," she said in a minute. "He might

e lunatic. "If the dog did take it out of

-master remained where he was, and closed the door after them. A though

, the Squire was asking the guard if he knew who the nobleman was who had

y knew him o

ve not been on this lin

pocket-book was taken in the carriage, sir. Of the four passengers, I suppose the one who left us at the last station must be held exempt from

lling," said the lady,

There was no time to be lost, for the train was ready to start again, her time being up, and the lunatic was turned out. The lady

Todhetley. "You know my name, I dare say. If I can be of any

e read the name on the card. "How could

xed up in it should be searched," replied the lunatic, as they went out together. "It is a satisfaction to both

cried the Squire,

he moment we got into the tunnel? It must have been done then. I should not be startled ou

recall what he could of the little man in spectac

her look?" he

t. "I have a prejudice against painted women: they pu

took his seat in the carriage, n

c?" I whispered

must be a lunatic for asking i

ame nearly took my breath away. He is a well-known London ma

nothing better than

returned the compliment on you, sir. But

n-master's room, the lady came into it, evidently resenting the

who carry pocket-books to lose them, and I hope it will be the last," she pursued, in scornful

ed as she for having listened to the advice of the scientific man-but I can't help calling him a lunatic

else, sir, who could have reached you without getting up to do it. And I declare on my honour, that when that commotion first arose through my poor

not," said

t, and said the spectacled man had got clear off with the pocket-book. There was no one else to pitch upon. A nobleman travelling with his servant would not be likely to commit a robbery; the l

ion. "He kept his face down that we should not know him in future. He n

t led to. There was quite a small crowd of us by this time. Some fields lay beyond the station at the back; and a boy

quire. "If you catch that same m

and the Squire tumbled over it after him. Some boys and men joined in the cha

nd the opposite hedge of the long field. I w

arms. I knew him at once. His hat and gold spectacles had fallen off in the scuffle; the black bag wa

owing what he said in his passion. "Are you not ashamed to have played

is voice trembling a little and his face pale, while

o you suppose you have robbed, if not me? Here, Johnny,

aid the man meekly. "Loose me, b

ing himself over the gate. "Any tramp been trespassing?-

e buckets of water on the offender, he could not have been

handcuffs wit

big enough and strong enough to take hi

ther damped, for he believed in them as one of the country's ins

ow you came to see and hear him; and his face, though scared, might have been thought an honest one. He

t offence! I did not know I was doing wrong, and I doubt if

"Of all the impudent brazen-faced rascals that are cheating the

what

ain. How dare you repeat

ur bank-notes, sir," said the man m

ds under his coat, dancing a little in rage, his face crimson; the other qui

confessed with your last breath that

d of this rare fern," said the man, handling carefully the green stuff

-contained, threw the Squire

hat do you suppose I have to d

is, owned the land. You led me to be

it; I lost it in the train; it must have been taken as we came throu

me here after this plant today-having seen it yesterday, but then I had not m

y, to prove who he was. And, as if to leave no loophole for doubt, one stepped up who knew him, and assured the Squire there was not a more learned man in his line, no, nor on

oner brought in. Her face would have made a picture too, when she heard the upshot,

must have got it,"

Squire. "Whoever may hav

urned decisively. "I thought his fidgety movements were not put on for nothing. He had se

ated. First, out of his money, next out of his suspicions. One only thing in the whole bother see

ad put my arms on the rails at the end, looking at a pleasure-party sailing by. Tod, next to m

I don't want to

oken in reference to Tod's wish for a yacht. But it was not that that made me t

s more amazing than ever. She did not see me. As I turned, she turned, and began to walk slowly back, arm-inarm with a ge

, and told him in a

time the thing was referred to. Not for the loss of the money, but for what he called the stu

us enough, but I had had a curiosity upon the point ever since. They encountered some people and were stand

lord was saying, "but she won't. She is not a very go

like a gentleman. "I will promise you perfect calmness. I am weather-wise, and can assure

tion that your assur

of course will

odded. "Ve

ghton, Mr. Mowbray?" a

exactly. Not f

hispered Tod. "That man is n

istake about that. Lords can't put off their titles as parsons can: do you s

ke that these people are ca

hey turned to come up the pier again with the people, and the lady saw me standing there with Tod. Saw me looking at her, too, and I think she di

the other party went on to the end quietly. A man in a tweed suit and brown hat drawn low over his eyes, was s

n to know tha

o," was t

e a p

occa

ave a reason for asking," he adde

of anything?" ask

th fifty pounds in it in a railway carriage. Those people

t they!" sa

put in, "for I was ther

unnecessarily every other minute. He is a member of the swell-mob; one of the clever

lady?"

e us trouble yet before their career is stopped. But for being singularly clever, we should

London to Brighton that morning; whether for a private trip, or on b

the dog to make, and the lord received it from her hand when he gave her back the dog. Cleverly done! He had it about him, young sir, when he got

ke them up?"

N

he haughtily said. "If I mee

do today," inte

they were not go

think-I'm not quite sure-that he saw

ed Tod, pointing to

ey have casually made here. Yes, an hour o

ion. There they were: in a first-class carriage: not apparently knowing each other, I

a great mind to warn the people of the sort of com

another word, if I did not catch sight of the man-servant an