[The House by the Church-Yard by J. Sheridan Le Fanu]@TWC D-Link bookThe House by the Church-Yard CHAPTER LII 3/3
It seems he saw you, and you him--here, in this town, some months ago, and each knew the other, and you've seen him since, and done likewise; but you said nothing, and he liked your philosophy, and hopes you'll accept of this, which from its weight I take to be a little rouleau of guineas.' During this speech Irons seemed both angry and frightened, and looked darkly enough before him on the water; and his lips were moving, as if in a running commentary upon it all the while. When Dangerfield put the little roll in his hand, Irons looked suspicious and frightened, and balanced it in his palm, as if he had thoughts of chucking it from him, as though it were literally a satanic douceur.
But it is hard to part with money, and Irons, though he still looked cowed and unhappy, put the money into his breeches' pocket, and he made a queer bow, and he said-- 'You know, Sir, I never asked a farthing.' 'Ay, so he says,' answered Dangerfield. 'And,' with an imprecation, Irons added, 'I never expected to be a shilling the better of him.' 'He knows it; and now you have the reason why I mentioned Charles Archer; and having placed that gold in your hand, I've done with him, and we sha'n't have occasion, I hope, to name his name for a good while to come,' said Dangerfield. Then came a long refreshing silence, while Dangerfield whipt the stream with his flies.
He was not successful; but he did not change his flies. It did not seem to trouble him; indeed, mayhap he did not perceive it. And after fully twenty minutes thus unprofitably employed, he suddenly said, as if in continuation of his last sentence-- 'And, respecting that money you'll use caution; a hundred guineas is not always so honestly come by.
Your wife drinks--suppose a relative in England had left you that gold, by will, 'twould be best not to let _her_ know; but give it to Dr.Walsingham, secretly, to keep for you, telling him the reason.
He'll undertake the trust and tell no one--_that's_ your plan--mind ye.' Then came another long silence, and Dangerfield applied himself in earnest to catch some trout, and when he had accomplished half-a-dozen, he tired altogether of the sport, and followed by Irons, he sauntered homewards, where astounding news awaited him..
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