Hunted Down | Page 6

to force it upon him - I became quite angry with myself. I took
his face to pieces in my mind, like a watch, and examined it in detail. I
could not say much against any of his features separately; I could say
even less against them when they were put together. 'Then is it not
monstrous,' I asked myself, 'that because a man happens to part his hair
straight up the middle of his head, I should permit myself to suspect,

and even to detest him?'
(I may stop to remark that this was no proof of my sense. An observer
of men who finds himself steadily repelled by some apparently trifling
thing in a stranger is right to give it great weight. It may be the clue to
the whole mystery. A hair or two will show where a lion is hidden. A
very little key will open a very heavy door.)
I took my part in the conversation with him after a time, and we got on
remarkably well. In the drawing-room I asked the host how long he had
known Mr. Slinkton. He answered, not many months; he had met him
at the house of a celebrated painter then present, who had known him
well when he was travelling with his nieces in Italy for their health. His
plans in life being broken by the death of one of them, he was reading
with the intention of going back to college as a matter of form, taking
his degree, and going into orders. I could not but argue with myself that
here was the true explanation of his interest in poor Meltham, and that I
had been almost brutal in my distrust on that simple head.

III.
On the very next day but one I was sitting behind my glass partition, as
before, when he came into the outer office, as before. The moment I
saw him again without hearing him, I hated him worse than ever.
It was only for a moment that I had this opportunity; for he waved his
tight-fitting black glove the instant I looked at him, and came straight
in.
'Mr. Sampson, good-day! I presume, you see, upon your kind
permission to intrude upon you. I don't keep my word in being justified
by business, for my business here - if I may so abuse the word - is of
the slightest nature.'
I asked, was it anything I could assist him in?
'I thank you, no. I merely called to inquire outside whether my dilatory

friend had been so false to himself as to be practical and sensible. But,
of course, he has done nothing. I gave him your papers with my own
hand, and he was hot upon the intention, but of course he has done
nothing. Apart from the general human disinclination to do anything
that ought to be done, I dare say there is a specially about assuring
one's life. You find it like will-making. People are so superstitious, and
take it for granted they will die soon afterwards.'
'Up here, if you please; straight up here, Mr. Sampson. Neither to the
right nor to the left.' I almost fancied I could hear him breathe the
words as he sat smiling at me, with that intolerable parting exactly
opposite the bridge of my nose.
'There is such a feeling sometimes, no doubt,' I replied; 'but I don't
think it obtains to any great extent.'
'Well,' said he, with a shrug and a smile, 'I wish some good angel would
influence my friend in the right direction. I rashly promised his mother
and sister in Norfolk to see it done, and he promised them that he
would do it. But I suppose he never will.'
He spoke for a minute or two on indifferent topics, and went away.
I had scarcely unlocked the drawers of my writing-table next morning,
when he reappeared. I noticed that he came straight to the door in the
glass partition, and did not pause a single moment outside.
'Can you spare me two minutes, my dear Mr. Sampson?'
'By all means.'
'Much obliged,' laying his hat and umbrella on the table; 'I came early,
not to interrupt you. The fact is, I am taken by surprise in reference to
this proposal my friend has made.'
'Has he made one?' said I.
'Ye-es,' he answered, deliberately looking at me; and then a bright idea

seemed to strike him - 'or he only tells me he has. Perhaps that may be
a new way of evading the matter. By Jupiter, I never thought of that!'
Mr. Adams was opening the morning's letters in the outer office. 'What
is the name, Mr. Slinkton?' I asked.
'Beckwith.'
I looked out at the door and requested Mr. Adams, if there