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also； that was but another drop of bitterness in my cup！ For what
ailed my landlady； that she should hold herself so severely aloof；
that she should refuse conversation； that her eyes should be
reddened； that I should so continually hear the voice of her
private supplications sounding through the house？ I was much
deceived； or she had read the insidious paragraph and recognised
the comminated pearl…grey suit。 I remember now a certain air with
which she had laid the paper on my table； and a certain sniff；
between sympathy and defiance； with which she had announced it：
'There's your MERCURY for ye！'
In this direction； at least； I saw no pressing danger； her tragic
countenance betokened agitation； it was plain she was wrestling
with her conscience； and the battle still hung dubious。 The
question of what to do troubled me extremely。 I could not venture
to touch such an intricate and mysterious piece of machinery as my
landlady's spiritual nature： it might go off at a word； and in any
direction； like a badly…made firework。 And while I praised myself
extremely for my wisdom in the past； that I had made so much a
friend of her； I was all abroad as to my conduct in the present。
There seemed an equal danger in pressing and in neglecting the
accustomed marks of familiarity。 The one extreme looked like
impudence； and might annoy； the other was a practical confession of
guilt。 Altogether； it was a good hour for me when the dusk began
to fall in earnest on the streets of Edinburgh； and the voice of an
early watchman bade me set forth。
I reached the neighbourhood of the cottage before seven； and as I
breasted the steep ascent which leads to the garden wall； I was
struck with surprise to hear a dog。 Dogs I had heard before； but
only from the hamlet on the hillside above。 Now； this dog was in
the garden itself； where it roared aloud in paroxysms of fury； and
I could hear it leaping and straining on the chain。 I waited some
while； until the brute's fit of passion had roared itself out。
Then； with the utmost precaution； I drew near again； and finally
approached the garden wall。 So soon as I had clapped my head above
the level； however； the barking broke forth again with redoubled
energy。 Almost at the same time； the door of the cottage opened；
and Ronald and the Major appeared upon the threshold with a
lantern。 As they so stood； they were almost immediately below me；
strongly illuminated； and within easy earshot。 The Major pacified
the dog； who took instead to low； uneasy growling intermingled with
occasional yelps。
'Good thing I brought Towzer！' said Chevenix。
'Damn him； I wonder where he is！' said Ronald； and he moved the
lantern up and down； and turned the night into a shifting puzzle…
work of gleam and shadow。 'I think I'll make a sally。'
'I don't think you will；' replied Chevenix。 'When I agreed to come
out here and do sentry…go； it was on one condition； Master Ronald：
don't you forget that！ Military discipline； my boy！ Our beat is
this path close about the house。 Down； Towzer！ good boy； good boy
… gently； then！' he went on； caressing his confounded monster。
'To think！ The beggar may be hearing us this minute！' cried
Ronald。
'Nothing more probable；' said the Major。 'You there； St。 Ives？' he
added； in a distinct but guarded voice。 'I only want to tell you；
you had better go home。 Mr。 Gilchrist and I take watch and watch。'
The game was up。 'BEAUCOUP DE PLAISIR！' I replied； in the same
tones。 'IL FAIT UN PEU FROID POUR VEILLER； GARDEZ…VOUS DES
ENGELURES！'
I suppose it was done in a moment of ungovernable rage； but in
spite of the excellent advice he had given to Ronald the moment
before； Chevenix slipped the chain； and the dog sprang； straight as
an arrow； up the bank。 I stepped back； picked up a stone of about
twelve pounds weight； and stood ready。 With a bound the beast
landed on the cope…stone of the wall； and； almost in the same
instant； my missile caught him fair in the face。 He gave a stifled
cry； went tumbling back where he had come from； and I could hear
the twelve…pounder accompany him in his fall。 Chevenix； at the
same moment； broke out in a roaring voice： 'The hell…hound！ If
he's killed my dog！' and I judged； upon all grounds； it was as well
to be off。
CHAPTER XXX … EVENTS OF WEDNESDAY； THE UNIVERSITY OF CRAMOND
I AWOKE to much diffidence； even to a feeling that might be called
the beginnings of panic； and lay for hours in my bed considering
the situation。 Seek where I pleased； there was nothing to
encourage me and plenty to appal。 They kept a close watch about
the cottage； they had a beast of a watch…dog … at least； unless I
had settled it； and if I had； I knew its bereaved master would only
watch the more indefatigably for the loss。 In the pardonable
ostentation of love I had given all the money I could spare to
Flora； I had thought it glorious that the hunted exile should come
down； like Jupiter； in a shower of gold； and pour thousands in the
lap of the beloved。 Then I had in an hour of arrant folly buried
what remained to me in a bank in George Street。 And now I must get
back the one or the other； and which？ and how？
As I tossed in my bed； I could see three possible courses； all
extremely perilous。 First； Rowley might have been mistaken； the
bank might not be watched； it might still be possible for him to
draw the money on the deposit receipt。 Second； I might apply again
to Robbie。 Or； third； I might dare everything； go to the Assembly
Ball； and speak with Flora under the eyes of all Edinburgh。 This
last alternative； involving as it did the most horrid risks； and
the delay of forty…eight hours； I did but glance at with an averted
head； and turned again to the consideration of the others。 It was
the likeliest thing in the world that Robbie had been warned to
have no more to do with me。 The whole policy of the Gilchrists was
in the hands of Chevenix； and I thought this was a precaution so
elementary that he was certain to have taken it。 If he had not； of
course I was all right： Robbie would manage to communicate with
Flora； and by four o'clock I might be on the south road and； I was
going to say； a free man。 Lastly； I must assure myself with my own
eyes whether the bank in George Street were beleaguered。
I called to Rowley and questioned him tightly as to the appearance
of the Bow Street officer。
'What sort of looking man is he； Rowley？' I asked； as I began to
dress。
'Wot sort of a looking man he is？' repeated Rowley。 'Well； I don't
very well know wot you would say； Mr。 Anne。 He ain't a beauty；
any'ow。'
'Is he tall？'
'Tall？ Well； no； I shouldn't say TALL Mr。 Anne。'
'Well； then； is he short？'
'Short？ No； I don't think I would say he was what you would call
SHORT。 No； not piticular short； sir。'
'Then； I suppose； he must be about the middle height？'
'Well； you might say it； sir； but not remarkable so。'
I smothered an oath。
'Is he clean…shaved？' I tried him again。
'Clean…shaved？' he repeated； with the same air of anxious candour。
'Good heaven； man； don't repeat my words like a parrot！' I cried。
'Tell me what the man was like： it is of the first importance that
I should be able to recognise him。'
'I'm trying to； Mr。 Anne。 But CLEAN…SHAVED？ I don't seem to
rightly get hold of that p'int。 Sometimes it might appear to me
like as if he was； and sometimes like as if he wasn't。 No； it
wouldn't surprise me now if you was to tell me he 'ad a bit o'
whisker。'
'Was the man red…faced？' I roared； dwelling on each syllable。
'I don't think you need go for to get cross about it； Mr。 Anne！'
said he。 'I'm tellin' you every blessed thing I see！ Red…faced？
Well； no； not as you would remark upon。'
A dreadful calm fell upon me。
'Was he anywise pale？' I asked。
'Well； it don't seem to me as though he were。 But I tell you
truly； I didn't take much heed to that。'
'Did he look like a drinking man？'
'Well； no。 If you please； sir； he looked more like an eating one。'
'Oh； he was stout； was he？'
'No； sir。 I couldn't go so far as that。 No； he wasn't not to say
STOUT。 If anything； lean rather。'
I need not go on with the infuriating interview。 It ended as it
began； except that Rowley was in tears； and that I had acquired one
fact。 The man was drawn for me as being of any height you like to
mention； and of any degree of corpulence or leanness； clean…shaved
or not； as the case might be； the colour of his hair Rowley 'could
not take it upon himself to put a name on'； that of his eyes he
thought to have been blue … nay； it was the one point on which he
attained to a kind of tearful certainty。 'I'll take my davy on
it；'