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Looking that way, I necessarily looked also toward the door that ran in grooves the imperfectly closed door through which I heard Major Fitz-David question his servant on the subject of my personal appearance when I first entered the house. No one had moved this door during the time of my visit. Everybody entering or leaving the room had used the other door, which led into the hall.
"I have told you already that my mind is in a bad way about Eustace," I answered. "I say there is some motive at the bottom of his visit to Major Fitz-David. It is not an ordinary call. I am firmly convinced it is not an ordinary call!" "Suppose we get on with our dinner?" said Benjamin, resignedly. "Here is a loin of mutton, my dear an ordinary loin of mutton.
The servant reappeared, and conducted me to the inner room. Major Fitz-David advanced to welcome me. What was the Major like? Well, he was like a well-preserved old gentleman of, say, sixty years old, little and lean, and chiefly remarkable by the extraordinary length of his nose.
I was amazed at my own calmness. My interview with Major Fitz-David had, perhaps, exhausted my capacity for feeling any strong emotion, for the time at least. It was a relief to me to be alone; it was a relief to me to begin the search. Those were my only sensations so far. The shape of the room was oblong.
The Major had settled in life at last. And, more wonderful still, the Major had chosen as the lawful ruler of his household and himself "the future Queen of Song," the round-eyed, overdressed young lady with the strident soprano voice! We paid our visit of congratulation in due form; and we really did feel for Major Fitz-David.
There is something under the surface in connection with Mr. Woodville, or with his family, to which Major Fitz-David is not at liberty to allude. Properly interpreted, Valeria, that letter is a warning. Show it to Mr. Eustace stopped me again. "You are sure your uncle said those words?" he asked, scanning my face attentively in the moonlight. "Quite sure. But I don't say what my uncle says.
The Major brightened at the idea, and took up the pen again. "Do tell me," he said, "what is your favorite autumn soup?" "Pardon me," I began, "we were speaking just now " "Oh, dear me!" cried Major Fitz-David. "Is this the other subject?" "Yes this is the other subject." The Major put down his pen for the second time, and regretfully dismissed from his mind Madame Mirliflore and the autumn soup.
"I said I was not sure you were at home, sir," answered the voice of the servant who had let me in. There was a pause. The first speaker was evidently Major Fitz-David himself. I waited to hear more. "I think I had better not see her, Oliver," the Major's voice resumed. "Very good, sir." "Say I have gone out, and you don't know when I shall be back again.
Benjamin accompanied him when he came here." This brief explanation was quite enough for me I understood what had happened. Eustace would easily frighten simple old Benjamin about my absence from the hotel; and, once alarmed, Benjamin would be persuaded without difficulty to repeat the few words which had passed between us on the subject of Major Fitz-David.
There Miss Hoighty lifted her handkerchief again to her face, and burst modestly into tears behind it. It was certainly hard to hold her responsible for what had happened. I answered as kindly as I could, and I attempted to speak to Major Fitz-David in her defense.