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Hornett lit a candle which adhered by its own grease to the filthy wall and had already made a great cone of smoke with a tremulous outline there. There was a small grate, with a mere double-handful of shavings, chips, and coal behind its rusty bars.
'I saw him there to-night, sir, said Hornett 'I saw his face at the window. He put a glass of flowers outside. That's his shadow moving about there now. 'Phil! groaned the wretched father, straining his dirty wasted hands together. 'Phil! 'I'm not the figure, sir, said Hornett, 'to call upon a gentleman like Mr. Phil; nor yet are you, sir, if you'll excuse my saying so.
That was the only thing Mr. Hornett could think of as being likely to affect his employer in that way. Now Mr. Hornett had been in his present employ for thirty years, man and boy, and he was human. Therefore, when at the expiration of a little more than five minutes' time Mr.
He was ready to run for his life, and he was more than half afraid that the old man was mad his eyes blazed so, and his voice and gestures were so tempestuous. 'It was lost, said Bommaney. 'I lost it, Heaven knows how. I've thought a thousand times, he said, through his clenched teeth, 'that that young Barter must have had it. 'Young Barter, sir? said Hornett.
The poor Bommaney was maddened to think he had not done what the other's thoughts charged him with, even though he passionately rebelled against the accusation. 'When did you ever know me to be a rogue, James Hornett? he asked, with an air and voice to which his passion lent something like dignity. 'When did you ever know me defraud a man of a farthing?
Bommaney was ashamed before him, and afraid of him, and only some faint reminder of self-respect and the pride of earlier days held him back from the impulse to run away. 'You're not afraid of me, sir? said James Hornett. He had always smiled, and was smiling even now.
A year ago the fare would have seemed uninviting to either at his hungriest moment, but now Bommaney called for it with a dreadful suppressed eagerness, and, the barman serving them with a tantalising leisure, they watched every movement with the eyes of famine. 'I've got a little place, sir, of my own, whispered Hornett, when the pangs of hunger were appeased.
'What do you want with me? asked Bommaney, when the policeman was out of sight and hearing; Hornett walking beside him, with his lean, propitiatory fingers at his chin, looked up with hesitating meekness.
James Hornett had slid noiselessly downstairs, his mind inflated by pride. He was not proud of having played the eavesdropper, for even in Mr. Hornett's economy of things, that was an act to be proud of; but he was very proud, indeed, to be associated with a gentleman so magnificently respected as Mr. Bommaney.
'You remember me, sir? he went on, for Bommaney stared at him so wildly that there seemed room for reasonable doubt on that point. 'Hornett, sir. James Hornett Your faithful servant for thirty years, sir. Bommaney looked at him with haggard watering eyes, and said nothing as yet 'It's a bit of a surprise, sir, at first, isn't it? Hornett went on, with his unchanging smile.
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