Mr. Russell all at once turned the talk to something different.
"By-the-bye," said he, "I'm told the Earl gave you his own watch and chain."
"Yes," I said, and I got rather red.
"I don't wonder your father is proud."
"Was he proud about it?" I said. "Then he didn't show what he felt."
"Might I," Mr. Russell went on— "might I see the watch?"
I didn't see how to refuse or why I need: so I ran upstairs and brought down the gold watch and chain, laying them on the table in front of Mr. Russell. He took them up and examined both closely, letting his tea get cold, he was so interested.
"You'll have to mind you keep them in a safe place," he said after a while. "The Earl knows how to do things in a princely style. You're in luck, I can tell you. It's a thirty-guinea watch if it's worth a penny, and the chain half as much again!"
I was rather startled to hear this.
"First-rate article," says Mr. Russell. "Look, here's where you wind up." I came nearer to be shown, and at the sound of a step outside the window he just lifted his eyes for a moment, and asked in a careless way, "Who is that gawky young fellow? I saw him at the station."