[CHAPTER XIX.]
AFTER MANY DAYS.
The basement of the Knoxport court-house, a small, smart affair, was used as the county bridewell. The room in which Jennison sat, with an official writing in a farther corner, was a good-sized, half-furnished place.
Jennison did not rise as Touchtone came in, followed by his guide. The latter stepped away to his companion’s side and seemed to pay no attention to them.
“Good-evening; I’m obliged to you for coming down,” Jennison began. He looked a trifle disheveled and haggard, and had that peculiar air of a criminal expecting the now inevitable course of justice. “Take a seat.”
“The officer told me you wished to see me, and, particularly, alone,” answered Philip, in mingled curiosity and disgust, as he found himself once more in the presence of so bold and adroit a foe. There came vividly back to him the scene of the attack on board the steamer; the recognition of the handsome face, with its lurking treachery, in the portrait Mrs. Probasco had handed him on the island, and that last leap into the Knoxport arbor to re-enforce Gerald, at this man’s mercy. “What do you want of me?”
Jennison smiled. “I don’t suppose you can guess,” he replied, shifting his position. “Not to talk over the occurrences of the past fortnight or so with you, nor this end of them. You can be sure of that. You’ve won the game, Touchtone, as I told you; won it pluckily and fairly. You are a remarkable young fellow! A good rogue was spoiled in you, perhaps.”
“I think not; and I do not wish to talk of that or of affairs that are over with, any more than you do. If you have any thing particular to say I should like to hear it, and go back to the hotel.”
“All happy and serene up there, I suppose?” inquired the other, coolly. “Nice youngster that Master Gerald is! Not extraordinary that strangers should take a fancy to him, eh? Pretty boy!” he laughed, ironically.
Philip made no reply except another word about the expediency of soon hearing what he was brought down for. He did not propose to go away without asking some very particular questions, if necessary. Jennison saved him the trouble. He lowered his voice and began hurriedly: