“Well, Everage, I was severely wounded, and, in the illness that followed, I came nearer facing my Judge than I ever expected to do, without hearing my sentence. In the convalescence that followed, you may believe that I was brought to very serious reflection. Among other subjects, I thought of you, Everage, and took myself to task for not having done so before—nay, now, do not shrink and turn from me; I mean no such an impertinence as patronage to you, Everage. I would just as soon venture to patronize one of the royal princes. But I thought of a plan for improving the circumstances of your family, which even you might meet without detriment to your honest pride.”
“Oh, Heaven! oh, Heaven, have mercy on me!” groaned the poor gentleman.
“Everage, you are exhausted; you really must have something,” said Alick.
And he rang for a waiter, and ordered brandy; which was quickly brought.
Everage gulped a small glassful and then said:
“You thought of me—you thought of me on your sick-bed! You think of me still in your days of deep affliction! for you cannot have come to London without learning the loss of——”
Everage’s voice broke down in sobs.
“My child? yes; I learned the loss from the newspapers—from the very first newspapers that fell into my hands after I was convalescent. I have thought of little else since my arrival. For the last eight days, I have done nothing but devise and carry out plans for his recovery. But, this morning, I remembered you and your affairs, and reproached myself for forgetting them. So, now——”
“But, about your child,—how can you think of any one or of anything while he is missing?”
“Because I cherish a great faith that I shall soon find him. But about your affairs. I wish to speak of them,” said Alick.