“But you mustn’t,” pointed out Horace. “Far as I can see, the main reason why Lupcott, the landlord of the ‘Flag and Pennant,’ ’as given you the job of ferryman is that so you can get rid of this ’ere rival for ’im.”
“I forgot that,” admitted Mr. Clark. “Never mind, I’ll soon nab the pair of ’em now, and then I can turn over a new leaf.”
But, indeed, Mr. Clark had not succeeded in catching even a glimpse of Mr. William Jones by the next day, nor the next, nor the next after that. Confessing his failure rather apprehensively to his patron, Mr. Lupcott, he was relieved when that gentleman, bidding him cheer up, cited the precedent of Bruce’s spider.
A few more days passed. Mr. Clark, now well established in his new sphere of activity, was winning custom and popularity by the nice distinction of his manners and the careful choice of his vocabulary, and was almost forgetting the very existence of the secretive Mr. Jones, when one morning the affair of Miss Poskett’s love passage suddenly loomed large again before him.
It so chanced that Mr. Clark had just started from the further side of the river, when loud shouts for his immediate presence claimed his attention.
“Bit of a ’urry, seemingly,” commented Mr. Clark, and obligingly began to row back.
There were two male figures awaiting him. One of them was brandishing his arms and bellowing; the other, taking matters more calmly, leaned in repose against a post, smiling at his companion’s vehemence. The excitable gentleman was Mr. Poskett, the other was Mr. Horace Dobb.
“A nice thing! A nice thing!” raved Mr. Poskett, as the nose of the ferry-boat grounded and Mr. Clark stepped ashore. “You’re a fraud! A impostor! A broken reed! A foolish virgin!”
The bewildered Mr. Clark, gazing from this figure of wrath to the placid mien of Mr. Dobb, received a slow, significant wink from that gentleman.
“I’ve been betrayed!” shrilly declaimed Mr. Poskett. “I’ve been wounded in my tenderest feelings! While you’ve been pretendin’ to be so watchful and alert, my niece ’as slipped away and got married! She’s just sent me a telegram, telling me about it, and ’ow she was starting off on ’er ’oneymoon!”