按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
'O yes； sir！ He said； 〃There IS Mr。 Sampson； I see！〃'
'A well…spoken gentleman； apparently？'
'Remarkably so； sir。'
5
… Page 6…
Hunted Down
'Insinuating manners； apparently？'
'Very much so； indeed； sir。'
'Hah！' said I。 'I want nothing at present； Mr。 Adams。'
Within a fortnight of that day I went to dine with a friend of mine； a
merchant； a man of taste； who buys pictures and books； and the first man I
saw among the company was Mr。 Julius Slinkton。 There he was； standing
before the fire； with good large eyes and an open expression of face； but
still （I thought） requiring everybody to come at him by the prepared way
he offered； and by no other。
I noticed him ask my friend to introduce him to Mr。 Sampson； and my
friend did so。 Mr。 Slinkton was very happy to see me。 Not too happy；
there was no over…doing of the matter； happy in a thoroughly well…bred；
perfectly unmeaning way。
'I thought you had met；' our host observed。
'No；' said Mr。 Slinkton。 'I did look in at Mr。 Sampson's office； on
your recommendation； but I really did not feel justified in troubling Mr。
Sampson himself； on a point in the everyday； routine of an ordinary clerk。'
I said I should have been glad to show him any attention on our
friend's introduction。
'I am sure of that；' said he； 'and am much obliged。 At another time；
perhaps； I may be less delicate。 Only； however； if I have real business；
for I know； Mr。 Sampson； how precious business time is； and what a vast
number of impertinent people there are in the world。'
I acknowledged his consideration with a slight bow。 'You were
thinking；' said I； 'of effecting a policy on your life。'
'O dear no！ I am afraid I am not so prudent as you pay me the
compliment of supposing me to be； Mr。 Sampson。 I merely inquired for a
friend。 But you know what friends are in such matters。 Nothing may
ever come of it。 I have the greatest reluctance to trouble men of business
with inquiries for friends； knowing the probabilities to be a thousand to
one that the friends will never follow them up。 People are so fickle； so
6
… Page 7…
Hunted Down
selfish； so inconsiderate。 Don't you； in your business； find them so every
day； Mr。 Sampson？'
I was going to give a qualified answer； but he turned his smooth； white
parting on me with its 'Straight up here； if you please！' and I answered
'Yes。'
'I hear； Mr。 Sampson；' he resumed presently； for our friend had a new
cook； and dinner was not so punctual as usual； 'that your profession has
recently suffered a great loss。'
'In money？' said I。
He laughed at my ready association of loss with money； and replied；
'No； in talent and vigour。'
Not at once following out his allusion； I considered for a moment。
'HAS it sustained a loss of that kind？' said I。 'I was not aware of it。'
'Understand me； Mr。 Sampson。 I don't imagine that you have retired。
It is not so bad as that。 But Mr。 Meltham … '
'O； to be sure！' said I。 'Yes！ Mr。 Meltham； the young actuary of the
〃Inestimable。〃'
'Just so；' he returned in a consoling way。
'He is a great loss。 He was at once the most profound； the most
original； and the most energetic man I have ever known connected with
Life Assurance。'
I spoke strongly； for I had a high esteem and admiration for Meltham；
and my gentleman had indefinitely conveyed to me some suspicion that he
wanted to sneer at him。 He recalled me to my guard by presenting that
trim pathway up his head； with its internal 'Not on the grass； if you please
… the gravel。'
'You knew him； Mr。 Slinkton。'
'Only by reputation。 To have known him as an acquaintance or as a
friend； is an honour I should have sought if he had remained in society；
though I might never have had the good fortune to attain it； being a man of
far inferior mark。 He was scarcely above thirty； I suppose？'
7
… Page 8…
Hunted Down
'About thirty。'
'Ah！' he sighed in his former consoling way。 'What creatures we are！
To break up； Mr。 Sampson； and become incapable of business at that time
of life！ … Any reason assigned for the melancholy fact？'
（'Humph！' thought I； as I looked at him。 'But I WON'T go up the
track； and I WILL go on the grass。'）
'What reason have you heard assigned； Mr。 Slinkton？' I asked； point…
blank。
'Most likely a false one。 You know what Rumour is； Mr。 Sampson。
I never repeat what I hear； it is the only way of paring the nails and
shaving the head of Rumour。 But when YOU ask me what reason I have
heard assigned for Mr。 Meltham's passing away from among men； it is
another thing。 I am not gratifying idle gossip then。 I was told； Mr。
Sampson； that Mr。 Meltham had relinquished all his avocations and all his
prospects； because he was； in fact； broken… hearted。 A disappointed
attachment I heard； … though it hardly seems probable； in the case of a man
so distinguished and so attractive。'
'Attractions and distinctions are no armour against death；' said I。
'O； she died？ Pray pardon me。 I did not hear that。 That； indeed；
makes it very； very sad。 Poor Mr。 Meltham！ She died？ Ah； dear me！
Lamentable； lamentable！'
I still thought his pity was not quite genuine； and I still suspected an
unaccountable sneer under all this； until he said； as we were parted； like
the other knots of talkers； by the announcement of dinner：
'Mr。 Sampson； you are surprised to see me so moved on behalf of a
man whom I have never known。 I am not so disinterested as you may
suppose。 I have suffered； and recently too； from death myself。 I have
lost one of two charming nieces； who were my constant companions。
She died young … barely three…and…twenty； and even her remaining sister is
far from strong。 The world is a grave！'
He said this with deep feeling； and I felt reproached for the coldness of