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The hand…carriage was spinning away before us at a most indecorous
pace for an invalid vehicle； and was making most irregular curves upon
the sand。 Mr。 Slinkton； noticing it after he had put his handkerchief to
his eyes； said；
'If I may judge from appearances； your friend will be upset； Mr。
Sampson。'
'It looks probable； certainly；' said I。
'The servant must be drunk。'
'The servants of old gentlemen will get drunk sometimes；' said I。
'The major draws very light； Mr。 Sampson。'
'The major does draw light；' said I。
By this time the carriage； much to my relief； was lost in the darkness。
We walked on for a little； side by side over the sand； in silence。 After a
short while he said； in a voice still affected by the emotion that his niece's
state of health had awakened in him；
'Do you stay here long； Mr。 Sampson？'
'Why； no。 I am going away to…night。'
'So soon？ But business always holds you in request。 Men like Mr。
Sampson are too important to others； to be spared to their own need of
relaxation and enjoyment。'
'I don't know about that；' said I。 'However； I am going back。'
'To London？'
'To London。'
'I shall be there too； soon after you。'
I knew that as well as he did。 But I did not tell him so。 Any more
than I told him what defensive weapon my right hand rested on in my
pocket； as I walked by his side。 Any more than I told him why I did not
walk on the sea side of him with the night closing in。
We left the beach； and our ways diverged。 We exchanged goodnight；
and had parted indeed； when he said； returning；
'Mr。 Sampson； MAY I ask？ Poor Meltham； whom we spoke of； …
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dead yet？'
'Not when I last heard of him； but too broken a man to live long； and
hopelessly lost to his old calling。'
'Dear； dear； dear！' said he； with great feeling。 'Sad； sad； sad！ The
world is a grave！' And so went his way。
It was not his fault if the world were not a grave； but I did not call that
observation after him； any more than I had mentioned those other things
just now enumerated。 He went his way； and I went mine with all
expedition。 This happened； as I have said； either at the end of September
or beginning of October。 The next time I saw him； and the last time； was
late in November。
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V。
I had a very particular engagement to breakfast in the Temple。 It
was a bitter north…easterly morning； and the sleet and slush lay inches deep
in the streets。 I could get no conveyance； and was soon wet to the knees；
but I should have been true to that appointment； though I had to wade to it
up to my neck in the same impediments。
The appointment took me to some chambers in the Temple。 They
were at the top of a lonely corner house overlooking the river。 The name；
MR。 ALFRED BECKWITH； was painted on the outer door。 On the door
opposite； on the same landing； the name MR。 JULIUS SLINKTON。 The
doors of both sets of chambers stood open； so that anything said aloud in
one set could be heard in the other。
I had never been in those chambers before。 They were dismal； close；
unwholesome； and oppressive； the furniture； originally good； and not yet
old； was faded and dirty； … the rooms were in great disorder； there was a
strong prevailing smell of opium； brandy； and tobacco； the grate and fire…
irons were splashed all over with unsightly blotches of rust； and on a sofa
by the fire； in the room where breakfast had been prepared； lay the host；
Mr。 Beckwith； a man with all the appearances of the worst kind of
drunkard； very far advanced upon his shameful way to death。
'Slinkton is not come yet；' said this creature； staggering up when I went
in； 'I'll call him。 … Halloa！ Julius Caesar！ Come and drink！' As he
hoarsely roared this out； he beat the poker and tongs together in a mad
way； as if that were his usual manner of summoning his associate。
The voice of Mr。 Slinkton was heard through the clatter from the
opposite side of the staircase； and he came in。 He had not expected the
pleasure of meeting me。 I have seen several artful men brought to a
stand； but I never saw a man so aghast as he was when his eyes rested on
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mine。
'Julius Caesar；' cried Beckwith； staggering between us； 'Mist' Sampson！
Mist' Sampson； Julius Caesar！ Julius； Mist' Sampson； is the friend of my
soul。 Julius keeps me plied with liquor； morning； noon； and night。
Julius is a real benefactor。 Julius threw the tea and coffee out of window
when I used to have any。 Julius empties all the water…jugs of their
contents； and fills 'em with spirits。 Julius winds me up and keeps me going。
… Boil the brandy； Julius！'
There was a rusty and furred saucepan in the ashes； … the ashes looked
like the accumulation of weeks； … and Beckwith； rolling and staggering
between us as if he were going to plunge headlong into the fire； got the
saucepan out； and tried to force it into Slinkton's hand。
'Boil the brandy； Julius Caesar！ Come！ Do your usual office。 Boil
the brandy！'
He became so fierce in his gesticulations with the saucepan； that I
expected to see him lay open Slinkton's head with it。 I therefore put out
my hand to check him。 He reeled back to the sofa； and sat there panting；
shaking； and red…eyed； in his rags of dressing…gown； looking at us both。 I
noticed then that there was nothing to drink on the table but brandy； and
nothing to eat but salted herrings； and a hot； sickly； highly…peppered stew。
'At all events； Mr。 Sampson；' said Slinkton； offering me the smooth
gravel path for the last time； 'I thank you for interfering between me and
this unfortunate man's violence。