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judged he was a hanger…on of courts。 But in what character had he
followed the assizes？ As a simple spectator； as a lawyer's clerk；
as a criminal himself； or … last and worst supposition … as a Bow…
street 'runner'？
The cart would wait for me； perhaps； half a mile down our onward
road； which I was already following。 And I told myself that in a
few minutes' walking； Bow…street runner or not； I should have him
at my mercy。 And then reflection came to me in time。 Of all
things； one was out of the question。 Upon no account must this
obtrusive fellow see the cart。 Until I had killed or shook him
off； I was quite divorced from my companions … alone； in the midst
of England； on a frosty by…way leading whither I knew not； with a
sleuth…hound at my heels； and never a friend but the holly…stick！
We came at the same time to a crossing of lanes。 The branch to the
left was overhung with trees； deeply sunken and dark。 Not a ray of
moonlight penetrated its recesses； and I took it at a venture。 The
wretch followed my example in silence； and for some time we
crunched together over frozen pools without a word。 Then he found
his voice； with a chuckle。
'This is not the way to Mr。 Merton's；' said he。
'No？' said I。 'It is mine； however。'
'And therefore mine；' said he。
Again we fell silent； and we may thus have covered half a mile
before the lane； taking a sudden turn； brought us forth again into
the moonshine。 With his hooded great…coat on his back； his valise
in his hand； his black wig adjusted； and footing it on the ice with
a sort of sober doggedness of manner； my enemy was changed almost
beyond recognition： changed in everything but a certain dry；
polemical； pedantic air； that spoke of a sedentary occupation and
high stools。 I observed； too； that his valise was heavy； and；
putting this and that together； hit upon a plan。
'A seasonable night； sir；' said I。 'What do you say to a bit of
running？ The frost has me by the toes。'
'With all the pleasure in life；' says he。
His voice seemed well assured； which pleased me little。 However；
there was nothing else to try； except violence； for which it would
always be too soon。 I took to my heels accordingly； he after me；
and for some time the slapping of our feet on the hard road might
have been heard a mile away。 He had started a pace behind me； and
he finished in the same position。 For all his extra years and the
weight of his valise； he had not lost a hair's breadth。 The devil
might race him for me … I had enough of it！
And； besides； to run so fast was contrary to my interests。 We
could not run long without arriving somewhere。 At any moment we
might turn a corner and find ourselves at the lodge…gate of some
Squire Merton； in the midst of a village whose constable was sober；
or in the hands of a patrol。 There was no help for it … I must
finish with him on the spot； as long as it was possible。 I looked
about me； and the place seemed suitable； never a light； never a
house … nothing but stubble…fields； fallows； and a few stunted
trees。 I stopped and eyed him in the moonlight with an angry
stare。
'Enough of this foolery！' said I。
He had tamed； and now faced me full； very pale； but with no sign of
shrinking。
'I am quite of your opinion；' said he。 'You have tried me at the
running； you can try me next at the high jump。 It will be all the
same。 It must end the one way。'
I made my holly whistle about my head。
'I believe you know what way！' said I。 'We are alone； it is night；
and I am wholly resolved。 Are you not frightened？'
'No；' he said； 'not in the smallest。 I do not box； sir； but I am
not a coward； as you may have supposed。 Perhaps it will simplify
our relations if I tell you at the outset that I walk armed。'
Quick as lightning I made a feint at his head； as quickly he gave
ground； and at the same time I saw a pistol glitter in his hand。
'No more of that； Mr。 French…Prisoner！' he said。 'It will do me no
good to have your death at my door。'
'Faith； nor me either！' said I； and I lowered my stick and
considered the man； not without a twinkle of admiration。 'You
see；' I said； 'there is one consideration that you appear to
overlook： there are a great many chances that your pistol may miss
fire。'
'I have a pair；' he returned。 'Never travel without a brace of
barkers。'
'I make you my compliment；' said I。 'You are able to take care of
yourself； and that is a good trait。 But； my good man！ let us look
at this matter dispassionately。 You are not a coward； and no more
am I； we are both men of excellent sense； I have good reason；
whatever it may be； to keep my concerns to myself and to walk
alone。 Now I put it to you pointedly； am I likely to stand it？ Am
I likely to put up with your continued and … excuse me … highly
impudent INGERENCE into my private affairs？'
'Another French word；' says he composedly。
'Oh！ damn your French words！' cried I。 'You seem to be a Frenchman
yourself！'
'I have had many opportunities by which I have profited；' he
explained。 'Few men are better acquainted with the similarities
and differences； whether of idiom or accent； of the two languages。'
'You are a pompous fellow； too！' said I。
'Oh； I can make distinctions； sir；' says he。 'I can talk with
Bedfordshire peasants； and I can express myself becomingly； I hope；
in the company of a gentleman of education like yourself。'
'If you set up to be a gentleman … ' I began。
'Pardon me；' he interrupted： 'I make no such claim。 I only see the
nobility and gentry in the way of business。 I am quite a plain
person。'
'For the Lord's sake；' I exclaimed； 'set my mind at rest upon one
point。 In the name of mystery； who and what are you？'
'I have no cause to be ashamed of my name； sir；' said he； 'nor yet
my trade。 I am Thomas Dudgeon； at your service； clerk to Mr。
Daniel Romaine； solicitor of London； High Holborn is our address；
sir。'
It was only by the ecstasy of the relief that I knew how horribly I
had been frightened。 I flung my stick on the road。
'Romaine？' I cried。 'Daniel Romaine？ An old hunks with a red face
and a big head； and got up like a Quaker？ My dear friend； to my
arms！'
'Keep back； I say！' said Dudgeon weakly。
I would not listen to him。 With the end of my own alarm； I felt as
if I must infallibly be at the end of all dangers likewise； as if
the pistol that he held in one hand were no more to be feared than
the valise that he carried with the other； and now put up like a
barrier against my advance。
'Keep back； or I declare I will fire；' he was crying。 'Have a
care； for God's sake！ My pistol … '
He might scream as be pleased。 Willy nilly； I folded him to my
breast； I pressed him there； I kissed his ugly mug as it had never
been kisse