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an active man。 With that figure beside her； I knew she was safe
anywhere。
I sat alone on the rock； awaiting Mr。 Slinkton's return。 The
twilight was deepening and the shadows were heavy； when he came
round the point； with his hat hanging at his button…hole； smoothing
his wet hair with one of his hands； and picking out the old path
with the other and a pocket…comb。
'My niece not here； Mr。 Sampson？' he said； looking about。
'Miss Niner seemed to feel a chill in the air after the sun was
down； and has gone home。'
He looked surprised； as though she were not accustomed to do
anything without him； even to originate so slight a proceeding。
'I persuaded Miss Niner；' I explained。
'Ah！' said he。 'She is easily persuaded … for her good。 Thank
you； Mr。 Sampson； she is better within doors。 The bathing…place
was farther than I thought； to say the truth。'
'Miss Niner is very delicate；' I observed。
He shook his head and drew a deep sigh。 'Very； very； very。 You
may recollect my saying so。 The time that has since intervened has
not strengthened her。 The gloomy shadow that fell upon her sister
so early in life seems； in my anxious eyes； to gather over her；
ever darker； ever darker。 Dear Margaret； dear Margaret！ But we
must hope。'
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； … 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。
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 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 violenc