Sturk glanced at the door, to see it was shut, and
then said—
‘Mr. Dangerfield, I’ve recollected a—something.’
‘You have? ho! Well, my good Sir?’
‘You, I know, were acquainted with—with
Charles Archer?’
Sturk looked for a moment on the spectacles, and then
dropped his eyes.
‘Charles Archer,’ answered Dangerfield
promptly, ’yes, to be sure. But, Charles,
you know, got into trouble, and ’tis not an acquaintance
you or I can boast of; and, in fact, we must not mention
him; and I have long ceased to know anything of him.’
’But, I’ve just remembered his address;
and there’s something about his private history
which I very well know, and which gives me a claim
upon his kind feeling, and he’s now in a position
to do me a material service; and there’s no
man living, Mr. Dangerfield, has so powerful an influence
with him as yourself. Will you use it in my behalf,
and attach me to you by lasting gratitude?’
Sturk looked straight at Dangerfield; and Dangerfield
looked at him, quizzically, perhaps a little ashamed,
in return; after a short pause—
‘I will,’ said Dangerfield, with
a sprightly decision. ’But, you know,
Charles is not a fellow to be trifled with—hey?
and we must not mention his name—you understand—or
hint where he lives, or anything about him, in short.’
‘That’s plain,’ answered Sturk.
’You’re going into town, Mrs. Sturk tells
me, in Mrs. Strafford’s carriage. Well,
when you return this evening, put down in writing what
you think Charles can do for you, and I’ll take
care he considers it.’
‘I thank you, Sir,’ said Sturk, solemnly.
’And hark ye, you’d better go about your
business in town—do you see—just
as usual; ’twill excite enquiry if you don’t;
so you must in this and other things proceed exactly
as I direct you,’ said Dangerfield.
‘Exactly, Sir, depend on’t,’ answered
Sturk.
‘Good-day,’ said Dangerfield.
‘Adieu,’ said the doctor; and they shook
hands, gravely.
On the lobby Dangerfield encountered Mrs. Sturk, and
had a few pleasant words with her, patting the bull-heads
of the children, and went down stairs smiling and
nodding; and Mrs. Sturk popped quietly into the study,
and found her husband leaning on the chimney piece,
and swabbing his face with his handkerchief—strangely
pale—and looking, as the good lady afterwards
said, for all the world as if he had seen a ghost.
THE CLOSET SCENE, WITH THE PART OF POLONIUS OMITTED.
When Magnolia and the major had gone out, each on
their several devices, poor Mrs. Macnamara called
Biddy, their maid, and told her, in a vehement, wheezy,
confidential whisper in her ear, though there was
nobody by but themselves, and the door was shut.
