登陆注册
15422600000039

第39章 THE RAJAH'S DIAMOND(8)

"There is a lamb," sneered the gardener. "I thought you would recognise your interests at last. This bandbox," he continued, "Ishall burn with my rubbish; it is a thing that curious folk might recognise; and as for you, scrape up your gaieties and put them in your pocket."Harry proceeded to obey, Raeburn watching him, and every now and again his greed rekindled by some bright scintillation, abstracting another jewel from the secretary's share, and adding it to his own.

When this was finished, both proceeded to the front door, which Raeburn cautiously opened to observe the street. This was apparently clear of passengers; for he suddenly seized Harry by the nape of the neck, and holding his face downward so that he could see nothing but the roadway and the doorsteps of the houses, pushed him violently before him down one street and up another for the space of perhaps a minute and a half. Harry had counted three corners before the bully relaxed his grasp, and crying, "Now be off with you!" sent the lad flying head foremost with a well-directed and athletic kick.

When Harry gathered himself up, half-stunned and bleeding freely at the nose, Mr. Raeburn had entirely disappeared. For the first time, anger and pain so completely overcame the lad's spirits that he burst into a fit of tears and remained sobbing in the middle of the road.

After he had thus somewhat assuaged his emotion, he began to look about him and read the names of the streets at whose intersection he had been deserted by the gardener. He was still in an unfrequented portion of West London, among villas and large gardens; but he could see some persons at a window who had evidently witnessed his misfortune; and almost immediately after a servant came running from the house and offered him a glass of water. At the same time, a dirty rogue, who had been slouching somewhere in the neighbourhood, drew near him from the other side.

"Poor fellow," said the maid, "how vilely you have been handled, to be sure! Why, your knees are all cut, and your clothes ruined! Do you know the wretch who used you so?""That I do!" cried Harry, who was somewhat refreshed by the water;"and shall run him home in spite of his precautions. He shall pay dearly for this day's work, I promise you.""You had better come into the house and have yourself washed and brushed," continued the maid. "My mistress will make you welcome, never fear. And see, I will pick up your hat. Why, love of mercy!" she screamed, "if you have not dropped diamonds all over the street!"Such was the case; a good half of what remained to him after the depredations of Mr. Raeburn, had been shaken out of his pockets by the summersault and once more lay glittering on the ground. He blessed his fortune that the maid had been so quick of eye; "there is nothing so bad but it might be worse," thought he; and the recovery of these few seemed to him almost as great an affair as the loss of all the rest. But, alas! as he stooped to pick up his treasures, the loiterer made a rapid onslaught, overset both Harry and the maid with a movement of his arms, swept up a double handful of the diamonds, and made off along the street with an amazing swiftness.

Harry, as soon as he could get upon his feet, gave chase to the miscreant with many cries, but the latter was too fleet of foot, and probably too well acquainted with the locality; for turn where the pursuer would he could find no traces of the fugitive.

In the deepest despondency, Harry revisited the scene of his mishap, where the maid, who was still waiting, very honestly returned him his hat and the remainder of the fallen diamonds.

Harry thanked her from his heart, and being now in no humour for economy, made his way to the nearest cab-stand and set off for Eaton Place by coach.

The house, on his arrival, seemed in some confusion, as if a catastrophe had happened in the family; and the servants clustered together in the hall, and were unable, or perhaps not altogether anxious, to suppress their merriment at the tatterdemalion figure of the secretary. He passed them with as good an air of dignity as he could assume, and made directly for the boudoir. When he opened the door an astonishing and even menacing spectacle presented itself to his eyes; for he beheld the General and his wife and, of all people, Charlie Pendragon, closeted together and speaking with earnestness and gravity on some important subject. Harry saw at once that there was little left for him to explain - plenary confession had plainly been made to the General of the intended fraud upon his pocket, and the unfortunate miscarriage of the scheme; and they had all made common cause against a common danger.

"Thank Heaven!" cried Lady Vandeleur, "here he is! The bandbox, Harry - the bandbox!"But Harry stood before them silent and downcast.

"Speak!" she cried. "Speak! Where is the bandbox?"And the men, with threatening gestures, repeated the demand.

Harry drew a handful of jewels from his pocket. He was very white.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 民间饮食宜忌大全

    民间饮食宜忌大全

    饮食除了要讲究科学营养,还必须首先讲究安全放心。饮食无论是烹调还是搭配,都非常讲究,烹调必须注意生熟适宜,搭配必须注意相生相克。
  • 神之殇舞

    神之殇舞

    炮灰死神桃花史上仙版某丫:门主,我。。。喜欢你!白衣上仙:我不会喜欢你。某樱-_-|||:你们在演琼瑶姨姨的戏么??师父版腹黑师父:当我夫人。某丫(娇羞状):工资是日结还是月结?某樱+_+:还是记账吧!狐狸版美人狐狸:你要对我负责。某丫(无奈状):咳~~杂交对孩子不好。某樱-_-!:您这是在对古代狐狸进行科普??讨债版某美男:这是你欠我的。某丫(厚颜状):债期已过。。。某樱╭∩╮(︶︿︶)╭∩╮鄙视你!:这年头没信誉真可怕!魔尊版邪魅魔尊:你若愿陪我,我便放过你。某丫:你若放过我,我便原谅你。某樱o(╯□╰)o:我,我不会接对偶句。。。
  • 空寂雪

    空寂雪

    六岁那年,我们彼此相遇,你将那朵花的名字告诉我。十七岁,我忘记了你,但我们却仍然记得勿忘我的名字。十八岁,你将我伤害的遍体鳞伤,你却没有一丝愧疚。二十岁,我以为抓住了那只蝉就以为能抓住夏天,抓住你。二十一岁,世界以痛吻我,却也将你还给我。所有的青春只等你打开……永恒复视。我是否该感谢你又回到我身边?
  • 情心剑骨江湖录

    情心剑骨江湖录

    一块玉佩,引江湖风波,一处宝藏,牵朝堂阴谋,一片执念,惹无尽烦忧!
  • 白色眷恋

    白色眷恋

    因为不满皇马6比2的比分,中国青年律师沈星怒砸啤酒瓶,结果电光火石间,他穿越成了佛罗伦蒂诺的儿子,且看来自09年的小伙子如何玩转03年的欧洲足坛
  • 末世杀手录

    末世杀手录

    2025年,由于不明病毒的突然袭击,全世界大部分的人口死亡,但是这不是结束,然而在这之后,这些本该死亡的人,又突然间苏醒过来撕咬着在身边悲痛的亲人,或者是朋友,世界秩序轰然崩塌,从此世界进入黑暗和鲜血混合的颜色,在这末日般的世界,一个冷酷的杀手是怎样在这样的世界生存下去呢......
  • 守护人间

    守护人间

    青龙、白虎、朱雀、玄武四大神兽将四大凶兽及妖灵压于地心后历经几千年,人、神、妖以人类的形态在世间繁衍生息。在人类不经意间将灵力释放,从此四大凶兽不知所踪,邪恶妖灵为祸人间。四个大学生在阴差阳错之下与四大神兽之灵合二为一,从此肩负起了四大神兽守护人间的职责。
  • 吴世勋与呆萌少女的日子

    吴世勋与呆萌少女的日子

    时光匆匆,如今的我们没有了那时的稚气和天真的性格。我们都变了,没有了我们当时毫无防备的心。吴世勋我到底该怎么让你相信我,你真的不能忘记你的曾经么?她对你真的那么重要吗?
  • 欲望电影院

    欲望电影院

    如果你有心结无法释怀,请向movie先生倾诉,他会给你制造一部属于你的独特电影,不同的人物和故事,精巧的结构让温情惊喜与感动悄然渗入读者心中,回味无穷……
  • 我的奋斗之家族崛起

    我的奋斗之家族崛起

    他是一名普通的学生,再一次意外中见到了未来的他,他得知自己要改写历史、创造属于自己的未来,从此他踏上了建立家族的征途