登陆注册
15450100000021

第21章 CHAPTER VI. The Tribulations of Morris: Part the F

As the hansom span through the streets of London, Morris sought to rally the forces of his mind. The water-butt with the dead body had miscarried, and it was essential to recover it. So much was clear; and if, by some blest good fortune, it was still at the station, all might be well. If it had been sent out, however, if it were already in the hands of some wrong person, matters looked more ominous. People who receive unexplained packages are usually keen to have them open; the example of Miss Hazeltine (whom he cursed again) was there to remind him of the circumstance; and if anyone had opened the water-butt--'O Lord!' cried Morris at the thought, and carried his hand to his damp forehead. The private conception of any breach of law is apt to be inspiriting, for the scheme (while yet inchoate) wears dashing and attractive colours. Not so in the least that part of the criminal's later reflections which deal with the police. That useful corps (as Morris now began to think) had scarce been kept sufficiently in view when he embarked upon his enterprise. 'I must play devilish close,' he reflected, and he was aware of an exquisite thrill of fear in the region of the spine.

'Main line or loop?' enquired the cabman, through the scuttle.

'Main line,' replied Morris, and mentally decided that the man should have his shilling after all. 'It would be madness to attract attention,' thought he. 'But what this thing will cost me, first and last, begins to be a nightmare!'

He passed through the booking-office and wandered disconsolately on the platform. It was a breathing-space in the day's traffic.

There were few people there, and these for the most part quiescent on the benches. Morris seemed to attract no remark, which was a good thing; but, on the other hand, he was making no progress in his quest. Something must be done, something must be risked. Every passing instant only added to his dangers.

Summoning all his courage, he stopped a porter, and asked him if he remembered receiving a barrel by the morning train. He was anxious to get information, for the barrel belonged to a friend.

'It is a matter of some moment,' he added, 'for it contains specimens.'

'I was not here this morning, sir,' responded the porter, somewhat reluctantly, 'but I'll ask Bill. Do you recollect, Bill, to have got a barrel from Bournemouth this morning containing specimens?'

'I don't know about specimens,' replied Bill; 'but the party as received the barrel I mean raised a sight of trouble.'

'What's that?' cried Morris, in the agitation of the moment pressing a penny into the man's hand.

'You see, sir, the barrel arrived at one-thirty. No one claimed it till about three, when a small, sickly--looking gentleman (probably a curate) came up, and sez he, "Have you got anything for Pitman?" or "Wili'm Bent Pitman," if I recollect right. "I don't exactly know," sez I, "but I rather fancy that there barrel bears that name." The little man went up to the barrel, and seemed regularly all took aback when he saw the address, and then he pitched into us for not having brought what he wanted. "I don't care a damn what you want," sez I to him, "but if you are Will'm Bent Pitman, there's your barrel."'

'Well, and did he take it?' cried the breathless Morris.

'Well, sir,' returned Bill, 'it appears it was a packing-case he was after. The packing-case came; that's sure enough, because it was about the biggest packing-case ever I clapped eyes on. And this Pitman he seemed a good deal cut up, and he had the superintendent out, and they got hold of the vanman--him as took the packing-case. Well, sir,' continued Bill, with a smile, 'I never see a man in such a state. Everybody about that van was mortal, bar the horses. Some gen'leman (as well as I could make out) had given the vanman a sov.; and so that was where the trouble come in, you see.'

'But what did he say?' gasped Morris.

'I don't know as he SAID much, sir,' said Bill. 'But he offered to fight this Pitman for a pot of beer. He had lost his book, too, and the receipts, and his men were all as mortal as himself.

O, they were all like'--and Bill paused for a simile--'like lords! The superintendent sacked them on the spot.'

'O, come, but that's not so bad,' said Morris, with a bursting sigh. 'He couldn't tell where he took the packing-case, then?'

'Not he,' said Bill, 'nor yet nothink else.'

'And what--what did Pitman do?' asked Morris.

'O, he went off with the barrel in a four-wheeler, very trembling like,' replied Bill. 'I don't believe he's a gentleman as has good health.'

'Well, so the barrel's gone,' said Morris, half to himself.

'You may depend on that, sir,' returned the porter. 'But you had better see the superintendent.'

'Not in the least; it's of no account,' said Morris. 'It only contained specimens.' And he walked hastily away.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 衍真记

    衍真记

    当无尽的兽潮虫海吞灭人类城市时,新的时代拉开了序幕。人类称为衍武时代!
  • 二十几岁,规划你的职场与人生

    二十几岁,规划你的职场与人生

    本书用深入浅出的语言为你揭示职业规划的生存法则和可操作经验,为就业一族提供前瞻性、系统性和切实可行的总结与指导。本书对大量鲜活的事例进行分析和总结,不仅给你深刻的启迪和真诚的忠告,还给你力量和人生的指引,帮你理清二十几岁的生存现状,勾勒三十几岁的成功蓝图。
  • 创世神女:邪王轻点抱

    创世神女:邪王轻点抱

    看着床上红色的血迹,君墨染淡定说道:“放心,我会负责。”“负责?你拿什么负责?”君墨染心疼地拿出自己的腰包:“这是我全部的家产,全给你。”“你以为,本君会缺钱?”打开君墨染的香囊,北墨华大怒:“三两银子买本君的初夜?你当本君是乞丐吗?”“不敢,你不像是乞丐。”“哼。”“你是小倌吧?”“君墨染!”“在。”“……”我们可爱的妖王大人在茫茫追妻道路上摸索,爆笑甜宠来袭!欢迎收看~
  • 盛宠之狂医毒妃

    盛宠之狂医毒妃

    练风华,华夏医界的一个传说。一次暗算,却成了被世人耻笑的废物。无法修习魂力?我忍,我用毒行吧!惨遭殿前退婚?我忍,你无情我便休,看谁狠!被赐婚给聋哑人?我忍,婚后生活多清静!什么?想谋杀我亲夫!叔可忍姐不可忍!冲冠一怒为男颜,从此收神器,御万兽,携美男,带萌娃,强强联手笑傲天下!(本文纯属虚构,请勿模仿。)
  • 暖宠之娇妻请上座

    暖宠之娇妻请上座

    无缘由得重生让我有些崩溃,日子看虽悠然,但实则恐惧,但是你的回归让我找回了自己。亲爱的突然拥有了你,让我手忙脚乱,你该怎么补偿呢?我期待着!小剧场:老公,你说我给我们的宝宝起什么名字呢?老公:只要你喜欢起什么都好,我认为你前两天起的那个,静静,挺好的,让他安安静静的不要打扰我们。那如果是男孩呢?老公:男孩啊!故作深思中……就叫沉默吧!让他坐那,也不要打扰我们。肚子里的宝宝:天呐,我怎么会有这样爸爸,我不要出生了。老公生孩子我怕疼,怎么办?老公:没关系,剖腹产就不痛痛了。肚子里的宝宝:啊啊啊!!!!!老天爷那还是让我重新投胎吧,
  • 婚久情已深

    婚久情已深

    “姐,我替你去看了,殷少跟传闻的不一样,帅气温柔,也很…绅士!”“哥,华家大小姐我见了,清纯柔美,像是乖乖女,应该是你喜欢的类型!”他,神秘诡谲,传言俊美如斯,富可敌国,却身残心缺,以致个性孤僻,年过三十未婚!她,华家大小姐,貌美如花,却声名狼藉,年近二八,无人敢娶剩女一枚。一段乌龙的相亲,一段错位的姻缘,自此拉开帷幕;某日,接连三天,她便被折磨得死去火来、当场发飙:“你个骗子,够了没?你不是个残废吗?”她妹妹眼睛瞎了,他哪里温柔?哪里绅士?根本就是一头吃人不吐骨头的狼!她哪里是被坑,简直是被坑死了!
  • 灵耀月神

    灵耀月神

    人类和龙,关系由原本的和谐变为敌对,又有未知的原因让龙全部都消失了,但还有部分的龙分布在这辽阔的世界,而被命运选中的少年则是这个世界的救世主......
  • 末班车的诡途

    末班车的诡途

    内心的身处到底有多深,它就像一个无底洞一样,将一些东西装的深不见底,恰似一段旅程,表面上看似很快就结束,然而结果往往不尽如人意……
  • 我和王子有个十年的约定

    我和王子有个十年的约定

    她长得很像一个明星...她十年前和他有个十年的约定十年后他们遇见了,开始了一场惊天动地的爱情让我们一起来观看{我和王子有个十年的约定}多多关注哦!本人希望能得到你们的支持和喜欢...如果觉得不错就帮本人推荐和关注下本人,谢谢你们
  • 中华人民共和国收养法

    中华人民共和国收养法

    为保护合法的收养关系,维护收养关系当事人的权利,制定本法。 维护收养关系维护收养关系当事人的权利,制定本法。当事人的权利,制定本法。维护收养关系当事人的权利,制定本法。维护收养关系当事人的权利,制定本法。