About nine o'clock he re-entered the hall,and,everything being done for the day,again walked up and down,occasionally gazing through the glass door at the prospect without,to ascertain how the weather was progressing.Contrary to prognostication,snow had ceased falling,and,with the rising of the moon,the sky had partially cleared,light fleeces of cloud drifting across the silvery disk.There was every sign that a frost was going to set in later on.For these reasons the distant rising road was even more distinct now between its high banks than it had been in the declining daylight.Not a track or rut broke the virgin surface of the white mantle that lay along it,all marks left by the lately arrived travellers having been speedily obliterated by the flakes falling at the time.
And now the landlord beheld by the light of the moon a sight very similar to that he had seen by the light of day.Again a black spot was advancing down the road that margined the coast.He was in a moment or two enabled to perceive that the present vehicle moved onward at a more headlong pace than the little carriage which had preceded it;next,that it was a brougham drawn by two powerful horses;next,that this carriage,like the former one,was bound for the hotel-door.This desirable feature of resemblance caused the landlord to once more withdraw the sand-bag and advance into the porch.
An old gentleman was the first to alight.He was followed by a young one,and both unhesitatingly came forward.
'Has a young lady,less than nineteen years of age,recently arrived here in the company of a man some years her senior?'asked the old gentleman,in haste.'A man cleanly shaven for the most part,having the appearance of an opera-singer,and calling himself Signor Smithozzi?'
'We have had arrivals lately,'said the landlord,in the tone of having had twenty at least--not caring to acknowledge the attenuated state of business that afflicted Prospect Hotel in winter.
'And among them can your memory recall two persons such as those Idescribe?--the man a sort of baritone?'
'There certainly is or was a young couple staying in the hotel;but I could not pronounce on the compass of the gentleman's voice.'
'No,no;of course not.I am quite bewildered.They arrived in a basket-carriage,altogether badly provided?'
'They came in a carriage,I believe,as most of our visitors do.'
'Yes,yes.I must see them at once.Pardon my want of ceremony,and show us in to where they are.'
'But,sir,you forget.Suppose the lady and gentleman I mean are not the lady and gentleman you mean?It would be awkward to allow you to rush in upon them just now while they are at dinner,and might cause me to lose their future patronage.'
'True,true.They may not be the same persons.My anxiety,Iperceive,makes me rash in my assumptions!'
'Upon the whole,I think they must be the same,Uncle Quantock,'
said the young man,who had not till now spoken.And turning to the landlord:'You possibly have not such a large assemblage of visitors here,on this somewhat forbidding evening,that you quite forget how this couple arrived,and what the lady wore?'His tone of addressing the landlord had in it a quiet frigidity that was not without irony.
'Ah!what she wore;that's it,James.What did she wear?'
'I don't usually take stock of my guests'clothing,'replied the landlord drily,for the ready money of the first arrival had decidedly biassed him in favour of that gentleman's cause.'You can certainly see some of it if you want to,'he added carelessly,'for it is drying by the kitchen fire.'
Before the words were half out of his mouth the old gentleman had exclaimed,'Ah!'and precipitated himself along what seemed to be the passage to the kitchen;but as this turned out to be only the entrance to a dark china-closet,he hastily emerged again,after a collision with the inn-crockery had told him of his mistake.
'I beg your pardon,I'm sure;but if you only knew my feelings (which I cannot at present explain),you would make allowances.
Anything I have broken I will willingly pay for.'
'Don't mention it,sir,'said the landlord.And showing the way,they adjourned to the kitchen without further parley.The eldest of the party instantly seized the lady's cloak,that hung upon a clothes-horse,exclaiming:'Ah!yes,James,it is hers.I knew we were on their track.'
'Yes,it is hers,'answered the nephew quietly,for he was much less excited than his companion.
'Show us their room at once,'said the old man.
'William,have the lady and gentleman in the front sitting-room finished dining?'
'Yes,sir,long ago,'said the hundred plated buttons.
'Then show up these gentlemen to them at once.You stay here to-night,gentlemen,I presume?Shall the horses be taken out?'
'Feed the horses and wash their mouths.Whether we stay or not depends upon circumstances,'said the placid younger man,as he followed his uncle and the waiter to the staircase.
'I think,Nephew James,'said the former,as he paused with his foot on the first step--'I think we had better not be announced,but take them by surprise.She may go throwing herself out of the window,or do some equally desperate thing!'
'Yes,certainly,we'll enter unannounced.'And he called back the lad who preceded them.
'I cannot sufficiently thank you,James,for so effectually aiding me in this pursuit!'exclaimed the old gentleman,taking the other by the hand.'My increasing infirmities would have hindered my overtaking her to-night,had it not been for your timely aid.'
'I am only too happy,uncle,to have been of service to you in this or any other matter.I only wish I could have accompanied you on a pleasanter journey.However,it is advisable to go up to them at once,or they may hear us.'And they softly ascended the stairs.
