Page:What Will He Do With It? - Routledge - Volume 2.djvu/196

 I--I--you always startle me so!--you are in town, then?--to stay?--your old quarters?"

MRS. CRANE.--"Why ask? You cannot wish to know where I am--you would not call. But how fares it?--what do you do?--how do you live? You look ill--Poor Jasper."

LOSELY (fiercely).--"Hang your pity, and give me some money."

MRS. CRANE (calmly laying her lean hand on the arm which was darted forward more in menace than entreaty, and actually terrifying the Gladiator as she linked that deadly arm into her own).--"I said you would always find me when at the worst of your troubles. And so, Jasper, it shall be till this right hand of yours is powerless as the clay at our feet. Walk--walk; you are not afraid of me?--walk on, tell me all. Where have you just been?"

Jasper, therewith reminded of his wrongs, poured out a volley of abuse on Poole, communicating to Mrs. Crane the whole story of his claims on that gentleman--the loss of the pocket-book filched from him, and Poole's knowledge that he was thus disarmed.

"And the coward," said he, grinding his teeth, "got out of his window--and three policemen in his garden. He must have bribed a pickpocket--low knave that he is. But I shall find out--and then--"

"And then, Jasper, how will you be better off?--the letters are gone; and Poole has you in his power if you threaten him again. Now, hark you; you did not murder the Italian who was found stabbed in the fields yonder a week ago; L100 reward for the murderer?"

"I--no. How coldly you ask! I have hit hard in fair fight; murdered--never. If ever I take to that, I shall begin with Poole."

"But I tell you, Jasper, that you are suspected of that murder; that you will be accused of that murder; and if I had not thus fortunately met you, for that murder you would be tried and hanged."

"Are you serious? Who could accuse me?"

"Those who know that you are not guilty--those who could make you appear so--the villains with whom you horde, and drink and brawl! Have I ever been wrong in my warnings yet?"

"This is too horrible," faltered Losely, thinking not of