I walked to and fro in the apartment reflecting.This particular Bow Street runner might be here by accident; but it was to imagine a singular play of coincidence that he, who had met Rowley and spoken with him in the 'Green Dragon,' hard by Aylesbury, should be now in Scotland, where he could have no legitimate business, and by the doors of the bank where Rowley kept his account.
'Rowley,' said I, 'he didn't see you, did he?'
'Never a fear,' quoth Rowley.'W'y Mr.Anne, sir, if he 'ad, you wouldn't have seen ME any more! I ain't a hass, sir!'
'Well, my boy, you can put that receipt in your pocket.You'll have no more use for it till you're quite clear of me.Don't lose it, though; it's your share of the Christmas-box: fifteen hundred pounds all for yourself.'
'Begging your pardon, Mr.Anne, sir, but wot for!' said Rowley.
'To set up a public-house upon,' said I.
'If you'll excuse me, sir, I ain't got any call to set up a public-
house, sir,' he replied stoutly.'And I tell you wot, sir, it seems to me I'm reether young for the billet.I'm your body servant, Mr.Anne, or else I'm nothink.'
'Well, Rowley,' I said, 'I'll tell you what it's for.It's for the good service you have done me, of which I don't care - and don't dare - to speak.It's for your loyalty and cheerfulness, my dear boy.I had meant it for you; but to tell you the truth, it's past mending now - it has to be yours.Since that man is waiting by the bank, the money can't be touched until I'm gone.'
'Until you're gone, sir?' re-echoed Rowley.'You don't go anywheres without me, I can tell you that, Mr.Anne, sir!'
'Yes, my boy,' said I, 'we are going to part very soon now;
probably to-morrow.And it's for my sake, Rowley! Depend upon it, if there was any reason at all for that Bow Street man being at the bank, he was not there to look out for you.How they could have found out about the account so early is more than I can fathom;
some strange coincidence must have played me false! But there the fact is; and Rowley, I'll not only have to say farewell to you presently, I'll have to ask you to stay indoors until I can say it.
Remember, my boy, it's only so that you can serve me now.'
'W'y, sir, you say the word, and of course I'll do it!' he cried.
'"Nothink by 'alves," is my motto! I'm your man, through thick and thin, live or die, I am!'
In the meantime there was nothing to be done till towards sunset.
My only chance now was to come again as quickly as possible to speech of Flora, who was my only practicable banker; and not before evening was it worth while to think of that.I might compose myself as well as I was able over the CALEDONIAN MERCURY, with its ill news of the campaign of France and belated documents about the retreat from Russia; and, as I sat there by the fire, I was sometimes all awake with anger and mortification at what I was reading, and sometimes again I would be three parts asleep as I dozed over the barren items of home intelligence.'Lately arrived'
- this is what I suddenly stumbled on - 'at Dumbreck's Hotel, the Viscount of Saint-Yves.'
'Rowley,' said I.
'If you please, Mr.Anne, sir,' answered the obsequious, lowering his pipe.
'Come and look at this, my boy,' said I, holding out the paper.
'My crikey!' said he.'That's 'im, sir, sure enough!'
'Sure enough, Rowley,' said I.'He's on the trail.He has fairly caught up with us.He and this Bow Street man have come together, I would swear.And now here is the whole field, quarry, hounds and hunters, all together in this city of Edinburgh.'
'And wot are you goin' to do now, sir? Tell you wot, let me take it in 'and, please! Gimme a minute, and I'll disguise myself, and go out to this Dum - to this hotel, leastways, sir - and see wot he's up to.You put your trust in me, Mr.Anne: I'm fly, don't you make no mistake about it.I'm all a-growing and a-blowing, I am.'
'Not one foot of you,' said I.'You are a prisoner, Rowley, and make up your mind to that.So am I, or next door to it.I showed it you for a caution; if you go on the streets, it spells death to me, Rowley.'
'If you please, sir,' says Rowley.
'Come to think of it,' I continued, 'you must take a cold, or something.No good of awakening Mrs.McRankine's suspicions.'
'A cold?' he cried, recovering immediately from his depression.'I can do it, Mr.Anne.'
And he proceeded to sneeze and cough and blow his nose, till I could not restrain myself from smiling.
'Oh, I tell you, I know a lot of them dodges,' he observed proudly.
'Well, they come in very handy,' said I.
'I'd better go at once and show it to the old gal, 'adn't I?' he asked.
I told him, by all means; and he was gone upon the instant, gleeful as though to a game of football.
I took up the paper and read carelessly on, my thoughts engaged with my immediate danger, till I struck on the next paragraph:-
'In connection with the recent horrid murder in the Castle, we are desired to make public the following intelligence.The soldier, Champdivers, is supposed to be in the neighbourhood of this city.