Urquart's speech. To those
who did not hear him, it may appear as if he fed me on
enigmas; to myself, who heard, I seemed to have
received a lesson and a compliment.
"I thank you," I said; "I feel you have said as much as
possible, and more than I had any right to ask. I take
that as a mark of confidence, which I will try to
deserve. I hope, sir, you will let me regard you as a
friend."
He evaded my proffered friendship with a blunt proposal
to rejoin the mess; and yet a moment later contrived to
alleviate the snub. For, as we entered the smoking-
room, he laid his hand on my shoulder with a kind
familiarity--
"I have just prescribed for Mr. Dodd," says he, "a
glass of our Madeira."
I have never again met Dr. Urquart; but he wrote
himself so clear upon my memory that I think I see him
still. And indeed I had cause to remember the man for
the sake of his communication. It was hard enough to
make a theory fit the circumstances of the FLYING
SCUD; but one in which the chief actor should stand
the least excused, and might retain the esteem or at
least the pity of a man like Dr.
Pages:
422
423
424
425
426
427
428
429
430
431
432
433
434
435
436
437
438
439
440
441
442
443
444
445
446