The blow was unexpected and severe. It was hard, in the very high tideand flush of assured success, to be thus plucked back into the oldbondage. Despite the affectionate tone of the letter, he knew the womanwith whom he had to deal. For some furious minutes he sat motionless,gazing at the letter. He did not speak--men seldom do under suchcircumstances--but his thoughts ran in this fashion: "Here is thiscursed woman again! Just as I was congratulating myself on my freedom.How did she discover me? Small use asking that. What shall I do? I cando nothing. It is absurd to run away, for I shall be caught. Besides,I've no money. My account at Mastermann's is overdrawn two thousandpounds. If I bolt at all, I must bolt at once--within twenty-four hours.Rich as I am, I don't suppose I could raise more than five thousandpounds in that time. These things take a day or two, say forty-eighthours. In forty-eight hours I could raise twenty thousand pounds, butforty-eight hours is too long. Curse the woman! I know her! How in thefiend's name did she discover me? It's a bad job. However, she's notinclined to be gratuitiously disagreeable. How lucky I never marriedagain! I had better make terms and trust to fortune. After all, she'sbeen a good friend to me.--Poor Sally!--I might have rotted on thatinfernal Eaglehawk Neck if it hadn't been for her. She is not a badsort. Handsome woman, too. I may make it up with her. I shall have tosell off and go away after all.--It might be worse.--I dare say theproperty's worth three hundred thousand pounds. Not bad for a start inAmerica. And I may get rid of her yet. Yes. I must give in.--Oh, curseher!--[ringing the bell]--Smithers!" [Smithers appears.] "A telegraphform and a cab! Stay. Pack me a dressing-bag. I shall be away for a dayor so. [Sotto voce]--I'd better see her myself.--[ Aloud]--Bring me aBradshaw! [Sotto voce]--Damn the woman."
For the Term of His Natural Life Page 78