 Second Scene, Chapter 1 of No Name. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Dawn. No Name by Wilkie Collins. Second Scene, Chapter 1. In that part of the city of York, which is situated on the western bank of the Ooze, there is a narrow street called Skeltergate running nearly north and south, parallel with the course of the river. The postern by which Skeltergate was formally approached no longer exists, and the few old houses left in the street are disguised in melancholy modern costume of whitewash and cement. Shops of the smaller and poorer order intermixed here and there with dingy warehouses and joyless private residences of red brick compose the present aspect of Skeltergate. On the river side, the houses are separated at intervals by lanes running down to the water and disclosing lonely little plots of open ground with the masts of sailing barges rising beyond. At its southward extremity, the street ceases on a sudden, and the broad flow of the Ooze, the trees, the meadows, the public walk on one bank and the towing path on the other open to view. Here, where the street ends and on the side of it furthest from the river, a narrow little lane leads up to the paved footway surmounting the ancient walls of York. The one small row of buildings, which is all that the lane possesses, is composed of cheap lodging houses with an opposite view at the distance of a few feet of a portion of the massive city wall. This place is called Rosemary Lane. Very little light enters it. Very few people live in it. The floating population of Skeltergate passes it by, and visitors to the walk on the walls who use it as the way up or the way down get out of the dreary little passage as fast as they can. The door of one of the houses in this lost corner of York opens softly on the evening of the 23rd of September, 1846, and a solitary individual of the male sex sauntered into Skeltergate from the seclusion of Rosemary Lane. Turning northward, this person directed his steps toward the bridge over the Ooze in the busy center of the city. He bore the external appearance of respectable poverty. He carried a gingham umbrella preserved in an oil-skin case. He picked his steps with the neatest avoidance of all dirty places on the pavement, and he surveyed the scene around him with eyes of two different colors, a bilious brown eye on the lookout for employment, and a bilious green eye in a similar predicament. In plainer terms, the stranger from Rosemary Lane was no other than Captain Raggy. Outwardly speaking, the Captain had not altered for the better since the memorable spring day when he had presented himself to Miss Garth at the Lodgegate at Coom Raven. The railway mania of that famous year had attacked even the wary Raggy, had withdrawn him from his customary pursuits, and had left him prostrate in the end, like many a better man. He had lost his clerical appearance. He had faded with the autumn leaves. His crepe hatband had put itself in brown mourning for its own bereavement of black. His dingy white collar and cravat had died the death of old linen and had gone to their long home at the paper makers to live again one day in choirs at a station earth shop. A gray shooting jacket in the last stage of woollen atrophy replaced the black frock coat of former times, and like a faithful servant, kept the dark secret of its master's linen from the eyes of a prying world. From top to toe, every square inch of the captain's clothing was altered for the worse. But the man himself remained unchanged, superior to all forms of moral mildew, impervious to the action of social rust. He was as courteous as persuasive, as blandly dignified as ever. He carried his head as high without a shirt collar as ever he had carried it with one. The threadbare black handkerchief around his neck was perfectly tied. His rotten old shoes were neatly blacked. He might have compared chins in the matter of shaving with the highest church dignitary in York. Time, change, and poverty had all attacked the captain together and had all failed alike to get him down on the ground. He paced the streets of York a man superior to clothes and circumstances. His vagabond varnish as bright on him as ever. Arrived at the bridge, Captain Raggy stopped and looked idly over the parapet at the barges in the river. It was plainly evident that he had no particular destination to reach and nothing whatever to do. While he was still loitering, the clock of York Minster chimed the half hour past five. Cabs rattled by him over the bridge on their way to meet the train from London at twenty minutes to six. After a moment's hesitation, the captain sauntered after the cabs. When it is one of a man's regular habits to live upon his fellow creatures, that man is always more or less fond of haunting large railway stations. Captain Raggy gleaned to the human field and on that unoccupied afternoon, the York Terminus was as likely a corner to look about in as any other. He reached the platform a few minutes after the train had arrived. That entire incapability of devising administrative measures for the management of large crowds, which is one of the characteristics of Englishmen in authority, is nowhere more strikingly exemplified than at York. Three different lines of railway assemble three passenger mobs from morning to night under one roof and leave them to raise a traveler's riot with all the assistance which the bewildered servants of the company can render to increase the confusion. The customary disturbance was rising to its climax as Captain Raggy approached the platform. Dozens of different people were trying to attain dozens of different objects and dozens of different directions, all starting from the same common point and all equally deprived of the means of information. A sudden parting of the crowd near the second class carriages attracted the captain's curiosity. He pushed his way in and found a decently dressed man assisted by a porter and a policeman attempting to pick up some printed bills scattered from a paper parcel which his frenzied fellow passengers had knocked out of his hand. Offering his assistance in this emergency with the polite alacrity which marked his character, Captain Raggy observed the three startling words 50 pounds reward printed in capital letters on the bills which he assisted in recovering and instantly secreted one of them to be more closely examined at the first convenient opportunity. As he crumpled up the bill in the palm of his hand his party-colored eyes fixed with hungry interest on the proprietor of the unlucky parcel. When a man happens not to be possessed by a great pence in his own pocket if his heart is in the right place it bounds. If his mouth is properly constituted it waters at the sight of another man who carries a bat with him a printed offer of 50 pounds sterling addressed to his fellow creatures. The unfortunate traveler wrapped up his parcel as he best might and made his way off the platform after addressing an inquiry to the first official victim of the day's passenger traffic who was sufficiently in possession of his senses of it. Leaving the station for the riverside which was close at hand the stranger entered the ferry boat at the North Street postern. The captain who had carefully dogged his steps thus far entered the boat also and employed the short interval of transit to the opposite bank in a perusal of the hand-bill which he had kept for his own private enlightenment. With his back carefully turned on the traveler Captain Raggy now possessed his mind of the following lines Left her home in London early on the morning of September 23rd, 1846 a young lady age 18 dress deep morning personal appearance hair of a very light brown eyebrows and eyelashes darker eyes light gray complexion strikingly pale lower part of her face large and full tall upright figure walks with remarkable grace and ease speaks with openness and resolution has the manners and habits of a refined cultivated lady personal marks two little moles close together on the left side of the neck mark on the under clothing Magdalene Vanstone is supposed to have joined or attempted to join under an assumed name a theatrical company now performing at York had when she left London one black box and no other luggage whoever will give such information as will restore her to her friends shall receive the above reward apply at the office of Mr. Harkness Solicitor Coney Street York Or to Messers Wyatt, Pendrell and Guilt Searle Street, Lincoln's Inn London accustomed as Captain Raggy was to keep the complete possession of himself in all human emergencies his own profound astonishment when the course of his reading brought him to the mark on the linen of the missing young lady betrayed him into an exclamation of surprise and even startled the ferryman the traveler was less observant his whole attention was fixed on the opposite bank of the river and he left the boat hastily the moment it touched the landing place Captain Raggy recovered himself pocketed the hand-bill and followed his leader for the second time the stranger directed his steps to the nearest street which ran down to the river compared a note in his pocketbook with the numbers of the houses on the left hand side stopped at one of them he rang the bell the captain went on to the next house affected to ring the bell in his turn and stood with his back to the traveler an appearance waiting to be let in in reality listening with all his might for any scraps of dialogue which might reach his ears on the opening of the door behind him the door was answered with all due alacrity and a sufficiently instructive interchange of question and answer on the threshold rewarded the dexterity of Captain Raggy Mr. Huckstable lived here? asked the traveler yes sir is he at home? not at home now sir but he will be in again at eight tonight I think a young lady called here early in the day did she not? yes a young lady came this afternoon exactly I come on the same business did she see Mr. Huckstable? no sir he's been away all day the young lady told me she would come back at eight o'clock and see Mr. Huckstable at the same time any name sir? no say a gentleman called on theatrical business that will be enough wait one minute if you please I'm a stranger in York will you kindly tell me which is the way to Coney Street the woman gave the required information the door closed and the stranger hastened away in the direction of Coney Street on this occasion Captain Raggy made no attempt to follow him the handbill revealed plainly enough that the man's next object was to complete the necessary arrangements with the local solicitor on the subject of the promised reward having seen and heard enough for his immediate purpose the captain retraced his steps down the street turned to the right and entered on the Esplanade which in that quarter of the city borders the riverside between the swimming baths and the Lendl Tower this is a family matter said Captain Raggy to himself persisting from sheer force of habit in the old assertion of his relationship to Magdalene's mother I must consider it in all its bearings he took the umbrella under his arm crossed his hands behind him and lowered himself gently into the abyss of his own reflections the order and propriety observable in the captain's shabby garments accurately typified the order and propriety which distinguished the operations of the captain's mind it was his habit always to see his way before him through a neat succession of alternatives and so he saw it now three courses were opened to him in connection with the remarkable discovery which he had just made the first course was to do nothing in the matter at all inadmissible on family grounds equally inadmissible on pecuniary grounds rejected accordingly the second course was to deserve the gratitude of the young lady's friends rated at 50 pounds the third course was to deserve the gratitude of the young lady herself rated at an unknown figure between these two last alternatives the wary raggy hesitated not from doubt of Magdalene's pecuniary resources for he was totally ignorant of the circumstances which had deprived the sisters of their inheritance but from doubt whether an obstacle in the shape of an undiscovered gentleman might not be privately connected with her disappearance from home after mature reflection he determined to pause and be guided by circumstances in the meantime the first consideration was to be beforehand with the messenger from London and to lay hand securely on the young lady herself I feel for this misguided girl use the captain solemnly strutting backward and forward by the lonely riverside I have always looked upon her I always shall look upon her in the light of a niece where was the adopted relative at that moment in other words how was the young lady in Magdalene's critical position likely to while away the hours until Mr. Huxtable's return if there was an obstructive gentleman in the background it would be mere waste of time to pursue the question but if the inference which the handbill suggested was correct if she was really alone at that moment in the city of York where was she likely to be not in the crowded thoroughfares to begin with not viewing the objects of interest in the minster for it was now past the hour at which the cathedral could be seen was she in the waiting room at the railway she would hardly run that risk was she in one of the hotels doubtful considering that she was entirely by herself in a pastry cook's shop far more likely driving about in a cab possible certainly but no more loitering away the time in some quiet locality out of doors likely enough again on that fine autumn evening the captain paused waved the relative claims on his attention of the quiet locality in the pastry cook's shop and decided for the first of the two it was time enough to find her at the pastry cooks to inquire after her at the principal hotels or finally to intercept her at Mr. Huxtable's immediate neighborhood from seven to eight while the light lasted the wise course was to use it in looking for her out of doors where the esplanade was a quiet locality but she was not there not on the lonely road beyond which ran back of the abbey wall where next the captain stopped looked across the river brightened under the influence of a new idea and suddenly hastened back to the ferry the walk on the walls thought this tradition man with a twinkle of his party color dies the quietest place in York and the place that every stranger goes to see in ten minutes more captain raggy was exploring the new field of search he mounted to the walls which enclosed the whole western portion of the city by the north street postern from which the walk winds around until it ends again at its southernly extremity in the narrow passage of rosemary lane it was then twenty minutes to seven the sun had set more than half an hour since the red light lay broad and low in the cloudless western heaven all visible objects were softening in the tender twilight but were not darkening yet the first few lamps lit in the street below looked like faint little specks of yellow light as the captain started on his walk through one of the most striking scenes which England can show on his right hand as he set forth stretched the open country beyond the walls the rich green meadows the boundary trees dividing them the broad windings of the river in the distance the scattered buildings nearer to view all wrapped in the evening stillness all made beautiful by the evening peace on his left hand the majestic west front of York Minster soared over the city and caught the last brightest light of heaven on the summits of its lofty towers had this noble prospect tempted the lost girl to linger and look at it no thus far not a sign of her the captain looked around him attentively and walked on he reached the spot where the iron course of the railroad strikes its way through arches in the old wall he paused at this place where the central activity of a great railway enterprise beats with all the pulses of its loud clanging life side by side with the dead majesty of the past deep under the old historic stones which tell of fortified York and the sieges of two centuries since he stood on this spot and searched for her again and searched in vain others were looking idly down at the desolate activity on the wilderness of the iron rails but she was not among them the captain glanced doubtfully at the darkening sky and walked on he stopped again where the postern of nickel gate still stands and still strengthens the city wall as of here the paved walk descends a few steps passes through the dark stone guard room of the ancient gate ascends again and continues its course southward until the walls reach the river once more he paused and peered anxiously into the dim inner corners of the old guard room was she waiting there for the darkness to come and hide her from prying eyes no a solitary workman loitered through the stone chamber but no other living creature stirred in the place the captain mounted the steps which led out from the postern and walked on he advanced some 50 or 60 yards along the paved footway the outlying suburbs of york on one side of him a rope walk and some patches of kitchen garden occupying a vacant strip of ground on the other he advanced with eager eyes and quickened step for he saw before him the lonely figure of a woman standing by the parapet of the wall with her face set toward the westward view he approached cautiously to make sure of her before she turned and observed him there was no mistaking that tall dark figure as it rested against the parapet with a listless grace there she stood in her long black cloak and gown the last dim light of evening falling tenderly on her pale resolute young face there she stood not three months since the spoiled darling of her parents the priceless treasure of the household left unprotected, never trusted alone there she stood in the lovely dawn of her womanhood a cast away in a strange city wrecked on the world vagabond as he was the first sight of her staggered even the dauntless assurance of captain raggy as she slowly turned her face and looked at him he raised his hat with the nearest approach to respect which a long life of unblushing audacity had left him capable of making I think I have the honor of addressing the younger Miss Van Stone he began deeply gratified I am sure for more reasons than one she looked at him with a cold surprise no recollection of the day when he had followed her sister and herself on their way home with Miss Garth rose in her memory while he now confronted her with his altered manner and his altered dress you are mistaken she said quietly you are a perfect stranger to me pardon me replied the captain I am a species of relation I had the pleasure of seeing you in the spring of the present year I presented myself on that memorable occasion to an honored preceptress in your late father's family permit me under equally agreeable circumstances to present myself to you my name is Raggy by this time he had recovered complete possession of his own impudence his party colored eyes twinkled cheerfully and he accompanied his modest announcement of himself with a dancing master's bow Magdalene frowned and drew back a step the captain was not a man to be daunted by a cold reception he tucked his umbrella under his arm and jacosly spelled his name W-R-A W-G-E Raggy said the captain ticking off the letters persuasively on his fingers I remember your name said Magdalene excuse me for leaving you abruptly I have an engagement she tried to pass him and walk on northward toward the railway he instantly met the attempt by raising both hands and displaying a pair of darned black gloves outspread a polite protest not that way he said not that way Miss Van Ston I beg and entreat why not she asked totally because answered the captain that is the way which leads to Mr. Huckstables in the ungovernable astonishment of hearing his reply she suddenly bent forward and for the first time looked him close in the face he sustained her suspicious scrutiny with every appearance of feeling highly gratified by it H-U-X Hux said the captain playfully turning to the old joke T-A-Taw Huckstah B-L-E Bull Huckstable what do you know about Mr. Huckstable she asked what do you mean by mentioning him to me the early lip took a new twist upward he immediately replied to the best practical purpose by producing the hand-bill from his pocket there is just light enough left he said for young and lovely eyes to read by before I enter upon the personal statement which your flattering inquiry claims from me pray bestow a moment's attention on this document she took the hand-bill from him by the last gleam of twilight she read the lines which set a price on her recovery which published the description of her in pitiless print like the description of a strayed dog no tender consideration had prepared her for the shock no kind word softened it to her when it came the vagabond whose cunning eyes watched her eagerly while she read knew no more that the hand-bill which he had stolen had only been prepared in anticipation of the worst and was only to be publicly used in the event of all more considerate means of tracing her being tried in vain then she knew it the bill dropped from her hand her face flushed deeply she turned away from Captain Raggy as if all idea of his existence had passed out of her mind oh Nora Nora she said to herself sorrowfully after the letter I wrote to after the hard struggle I had to go away Nora Nora how is Nora inquired the Captain with the utmost politeness she turned upon him with an angry brightness in her large gray eyes is this thing shown publicly she asked stamping her foot on it is the mark on my neck described all over York pray compose yourself pleaded the persuasive Raggy at present I have every reason to believe that you have just perused the only copy in circulation allow me to pick it up before he could touch the bill she snatched it from the pavement tore it into fragments and threw them over the wall Bravo cried the Captain you remind me of your poor dear mother the family spirit Miss Van Stone we all inherit our hot blood from my maternal grandfather how did you come by it she asked suddenly my dear creature I have just told you remonstrated the Captain we all come by it from my maternal grandfather how did you come by that hand-bell she repeated passionately I begged ten thousand pardons my head was running on the family spirit how did I come by it briefly thus here Captain Raggy entered on his personal statement taking his customary vocal exercise through the longest words of the English language with the highest elocutionary relish having on this rare occasion nothing to gain by concealment he departed from his ordinary habits and with the utmost amazement at the novelty of his own situation permitted himself to tell the unmitigated truth the effect of the narrative on Magdalene by no means fulfilled Captain Raggy's anticipations in relating it she was not startled she was not irritated she showed no disposition to cast herself on his mercy and to seek his advice she looked him steadily in the face and all she said when he had neatly rounded his last sentence was go on go on repeated the Captain shocked to disappoint you I'm sure but the fact is I have done no you have not she rejoined and asked out the end of your story the end of it is you came here to look for me and you mean to earn the 50 pounds reward those plain words so completely staggered Captain Raggy that for the moment he stood speechless but he had faced awkward truths of all sorts far too often to be permanently disconcerted by them before Magdalene could pursue her advantage the vagabond had recovered his balance Raggy was himself again smart said the Captain laughing indulgently and drumming with his umbrella on the pavement some men might take it seriously I'm not easily offended try again Magdalene looked at him through the gathering darkness in mute perplexity all her little experience of society had been experience among people who possessed a common sense of honor and a common responsibility of social position she had hitherto seen nothing but the successful human product from the great manufactory of civilization here was one of the failures and with all her quickness she was puzzled how to deal with it pardon me for returning to the subject pursued the Captain it has just occurred to my mind that you might actually have spoken in earnest my poor child how can I earn the 50 pounds before the reward is offered to me those handbills may not be publicly posted for a week to come precious as you are to all your relatives myself included and take my word for it the lawyers who are managing this case will not pay 50 pounds for you if they can possibly help it are you still persuaded that my needy pockets are gaping for the money very good button them up in spite of me with your own fingers there is a train to London at 9.45 tonight submit yourself to your friend's wishes and go back by it never said Magdalene firing at the bare suggestion exactly as the Captain had intended she should if my mind had not been made up before that vile handbill would have decided me I forgive Nora she added turning away and speaking to herself but not Mr. Pendrill and not Ms. Garth quite right said Captain Raggy the family spirit I should have done the same myself at your age it runs in the blood Hark there goes the clock again half past seven Ms. Vanstone pardon the seasonable abruptness if you are to carry out your resolution if you are to be your own mistress much longer you must take a course of some kind before eight o'clock you are young you are inexperienced you are in imminent danger here is a position of emergency on one side and here am I on the other with an uncle's interest in you full of advice attack me just to depend on nobody and to act for myself said Magdalene what then then, replied the captain you will walk straight into one of the four traps which are set to catch you in the ancient and interesting city of York and trap the first at Mr. Huckstable's house trap the second at all the hotels and trap the third at the railway station and trap the fourth at the theater that man with the handbills has had an hour at his disposal if he has not set those four traps with the assistance of the local solicitor by this time he is not the competent lawyer's clerk I take him for come come my dear girl if there is somebody else in the background whose advice you prefer to mine you see that I am alone she interposed proudly if you knew me better you would know that I depend on nobody but myself those words decided the only doubt which now remained in the captain's mind the doubt whether the course was clear before him the motive of her flight from home was evidently what the handbills assumed it to be a reckless fancy for going on the stage one of two things thought raggy to himself in his logical way she's worth more than fifty pounds to me in her present situation or she isn't if she is her friends may whistle for her if she isn't I have only to keep her till the bills are posted fortified by this simple plan of action the captain returned to the charge and politely placed Magdalene between the two inevitable alternatives of trusting herself to him on the one hand or of returning to her friends on the other I respect independence of character wherever I find it he said with an air of virtuous severity in a young and lovely relative I more than respect I admire it but excuse the bold assertion to walk on a way of your own you must first have a way to walk on under existing circumstances where is your way Mr. Huckstable is out of the question to begin with out of the question for tonight said Magdalene but what hinders me from writing to Mr. Huckstable and making my own private arrangements with him for tomorrow granted with all my heart a hit a palpable hit now for my turn to get to tomorrow excuse the bold assertion once more you must first pass through tonight where are you to sleep are there no hotels in York excellent hotels for large families excellent hotels for a single gentleman the very worst hotels in the world for handsome young ladies who present themselves alone at the door without male escort without a maid in attendance and without a single article of luggage dark as it is I think I could see a ladies box if there was anything of the sort in our immediate neighborhood my box is at the cloakroom what is to prevent my sending the ticket for it nothing if you want to communicate your address by means of your box nothing whatever think pray think do you really suppose that the people who are looking for you are such fools as not to have an eye on the cloakroom do you think they are such fools when they find you don't come to Mr. Huckstables at eight tonight as not to inquire at all the hotels do you think a young lady of your striking appearance even if they consented to receive you could take up her abode at an inn without becoming the subject of universal curiosity and remark here is night coming on as fast as it can don't let me bore you only let me ask once more where are you to sleep there was no answer to that question in Magdalene's position there was literally no answer to it on her side she was silent where are you to sleep repeated the captain the reply is obvious under my roof Mrs. Raggy will be charmed to see you look upon her as your aunt pray look upon her as your aunt the landlady is a widow the house is close by there are no other lodgers and there is a bedroom to let can anything be more satisfactory under all the circumstances pray observe I say nothing about tomorrow I leave tomorrow to you and confine myself exclusively to the night I may or may not command theatrical facilities which I am in a position to offer you sympathy and admiration may or may not be strong within me when I contemplate the dash and independence of your character hosts of examples of bright stars of the British drama who have become their apprenticeship to the stage as you are beginning yours may or may not crowd in memory these are topics for the future for the present I confine myself within my strict range of duty we are within five minutes walk of my present address allow me to offer you my arm no you hesitate you distrust me good heavens is it possible you can have heard anything to my disadvantage quite possible without a moment's flinching from the answer may I inquire the particulars ask the captain with the politest composure don't spare my feelings oblige me by speaking out in the plainest terms now what have you heard she answered him with a woman's desperate disregard of consequences when she is driven to bay she answered him instantly I have heard to her a rogue have you indeed have you indeed said the imprenetrable raggy a rogue well, I waive my privilege of setting you right on that point for a thicker time for the sake of argument let us say I am a rogue what is Mr. Huxtable a respectable man or I should not have seen him in the house where we first met very good, now observe you talked of writing to Mr. Huxtable a minute ago what do you think a respectable man is likely to do with a young lady who openly acknowledges that she has run away from home and her friends to go on the stage my dear girl on your own showing it's not a respectable man you want in your present predicament it's a rogue, like me Magdalen laughed bitterly there is some truth in that she said thank you for recalling me to myself in my circumstances I have my end to gain and who am I to pick and choose the way of getting to it it is my turn to beg pardon now I have been talking as if I was a young lady of family and position absurd we know better than that don't we Captain Raggy you are quite right nobody's child must sleep under somebody's roof and why not yours this way said the captain dexterously profiting by the sudden change in her humor and cunningly refraining from exasperating it by saying more himself this way she followed him a few steps and suddenly stopped suppose I am discovered she broke out abruptly who has any authority over me who can take me back if I don't choose to go if they all find me tomorrow what then can't I say no to Mr. Pendrell my own courage with Miss Garth can you trust your courage with your sister whispered the captain who had not forgotten the references to Nora which had twice escaped her already her head drooped she shivered as if the cold night air had struck her and leaned back wearily against the parapet of the wall not with Nora she said sadly I could trust myself with the others not with Nora this way repeated Captain Raggy she roused herself looked up at the darkening heaven looked round at the darkening view what must be must she said and followed him the minster clock struck the quarter to eight as they left the walk on the wall and descended the steps into rosemary lane almost at the same moment the lawyers clerk from London gave the last instructions to his subordinates to look up his own position on the opposite side of the river with an easy view of Mr. Huxtable's door end of second scene chapter one second scene chapter two of No Name this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Dawn No Name by Wilkie Collins second scene chapter two Captain Raggy stopped nearly midway in the one little row of houses composing rosemary lane and let himself and his guest in at the door of his lodgings with his own key as they entered the passage a care-worn woman in a widow's cap made her appearance with a candle my niece said the captain presenting Magdalene my niece on a visit to York she really has kindly consented to occupy your empty bedroom consider it let if you please to my niece and to be very particular in airing the sheets is Mrs. Raggy upstairs very good you may lend me your candle my dear girl Mrs. Raggy's boudoir is on the first floor Mrs. Raggy is visible allow me to show you the way up as he ascended the stairs first the care-worn widow whispered piteously to Magdalene I hope you all pay me miss your uncle doesn't the captain threw open the door of the front room on the first floor and disclosed a female figure arrayed in a gown of tarnished amber-colored satin seated solitary on a small chair with dingy old gloves on its hands with a tattered old book on its knees and with one little bedroom candle by its side the figure terminated at its upper extremity in a large smooth white round face like a moon encircled by a cap and green ribbons and dimly irradiated by eyes of mild and faded blue which looked straight forward into vacancy and took not the smallest notice of Magdalene's appearance on the opening of the door Mrs. Raggy cried the captain shouting at her as if she was fast asleep Mrs. Raggy the lady of the faded blue eyes slowly rose to an apparently interminable height when she had at last attained an upright position she towered to a stature of two or three inches over six feet giants of both sexes are by a wise dispensation of providence created for the most part gentle if Mrs. Raggy in a lamb had been placed side by side comparison under those circumstances would have exposed the lamb as a rank imposter Tee captain inquired Mrs. Raggy looking submissively down at her husband whose head when he stood on tiptoe barely reached her shoulder Miss Van Stone the Unger said the captain presenting Magdalene our fair relative whom I have met by fortunate accident our guest for the night our guest reiterated the captain shouting once more as if the tall lady was still fast asleep in spite in testimony of her own eyes to the contrary a smile expressed itself in faint outline on the large vacant space of Mrs. Raggy's countenance oh she said interrogatively oh indeed please miss will you sit down I'm sorry no I don't mean I'm sorry I mean I'm glad she stopped and consulted her husband by a helpless look glad of course she shouted the captain glad of course echoed the giantess of the amber satin more meekly than ever Mrs. Raggy is not deaf explained the captain she's only a little slow constitutionally torpid if I may use the expression I am merely loud with her and I beg you will honor me by being loud too as a necessary stimulant to her ideas shouted her her mind comes up to time speak to her and she drifts miles away from you directly Mrs. Raggy instantly acknowledged the stimulant tea captain she inquired for the second time put your cap straight shouted her husband I beg ten thousand pardons he resumed again addressing himself to Magdalene the sad truth is harder to my own sense of order all untidiness all want of system and regularity caused me the acutest irritation my attention is distracted my composure is upset I can't rest till things are set straight again externally speaking Mrs. Raggy is to my infinite regret the crookedest woman I ever met with more to the right shouted the captain as Mrs. Raggy, like a well trained child presented herself with her revised headdress for her husband's inspection Mrs. Raggy immediately pulled the cap to the left Magdalene rose and said it right for her the moon face of the giantess brightened for the first time she looked admiringly at Magdalene's cloak and bonnet do you like dress miss she asked suddenly in a confidential whisper I do show miss van stone her room said the captain looking as if the whole house belonged to him the spare room the landlady's spare room on the third floor front offer miss van stone all articles connected with the toilet of which she may stand in need she has no luggage with her supply the deficiency and then come back and make tea Mrs. Raggy acknowledged the receipt of these lofty directions by a look of placid bewilderment and led the way out of the room Magdalene following her with a candle presented by the attentive captain as soon as they were alone on the landing outside Mrs. Raggy raised the tattered old book which she had been reading when Magdalene was first presented to her in which she had never let out of her hand since and slowly tapped herself on the forehead with it oh my poor head said the tall lady in meek soliloquy it's buzzing again worse than ever buzzing repeated Magdalene in the utmost astonishment Mrs. Raggy ascended the stairs without offering any explanation stopped at one of the rooms on the second floor and led the way in this is not the third floor said Magdalene this is not my room surely wait a bit pleaded Mrs. Raggy wait a bit miss before we go up any higher I've got the buzzing in my head worse than ever please wait for me till I'm a little better again shall I ask for help? inquired Magdalene shall I call the landlady help? echoed Mrs. Raggy bless you I don't want help I'm used to it I've had the buzzing in my head off and on how many years she stopped, reflected herself, and suddenly tried to question and despair have you ever been at darchess dining rooms in London? she asked with an appearance of the deepest interest no replied Magdalene wondering at the strange inquiry that's where the buzzing in my head first began said Mrs. Raggy following the new clue with the deepest attention and anxiety I was employed to wait on the gentleman at darchess dining rooms I was the gentleman came together the gentleman were all hungry together the gentleman all gave their orders together she stopped and tapped her head again despondently with the tattered old book and you had to keep all their orders in your memory separate one from the other suggested Magdalene helping her out and the trying to do that confused you that's it said Mrs. Raggy becoming violently excited in a moment boiled pork and greens and peas number one stewed beef and carrots and gooseberry tart for number two cut of mutton and quick about it well done and plenty of fat for number three codfitch and parsnips two chops to follow hot and hot or I'll be the death of you for number four five, six, seven, eight nine, ten carrots and gooseberry tart peas putting in plenty of fat pork and beef and mutton and cut them all and quick about it stop for one and ale for the other new bread here, new bread there and this gentleman likes cheese and that gentleman doesn't Matilda, Tilda, Tilda, Tilda fifty times over till I didn't know my own name again oh lord, oh lord, oh lord all together all at the same time all out of temper all buzzing in my poor head like forty thousand million bees don't tell the captain, don't tell the captain the unfortunate creature dropped the tattered old book beat both her hands on her head with a look of blank terror fixed on the door hush, hush said Magdalene the captain hasn't heard you I know what is the matter with your head now let me cool it she dipped a towel in water and pressed it on the hot and helpless head which Mrs. Raggy submitted to her with the docility of a sick child what a pretty hand you've got said the poor creature feeling the relief of the coolness of making Magdalene's hand admiringly in her own how soft and white it is I try to be a lady I always keep my gloves on but I can't get my hands like yours I'm nicely dressed though, ain't I? I like dress it's a comfort to me I'm always happy when I'm looking at my things I say you won't be angry with me I should so like to try your bonnet on Magdalene humored her ready compassion of the young she stood smiling and nodding at herself in the glass with the bonnet perched on the top of her head I had one as pretty as this once she said only it was white, not black I wore it when the captain married me where did you meet with him asked Magdalene putting the question as a chance means of increasing her scanty stock of information on the subject of Captain Raggy at the dining rooms, said Mrs. Raggy he was the hungriest and the loudest to wait upon of the lot of them I made more mistakes with him than I did with all the rest of them put together he used to swear oh, didn't he used to swear when he left off swearing at me he married me there was others wanted me besides him bless you, I had my pick why not? when you have a trifle of money left you that you didn't expect if that don't make a lady of you what does I had my trifle of money and I had my pick and I picked the captain, I did he was the smartest and the shortest of them all he took care of me and my money I'm here, the money's gone don't you put that towel down on the table he won't have that don't move his razors, don't please or I shall forget which is which I've got to remember which is which tomorrow morning bless you, the captain don't shave himself he had me taught, I shave him his hair and cut his nails he's awfully particular about his nails so he is about his trousers and his shoes and his newspaper in the morning and his breakfasts and lunches and dinners and teas she stopped struck by a sudden recollection looked about her, observed the tattered old book on the floor and clasped her hands in despair I've lost the place she exclaimed helplessly oh mercy, what will become of me I've lost the place never mind said Magdalene, I'll soon find the place for you she picked up the book, looked into the pages and found that the object of Mrs. Raggy's anxiety was nothing more important than an old fashioned treatise on the art of cookery reduced under the usual heads of fish, flesh and fowl and containing the customary series of recipes over the leaves, Magdalene came to one particular page, thickly studded with little drops of moisture half dry curious she said if this was anything but a cookery book I should say somebody had been crying over it somebody echoed Mrs. Raggy with a stare of amazement it isn't somebody, it's me thank you kindly, that's the place sure enough bless you, I'm used to crying over it if you had to get the captain's dinners out of it as sure as ever I sit down to this book the buzzing in my head begins again who's to make it out? sometimes I think I've got it and it all goes away from me sometimes I think I haven't got it and it all comes back in a heap look here here's what he's ordered for his breakfast omelet with herbs beat up two eggs with a little water or milk mince small there, mince small how am I to mince small when it's all mixed up and running put a piece of butter the size of your thumb into the frying pan look at my thumb and look at yours who's size does she mean? boiled but not brown if it mustn't be brown what color must it be? she won't tell me she expects me to know and I don't pour in the omelet there I can do that allow it to set raise it round the edge when done turn it over to double it oh the number of times I've turned it over and doubled it in my head before you came in tonight keep it soft put the dish on the frying pan and turn it over which am I to turn over? mercy try the cold towel again and tell me which the dish or the frying pan put the dish on the frying pan said Magdalene and then turn the frying pan over that is what it means I think thank you kindly said Mrs. Waggy I want to get it into my head please say it again Magdalene said it again and then turn the frying pan over repeated Mrs. Waggy with a sudden burst of energy I've got it now the omelet's all frying together in my head and all frying wrong much obliged I'm sure you've put me all right again I'm only a little tired with talking and then turn the frying pan then turn the frying pan then turn the frying pan over it sounds like poetry don't it? her voice sank and she drowsily closed her eyes at the same moment the door of the room below opened and the captain's malifluous bass notes floated upstairs charged with the customary stimulant to his wife's faculties Mrs. Waggy cried the captain Mrs. Waggy she started to her feet at that terrible summons oh what did he tell me to do? she asked distractedly lots of things and I've forgotten them all say you have done them when he asks you suggested Magdalene they were things for me I remember all that's necessary my room is the front room on the third floor go downstairs and say I'm coming directly she took up the candle and pushed Mrs. Waggy out on the landing say I'm coming directly she whispered again and went upstairs by herself to the third story the room was small close and very poorly furnished in former days Ms. Garth would have hesitated to offer such a room to one of the servants from Raven but it was quiet it gave her a few minutes alone and it was indurable even welcome on that account she locked herself in and walked mechanically with a woman's first impulse in a strange bedroom to the rickety little table in the dingy little looking glass she waited there for a moment and then turned away with weary contempt what does it matter how pale I am she thought to herself Frank can't see me what does it matter now she laid aside her cloak and bonnet and sat down to collect herself but the events of the day had worn her out the past when she tried to remember it only made her heart ache the future when she tried to penetrate it was a black void she rose again and stood by the uncurtained window stood looking out as if there was some hidden sympathy for her own desolation in the desolate night Nora looked to herself tenderly I wonder if Nora is thinking of me oh if I could be as patient as she is if I could only forget the debt we owe to Michael Vanstone her face darkened with a vindictive despair and she paced the little cage of a room backward and forward softly no never till the debt has paid her thoughts veered back again to Frank still at sea poor fellow further and further away from me sailing through the day sailing through the night oh Frank love me her eyes filled with tears she dashed them away made for the door and laughed with a desperate levity as she unlocked it again any company is better than my own thoughts she burst out recklessly as she left the room and forgetting my ready-made relations my half-witted aunt and my uncle the rogue she descended the stairs to the landing on the first floor and paused there in momentary hesitation how will it end she asked herself where is my blindfolded journey taking me to now who knows and who cares she entered the room Captain Raggy was presiding at the tea tray with the air of a prince in his own banqueting hall at one side of the table sat Mrs. Raggy watching her husband's eye like an animal waiting to be fed at the other side was an empty chair toward which the captain waved his persuasive hand when Magdalene came in how do you like your room he inquired I trust Mrs. Raggy has made herself useful you take milk and sugar try the local bread honor the York butter test the freshness of a new and neighboring egg I offer my little all a pauper's meal my dear girl seasoned with a gentleman's welcome seasoned with salt, pepper, chives and parsley murmured Mrs. Raggy catching instantly at a word in connection with cookery and harnessing her head to the omelet for the rest of the evening sit straight at the table shouted the captain more to the left more still that will do during your absence upstairs he continued addressing himself to Magdalene my mind has not been unemployed I have been considering your position with a view exclusively to your own benefit if you decide on being guided tomorrow by the light of my experience that light is unreservedly at your service you may naturally say I know but little of you captain and that little is unfavorable granted on one condition that you permit me to make myself and my character quite familiar to you when tea is over false shame is foreign to my nature you see my wife my house, my bread my butter and my eggs all exactly as they are see me too my dear girl while you are about it when tea was over Mrs. Raggy at a signal from her husband in the corner of the room with the eternal cookery book still in her hand mince small she whispered confidentially as she passed Magdalene that's a teaser isn't it down a hill again shouted the captain pointing to his wife's heavy flat feet as they shuffled across the room the right shoe pull it up at the hill Mrs. Raggy pull it up at the hill pray allow me to offer his arm to Magdalene and escorting her to a dirty little horse hair sofa you want to repose after your long journey you really want to repose he drew his chair to the sofa and surveyed her with a bland look of investigation as if he had been her medical attendant with a diagnosis on his mind very pleasant very pleasant said the captain when he had seen his guest comfortable on the sofa quiet in the bosom of my family shall we return to our subject the subject of my rascally self no no no apologies no protestations pray don't mince the matter on your side and depend on me not to mince it on mine now come to facts pray come to facts who and what am I carry your mind back in conversation on the walls of this interesting city let us start once more from your point of view I am a rogue and in that capacity as I have already pointed out the most useful man you could possibly have met with now observe there are many varieties of rogue let me tell you my variety to begin with I am a swindler his entire shamelessness was really superhuman the vestige of a blush varied the sallow monotony of his complexion the smile wreathed his curly lips as pleasantly as ever his party-colored eyes twinkled at Magdalene with the self-enjoying frankness of a naturally harmless man had his wife hurt him Magdalene looked over his shoulder to the corner of the room in which he was sitting behind him no the self-taught student of Cookery was absorbed in her subject she had advanced her imaginary omelet to the critical stage in which the butter was to be thrown in that vaguely measured morsel of butter the size of your thumb Mrs. Raggy sat lost in contemplation of one of her own thumbs and shook her head over it as if it failed to satisfy her don't be shocked preceded the captain don't be astonished swindler is nothing but a word of two syllables S-W-I-N-D swind L-E-R L-R swindler definition a moral agriculturist a man who cultivates the field of human sympathy I am that moral agriculturist that cultivating man narrow-minded mediocrity envious of my success in my profession calls me a swindler what of that the same low tone of mind assails men in other professions in a similar manner calls great writers scribblers great generals butchers and so on it entirely depends on the point of view adopting your point I announce myself intelligibly as a swindler now return the obligation and adopt mine here would I have to say for myself in the exercise of my profession shall I continue to put it frankly yes said Magdalene and I'll tell you frankly afterward what I think of it the captain cleared his throat mentally assembled his entire army of words horse foot artillery and reserves put himself at the head and dashed into action to carry the moral entrenchments of society by a general charge now observe he began here am I a needy object very good without complicating the question by asking how I come to be in that condition I will merely inquire whether it is or is not the duty of a Christian community to help the needy if you say no you simply shock me and there is an end of it if you say yes then I beg to ask why am I to blame for making a Christian community do its duty you may say is a careful man who has saved money bound to spend it again on a careless stranger who has saved none why of course he is and on what ground pray good heavens on the ground that he has got the money to be sure all the world over the man who has not got the thing obtains it on one pretense or another of the man who has and in nine cases out of ten the pretense is a false one what? your pockets are full and my pockets are empty and you refuse to help me sordid rich do you think I will allow you to make good obligations of charity in my person? I won't allow you I say distinctly I won't allow you those are my principles as moral agriculturist principles which admit of trickery certainly am I to blame if the field of human sympathy can't be cultivated in any other way consider my brother agriculturists in the mere farming line do they get their crops for the asking no they must circumvent arid nature exactly as I circumvent sordid men they must plow and sow in top dress and bottom dress and deep drain and surface drain and all the rest of it why am I to be checked in the vast occupation of deep draining mankind why am I to be persecuted for habitually exciting the noblest feelings of our common nature infamous characterize it by no other word infamous if I hadn't confidence in the future I should despair of humanity but I have confidence in the future yes one of these days when I am dead and gone as ideas enlarge and enlightenment progresses the abstract merits of the profession now called swindling will be recognized when that day comes drag me out of my grave and give me a public funeral don't take advantage of my having no voice to raise in my own defense and insult me by a national statue no do me justice on my tombstone dash me off in one masterly sentence on my epitaph here lies raggy embalmed in the tardy recognition of his species soared and reaped his fellow creatures and enlightened posterity congratulates him on the uniform excellence of his crops he stopped not from want of confidence not from want of words purely from want of breath I put it frankly with a dash of humor he said pleasantly I don't shock you do I we're in heartsick as she was suspicious of others doubtful of herself the extravagant impudence of captain raggy's defense of swindling touched Magdalene's natural sense of humor and forced a smile to her lips is the Yorkshire crop a particularly rich one just at present she inquired meeting him in her neatly feminine way with his own weapons a hit a palpable hit jacosly exhibiting the tales of his threadbare shooting jacket as a practical commentary on Magdalene's remark my dear girl here or elsewhere the crop never fails but one man can't always gather it in the assistance of intelligent cooperation is I regret to say denied me I have nothing in common with the clumsy rank and file of my profession who convict themselves before recorders and magistrates of the worst of all offenses incurable stupidity in the exercise of their own vocation such as you see me I stand entirely alone after years of successful self dependence the penalties of celebrity are beginning to attach to me on my way from the north I pause at this interesting city for the third time I consult my books for the customary references to past local experience I find under the heading personal position in York the initials TWK signifying too well known I refer to my index and turn to the surrounding neighborhood the same brief marks meet my eye leads TWK Scarborough TWK Harrogate TWK and so on what is the inevitable consequence I suspend my proceedings my resources evaporate and my fair relative finds me the proper gentleman whom she now sees before her your books said Magdalene what books do you mean you shall see trust me or not as you like as you implicitly you shall see with those words he retired into the back room while he was gone Magdalene stole another look at Mrs. Raggy was she still self isolated from her husband's deluge of words perfectly self isolated she had advanced the imaginary omelette to the last stage of culinary progress and she was now rehearsing the final operation of turning it over with the palm of her hand to represent the dish and the cookery book to impersonate the frying pan I've got it said Mrs. Raggy nodding across the room at Magdalene first put the frying pan on the dish and then tumble both of them over Captain Raggy returned carrying a neat black dispatch box adorned with a bright brass lock he produced from the box five or six plump little books bound in commercial calf and vellum and each fitted comfortably with its own little lock mind said the moral agriculturist I take no credit to myself for this it is my nature to be orderly and orderly I am I must have everything down in black and white or I should go mad here is my commercial library day book, ledger book of districts book of letters and so on kindly throw your eye over any one of them I flatter myself there is no such thing as a blot or a careless entry in it from the first page to the last look at this room is there a chair out of place not if I know it look at me am I dusty am I dirty am I half shaved am I in brief a speckless pauper am I not mind I take no credit to myself the nature of the man, my dear girl the nature of the man he opened one of the books Magdalene was no judge of the admirable correctness with which the accounts inside were all kept but she could estimate the neatness of the handwriting the regularity in the rows of figures the mathematical exactness of the ruled lines in red and black ink the cleanly absence of blots although Captain Raggy's inborn sense of order was in him as it is in others a sense too inveterately mechanical to exercise any elevating moral influence over his actions it had produced its legitimate effect on his habits and had reduced his rogueries as strictly to method and system as if they had been the commercial transactions of an honest man in appearance my system looks complicated pursued the captain but in reality it is simplicity itself I merely avoid the errors of inferior practitioners that is to say I never plead for myself and I never apply to rich people both fatal mistakes which the inferior practitioner perpetually commits people with small means sometimes have generous impulses in connection with money rich people never my lord with 40,000 a year Sir John with property in half a dozen counties those are the men who never forgive the gentile beggar for swindling them out of a sovereign those are the men who send for the mendicity officers those are the men who take care of their money who are the people who lose shillings and sixpences by sheer thoughtlessness servants and small clerks to whom shillings and sixpences are of consequence did you ever hear of Rothschild or bearing dropping a fourpenny piece down a gutter hole fourpence in Rothschild's pocket is safer than fourpence in the pocket of that woman who is crying stale shrimps in Skeltergate at this moment fortified by these sound principles enlightened by the stores of written information in my commercial library I have ranged through the population for years past and have raised my charitable crops with the most cheering success here in book number one are all my districts mapped out with the prevalent public feeling to appeal to in each military district clerical district agricultural district et cetera et cetera here in number two are my cases that I plead only of an officer who fell at Waterloo wife of a poor curate stricken down by nervous debility widow of a grazer in difficulties gored to death by a mad bull et cetera et cetera here in number three are the people who have heard of the officer's family the curate's wife the grazer's widow and the people who haven't the people who have said yes and the people who have said no the people to try again the people who want a fresh case to stir them up the people who are doubtful the people to be aware of et cetera et cetera here in number four are my adopted handwriting of public characters my testimonials to my own worth and integrity my heart-rending statements of the officer's family the curate's wife and the grazer's widow stained with tears blotted with emotion et cetera et cetera here in numbers five and six are my own personal subscriptions to local charities actually paid in remunerative neighborhoods on the principle of throwing a sprat to catch a herring also my dire of each day's proceedings my personal reflections and remarks my statement of existing difficulties such as the difficulty of finding myself TWK in this interesting city my outgivings and incomings wind and weather politics and public events fluctuations in my own health fluctuations in Mrs. Draggy's head fluctuations in our means and meals our payments, prospects and principles et cetera et cetera so my dear girl the swindler's mill goes so you see me exactly as I am you knew before I met you that I lived on my wits well have I or have I not shown you that I have wits to live on I have no doubt you have done yourself full justice said Magdalene quietly I am not at all exhausted continued the captain I can go on if necessary for the rest of the evening however if I have done myself full justice perhaps I may leave the remaining points in my character to develop themselves at future opportunities for the present I withdraw myself from notice exit Draggy and now to business permit me to inquire what effect I have produced on your mind do you still believe that the rogue who has trusted you with all his secrets is a rogue who has bent on taking a mean advantage of a fair relative I will wait a little, Magdalene rejoined before I answer that question when I came down to tea you told me you had been employing your mind for my benefit may I ask how? by all means said Captain Draggy you shall have the net result of the whole mental process said process ranges over the present and future proceedings of your disconsolate friends and of the lawyers who are helping them to find you the present proceedings are in all probability assuming the following form the lawyer's clerk has given you up at Mr. Huckstables and has also by this time given you up after careful inquiry at all the hotels his last chance is that you may send for your box to the cloakroom you don't send for it and there the clerk is tonight thanks to Captain Draggy and Rosemary Lane at the end of his resources he will forthwith communicate that fact to his employers in London and those employers don't be alarmed will apply for help to the detective police allowing for inevitable delays a professional spy with all his wits about him and with those handbills to help him privately in identifying you will be here certainly not later than the day after tomorrow possibly earlier if you remain in York if you attempt to communicate with Mr. Huckstable that spy will find you out if on the other hand you leave the city before he comes taking your departure by other means than the railway of course you put him in the same predicament as the clerk you defy him to find a fresh trace of you there is my brief abstract of your present position what do you think of it I think it has one defect said Magdalene it ends in nothing pardon me retorted the captain it ends in an arrangement for your safe departure and in a plan for the entire gratification of your wishes in the direction of the stage both drawn from the resources of my own experience and both waiting a word from you to be poured forth immediately in the fullest detail I think I know what that word is replied Magdalene looking at him attentively Charmed to hear it I am sure you have only to say Captain Raggy take charge of me and my plans are yours from that moment I will take tonight to consider your proposal she said after an instance reflection you shall have my answer tomorrow morning Captain Raggy looked a little disappointed he had not expected the reservation on his side to be met so compositely by reservation on hers why not decided once he remonstrated in his most persuasive tones you have only to consider I have more to consider than you think for she answered I have another object in view besides the object you know of may I ask excuse me Captain Raggy you may not ask allow me to thank you for your hospitality and to wish you good night I am worn out I want rest once more the Captain wisely adapted himself to her humor with the ready self-control of an experienced man worn out of course he said sympathetically unpardonable on my part not to have thought of it before we will resume our conversation tomorrow permit me to give you a candle Mrs. Raggy prostated by mental exertion Mrs. Raggy was pursuing the course of the omelet in dreams her head was twisted one way and her body the other she snored meekly at intervals one of her hands raised itself in the air shook an imaginary frying pan and dropped again with a faint thump on the cookery book in her lap at the sound of her husband's voice she started to her feet and confronted him with her mind fast asleep and her eyes wide open assist Miss Van Stone said the Captain and the next time you forget yourself in your chair fall asleep straight don't annoy me by falling asleep crooked Mrs. Raggy opened her eyes a little wider and looked at Magdalene in helpless amazement is the Captain breakfasting by candlelight? she inquired meekly and haven't I done the omelet? before her husband's corrective voice could apply a fresh stimulant Magdalene took her compassionately by the arm and led her out of the room another object besides the object I know of? repeated Captain Raggy when he was left by himself is there a gentleman in the background after all? is there mischief brewing in the dark that I don't bargain for?