Part 51 (2/2)
”Well, let's have soets any nearer,” persisted Moriarty, with an unpleasant laugh The suspense was beginning to tell upon a inally cast in the Stoic mould So much so, that I felt inclined to lose a trifle to him, even as a teetotaller would ads ”Coive you two to one he has letters for you; twenty to one he has letters for the station”----And so he gabbled on, whilst, drifting into my Hamlet-mood, I charted the poor fellow's mind for my own edification
”Hold on, Moriarty,” I interrupted, recalling ain Am I to understand that if Toby has letters for the station and none for me, you win; if he has letters forthe fulfiler is off?”
”That's it Are you on?”
”Make it a hundred to one”
”Done! at a hundred to one--in what?”
”Half-sovereigns,” I replied, feeling for the purse which, vulgar as it is, bushe are compelled to carry I placed the little coin--about one-tenth of my total wealth--in Moriarty's hand
He shrank from the touch
”What do you ht n't win it, after all
Don't be et it without giving an equivalent--don't you?
You know it's yours Are n't you betting on a certainty? Lay it on the -sill, if you like, and pick it up when you can read your title clear If you don't speculate, you won't accu into the morality of your speculation”----
I had cleared my throat for a disquisition which would have been intolerable to the unprincipled reader, when a very curious thing arrested the attention both of Moriarty and est coincidence, perhaps, within the personal experience of either of us--a conjuncture, in fact, which for a y of childhood At the present tihty to offer any apology other than that such is life
The half-caste had cantered up to the horse-paddock gate, had dismounted, had divested his horse of the saddle and bridle, and had given the ani those equip two letters and a newspaper from the tail-pocket of what had once been an expensive dress-coat of Montgoave you nothing Nix for you, Mr (adj) Moriarty”
”You're very laconic,” observed the storekeeper in a hollow voice, yet eyeing the prince sternly; ”very laconic, indeed, I must say
If I was you, I would n't be quite so laconic How the (sheol) comes it that you did n't fetch the ton, Collins,” said the heir-apparent; ”she's a day too soon I took a squint at her, co how the (adj sheol) you ed to conity
”I heard you, right enough I ain't deaf Well, I come on a oo like blazes to Scandalous Sandy's hut, on Nalrooka, an' tell him a lot o' his sheep was boxed with ours in the Boree Paddick
'I'll fetch the mail hoo to Scandalous Sandy's?” nagged Moriarty
”Well, considerin' you're boss o' this station, an' reat pleasure informin' you Ielse you want to know?”
”Did you hear which creon the regatta?” asked Moriarty, almost civilly
”Sydney,” replied the prince ”Think you Port Phillipers could lick us?”
”That's a lie!” exclaiht It's a lie, if you like I got no stuff on it See what Collins'
paper says An' now I feel like as if I could do a bit o' dinner--unless you got any objections?”
He stalked away toward the hut, whilst I opened what turned out to be a love-letter--evidently intended for some other member of our diffusive clan, for I could , indeed, but heart, and such heart as it has never beenof the newspaper, and was running his eye over its columns
”My mozzle is out, Collins” said he, with an effort ”I'll never clear myself--never in the creation of cats It's all up!”