Part 76 (1/2)
A slattern at the door halted him:
”n.o.body ain't let up them stairs without my knowin' why,” she mumbled.
”I want to see Captain Selwyn,” he explained.
”Hey?”
”Captain Selwyn!”
”Hey? I'm a little deef!” screeched the old crone. ”Is it Cap'n Selwyn you want?”
Above, Selwyn, hearing his name screamed through the shadows of the ancient house, came to the stairwell and looked down into the blackness.
”What is it, Mrs. Glodden?” he said sharply; then, catching sight of a dim figure springing up the stairs:
”Here! this way. Is it for me?” and as Boots came into the light from his open door: ”Oh!” he whispered, deadly pale under the reaction; ”I thought it was a telegram. Come in.”
Boots shook the snow from his hat and coat into the pa.s.sageway and took the single chair; Selwyn, tall and gaunt in his shabby dressing-gown, stood looking at him and plucking nervously at the frayed and ta.s.selled cord around his waist.
”I don't know how you came to stumble in here,” he said at length, ”but I'm glad to see you.”
”Thanks,” replied Boots, gazing shamelessly and inquisitively about.
There was nothing to see except a few books, a pipe or two, toilet articles, and a shaky gas-jet. The flat military trunk was under the iron bed.
”I--it's not much of a place,” observed Selwyn, forcing a smile.
”However, you see I'm so seldom in town; I'm busy at the Hook, you know.
So I don't require anything elaborate.”
”Yes, I know,” said Boots solemnly. A silence.
”H--have a pipe?” inquired Selwyn uneasily. He had nothing else to offer.
Boots leaned back in his stiff chair, crossed his legs, and filled a pipe. When he had lighted it he said:
”How are things, Phil?”
”All right. First rate, thank you.”
Boots removed the pipe from his lips and swore at him; and Selwyn listened with head obstinately lowered and lean hands plucking at his frayed girdle. And when Boots had ended his observations with an emphatic question, Selwyn shook his head:
”No, Boots. You're very good to ask me to stop with you, but I can't.
I'd be hampered; there are matters--affairs that concern me--that need instant attention at times--at certain times. I must be free to go, free to come. I couldn't be in your house. Don't ask me. But I'm--I thank you for offering--”
”Phil!”
”What?”
”Are you broke?”
”Ah--a little”--with a smile.