Part 40 (1/2)
”What for?”
”I don't know.”
”Call the numbers, Tony,” said Frank.
Just as the oars were dipping, they were hailed from the sh.o.r.e.
”Boat ahoy,” said a stranger on the bank.
Frank looked, and discovered the gentleman who had begun the applause in the court-room. He was well dressed, wore a ma.s.sive gold chain, and appeared to be in affluent circ.u.mstances, if one might judge from appearances. His face--that portion of it which was not covered by his long black beard--was very dark, and apparently he had just returned from a tropical climate.
The c.o.xswain backed the boat to the sh.o.r.e.
”Can you tell me how I shall get to the house of John Weston, up the lake?” inquired the stranger.
”John Weston is not living,” replied Frank.
”Not living!” replied the stranger, with a sudden start. ”Is Mrs.
Weston living?”
”She is.”
”She is my mother,” added Tony.
”We are going up there now; and if you choose we will row you up,”
added the c.o.xswain.
”Thank you,” replied the stranger, as he seated himself by Frank's side.
Tony gazed at him with intense earnestness. The face looked natural to him, but he could not think where he had seen it before.
”Give way,” said Frank.
”You have a beautiful boat,” added the stranger.
”She is a very fine boat. I saw you at the trial, did I not?” asked Frank, looking with interest at his companion.
”I was there; it ended very happily.”
”Just as we knew it would end,” added Charles Hardy.
”It was a villanous conspiracy; and I should like the pleasure of thras.h.i.+ng that Tim Bunker,” continued the stranger, with a great deal of feeling.
”You seemed to be much interested in the trial.”
”More deeply than any other could be.”
”Except his mother,” said Frank.