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As soon as I had done eating； we proceeded to inspect the lower
floor。 Window by window we tried the different supports； now and
then making an inconsiderable change； and the strokes of the hammer
sounded with startling loudness through the house。 I proposed； I
remember； to make loopholes； but he told me they were already made
in the windows of the upper story。 It was an anxious business；
this inspection； and left me down…hearted。 There were two doors
and five windows to protect； and； counting Clara； only four of us
to defend them against an unknown number of foes。 I communicated
my doubts to Northmour； who assured me； with unmoved composure；
that he entirely shared them。
〃Before morning；〃 said he； 〃we shall all be butchered and buried in
Graden Floe。 For me； that is written。〃
I could not help shuddering at the mention of the quicksand； but
reminded Northmour that our enemies had spared me in the wood。
〃Do not flatter yourself；〃 said he。 〃Then you were not in the same
boat with the old gentleman； now you are。 It's the floe for all of
us； mark my words。〃
I trembled for Clara； and just then her dear voice was heard
calling us to come upstairs。 Northmour showed me the way； and；
when he had reached the landing； knocked at the door of what used
to be called My Uncle's Bedroom； as the founder of the pavilion had
designed it especially for himself。
〃Come in； Northmour； come in； dear Mr。 Cassilis；〃 said a voice from
within。
Pushing open the door； Northmour admitted me before him into the
apartment。 As I came in I could see the daughter slipping out by
the side door into the study； which had been prepared as her
bedroom。 In the bed； which was drawn back against the wall；
instead of standing； as I had last seen it； boldly across the
window； sat Bernard Huddlestone； the defaulting banker。 Little as
I had seen of him by the shifting light of the lantern on the
links； I had no difficulty in recognizing him for the same。 He had
a long and sallow countenance； surrounded by a long red beard and
side…whiskers。 His broken nose and high cheek…hones gave him
somewhat the air of a Kalmuck； and his light eyes shone with the
excitement of a high fever。 He wore a skull…cap of black silk； a
huge Bible lay open before him on the bed； with a pair of gold
spectacles in the place； and a pile of other books lay on the stand
by his side。 The green curtains lent a cadaverous shade to his
cheek； and； as he sat propped on pillows； his great stature was
painfully hunched； and his head protruded till it overhung his
knees。 I believe if he had not died otherwise； he must have fallen
a victim to consumption in the course of but a very few weeks。
He held out to me a hand； long； thin； and disagreeably hairy。
〃Come in； come in； Mr。 Cassilis；〃 said he。 〃Another protector
ahem！another protector。 Always welcome as a friend of my
daughter's； Mr。 Cassilis。 How they have rallied about me； my
daughter's friends！ May God in heaven bless and reward them for
it！〃
I gave him my hand； of course； because I could not help it； but the
sympathy I had been prepared to feel for Clara's father was
immediately soured by his appearance； and the wheedling； unreal
tones in which he spoke。
〃Cassilis is a good man；〃 said Northmour； 〃worth ten。〃
〃So I hear；〃 cried Mr。 Huddlestone eagerly； 〃so my girl tells me。
Ah； Mr。 Cassilis； my sin has found me out； you see！ I am very low；
very low； but I hope equally penitent。 We must all come to the
throne of grace at last； Mr。 Cassilis。 For my part； I come late
indeed； but with unfeigned humility； I trust。〃
〃Fiddle…de…dee！〃 said Northmour roughly。
〃No； no； dear Northmour！〃 cried the banker。 〃You must not say
that； you must not try to shake me。 You forget； my dear； good boy；
you forget I may be called this very night before my Maker。〃
His excitement was pitiful to behold； and I felt myself grow
indignant with Northmour； whose infidel opinions I well knew； and
heartily despised； as he continued to taunt the poor sinner out of
his humor of repentance。
〃Pooh； my dear Huddlestone！〃 said he。 〃You do yourself injustice。
You are a man of the world inside and out； and were up to all kinds
of mischief before I was born。 Your conscience is tanned like
South American leatheronly you forgot to tan your liver； and
that； if you will believe me； is the seat of the annoyance。〃
〃Rogue； rogue！ bad boy！〃 said Mr。 Huddlestone； shaking his finger。
〃I am no precisian； if you come to that； I always hated a
precisian； but I never lost hold of something better through it
all。 I have been a bad boy； Mr。 Cassilis； I do not seek to deny
that； but it was after my wife's death； and you know； with a
widower； it's a different thing： sinfulI won't say no； but there
is a gradation； we shall hope。 And talking of that Hark！〃 he
broke out suddenly； his hand raised； his fingers spread； his face
racked with interest and terror。 〃Only the rain； bless God！〃 he
added； after a pause； and with indescribable relief。
For some seconds he lay back among the pillows like a man near to
fainting； then he gathered himself together； and； in somewhat
tremulous tones； began once more to thank me for the share I was
prepared to take in his defense。
〃One question； sir；〃 said I； when he had paused。 〃Is it true that
you have money with you？〃
He seemed annoyed by the question； but admitted with reluctance
that he had a little。
〃Well；〃 I continued； 〃it is their money they are after； is it not？
Why not give it up to them？〃
〃Ah！〃 replied he； shaking his head； 〃I have tried that already； Mr。
Cassilis； and alas！ that it should be so； but it is blood they
want。〃
〃Huddlestone； that's a little less than fair；〃 said Northmour。
〃You should mention that what you offered them was upward of two
hundred thousand short。 The deficit is worth a reference； it is
for what they call a cool sum； Frank。 Then； you see； the fellows
reason in their clear Italian way； and it seems to them； as indeed
it seems to me； that they may just as well have both while they're
about itmoney and blood together； by George； and no more trouble
for the extra pleasure。〃
〃Is it in the pavilion？〃 I asked。
〃It is； and I wish it were in the bottom of the sea instead；〃 said
Northmour； and then suddenly〃What are you making faces at me
for？〃 he cried to Mr。 Huddlestone； on whom I had unconsciously
turned my back。 〃Do you think Cassilis would sell you？〃
Mr。 Huddlestone protested that nothing had been further from his
mind。
〃It is a good thing；〃 retorted Northmour in his ugliest manner。
〃You might end by wearying us。 What were you going to say？〃 he
added； turning to me。
〃I was going to propose an occupation for the afternoon；〃 said I。
〃Let us carry that money out； piece by piece； and lay it down
before the pavilion door。 If the carbonari come； why； it's theirs
at any rate。〃