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the second floor。 There the landlord spoke for the first time。 〃He has
outrun his allowance； sir； as usual。 You will find him with hardly a rag on
his back。 I doubt if he will last much longer。 He had another fit of the
horrors last night； and the doctor thinks badly of him。〃 With that
introduction he opened the door； and Turlington entered the room。
On the miserable bed lay a gray…headed old man of gigantic stature；
with nothing on him but a ragged shirt and a pair of patched； filthy
trousers。 At the side of the bed； with a bottle of gin on the rickety table
between them； sat two hideous leering； painted monsters； wearing the
dress of women。 The smell of opium was in the room； as well as the smell
of spirits。 At Turlington's appearance； the old man rose on the bed and
welcomed him with greedy eyes and outstretched hand。
〃Money； master！〃 he called out hoarsely。 〃A crown piece in advance；
for the sake of old times！〃
Turlington turned to the women without answering； purse in hand。
〃His clothes are at the pawnbroker's； of course。 How much？〃
〃Thirty shillings。〃
〃Bring them here； and be quick about it。 You will find it worth your
while when you come back。〃
The women took the pawnbroker's tickets from the pockets of the
man's trousers and hurried out。
Turlington closed the door； and seated himself by the bedside。 He laid
his hand familiarly on the giant's mighty shoulder； looked him full in the
face； and said； in a whisper；
〃Thomas Wildfang！〃
The man started； and drew his huge hairy hand across his eyes； as if in
doubt whether he was waking or sleeping。 〃It's better than ten years；
master； since you called me by my name。 If I am Thomas Wildfang； what
are you？〃
〃Your captain； once more。〃
Thomas Wildfang sat up on the side of the bed； and spoke his next
words cautiously in Turlington's ear。
〃Another man in the way？〃
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Miss or Mrs。？
〃Yes。〃
The giant shook his bald； bestial head dolefully。 〃Too late。 I'm past the
job。 Look here。〃
He held up his hand； and showed it trembling incessantly。 〃I'm an old
man；〃 he said； and let his hand drop heavily again on the bed beside him。
Turlington looked at the door； and whispered back；
〃The man is as old as you are。 And the money is worth having。〃
〃How much？〃
〃A hundred pounds。〃
The eyes of Thomas Wildfang fastened greedily on Turlington's face。
〃Let's hear；〃 he said。 〃Softly； captain。 Let's hear。〃
* * * * * * * * *
When the women came back with the clothes； Turlington had left the
room。 Their promised reward lay waiting for them on the table； and
Thomas Wildfang was eager to dress himself and be gone。 They could get
but one answer from him to every question they put。 He had business in
hand； which was not to be delayed。 They would see him again in a day or
two； with money in his purse。 With that assurance he took his cudgel from
the corner of the room； and stalked out swiftly by the back door of the
house into the night。
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Miss or Mrs。？
ELEVENTH SCENE。
Outside the House
The evening was chilly； but not cold for the time of year。 There was no
moon。 The stars were out； and the wind was quiet。 Upon the whole； the
inhabitants of the little Somersetshire village of Baxdale agreed that it was
as fine a Christmas…eve as they could remember for some years past。
Toward eight in the evening the one small street of the village was
empty； except at that part of it which was occupied by the public…house。
For the most part； people gathered round their firesides； with an eye to
their suppers； and watched the process of cooking comfortably indoors。
The old bare； gray church； situated at some little distance from the village；
looked a lonelier object than usual in the dim starlight。 The vicarage；
nestling close under the shadow of the church…tower； threw no
illumination of fire…light or candle…light on the dreary scene。 The
clergyman's shutters fitted well； and the clergyman's curtains were closely
drawn。 The one ray of light that cheered the wintry darkness streamed
from the unguarded window of a lonely house； separated from the
vicarage by the whole length of the church…yard。 A man stood at the
window； holding back the shutter； and looking out attentively over the dim
void of the burial…ground。 The man was Richard Turlington。 The room in
which he was watching was a room in his own house。
A momentary spark of light flashed up； as from a kindled match； in the
burial…ground。 Turlington instantly left the empty room in which he had
been watching。 Passing down the back garden of the house； and crossing a
narrow lane at the bottom of it； he opened a gate in a low stone wall
beyond； and entered the church… yard。 The shadowy figure of a man of
great stature； lurking among the graves； advanced to meet him。 Midway in
the dark and lonely place the two stopped and consulted together in
whispers。 Turlington spoke first。
〃Have you taken up your quarters at the public…house in the village？〃
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Miss or Mrs。？
〃Yes； master。〃
〃Did you find your way； while the daylight lasted； to the deserted malt…
house behind my orchard wall？〃
〃Yes； master。〃
〃Now listenwe have no time to lose。 Hide there； behind that
monument。 Before nine o'clock to…night you will see me cross the
churchyard； as far as this place； with the man you are to wait for。 He is
going to spend an hour with the vicar； at the house yonder。 I shall stop
short here； and say to him； 'You can't miss your way in the dark nowI
will go back。' When I am far enough away from him； I shall blow a call on
my whistle。 The moment you hear the call； follow the man； and drop him
before he gets out of the church…yard。 Have you got your cudgel？〃
Thomas Wildfan