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〃Let me come in； Mr。 Carlyle； for the love of life！ I see you are alone。 I'm dead beat； and I don't know but I'm dodged also。〃
The tones struck familiarly on Mr。 Carlyle's ear。 He drew back mechanically； a thousand perplexing sensations overwhelming him； and the man followed him into the rooma white man； as Lucy called her father。 Aye； for he had been hours and hours on foot in the snow； his hat； his clothes； his eyebrows； his large whiskers； all were white。 〃Lock the door； sir；〃 were his first words。 Need you be told that it was Richard Hare？
Mr。 Carlyle fastened the window； drew the heavy curtains across； and turned rapidly to lock the two doorsfor there were two to the room； one of them leading into the adjoining one。 Richard meanwhile took off his wet smock…frock of former memoryhis hat； and his false black whiskers； wiping the snow from the latter with his hand。
〃Richard；〃 uttered Mr。 Carlyle； 〃I am thunderstruck！ I fear you have done wrong to come here。〃
〃I cut off from London at a moment's notice；〃 replied Richard； who was literally shivering with the cold。 〃I'm dodged； Mr。 Carlyle； I am indeed。 The police are after me； set on by that wretch Thorn。〃
Mr。 Carlyle turned to the sideboard and poured out a wineglass of brandy。 〃Drink it； Richard； it will warm you。〃
〃I'd rather have it in some hot water； sir。〃
〃But how am I to get the hot water brought in？ Drink this for now。 Why； how you tremble。〃
〃Ah； a few hours outside in the cold snow is enough to make the strongest man tremble； sir； and it lies so deep in places that you have to come along at a snail's pace。 But I'll tell you about this business。 A fortnight ago I was at a cabstand at the West End； talking to a cab…driver； when some drops of rain came down。 A gentleman and lady were passing at the time； but I had not paid any attention to them。 〃By Jove！〃 I heard him exclaim to her； 'I think we're going to have pepper。 We had better take a cab； my dear。' With that the man I was talking to swung open the door of his cab； and she got insuch a fair young lady； she was！ I turned to look at him； and you might just have knocked me down with astonishment。 Mr。 Carlyle； it was the man； Thorn。〃
〃Indeed！〃
〃You thought I might be mistaken in him that moonlight night； but there was no mistaking him in broad daylight。 I looked him full in the face； and he looked at me。 He turned as white as cloth。 Perhaps I did I don't know。〃
〃Was he well dressed？〃
〃Very。 Oh； there's no mistaking his position。 That he moves in the higher classes there's no doubt。 The cab drove away； and I got up behind it。 The driver thought boys were there； and turned his head and his whip； but I made him a sign。 We didn't go much more than the length of a street。 I was on the pavement before Thorn was； and looked at him again； and again he went white。 I marked the house； thinking it was where he lived； and〃
〃Why did you not give him into custody； Richard？〃
Richard Hare shook his head。 〃And my proofs of his guilt； Mr。 Carlyle？ I could bring none against himno positive ones。 No； I must wait till I can get proofs to do that。 He would turn round upon me now and swear my life away to murder。 Well； I thought I'd ascertain for certain what his name was； and that night I went to the house； and got into conversation with one of the servants； who was standing at the door。 'Does Captain Thorn live here？' I asked him。
〃 'Mr。 Westleby lives here；' said he； 'I don't know any Captain Thorn。'
〃Then that's his name； thought I to myself。 'A youngish man； isn't he？' said I； 'very smart； with a pretty wife？'
〃 'I don't know what you call youngish；' he laughed； 'my master's turned sixty； and his wife's as old。'
〃That checked me。 'Perhaps he has sons？' I asked。
〃 'Not any；' the man answered； 'there's nobody but their two selves。'
〃So； with that； I told him what I wantedthat a lady and gentleman had alighted there in a cab that day； and I wished to know his name。 Well； Mr。 Carlyle； I could get at nothing satisfactory； the fellow said that a great many had called there that day； for his master was just up from a long illness； and people came to see him。〃
〃Is that all； Richard？〃
〃All！ I wish it had been all。 I kept looking about for him in all the best streets； I was half mad〃
〃Do you not wonder； if he is in this position of life； and resides in London； that you have never dropped upon him previously？〃 interrupted Mr。 Carlyle。
〃No； sir； and I'll tell you why。 I have been afraid to show myself in those latter parts of the town； fearing I might meet with some one I used to know at home； who would recognize me； so I have kept mostly in obscure placesstables and such like。 I had gone up to the West End this day on a matter of business。〃
〃Well； go on with your story。〃
〃In a week's time I came upon him again。 It was at night。 He was coming out of one of the theatres； and I went up and stood before him。〃
〃 'What do you want； fellow？' he asked。 'I have seen you watching me before this。'
〃 'I want to know your name；' I said； 'that's enough for me at present。'
〃He flew into a passion； and swore that if ever he caught sight of me near him again he would hand me over into custody。 'And remember； men are not given into custody for /watching/ others；' he significantly added。 'I know you； and if you have any regard for yourself； you'll keep out of my way。'
〃He had got into a private carriage as he spoke； and it drove away； I could see that it had a great coat…of…arms upon it。〃
〃When do you say this was？〃
〃A week ago。 Well； I could not rest； I was half mad； I say； and went about； still trying if I could not discover his name and who he was。 I did come upon him； but he was walking quickly； arm…in…arm withwith another gentleman。 Again I saw him； standing at the entrance to the betting rooms； talking to the same gentleman； and his face turned savageI believe with fear as much as angerwhen he discerned me。 He seemed to hesitate； and thenas if he acted in a passionsuddenly beckoned to a policeman； pointed me out； and said something to him in a fast tone。 That frightened me； and I slipped away。 Two hours after； when I was in quite a different part of the town； in turning my head I saw the same policeman following me。 I bolted under the horses of a passing vehicle； down some turnings and passages； out into another street； and up beside a cabman who was on his box； driving a fare past。 I reached my lodgings in safety； as I thought； but happening to glance into the street； there I saw the man again； standing opposite； and reconnoitering the house。 I had gone home hungry； but this took all my hunger away from me。 I opened the box where I kept my disguise； put it on； and got out by a back way。 I have been pretty nearly ever since on my feet reaching here； I only got a lift now and then。〃
〃But； Richard； do you know that West Lynne is the very worst place you could have flown to？ It has come to light that you were here before； disguised as a farm laborer。〃
〃Who the deuce betrayed that？〃 interrupted Richard。
〃I am unable to tell； I cannot even imagine。 The rumor was rife in the place； and it reached your father's ear。 The rumor may make people's wits sharper to know y