human
The gentleman who before called is below.
gpt
Show him up into our sitting-room, she said, and at once went in to receive him.
human
He's just coming up, uncle,
gpt
I have got my pistol handy, Alice, in case you scream.
human
You must be surprised at the intrusion of a stranger at this hour of the evening, Miss Hardy; but my excuse must be that I have for nearly two months been following your footsteps, and I was afraid that if I put off calling upon you until the morning I might find that you had gone.
gpt
Following me for two months! Alice repeated, in great surprise.
human
I do not understand, sir.
gpt
Naturally, Miss Hardy, the statement appears a strange one to you; but the fact is I made a promise to deliver a message to you. I found upon reaching England that you had left; I obtained your address at Cairo, and went there only to find you had left a fortnight before my arrival; then I followed you to Naples, and was a week too late. At Rome I missed you by a day, and as I could not learn there, at your hotel, where you were going next, beyond the fact that you had gone North, I have been hunting for you ever since.
human
But, sir, Alice said, more and more surprised,
gpt
I did not know how long you might be before you returned to England, Miss Hardy, and as I knew how anxiously the answer to my message would be expected, I preferred to follow you, in order that there might be no more delay than necessary.
human
Do you come from my cousin Frank?
gpt
You have guessed rightly. I met him abroad; I am not at liberty at present to say where. He rendered me one of the greatest services one man can render to another--he saved my life, and did much more; but upon that it is not now necessary to enter.
human
But the message, sir, Alice interrupted,
gpt
I do not know yet, Miss Hardy, whether I have any message to deliver; it depends upon what you say in answer to what I tell you. I think I can give you his very words as we sat together the night before I left for England: 'I have a little cousin, a girl, she was like my sister; I think, I hope, that in spite of everything she may still have believed me innocent. Will you see her, and tell her you have seen me? Say no more until you see by her manner whether she believes me to be a rascal or not.'
human
No, no, Alice broke in, with a cry,
gpt
Is anything the matter, my dear?
human
No, uncle, she cried, hurrying to him,
gpt
and she turned again to Mr. Adams,
human
My message was to you alone, Miss Hardy, Mr. Adams said gravely;
gpt
I must deliver it as it was delivered to me. It will be for you to decide whether, after hearing it, you think it right to observe the injunction it contains for your absolute silence.
human
At least tell me, sir, Captain Bayley exclaimed, as much agitated as Alice,
gpt
He is alive and well, sir--at least he was when I saw him last, now nearly four months ago.
human
Thank God for that, at least, Captain Bayley said fervently.
gpt
Do not be long, Alice; you know what I shall be feeling.