Before Magdalen
could pursue her advantage, the vagabond had recovered his balance:
Wragge was himself again.
"Smart," said the captain, laughing indulgently, and drumming with his
umbrella on the pavement. "Some men might take it seriously. I'm not
easily offended. Try again."
Magdalen looked at him through the gathering darkness in mute
perplexity. All her little experience of society had been experience
among people who possessed a common sense of honor, and a common
responsibility of social position. She had hitherto seen nothing but
the successful human product from the great manufactory of Civilization.
Here was one of the failures, and, with all her quickness, she was
puzzled how to deal with it.
"Pardon me for returning to the subject," pursued the captain. "It has
just occurred to my mind that you might actually have spoken in earnest.
My poor child! how can I earn the fifty pounds before the reward is
offered to me? Those handbills may not be publicly posted for a week to
come. Precious as you are to all your relatives (myself included), take
my word for it, the lawyers who are managing this case will not pay
fifty pounds for you if they can possibly help it.
Pages:
303
304
305
306
307
308
309
310
311
312
313
314
315
316
317
318
319
320
321
322
323
324
325
326
327