Arrived once more in this house, I collect the luggage left
behind, and send for the woman downstairs. 'Ladies so charmed with such
and such a place (wrong place of course), that they have determined to
stop there. Pray accept the customary week's rent, in place of a week's
warning. Good day.' Is the clerk looking for me at the York terminus?
Not he. I take my ticket under his very nose; I follow you with the
luggage along your line of railway--and where is the trace left of your
departure? Nowhere. The fairy has vanished; and the legal authorities
are left in the lurch."
"Why do you talk of difficulties?" asked Magdalen. "The difficulties
seem to be provided for."
"All but ONE," said Captain Wragge, with an ominous emphasis on the
last word. "The Grand Difficulty of humanity from the cradle to the
grave--Money." He slowly winked his green eye; sighed with deep feeling;
and buried his insolvent hands in his unproductive pockets.
"What is the money wanted for?" inquired Magdalen.
"To pay my bills," replied the captain, with a touching simplicity.
"Pray understand! I never was--and never shall be--personally desirous
of paying a single farthing to any human creature on the habitable
globe.
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