新小说

第9章（第2页）

his own counsel, and to keep his hat cocked over his eyes. He had

eyes that assorted very well with that decoration, being of a

surface black, with no depth in the colour or form, and much too

near togetheras if they were afraid of being found out in

something, singly, if they kept too far apart. They had a sinister

expression, under an old cocked-hat like a three-cornered

spittoon, and over a great muffler for the chin and throat, which

descended nearly to the wearer’s knees. When he stopped for

drink, he moved this muffler with his left hand, only while he

poured his liquor in with his right; as soon as that was done, he

muffled again.

“No, Jerry, no!” said the messenger, harping on one theme as

he rode. “It wouldn’t do for you, Jerry. Jerry, you honest

tradesman, it wouldn’t suit your line of business! Recalled! Bust

me if I don’t think he’d been a drinking!”

His message perplexed his mind to that degree that he was fain,

several times, to take off his hat to scratch his head. Except on the