Argosy All-Story Weekly — page 148: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

— 804 the solid Puritan, Oliver Perth, and claps a round two hundred pounds upon my head in addition. “Slife, Mr. Marberry, this is a forwarding of the king’s justice with a vengeance, eh?”’ Marberry gazed upon him, fascinated. “ But what brings you to me?” he asked. ‘Why are you come to me, rather than to any other in London?” “Partly,” said Clovelly, “to confer a favor, and partly to receive one.” “‘ And the nature of these favors?” ““ Why, Marberry, I confer a favor upon you by giving you a subject for gossip. Am I wrong? Half of London will flock to your chambers when they learn that the celebrated man-killer and robber, Michael Clovelly, actually presumed to call upon you and tell you anecdotes of the open road.” “But what anecdotes will you tell, Clov- elly?” ‘““T should not presume to put words into the mouth of a master. I abandon such a small matter entirely to the invention of Mr. Marberry.” “You are kind,’ Marberry declared, smiling in spite of himself. ‘“‘ But,” said Clovelly, “do not have me kill too many men. I detest bloodshed, on my honor. Six or ten you may reasonably put in, but there call a halt. You may tell them, also, that Clovelly drank your health in your own wine.” Here he poured a glass of sherry from the bottle which was standing on the table, tasted it cautiously, rolled it in his mouth until he had formed an opinion of its ex- cellence, and then drank off the rest of the glass as slowly and as luxuriously as a cat finishing a plate of cream. Will it serve?” asked Marberry. “Tt is good. It is at least good enough. I have tasted some sherry lately that was like a mixture of plum juice and fire com- bined. You are a lucky fellow, Marberry, to have such wine under your roof.” ‘“‘T am very sensible of that. But since we seem to have finished with the favor which you are doing me,.what is the favor which I may do for you?” ‘A simple one, but one of the greatest importance. You must know that every ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. true highwayman, Marberry, warms his heart in his constant isolation and loneli- ness by reflecting that most of the world is constantly talking about him. All lonely men are vain you know. ‘“‘ And what you may do for me, is ade to repeat the details of my visit to you with a few embroideries from your fancy—just ee as you think will furnish a good tale. Thus we are both benefited.” “ Clovelly, this is all beside the eee You have come to London—” ‘To hear the talk about myself. I have been loitering through the streets of Lon- don all day tasting the gossip and picking up odds and ends of information about my- self, and above all enjoying the safety.” ““ Tf you were seen?” “fT shall not be, simply because people see only what they expect to see, and be- cause they are blind to the unexpected. I could walk through London for a month be- fore the hue and the cry would be raised against me. When I had heard what I could in the nooks and the corners, I de- cided to come to you so that my call might serve to give you a basis for invention.” “It is true!” murmured Marberry. “‘ His grace of Ipswich will forget that he and I have fallen out and will come to hear the odd tale from my own lips.” “T have no doubt but that you will make a very good thing of this visit.” “It is a treasure, Clovelly. I forgive you the thrust that chained me here. I am your friend.” “You are very kind, sir.” “But now to come a little closer to the cold facts of your call—you are out of money, Clovelly. You have come here seek- ing a little cash?” ‘Nonsense. When there are so many fat wallets in London one does one’s beg- ging with the edge of a knife; it cuts the strings of purses painlessly.” At this though, he burst into a soft chuckling. But all this while his glance mever wavered from the eyes of his host, and though he laughed, his expression grew not a whit more pleasant. This was un- easily observed by Marberry, yet he forced himself to laugh in company with his és Strange guest. . micboo (EO) (EC)