The Argosy — page 286: what you’re looking at

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

In the Dead of Night. 265 “Some people say that the grand old days when Friendship was something more than an empty name are dead and gone for ever. I will never believe them when they tell me so in time to come.” So spoke Edith to Tom as they stood together for a moment at the door ere the latter took his leave. “Dering saved my life,’ answered Tom, simply. “ But for his brave heart, and his strong arm, the hand you now clasp in yours, and the body to which it belongs, would be mouldering at the bottom of the sea, or else have been buried by strangers in some nameless grave. Can such a service be readily forgotten ?”’ As Tom was walking through the town towards his lodgings he overtook Hoskyns.. They walked down the street together, talking about the trial, which was fixed for the following Monday. Mr. Baldry, the wine and spirit merchant, was standing at the door of his counting-house as they approached. Judging from the appearance of Mr. Baldry’s face, most people would have concluded that he was rather too fond of his own stock in trade, and most people would have been right in their supposition. Hoskyns stopped to speak to him, and proffered his snuff-box as usual. Tom nodded to him. ‘“ You can send me another dozen of that claret—the same as the last,” said Hoskyns. ‘“ That is, if you have any ofit left in stock.” “ T’ll make an effort to find enough for an old friend,” said Baldry, facetiously. ‘‘ By-the-by,” he added, ‘‘since how long a time 1s it that you have taken to rambling by moonlight along lonely country roads after ten o’clock at night ?” ‘“‘T have not the remotest idea, Baldry, what you are talking about, said Hoskyns, a little stiffly. “Oh, come now, among old friends that won’t do, you know. Whether you're in love or notis best known to yourself. Butit certainly did strike me as something out of the common way to see you walking all alone, between ten and eleven last night, under the lime trees on the Thornfield road.” ‘You speak in riddles,” said Hoskyns. ‘‘I have not set foot on the ‘Thornfield road for months.” Baldry stared at the lawyer, then rubbed his eyes, and then stared again. ‘‘ Draw it mild, old friend,” he said quietly. ‘‘ Don’t think for one moment that I want to pry into your private affairs, but I cer- tainly thought there was no harm in my mentioning where I met you last night, especially as you seemed to make no secret of it yourself.” “T tell you again that I don’t understand what you are driving at,” said Hoskyns, testily. ‘I tell you again that I have not set foot on the Thornfield road for months.” “Look here,” said Baldry, and an angry flush overspread his face, making it redder-than before, “do you mean to stand there and tell me in cold blood that you didn’t stop me on the Thornfield road last night, i? COMICOOoOlKS.EO am =>