The Argosy — page 102: what you’re looking at

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

The Story of Charles Strange. 87 “ And surprised I may well look to see you here, when I thought you were in Paris,” was my answer. ‘“‘ We came over to-day ; got here an hour ago. Blanche was very ill in crossing and has gone to bed.” “Where is Major Carlen ?” ‘Oh, he is off to Jersey to see his sister, Mrs. Guy. At least, that is what he said ; but he is not famous for veracity, you know, and it is just as likely that he may be catching the mail train at London Bridge en route for Homburg, as the Southampton train from Waterloo. Had you been half-an-hour earlier, you might have had the pleasure of assisting at his departure. I have taken this house for a month and paid him in advance,” added Lord Level, as much as to say that the Major was not altogether out of funds. A short silence ensued. The thoughts of both of us were no doubt busy. Level, his head bent, was slowly turning his wine-glass round by its stem. “Charles,” he suddenly said, in a half-whisper, ‘‘ what of Tom Heriot ?” I hardly knew how to take the question. ‘I know nothing more of him,” was my answer. “Is he in London, think you? Have you heard news of him, in any way P” Now I could not say that I had heard news: for Leah’s informa- tion was not news, if (as I hoped) she was mistaken. And I judged it better not to speak of it to Lord Level until the question was set at rest. Why torment him needlessly ? “IT wrote you word what Major Carlen said: that Tom was one of those who escaped. The ship was wrecked upon an uninhabited island, believed to be that of Tristan d’Acunha. After a few days some of the convicts contrived to steal a boat and make good their escape. Of course they were in hopes of being picked up by some homeward-bound ship ; and may already have reached England.” ‘‘ Look here,” said Lord Level, after a pause: ‘‘that island lies, no doubt, in the track of ships bound to the Colonies, but not in the track of those homeward-bound. So the probability is, that if the convicts were sighted and picked up, they would be carried further from England, not brought back to it.” I confess that this view had not occurred to me; in fact, I knew very little about navigation, or the courses taken by ships. It served to strengthen my impression that Leah had been in error. “Are you sure of that?” I asked him. “Sure of what?” returned Lord Level. ‘That the island would be out of the track of homeward-bound vessels.” ‘Quite sure. Homeward-bound vessels come round Cape Horn. Those bound for the Colonies go by way of the Cape of Good Hope.” connicloooks (C(O)