Meantime, you shall be my guest. The landlady's
son has found my notarial seal an admirable plaything--she has
had to lick the little devil twice for hooking it--my pens and
stationery are at your disposal, should you desire to communicate
to absent friends; you can have the run of my library!" the judge
fairly trembled in his eagerness. It was not the loss of his
money that Hannibal most feared, and the coin passed from his
possession into his host's custody. As it dropped into the
latter's great palm he was visibly moved. His moist, blue eyes
became yet more watery, while his battered old face assumed an
expression indicating deep inward satisfaction. "Thank you, my
boy! This is one of those intrinsically trifling benefits which,
conferred at the moment of acute need, touch the heart and tap
the unfailing springs of human gratitude--I must step down to the
tavern--when I return, please God, we shall know more of each
other." While he was still speaking he had produced a jug from
behind the quilt that screened his bed, and now, bareheaded, and
with every indication of haste, took himself off into the night.
Left alone, Hannibal gravely seated himself at the table. What
the judge's larder lacked in variety it more than made up for in
quantity, and the boy was grateful for this fact. He was half
famished, and the coarse, abundant food was of the sort to which
he was accustomed. Presently he heard the judge's heavy,
shuffling step as he came up the path from the road, and a moment
later his gross bulk of body filled the doorway.
Pages:
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110