I carry twenty
years' hunger and thirst under my wes-coat and I'll feed and
drink like a gentleman yet!" The judge smacked his lips in an
ecstasy of enjoyment, and dropping down before the table which
served him as a desk, seized a pen.
"It's good enough to think about, Price," admitted Mahaffy
grudgingly.
"It's better to do; and if anything happens to me the papers I am
going to leave will tell you how it's to be done. Man, there's a
million of money in sight, and we've got to get it and spend it
and enjoy it! None of your swinish thrift for me, but life on a
big scale--company, and feasting, and refined surroundings!"
"And you are going to meet Fentress in the morning?" asked
Mahaffy. "I suppose there's no way of avoiding that?"
"Avoiding it?" almost shouted the judge. "For what have I been
living? I shall meet him, let the consequences be what they may.
To-night when I have reduced certain facts to writing I shall
join you at Belle Plain. The strange and melancholy history of
my life I shall place in your hands for safe keeping. In the
morning I can be driven back to Boggs'."
"And you will go there without a second?"
"If necessary; yes."
"I declare, Price, you are hardly fitted to be at large! Why,
you act as if you were tired of life. There's Yancy--there's
Cavendish!"
The judge gave him an indulgent but superior smile.
"Two very worthy men, but I go to Boggs' attended by a gentleman
or I go there alone.
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