Fiction > Book editions > London, 1886 - Kidnapped

276                                   KIDNAPPED.
kindled, and the windows to open, and the people to
appear out of the houses, my concern and despondency
grew ever the blacker. I saw now that I had no
grounds to stand upon; and no clear proof of my rights,
nor so much as of my own identity. If it was all a
bubble, I was indeed sorely cheated and left in a sore
pass. Even if things were as I conceived, it would in
all likelihood take time to establish my contentions; and
what time had I to spare with less than three shillings in
my pocket, and a condemned, hunted man upon my hands
to ship out of the country? Truly, if my hope broke
with me, it might come to the gallows yet for both of
us. And as I continued to walk up and down, and saw
people looking askance at me upon the street or out of
windows, and nudging or speaking one to another with
smiles, I began to take a fresh apprehension : that it
might be no easy matter even to come to speech of the
lawyer, far less to convince him of my story.
For the life of me I could not muster up the courage
to address any of these reputable burghers; I thought
shame even to speak with them in such a pickle of rags
and dirt; and if I had asked for the house of such a
man as Mr. Rankeillor, I supposed they would have
burst out laughing in my face. So I went up and
down, and through the street, and down to the harbour-
side, like a dog that has lost its master, with a strange
gnawing in my inwards, and every now and then a
movement of despair. It grew to be high day at last,
perhaps nine in the forenoon; and I was worn with