Fiction > Book editions > London, 1885 - Dynamiter

106 NEW AKABIAX XIGIITS.
the morning by a noise in the hall. Leaping to his feet,
and opening the door of the library, he saw the tall man,
candle in hand, in earnest conversation with the gentle-
man w^ho had taken the rooms. The faces of both w^ere
strongly illuminated; and in that of his tenant, Somerset
could perceive none of the marks of disease, but every
sign of health, energy and resolution. While he was
still looking, the visitor took his departure; and the
invalid, having carefully fastened the front door, sprang
upstairs without a trace of lassitude.
That night upon his pillow, Somerset began to kindle
once more into the hot fit of the detective fever ; and the
next morning resumed the practice of his art with careless
hand and an abstracted mind. The day was destined to
be fertile in surprises ; nor had he long been seated at
the easel ere the first of these occurred. A cab laden
with' baggage drew up before the door; and Mrs.
Luxmore in person rapidly mounted the steps and began
to pound upon the knocker. Somerset hastened to
attend the summons.
' My dear fellow,' she said, with the utmost gaiety,
' here I come dropping from the moon. I am delighted
to find you faithful ; and I have no doubt you will be
equally pleased to be restored to liberty.'
Somerset could find no words, whether of protest or
welcome ; and the spirited old lady pushed briskly by him
and paused on the threshold of the dining-room. The
sight that met her eyes was one well calculated to inspire
astonishment. The mantelpiece was arrayed with sauce-
pans and empty bottles ; on the fire some chops were
frying ; the floor was littered from end to end with
books, clothes, walking-canes and the materials of the
painter's craft ; but what far outstripped the other
wonders of the place was the corner which had been
arranged for the study of still-life. This formed a sort
of rockery ; conspicuous upon which, according to the
principles of the art of composition, a cabbage was
relieved against a copper kettle, and both contrasted
with the mail of a boiled lobster.
' My gracious goodness ! ' cried the lady of the house ;