And then he turned his back and went his way, muttering
as he went something in Flemish, which I believed to be an
exclamation of astonishment that any man should, under any
circumstances, lose such an article.
It was now getting late; so when I had taken a short stroll by
myself, I went to bed without disturbing Mr. Horne again that night.
On the following morning I thought it best not to go to him unless
he sent for me; so I desired the boots to let him know that I had
ordered breakfast in a private room, and that I would await him
there unless he wished to see me. He sent me word back to say that
he would be with me very shortly.
He did not keep me waiting above half an hour, but I confess that
that half hour was not pleasantly spent. I feared that his temper
would be tried in dressing, and that he would not be able to eat his
breakfast in a happy state of mind. So that when I heard his heavy
footstep advancing along the passage my heart did misgive me, and I
felt that I was trembling.
That step was certainly slower and more ponderous than usual. There
was always a certain dignity in the very sound of his movements, but
now this seemed to have been enhanced. To judge merely by the step
one would have said that a bishop was coming that way instead of a
prebendary.
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