WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.360 --> 00:00:06.200 Hunted down. Most of us see romances in life. In 2 00:00:06.280 --> 00:00:09.240 my capacity of a chief manager of a life insurance office, 3 00:00:09.720 --> 00:00:12.679 I think I have, within the last thirty years seen 4 00:00:12.720 --> 00:00:16.719 more romances than the generality of men. However unpromising the 5 00:00:16.800 --> 00:00:20.960 opportunity may at first I have seen. As I have 6 00:00:21.039 --> 00:00:24.679 retired and live at my ease, I possess the means 7 00:00:24.719 --> 00:00:27.320 that I used to want of considering what I have 8 00:00:27.399 --> 00:00:32.280 seen at leisure. My experiences have a more remarkable aspect 9 00:00:32.399 --> 00:00:36.320 so reviewed than they had when they were in progress. 10 00:00:36.799 --> 00:00:39.240 I have come home from the plain now and can 11 00:00:39.359 --> 00:00:42.960 recall the scenes of the drama upon which curtain has fallen, 12 00:00:43.679 --> 00:00:47.159 free from the glare, bewilderment, and bustle of the theater. 13 00:00:49.079 --> 00:00:52.560 Let me recall one of these romances of the real world. 14 00:00:54.960 --> 00:00:58.200 There is nothing truer than the physiognomy taken in connection 15 00:00:58.280 --> 00:01:02.280 with manner. The art of reading that book of which 16 00:01:02.320 --> 00:01:06.560 eternal wisdom obliges every human creature to present his or 17 00:01:06.680 --> 00:01:10.000 her own page with individual character written on it is 18 00:01:10.040 --> 00:01:15.200 a difficult one, perhaps, and is little studied. It may 19 00:01:15.239 --> 00:01:19.400 require some natural aptitude, and it must require, for everything 20 00:01:19.439 --> 00:01:24.280 does some patience, and some pains. That these are not 21 00:01:24.400 --> 00:01:27.040 usually given to it. The number of people except a 22 00:01:27.040 --> 00:01:30.680 few stock commonplace expressions of the face as the whole 23 00:01:30.680 --> 00:01:35.439 list of characteristics, and neither seek nor know the refinements 24 00:01:35.439 --> 00:01:39.079 that are truest. That you, for instance, give a great 25 00:01:39.120 --> 00:01:44.920 deal of time and attention to the reading of music Greek, Latin, French, Italian, Hebrew, 26 00:01:45.680 --> 00:01:48.719 if you please, and do not qualify yourself to read 27 00:01:48.760 --> 00:01:52.000 the face of the master or mistress looking over your 28 00:01:52.000 --> 00:01:55.640 shoulder teaching it to you, I assume to be five 29 00:01:55.719 --> 00:02:00.599 hundred times more probable than improbable. Perhaps so little self 30 00:02:00.599 --> 00:02:03.959 sufficiency may be at the bottom of this facial expression 31 00:02:04.040 --> 00:02:07.359 requires no study from you. You think it comes by 32 00:02:07.439 --> 00:02:09.960 nature to you to know enough about it, and you 33 00:02:10.000 --> 00:02:13.840 are not to be taken in. I confess for my 34 00:02:14.000 --> 00:02:18.280 part that I have been taken in over and over again. 35 00:02:19.479 --> 00:02:22.280 I have been taken in by acquaintances, and I have 36 00:02:22.319 --> 00:02:26.199 been taken in, of course by friends, far oftener by 37 00:02:26.240 --> 00:02:30.840 friends than by any other class of persons. How can 38 00:02:30.960 --> 00:02:36.319 I be so deceived? Had I quite misread their faces? No, 39 00:02:37.199 --> 00:02:40.919 believe me, My first impression of those people, founded on 40 00:02:41.039 --> 00:02:45.879 face and the manner alone, was invariably true. My mistake 41 00:02:46.240 --> 00:02:48.759 was in suffering them to come nearer to me and 42 00:02:48.840 --> 00:02:55.080 explain themselves away. The partition which separated by own office 43 00:02:55.080 --> 00:02:57.479 from our general outer office in the city was of 44 00:02:57.599 --> 00:03:02.240 thick plate glass. Through it what passed in the outer office, 45 00:03:02.719 --> 00:03:06.240 without hearing a word. I had it put in place 46 00:03:06.240 --> 00:03:09.479 of a wall that had been there for years, ever 47 00:03:09.520 --> 00:03:12.960 since the house was built. It is no matter whether 48 00:03:13.000 --> 00:03:15.400 I did or did not make the change in order 49 00:03:15.879 --> 00:03:19.120 that I might derive my first impression of strangers who 50 00:03:19.159 --> 00:03:22.840 came to us on business from their faces alone, without 51 00:03:22.840 --> 00:03:27.479 being influenced by anything. They said enough to mention that 52 00:03:27.560 --> 00:03:30.599 I turned my glass partition to that account, and that 53 00:03:30.879 --> 00:03:34.039 a life assurance office is all times exposed to be 54 00:03:34.159 --> 00:03:37.560 practiced upon by the most crafty and cruel of the 55 00:03:37.639 --> 00:03:42.360 human grace. It was through my glass partition that I 56 00:03:42.400 --> 00:03:45.400 first saw the gentleman whose story I am going to tell. 57 00:03:47.879 --> 00:03:50.120 He had come in without my observing it, and had 58 00:03:50.120 --> 00:03:52.520 put his hat and his umbrella on the broad counter, 59 00:03:53.159 --> 00:03:55.719 and was bending over to take some papers from one 60 00:03:55.719 --> 00:03:59.560 of the clerks. He was about forty or so, dark, 61 00:04:00.080 --> 00:04:03.879 exceedingly well dressed in black, being in mourning, and the 62 00:04:03.960 --> 00:04:07.240 hand he extended with a polite air had a particularly 63 00:04:07.280 --> 00:04:11.400 well fitting black kipped glove upon it. His hair was 64 00:04:11.439 --> 00:04:15.159 elaborately brushed and oiled, was sparted straight up the middle. 65 00:04:15.680 --> 00:04:19.000 And he presented this parting to the clerk exactly to 66 00:04:19.079 --> 00:04:22.439 my thinking, as if he had said, in so many words, 67 00:04:23.319 --> 00:04:26.480 you must take me, if you please, my friend, just 68 00:04:26.600 --> 00:04:30.480 as I show myself. Come straight up here, follow the 69 00:04:30.519 --> 00:04:34.560 gravel path, keep up the grass. I allow no trespassing. 70 00:04:36.800 --> 00:04:39.560 I conceived a very great aversion to that man the 71 00:04:39.639 --> 00:04:42.839 moment I thus saw him. He had asked for some 72 00:04:42.879 --> 00:04:45.680 of her printed forms, and the clerk was giving them 73 00:04:45.680 --> 00:04:49.879 to him and explaining them, and her obliged and agreeable 74 00:04:49.879 --> 00:04:52.839 smile was on his face, and his eyes met those 75 00:04:52.879 --> 00:04:56.480 of the clerk with a sprightly look. I have known 76 00:04:56.519 --> 00:05:00.279 a vast quantity of nonsense being talked about, bad men 77 00:05:00.319 --> 00:05:04.240 not looking you in the face. Don't trust that conventional idea. 78 00:05:05.240 --> 00:05:09.519 Dishonesty will stare honesty out of countenance any day in 79 00:05:09.560 --> 00:05:12.240 the week, if there is anything to be cut by it. 80 00:05:13.639 --> 00:05:15.879 I saw in the corner of his eyelash that he 81 00:05:15.959 --> 00:05:19.680 became aware of my looking at him. Immediately he turned 82 00:05:19.680 --> 00:05:22.639 the parting in his head towards the glass partition as 83 00:05:22.639 --> 00:05:25.439 if he said to me, with a sweet smile, straight 84 00:05:25.560 --> 00:05:29.519 up here, if you please off the grass. In a 85 00:05:29.560 --> 00:05:31.800 few moments he had put on his hat and taken 86 00:05:31.839 --> 00:05:35.160 up his umbrella, and was gone. I beckoned the clerk 87 00:05:35.199 --> 00:05:39.480 into my room and asked who was there. He had 88 00:05:39.480 --> 00:05:43.600 a gentleman's card in his hand, mister Julius Slington, Middle Temple, 89 00:05:44.519 --> 00:05:49.199 A barrister, mister Adams. I think not, sir. I should 90 00:05:49.199 --> 00:05:51.600 have thought him a clergyman, but for his having no 91 00:05:51.680 --> 00:05:56.600 reverend here, said I, probably from his appearance. Mister Adams replied, 92 00:05:57.040 --> 00:06:00.800 he is reading for orders. I had mentioned that he 93 00:06:00.839 --> 00:06:04.360 wore a dainty white cravat and a dainty linen altogether. 94 00:06:06.000 --> 00:06:09.879 What did he want, mister Adams, merely a form of proposal, sir, 95 00:06:10.000 --> 00:06:14.959 and a form of reference recommended here? Did he say? Yes? 96 00:06:15.600 --> 00:06:17.959 He said he was recommended here by a friend of yours. 97 00:06:18.600 --> 00:06:21.360 He noticed you, but said that as he had not 98 00:06:21.480 --> 00:06:24.720 the pleasure of your personal acquaintance, he would not trouble you. 99 00:06:26.639 --> 00:06:29.879 Did you know my name? Oh, yes, sir, he said, 100 00:06:30.800 --> 00:06:35.079 there is mister Sampson. I see a well spoken gentleman, 101 00:06:35.079 --> 00:06:42.079 apparently remarkably so, sir. Insinuating manners apparently very much so. Indeed, 102 00:06:42.120 --> 00:06:47.040 Sir Hah said, I, I were nothing at present, mister Adams. 103 00:06:48.680 --> 00:06:51.199 Within a fortnight of that day, I went to dine 104 00:06:51.199 --> 00:06:53.480 with a friend of mine, a merchant, a man of 105 00:06:53.560 --> 00:06:57.040 taste who buys pictures and books, And the first man 106 00:06:57.120 --> 00:07:01.240 I saw among the company was mister Julius Slington. There 107 00:07:01.319 --> 00:07:04.839 he was standing before the fire, with good large eyes 108 00:07:04.879 --> 00:07:08.399 and an open expression of face. But still I thought, 109 00:07:08.800 --> 00:07:11.680 requiring everybody to come at him by the prepared way 110 00:07:11.720 --> 00:07:16.399 he offered, and by no other I noticed him. Ask 111 00:07:16.519 --> 00:07:19.800 my friend to introduce him to mister Samson, and my 112 00:07:19.839 --> 00:07:24.240 friend did so. Mister Slington was very happy to see me, 113 00:07:24.920 --> 00:07:27.959 not too happy, there was no overdoing of the matter, 114 00:07:28.680 --> 00:07:33.759 happy in a thoroughly well bred, perfectly unmeaning way. I 115 00:07:33.839 --> 00:07:38.639 thought you had met our host, observed, No, said mister Slington. 116 00:07:39.720 --> 00:07:43.360 I did look in at mister Sampson's office on your recommendation, 117 00:07:44.240 --> 00:07:46.879 but I really did not feel justified in troubling mister 118 00:07:46.920 --> 00:07:50.319 Sampson himself on a point in the everyday routine of 119 00:07:50.399 --> 00:07:54.519 an ordinary clerk. I said, I should have been glad 120 00:07:54.560 --> 00:07:58.399 to show him any attention on our friend's introduction. I 121 00:07:58.439 --> 00:08:01.639 am sure of that, said he, and I am much obliged. 122 00:08:02.279 --> 00:08:06.519 At another time, perhaps I may be less delicate, only, however, 123 00:08:07.120 --> 00:08:09.680 if I had real business. For I know, mister Sampson, 124 00:08:09.959 --> 00:08:13.000 how precious your business time is, and what a vast 125 00:08:13.079 --> 00:08:17.439 number of impertinent people there are in the world. I 126 00:08:17.519 --> 00:08:21.560 acknowledge this consideration with a slight bow. You were thinking, 127 00:08:22.040 --> 00:08:27.480 said I, of affecting a policy on your life. Oh dear, no, 128 00:08:28.399 --> 00:08:30.319 I am afraid I am not so prudent as you 129 00:08:30.399 --> 00:08:33.279 pay me the compliment of supposing me to be. Mister Samson. 130 00:08:34.000 --> 00:08:37.320 I merely inquired for a friend, But you know what 131 00:08:37.440 --> 00:08:40.759 friends are. In such matters, nothing may ever come of it. 132 00:08:41.519 --> 00:08:44.960 I have the great reluctance to trouble men of business 133 00:08:44.960 --> 00:08:48.679 with inquiries for friends, knowing the probabilities to be a 134 00:08:48.759 --> 00:08:52.080 thousand to one that the friends will never follow them up. 135 00:08:53.360 --> 00:08:57.759 People are so facal, so selfish, so inconsiderate. Don't you 136 00:08:57.840 --> 00:09:03.320 in your business find them? So, mister Samson. I was 137 00:09:03.360 --> 00:09:06.440 going to give a qualified answer, but he turned his 138 00:09:06.559 --> 00:09:10.919 smooth white parting on me with its straight up here 139 00:09:11.159 --> 00:09:17.720 if you please, and I answered, yes, I hear, mister Sampson. 140 00:09:18.039 --> 00:09:21.279 He resumed presently for our friend had a new cook, 141 00:09:21.759 --> 00:09:25.039 and dinner was not so punctual as usual. That your 142 00:09:25.039 --> 00:09:30.600 profession has recently suffered a great loss in money, said I. 143 00:09:31.840 --> 00:09:34.759 He laughed at my ready association of loss with money, 144 00:09:35.360 --> 00:09:41.240 and replied no, in talent and vigor. Not at once, 145 00:09:41.320 --> 00:09:46.080 following out his illusion, I considered for a moment, has 146 00:09:46.120 --> 00:09:49.240 it sustained the loss of that kind? Said I? I 147 00:09:49.360 --> 00:09:54.279 was not aware of it. Understand me, mister Samson. I 148 00:09:54.360 --> 00:09:57.960 don't imagine that you have retired. It's not so bad 149 00:09:58.000 --> 00:10:03.399 as that. But mister Meltham, oh to be sure, said I. Yes, 150 00:10:03.480 --> 00:10:08.360 mister Meltham, the young actuary of the inestimable. Just so, 151 00:10:09.200 --> 00:10:13.399 he returned in a concerning way. He's a great loss. 152 00:10:13.879 --> 00:10:16.919 He was at once the most profound, the most original, 153 00:10:17.080 --> 00:10:20.240 and the most energetic man I have ever known, connected 154 00:10:20.320 --> 00:10:25.240 with life assurance. I spoke strongly, for I had a 155 00:10:25.320 --> 00:10:29.279 high esteem and admiration for Malcolm, and my gentleman had 156 00:10:29.360 --> 00:10:33.200 indefinitely conveyed to me some suspicion that he wanted to 157 00:10:33.240 --> 00:10:37.399 sneer at him. He recalled me to my guard by 158 00:10:37.440 --> 00:10:41.440 presenting that trim pathway up his head with its infernal 159 00:10:42.080 --> 00:10:46.480 not on the grass. If you pleased to gravel. You 160 00:10:46.559 --> 00:10:51.039 knew mister Slington only by reputation. To have known him 161 00:10:51.039 --> 00:10:53.559 as an acquaintance or as a friend is an honor 162 00:10:53.600 --> 00:10:56.200 I should have sought if he had remained in society, 163 00:10:56.519 --> 00:10:58.840 though I might never have had the good fortune to 164 00:10:58.840 --> 00:11:02.720 attain it. Be a man of far inferior mark. He 165 00:11:02.840 --> 00:11:08.879 was scarcely about thirty. I suppose about thirty. Ah, he 166 00:11:08.960 --> 00:11:13.000 signed in his former consoling way, What creatures we are 167 00:11:13.159 --> 00:11:17.080 to break up, mister Samson and become incapable of business 168 00:11:17.200 --> 00:11:20.879 at that time of life? Any reason assigned for the 169 00:11:20.919 --> 00:11:25.600 melancholy fact? Humph, thought I as I looked at him. 170 00:11:26.320 --> 00:11:29.559 But I won't go up the track, and I will 171 00:11:29.600 --> 00:11:34.200 go on the grass. What reason have you heard assigned 172 00:11:34.240 --> 00:11:39.759 mister Slington, I asked, point blank, Most likely a false one. 173 00:11:40.639 --> 00:11:44.039 You know what roomor raised, mister Samson. I never repeat 174 00:11:44.080 --> 00:11:46.639 what I hear. It is the only way of bearing 175 00:11:46.679 --> 00:11:50.000 the nails and shaving the head of rumor. But when 176 00:11:50.039 --> 00:11:52.519 you ask me what reason I have heard assigned for 177 00:11:52.639 --> 00:11:56.480 mister Meltham's passing away from among men, it is another 178 00:11:56.559 --> 00:12:00.960 thing I am not gratifying idle gossip. Then I was 179 00:12:01.039 --> 00:12:05.000 told mister Samson, that mister Meltham had relinquished all his 180 00:12:05.240 --> 00:12:09.240 advocations and all its prospects. Dicourse, he was in fact 181 00:12:09.519 --> 00:12:14.639 broken hearted, a disappointed attachment I heard, though it hardly 182 00:12:14.639 --> 00:12:17.440 seems probable in the case of a man so distinguished 183 00:12:17.440 --> 00:12:24.000 and so attractive, attractions and distinctions are no armor against death, 184 00:12:24.200 --> 00:12:29.600 said I, Oh, she died, pray, pardon me. I did 185 00:12:29.639 --> 00:12:33.399 not hear that. That indeed makes me very very sad, 186 00:12:34.159 --> 00:12:41.200 poor mister Malcolm. She died, Ah, dear me, lamentable, lamentable. 187 00:12:42.960 --> 00:12:45.720 I still thought his pity was not quite genuine, and 188 00:12:45.799 --> 00:12:49.840 I still suspected an unaccountable sneer under all this, until 189 00:12:49.840 --> 00:12:52.840 he said, as we were parted like the other knots 190 00:12:52.840 --> 00:12:57.279 of talkers by the announcement of dinner, Mister Samson, you 191 00:12:57.320 --> 00:12:59.799 are surprised to see me so moved on behalf of 192 00:12:59.799 --> 00:13:03.440 a man whom I have never known. I am not 193 00:13:03.559 --> 00:13:07.759 so disinterested as you may suppose. I have suffered, and 194 00:13:07.799 --> 00:13:12.120 recently too, from death myself. I have lost one of 195 00:13:12.159 --> 00:13:16.879 my two charming nieces who were my constant companions. She 196 00:13:17.080 --> 00:13:21.600 died young, barely three and twenty, and even her remaining 197 00:13:21.679 --> 00:13:27.960 sister is far from strong. The world is grave. He 198 00:13:28.039 --> 00:13:31.320 said this with deep feeling, and I feel reproached for 199 00:13:31.399 --> 00:13:35.720 the coldness of my manner. Coldness and distrust have been 200 00:13:35.720 --> 00:13:39.279 engendered in me. I knew from my bad experiences they 201 00:13:39.279 --> 00:13:42.519 were not natural to me, and I often thought how 202 00:13:42.600 --> 00:13:46.320 much I had lost in life losing trustfulness, and how 203 00:13:46.360 --> 00:13:50.919 little I have gained gaining hard caution, the state of 204 00:13:50.960 --> 00:13:54.480 mind being habitual to me. I troubled myself more about 205 00:13:54.480 --> 00:13:57.720 this conversation than I might have troubled myself about a 206 00:13:57.720 --> 00:14:02.200 greater matter. I listened to his talk at dinner and 207 00:14:02.320 --> 00:14:05.840 observed how readily other men responded to it, and with 208 00:14:05.919 --> 00:14:09.639 what graceful instinct he adapted his subjects to the knowledge 209 00:14:09.960 --> 00:14:13.639 and habits of those he talked with, as in talking 210 00:14:13.679 --> 00:14:16.679 with me, he had easily started the subject I might 211 00:14:16.720 --> 00:14:19.960 have supposed to understand best and to be the most 212 00:14:20.000 --> 00:14:24.000 interested in. So in talking with others he guided himself 213 00:14:24.039 --> 00:14:28.000 by the same rule. The company was of varied character, 214 00:14:28.440 --> 00:14:31.440 but he was not at fault that I could discover 215 00:14:31.600 --> 00:14:35.600 with any member of it. He knew just as much 216 00:14:35.639 --> 00:14:38.919 of each man's pursuit as made him agreeable to that 217 00:14:39.120 --> 00:14:42.679 man in reference to it, and just as little as 218 00:14:42.759 --> 00:14:45.440 made it natural in him to seek the modesty for 219 00:14:45.519 --> 00:14:50.279 information when the theme was approached. As he talked and talked, 220 00:14:50.480 --> 00:14:52.919 but really not too much for the rest of us, 221 00:14:53.000 --> 00:14:56.159 seemed to force it upon him. I became quite angry 222 00:14:56.240 --> 00:14:59.519 with myself. I took his face to pieces in my 223 00:14:59.639 --> 00:15:03.879 mind like a watch, and examined it in detail. I 224 00:15:03.919 --> 00:15:06.799 could not say much against any of his features separately, 225 00:15:07.480 --> 00:15:09.519 I could say even less against them when they were 226 00:15:09.519 --> 00:15:13.559 put together. Then is it not monstrous? I asked myself 227 00:15:14.159 --> 00:15:16.759 that because a man happens to part his hair straight 228 00:15:16.840 --> 00:15:19.600 up the middle of his head, I should permit myself 229 00:15:19.639 --> 00:15:24.200 to suspect and even to detest him. I may stop 230 00:15:24.240 --> 00:15:26.720 to remark that this was no proof of my sense. 231 00:15:27.679 --> 00:15:30.960 An observer of men, who finds himself steadily repelled by 232 00:15:31.000 --> 00:15:34.559 some apparent trifling thing in a stranger is right to 233 00:15:34.600 --> 00:15:37.480 give it great weight. It may be the clue to 234 00:15:37.519 --> 00:15:40.840 the whole mystery. A hair or two will show where 235 00:15:40.840 --> 00:15:43.960 the lion is hidden, and a very little key will 236 00:15:43.960 --> 00:15:48.120 open a very heavy door. I took part in the 237 00:15:48.159 --> 00:15:50.919 conversation with him after a time, and be got on 238 00:15:51.080 --> 00:15:55.200 remarkably well. In the drawing room, I asked the host 239 00:15:55.200 --> 00:15:58.840 how long he had known mister Slington. He answered not 240 00:15:58.960 --> 00:16:01.919 many months. He had met him at the house of 241 00:16:01.919 --> 00:16:05.399 a celebrated painter then present, who had known him Bell 242 00:16:05.519 --> 00:16:07.840 when he was traveling with his nieces in Italy for 243 00:16:07.879 --> 00:16:11.240 their help, his plans in life being broken by the 244 00:16:11.320 --> 00:16:14.440 death of one of them. He was reading with the 245 00:16:14.480 --> 00:16:17.559 intention of going back to college as a matter of form, 246 00:16:18.039 --> 00:16:22.399 taking his degree and going into orders. I could not 247 00:16:22.559 --> 00:16:26.080 but argue with myself that here was a true explanation 248 00:16:26.200 --> 00:16:29.399 of his interest in poor Meltholm, and that I had 249 00:16:29.440 --> 00:16:34.360 been almost brutal in my distrust on that simple head. 250 00:16:35.440 --> 00:16:37.639 On the very next day, but one, I was sitting 251 00:16:37.679 --> 00:16:40.840 behind my glass partition as before, when he came into 252 00:16:40.879 --> 00:16:44.440 the outer office as before, the moment I saw him 253 00:16:44.440 --> 00:16:47.840 again without hearing him, I hated him worse than ever. 254 00:16:49.200 --> 00:16:51.759 It was only for a moment that I had this opportunity, 255 00:16:52.399 --> 00:16:55.000 for he waved his tight fitting black glove the instant 256 00:16:55.039 --> 00:17:00.200 I looked at him and came straight in. Mister Samson good, 257 00:17:01.360 --> 00:17:04.680 I presume you see upon your kind permission to intrude 258 00:17:04.720 --> 00:17:08.319 upon you. I don't keep my word in being justified 259 00:17:08.359 --> 00:17:11.880 by business. For my business here, if I may so abuse. 260 00:17:11.960 --> 00:17:16.039 The word is of the slightest nature, I asked. Was 261 00:17:16.079 --> 00:17:19.720 it anything I could assist him in? I thank you. No. 262 00:17:20.720 --> 00:17:24.799 I merely called to inquire outside whether my dilatory friend 263 00:17:24.839 --> 00:17:27.799 had been so false to himself as to be practical 264 00:17:28.000 --> 00:17:32.839 and sensible. But of course he has done nothing. I 265 00:17:32.920 --> 00:17:35.720 gave him your papers with my own hand, and he 266 00:17:35.839 --> 00:17:38.519 was hot upon the intention. But of course he has 267 00:17:38.599 --> 00:17:42.920 done nothing, apart from the general human disinincination to do 268 00:17:42.960 --> 00:17:45.960 anything that ought to be done. I dare say that 269 00:17:46.079 --> 00:17:49.599 is a speciality about assuring one's life. You find it 270 00:17:49.720 --> 00:17:53.599 like will making people are so superstitious and take it 271 00:17:53.640 --> 00:17:58.759 for granted that they will die soon afterwards. Up Here, 272 00:17:58.799 --> 00:18:02.759 if you please, straight up here, mister Samson, neither to 273 00:18:02.799 --> 00:18:06.519 the right nor to the left. I almost fancied I 274 00:18:06.559 --> 00:18:09.680 could hear him breathe those words, as he sat smiling 275 00:18:09.720 --> 00:18:13.920 at me, with that intolerable parting exactly opposite the bridge 276 00:18:13.920 --> 00:18:18.720 of my nose. There is such a feeling sometimes, no doubt, 277 00:18:18.960 --> 00:18:21.920 I replied, But I don't think it obtains to any 278 00:18:21.960 --> 00:18:26.799 great extent. Well, he said, with a shrug and a smile. 279 00:18:28.039 --> 00:18:30.519 I wish some good angel would influence my friend in 280 00:18:30.559 --> 00:18:34.640 the right direction. I rashly promised his mother and sister 281 00:18:34.720 --> 00:18:38.079 in Norfolk to see it done, and he promised them 282 00:18:38.119 --> 00:18:41.640 that he would do it. But I suppose he never will. 283 00:18:43.000 --> 00:18:45.079 He spoke for a minute or two in different topics, 284 00:18:45.119 --> 00:18:49.119 and went away. I had scarcely unlocked the drawers of 285 00:18:49.119 --> 00:18:54.160 my writing table. Next morning when he reappeared, I noticed 286 00:18:54.200 --> 00:18:56.359 he came straight to the door in the glass partition 287 00:18:56.440 --> 00:19:00.519 and did not pause a single moment outside. Can you 288 00:19:00.559 --> 00:19:04.559 spare me two minutes, my dear mister Sampson, by all 289 00:19:04.599 --> 00:19:08.920 means much obliged, laying his hat an umbrella on the table. 290 00:19:09.839 --> 00:19:13.279 I came early not to interrupt you. The fact is 291 00:19:13.759 --> 00:19:15.839 I am taken by surprise in the reference to this 292 00:19:15.920 --> 00:19:21.680 proposal my friend has made. Has he made one? Said I? Yes, 293 00:19:22.079 --> 00:19:25.799 he answered, deliberately, looking at me, and then a bright 294 00:19:25.920 --> 00:19:29.200 idea seemed to strike him. Or he only tells me 295 00:19:29.319 --> 00:19:32.200 he has. Perhaps that may be a new way of 296 00:19:32.200 --> 00:19:36.680 evading the matter. By Jupiter, I never thought of that. 297 00:19:38.920 --> 00:19:42.759 Mister Adam was opening the morning's letters in the outer office. 298 00:19:43.200 --> 00:19:47.039 What is his name, mister Slington, I asked, What is 299 00:19:47.079 --> 00:19:51.160 the name, mister Slington, I asked Beck with. I looked 300 00:19:51.200 --> 00:19:54.359 out at the door and requested mister Adams if there 301 00:19:54.359 --> 00:19:57.480 were a proposal in that name to bring it in. 302 00:19:57.839 --> 00:20:00.480 He had already laid it out of his hand on counter. 303 00:20:01.759 --> 00:20:03.839 It was easily selected from the rest, and he gave 304 00:20:03.880 --> 00:20:08.880 it to me. Alfred beckwith proposal to effect the policy 305 00:20:08.920 --> 00:20:14.799 with us for two thousand pounds, dated yesterday from Middle Temple. 306 00:20:14.839 --> 00:20:18.680 I see missus Slington. Yes, he lives in the same 307 00:20:18.680 --> 00:20:22.599 staircas with me. His door is opposite. I never thought 308 00:20:22.640 --> 00:20:26.519 he would make me his reference, though it seems natural 309 00:20:26.599 --> 00:20:31.359 enough that he would. It seems natural enough that he should, 310 00:20:31.960 --> 00:20:34.960 quite so, mister Sampson, But I never thought of it. 311 00:20:35.519 --> 00:20:38.960 Let me see. He took the printed paper from his pocket. 312 00:20:40.119 --> 00:20:44.519 How am I to answer all these questions according to 313 00:20:44.559 --> 00:20:49.319 the truth, of course? Said I? Oh, of course, he answered, 314 00:20:49.640 --> 00:20:52.599 looking up from the paper with a smile. I meant 315 00:20:52.680 --> 00:20:55.720 there were so many. But you do right to be particular. 316 00:20:56.240 --> 00:20:59.920 It stands to reason that you must be particular. Will 317 00:20:59.799 --> 00:21:03.680 allow me to use your pen and ink certainly, and 318 00:21:03.759 --> 00:21:08.480 your desk certainly. He had been hovering about between his 319 00:21:08.559 --> 00:21:11.519 hat and his umbrella for a place to write. He 320 00:21:11.599 --> 00:21:14.440 now sat down in my chair at my blotting paper, 321 00:21:14.559 --> 00:21:17.480 and instand with a long walk up his head in 322 00:21:17.559 --> 00:21:21.279 an accurate perspective before me, as I stood with my 323 00:21:21.400 --> 00:21:25.400 back to the fire. Before answering each question, he ran 324 00:21:25.440 --> 00:21:30.039 it over aloud and discussed it. How long had he 325 00:21:30.160 --> 00:21:34.799 known mister Alfred Beckwith that he had decalculate by years 326 00:21:34.880 --> 00:21:40.200 upon his fingers, what were his habits? Not difficulty about them? 327 00:21:40.519 --> 00:21:43.240 Temperate in the last degree, and took a little too 328 00:21:43.319 --> 00:21:48.960 much exercise, if any All the answers were satisfactory. When 329 00:21:48.960 --> 00:21:51.880 he had written them all, he looked them over and 330 00:21:51.960 --> 00:21:56.119 finally signed them in a very pretty hand. He supposed 331 00:21:56.400 --> 00:21:59.880 he had now done with the business. I told him 332 00:21:59.920 --> 00:22:02.920 he was not likely to be troubled any further. Should 333 00:22:02.920 --> 00:22:07.200 he lead the papers there if he pleased, much obliged 334 00:22:07.519 --> 00:22:12.759 good morning. I had had one other visitor before him, 335 00:22:13.319 --> 00:22:17.599 not at the office, but at my own home. That 336 00:22:17.759 --> 00:22:20.200 visitor had come to my bedside when it was not 337 00:22:20.319 --> 00:22:24.039 yet daylight, and had been seen by no one else 338 00:22:24.119 --> 00:22:29.640 but my faithful confidential servant. A second reference paper, for 339 00:22:29.759 --> 00:22:33.920 we required always two was sent down into Norfolk and 340 00:22:34.079 --> 00:22:39.799 was duly received back by post. This likewise was satisfactorily answered. 341 00:22:39.880 --> 00:22:45.440 In every respect, our firms were all complied with. We 342 00:22:45.519 --> 00:22:49.400 accepted the proposal, and the premium for one year was paid. 343 00:22:50.680 --> 00:22:52.680 For six or seven months, I saw no more of 344 00:22:52.720 --> 00:22:55.799 mister Slington. He called once at my house when I 345 00:22:55.839 --> 00:22:58.440 was not at home, and he once asked me to 346 00:22:58.480 --> 00:23:00.960 dine with him in the temple, but I was engaged. 347 00:23:02.200 --> 00:23:07.079 His friend's assurance was suffected. In March, late in September 348 00:23:07.200 --> 00:23:10.160 or early in October, I was down at Scarborough for 349 00:23:10.200 --> 00:23:12.599 a breadth of sea air, where I met him on 350 00:23:12.640 --> 00:23:16.880 the beach. It was a hot evening. He came toward 351 00:23:17.000 --> 00:23:19.319 me with his hat in his hand, and there was 352 00:23:19.359 --> 00:23:22.799 a walk I felt so strongly disinclined to take in 353 00:23:22.880 --> 00:23:26.799 perfect order again exactly in front of the bridge of 354 00:23:26.839 --> 00:23:30.680 my nose. He was not alone, but had a young 355 00:23:30.759 --> 00:23:35.000 lady on his arm. She was dressed in moaning and 356 00:23:35.039 --> 00:23:38.480 I looked at her with great interest. She had the 357 00:23:38.519 --> 00:23:42.640 appearance of being extremely delicate, and her face was remarkably 358 00:23:42.680 --> 00:23:48.039 pale and melancholy, but she was very pretty. He introduced 359 00:23:48.039 --> 00:23:52.759 her as his niece, Miss Nina. Are you strolling, mister Samson? 360 00:23:53.400 --> 00:23:58.200 Is it possible you can be idle it? Was possible, 361 00:23:58.480 --> 00:24:03.720 and I was strolling. Shall we stroll together with pleasure? 362 00:24:05.440 --> 00:24:07.920 The young lady walked between us, and we walked on 363 00:24:07.960 --> 00:24:12.240 the cools he sand in the direction of Philly. There 364 00:24:12.279 --> 00:24:15.559 have been wheels here, said mister Slington. And now I 365 00:24:15.640 --> 00:24:19.400 look again, the wheels up a hand carriage. Margaret, my love, 366 00:24:19.640 --> 00:24:24.680 your shadow, without doubt, miss Niner's shadow, I repeated, looking 367 00:24:24.720 --> 00:24:29.880 down on the sand, Not that one. Mister Slington returned, laughing, Maha, 368 00:24:29.960 --> 00:24:35.400 gareat my dear tell mister Sampson. Indeed, said the young lady, 369 00:24:35.400 --> 00:24:39.240 turning to me, there is nothing to tell except that 370 00:24:39.359 --> 00:24:42.519 I constantly see the same invalid old gentleman at all 371 00:24:42.599 --> 00:24:46.839 times wherever I go. I have mentioned it to my uncle, 372 00:24:47.240 --> 00:24:51.279 and he calls the gentleman my shadow. Does he live 373 00:24:51.319 --> 00:24:55.759 in Scarborough? I asked, He is staying here? Do you 374 00:24:55.839 --> 00:25:00.640 live in Scarborough? No, I'm staying here. My uncle has 375 00:25:00.680 --> 00:25:03.960 placed me with a family here for my help, and 376 00:25:04.039 --> 00:25:09.880 your shadow, said I smiling. My shadow, she answered, smiling too, 377 00:25:10.759 --> 00:25:14.839 is like myself, not very robust. I fear for I 378 00:25:14.880 --> 00:25:18.240 lose my shadow sometimes as my shadow loses me at 379 00:25:18.279 --> 00:25:22.400 other times. You both seemed liable to confinement to the house. 380 00:25:23.319 --> 00:25:25.680 I have not seen my shadow for days and days, 381 00:25:26.359 --> 00:25:30.119 but it does oddly happen occasionally that wherever I go 382 00:25:30.240 --> 00:25:34.759 for many days together, this gentleman goes. We have come 383 00:25:34.839 --> 00:25:39.240 together on the most unfrequented nooks on this shore. Is this, 384 00:25:39.359 --> 00:25:43.440 he said I, pointing before us the wheels had swept 385 00:25:43.440 --> 00:25:46.839 down the water's edge, and describing a great loop on 386 00:25:46.880 --> 00:25:51.000 the sand, and turning, bringing the hoop back towards us, 387 00:25:51.359 --> 00:25:53.599 and spinning it out. As it came. Was a hand 388 00:25:53.680 --> 00:25:59.079 carriage drawn by a man. Yes, said miss Nina. This 389 00:25:59.279 --> 00:26:04.319 really is my shadow uncle. As the carriage approached us, 390 00:26:04.359 --> 00:26:07.240 and we approached the carriage, I saw within it an 391 00:26:07.240 --> 00:26:10.799 old man whose head was sunk on his breast, and 392 00:26:10.839 --> 00:26:14.680 who was enveloped in a variety of wrappers. He was 393 00:26:14.759 --> 00:26:17.559 drawn by a very quiet, but very keen looking man 394 00:26:18.000 --> 00:26:22.440 with iron gray hair, and who was slightly lame. They 395 00:26:22.480 --> 00:26:25.759 had passed us when the scarriage stopped, and the old 396 00:26:25.799 --> 00:26:29.359 gentleman within, putting out his arm, called to me by 397 00:26:29.400 --> 00:26:33.200 my name. I went back and was absent from mister 398 00:26:33.240 --> 00:26:37.359 Slington and his niece for about five minutes. When I 399 00:26:37.400 --> 00:26:41.720 rejoined them, missus Slington was the first to speak indeed, 400 00:26:41.799 --> 00:26:43.839 he said to me in a raised voice, before I 401 00:26:43.920 --> 00:26:47.119