Pharos the Egyptian | Page 2

is a kind of a foreigner, sir. Leastways, he's
very dark, and don't speak the same, quite, as an Englishman might do.'
"I considered for a moment. I knew of no person named Silver who
could have any possible reason for desiring to see me at seven o'clock
in the evening.
"'Go down and inquire his business,' I said, at length. 'Tell him I am
engaged to-night; but if he can make it convenient to call in the
morning, I will see him.'
"The man departed on his errand, and by the time he returned I had
reached my dressing-room once more.
"'He is very sorry, sir,' he began, as soon as he had closed the door, 'but
he says he must get back to Bampton in time to catch the 8.15 express
to London. He wouldn't tell me his business, but asked me to say that it
is most important, and he would be deeply grateful if you could grant
him an interview this evening.'
"'In that case,' I said, 'I suppose I must see him. Did he tell you no
more?'

"'No, sir. Leastways, that wasn't exactly the way he put it. He said, sir,
"If the gentleman won't see me otherwise, tell him I come to him from
Mr. Cyril Forrester. Then I think he will change his mind."'
"As the man, whoever he was, had predicted, this did make me change
my mind. I immediately bade Jenkins return and inform him that I
would be with him in a few moments. Accordingly, as soon as I had
dressed, I left my room and descended to the study. The fire was
burning brightly, and a reading-lamp stood upon the writing-table. The
remainder of the room, however, was in shadow, but not sufficiently so
to prevent my distinguishing a dark figure seated between the two
bookcases. He rose as I entered, and bowed before me with a servility
that, thank God! is scarcely English. When he spoke, though what he
said was grammatically correct, his accent revealed the fact that he was
not a native of our Isles.
"'Sir William Betford, I believe,' he began, as I entered the room.
"'That is my name,' I answered, at the same time turning up the lamp
and lighting the candles upon the mantelpiece in order that I might see
him better. 'My man tells me you desire an interview with me. He also
mentioned that you have come from my old friend, Mr. Cyril Forrester,
the artist, who is now abroad. Is this true?'
"'Quite true,' he replied. 'I do come from Mr. Forrester.'
"The candles were burning brightly by this time, and, as a result, I was
able to see him more distinctly. He was of medium height, very thin,
and wore a long overcoat of some dark material. His face was distinctly
Asiatic in type, though the exact nationality I could not determine.
Possibly he might have hailed from Siam.
"'Having come from Mr. Forrester,' I said, when I had seated myself,
'you will be able to tell me his address. I am one of his oldest, and
certainly one of his firmest, friends.'
"'Nevertheless, I was instructed on no account to reveal his present
residence to you,' the man replied.

"'What, then, can your business be with me?' I asked, more nettled at
his words than I cared to show.
"'I have brought you a packet,' he said, 'which Mr. Forrester was most
anxious I should personally deliver to your hands. There is a letter
inside which he said would explain everything. I was also instructed to
obtain from you a receipt, which I am to convey to him again.'
"So saying, he dived his hand into the pocket of his greatcoat, and
brought thence a roll, which he placed with some solemnity upon the
table.
"'There is the packet,' he said. 'Now, if you will be kind enough to give
me a note stating that you have received it, I will take my departure. It
is most necessary that I should catch the express to London, and if I
desire to do so, I have a sharp walk in front of me.'
"'You shall have the receipt,' I answered; and, taking a sheet of
note-paper from a drawer, I wrote the following letter :--
"THE GRANGE, BAMPTON St. MARY,
December 14, 18--.
"'DEAR FORRESTER,--This evening I have been surprised by a visit
from a man named--'
"Here I paused and inquired the messenger's name, which I had, for the
moment, forgotten.
"'Honor De Silva,' he replied.
"'--from a man named Honor De Silva, who has handed me a packet for
which he desires this letter shall be a receipt. I have endeavoured to
elicit your address from him, but on this point he is adamant. Is it kind