Val had reached thus
far, when he saw someone standing on the bridge, his arms on the parapet,
apparently in a brown study.
A dark, wild-looking man, whose face, at the first glimpse, seemed all
hair. There was certainly a profusion of it; eyebrows, beard, whiskers,
all heavy, and black as night. He was attired in loose fustian clothes
with a red handkerchief wound round his throat, and a low slouching
hat--one of those called wide-awake--partially concealed his features. By
his side stood another man in plain, dark, rather seedy clothes, the coat
outrageously long. He wore a cloth hat, whose brim hid his face, and he
was smoking a cigar. Both men were slightly built and under middle
height. This one was adorned with red whiskers.
The moment Mr. Elster set eyes on the dark one, he felt that he saw the
man Pike before him. It happened that he had not met him during these few
days of his sojourn; but some of the men staying at Hartledon had, and
had said what a loose specimen he appeared to be. The other was a
stranger, and did not look like a countryman at all.
Mr. Elster saw them both give a sharp look at him as he approached;
and then they spoke together. Both stepped off the bridge, as though
deferring to him, and stood aside as they watched him cross over, Pike
touching his wide-awake.
"Good-day, my lord."
Val nodded by way of answer, and continued his stroll onwards.
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