People took up the
notion from his wild appearance, and because he had no ostensible means
of living. It would not have done to let them know that he had his
supplies--sometimes money, sometimes food--from respectable clerk Gum's."
"But why should he be in concealment at all? That bank affair was made
all right at the time."
"There are other things he feared, it seems. I've not time to enter into
details now; you'll know them later. There he is--Pike: and there he'll
die--Pike always."
"How long have you known it?"
"Since that fever he caught from the Rectory some years ago. I recollect
your telling me not to let him want for anything;" and Lord Hartledon
winced at the remembrance brought before him, as he always did wince at
the unhappy past. "I never shall forget it. I went in, thinking Pike was
ill, and that he, wild and disreputable though he had the character of
being, might want physic as well as his neighbours. Instead of the
black-haired bear I expected to see, there lay a young, light, delicate
fellow, with a white brow, and cheeks pink with fever. The features
seemed familiar to me; little by little recognition came to me, and I
saw it was Willy Gum, whom every one had been mourning as dead. He said
a pleading word or two, that I would keep his secret, and not give him up
to justice. I did not understand what there was to give him up for then.
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