CHAPTER XXXV TONY’S ESCAPE

When Tony found himself left a prisoner in his enemy’s room, he did not immediately make an effort to escape. In fact, he didn’t feel particularly alarmed.

I am in a large city, and there are other lodgers¹ in this building. There can be no danger. I will wait a while and think over what Rudolph has told me. Can it be true that I am heir to a large estate in England, and that he can restore me to it if he will? He can have no motive² in deceiving me. It must be true.”

Tony felt that he would give a great deal to know more. Where was this estate, and who now held it? It occurred to him that somewhere about the room he might find some clew to the mystery. He immediately began to explore it.

Rudolph was not a literary man. He had neither books nor papers, whose telltale testimony³ might convict him. In fact, the best of his personal possessions was very small. A few clothes were lying about the room. Tony decided⁴ to examine the pockets of these, in the hope of discovering something in his interest. Finally he found in the pocket of a shooting coat a small memorandum⁵ book, in which a few entries, chiefly of bets, had been made. In these Tony felt no interest, and he was about to throw down the book when his eye caught this entry:

“Dead broke. Must write to Mrs. Middleton for more money.”

Tony’s heart beat rapidly.

This must be the person from whom Rudolph received his income, and, by consequence, the person who was in fraudulent possession of the estate that was rightfully his.

Mrs. Middleton! “I wish I knew where she lives,” thought our hero. “No doubt there are hundreds of the name in England.”

This might be, but, probably, there was but one Mrs. Middleton in possession of an estate worth two thousand pounds rental⁶.

I am on the track,” thought Tony. “Now let me get away, and consult George Spencer.”

It was easier said than done. The door was locked, and it was too strong to break down.

“There must be somebody in the room below,” thought Tony. “I’ll pound till they hear me.”

He jumped up and down with such force that it did attract attention in the room below. Presently he heard a querulous voice at the keyhole:

“What’s the matter? Are you mad?”

“No, but I’m locked in,” said Tony. “Can’t you let me out?”

“I have no key to the door, but the landlady⁷ has.”

“Won’t you please ask her to let me out? I’ll be ever so much obliged.”

“Stop pounding, then.”

“I will.”

Scarcely two minutes had elapsed when a key was heard in the lock, and the door was opened.

How came you here, sir?” asked the landlady—a short, stout⁸ woman—suspiciously.

The gentleman locked me in—in a joke,” said Tony.

Maybe you’re a burglar,” said the landlady, eyeing him doubtfully.

Tony laughed.

Do I look like it?” he asked.

Well, no,” the landlady admitted, “but appearances are deceitful.”

“Not with me, I assure you. I am really sorry to put you to so much trouble to let me out. Won’t you accept of this?” and Tony produced a half sovereign.

Really, sir, I see that you are quite the gentleman,” said the landlady, pocketing the piece with avidity. “Can’t I do anything for you?”

“Only if you’d be kind enough to give this to the gentleman when he returns.”

Tony hastily wrote a line on a card, and gave it to the now complacent⁹ dame¹⁰.

Fifteen minutes after Tony’s departure Rudolph returned.

He sprang upstairs, only to find the room empty and the bird flown.

What’s come of the boy?” he exclaimed, in dismay. “How did he get out?”

He summoned the landlady quickly.

Do you know anything of the boy that was in my room, Mrs. Jones?”

“Yes, Mr. Rugg, I let him out. He said you locked him in for fun.”

“Humph! What else did he say?”

“He left this card for you.”

Rugg seized it hastily, and read with startled eyes:

“I am at Morley’s. Come and see me soon, or I will go to Mrs. Middleton.

Tony.”

“Confusion! where did the boy find out?” thought the tramp. “I must do something, or I am ruined.”

It was a mystery to him how Tony had learned so much, and he naturally concluded that he knew a good deal more. He felt that no time was to be lost, and started at once for Morley’s. Inquiring for Tony, he was at once admitted to the presence of Tony and George Spencer.

So you got my card?” said Tony.

Yes. What do you know about Mrs. Middleton?” demanded Rudolph.

That she possesses the estate which ought to be mine. That’s about it, isn’t it?”

“Yes,” said Rudolph; “but you can’t get it without me.”

“Why not?”

“I was the man that was hired to abduct¹¹ you when you was a boy.”

“Can you prove that?” asked Spencer.

I can.”

“Will your story be believed?”

“Yes. The tenantry will remember me. I was one of them at the time.”

“Are you ready to help my young friend here to recover his rights?” asked Spencer.

This morning I said no. Now I say yes, if he’ll do the fair thing by me.”

A conference was entered into, and a bargain was finally made. Rudolph was to receive two hundred pounds a year as a reward for his services, if successful.

When this arrangement had been completed, an appointment was made for the next morning, at which hour a lawyer of repute was also present. After listening attentively¹² to Rudolph’s statement, he said, decisively:

“Your young friend has a strong case, but I advise you to see Mrs. Middleton privately¹³. It may not be necessary to bring the matter into court, and this would be preferable, as it would avoid scandal.”

“I put myself in your hands,” said Tony, promptly¹⁴.

Mrs. Harvey Middleton is in London,” said the lawyer. “I will call this afternoon.”

1 lodgers   

n.房客，租住者( lodger的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• He takes in lodgers. 他招收房客。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• A good proportion of my lodgers is connected with the theaters. 住客里面有不少人是跟戏院子有往来的。 来自辞典例句

2 motive   

n.动机，目的；adv.发动的，运动的

参考例句：

• The police could not find a motive for the murder.警察不能找到谋杀的动机。
• He had some motive in telling this fable.他讲这寓言故事是有用意的。

3 testimony   

n.证词；见证，证明

参考例句：

• The testimony given by him is dubious.他所作的证据是可疑的。
• He was called in to bear testimony to what the police officer said.他被传入为警官所说的话作证。

4 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

5 memorandum   

n.备忘录，便笺

参考例句：

• The memorandum was dated 23 August,2008.备忘录上注明的日期是2008年8月23日。
• The Secretary notes down the date of the meeting in her memorandum book.秘书把会议日期都写在记事本上。

6 rental   

n.租赁，出租，出租业

参考例句：

• The yearly rental of her house is 2400 yuan.她这房子年租金是2400元。
• We can organise car rental from Chicago O'Hare Airport.我们可以安排提供从芝加哥奥黑尔机场出发的租车服务。

7 landlady   

n.女房东，女地主

参考例句：

• I heard my landlady creeping stealthily up to my door.我听到我的女房东偷偷地来到我的门前。
• The landlady came over to serve me.女店主过来接待我。

9 complacent   

adj.自满的；自鸣得意的

参考例句：

• We must not become complacent the moment we have some success.我们决不能一见成绩就自满起来。
• She was complacent about her achievements.她对自己的成绩沾沾自喜。

10 dame   

n.女士

参考例句：

• The dame tell of her experience as a wife and mother.这位年长妇女讲了她作妻子和母亲的经验。
• If you stick around,you'll have to marry that dame.如果再逗留多一会，你就要跟那个夫人结婚。

11 abduct   

vt.诱拐，拐带，绑架

参考例句：

• The police caught the man who tried to abduct the boy for ransom.警察抓住了那个企图拐走这男孩以便勒索赎金的家伙。
• The news that we see those use network abduct children sometimes filled with apprehension.我们有时看到那些利用网络诱拐儿童的新闻都心惊肉跳。

12 attentively   

adv.聚精会神地；周到地；谛；凝神

参考例句：

• She listened attentively while I poured out my problems. 我倾吐心中的烦恼时，她一直在注意听。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• She listened attentively and set down every word he said. 她专心听着，把他说的话一字不漏地记下来。 来自《简明英汉词典》

13 privately   

adv.以私人的身份，悄悄地，私下地

参考例句：

• Some ministers admit privately that unemployment could continue to rise.一些部长私下承认失业率可能继续升高。
• The man privately admits that his motive is profits.那人私下承认他的动机是为了牟利。

14 promptly   

adv.及时地，敏捷地

参考例句：

• He paid the money back promptly.他立即还了钱。
• She promptly seized the opportunity his absence gave her.她立即抓住了因他不在场给她创造的机会。