CHAPTER XXXIX. JED LEARNS WHO HE IS.

 Mr. Roper and Jed were having a very enjoyable time at Bar Harbor. They made trips, chiefly on foot, to the various interesting localities—Schooner Head, Great Head, Hull's Cove¹ and The Ovens—being favored with unusually fine and clear weather. They had just returned at four o'clock in the afternoon from a trip to the summit of Green Mountain when they were informed at the hotel that a gentleman wished to see them.

 

Mr. Roper took the card and examined it.

 

"James Peake," he said. "I don't know of any such person. Do you, Jed?"

 

"No, sir," answered Jed.

 

"You may bring him up," said Roper, turning to the bell boy.

 

In less than a minute the latter reappeared, followed by a plain-looking man, who scanned[Pg 344] both attentively² as he entered, but devoted³ the most attention to Jed.

 

"Mr. Peake?" said Schuyler Roper interrogatively.

 

"Yes, sir."

 

"You have business with me?"

 

"Rather with your young friend. Is he known as Jed Gilman?"

 

"Yes," answered the boy so designated.

 

"I am a detective from the staff of Inspector⁴ Byrnes of New York."

 

Jed blushed and looked uneasy. This announcement naturally alarmed him.

 

"Am I charged with any offense⁵?" he asked quickly.

 

"No," answered Mr. Peake with a pleasant smile. "When I state my business I am inclined to think you will be glad to see me."

 

"I feel relieved, Jed," said Mr. Roper with a smile. "I took you without a character, and I trembled lest some terrible charge was to be brought against you."

 

"Rest easy on that score, Mr. Roper," returned the detective. "My mission may [Pg 345]involve some one else in trouble, but not your young friend. Will you permit me to ask him a few questions?"

 

"I am sure he will be quite ready to answer any questions you may ask."

 

Jed nodded assent⁶.

 

"Then, Mr. Gilman, may I inquire your age?"

 

"I am sixteen."

 

"What is the date of your birth?"

 

Jed colored and looked embarrassed.

 

"I do not know," he answered.

 

"Can you tell me where you were born?"

 

"No, sir," returned Jed. "I was left at the age of two years at the Scranton poorhouse by a girl who disappeared the next morning. Of course I was too young to know anything of my earlier history."

 

"Exactly; and you spent the intervening years at that interesting institution."

 

Jed laughed.

 

"It didn't prove very interesting at the last," he said. "When my good friends the Averys were turned out, Mr. and Mrs. Fogson succeeded them, and I concluded to leave."

 

[Pg 346]

 

"I am not surprised to hear it. I have seen Mrs. Fogson," remarked the detective dryly.

 

"Did she give me a good character?"

 

"Quite the contrary. She prepared me to find you a desperate young ruffian."

 

Jed laughed.

 

"Do I come up to your expectations?" he asked.

 

"Not altogether. I may conclude that you have no information in regard to your family or parentage?"

 

"No, sir. Can you"—something in the detective's face prompted the question—"can you give me any information on the subject?"

 

Jed fixed⁷ his eyes with painful intensity⁸ upon the visitor.

 

"I think I can," he answered.

 

"Who, then, am I?"

 

"To the best of my knowledge you are the nephew of Sir Guy Fenwick, of Fenwick Hall, Gloucestershire, England."

 

Both Mr. Roper and Jed looked exceedingly surprised.

 

[Pg 347]

 

"Sir Guy Fenwick?" repeated Roper.

 

"He is so called, but I have reason to believe he is a usurper⁹, and that the title and estates belong to your young friend, who, if I am correct, isn't Jed Gilman, but Sir Robert Fenwick."

 

Jed looked dazed. Schuyler Roper went up to him and grasped his hand.

 

"My dear Jed, or rather Robert," he said, "let me be the first to congratulate you. But, Mr. Peake, are you prepared to substantiate¹⁰ Jed's claim to his title and inheritance?"

 

"I think so. I will tell you how the case stands."

 

When he had concluded, Mr. Roper asked, "And where is this nurse whose testimony¹¹ is so important?"

 

"At Rodick's. I brought her with me to Bar Harbor."

 

"And what is your program?"

 

"I should like to carry our young friend with me to New York to confront the pseudo baronet."

 

"We will be ready whenever you say. I say we, for I propose to accompany Jed—I[Pg 348] beg pardon, Sir Robert—and stand by him at this eventful period."

 

"Call me Jed, Mr. Roper, till I have proved myself entitled to the other name," returned the "poorhouse boy."

 

1 cove   

n.小海湾，小峡谷

参考例句：

• The shore line is wooded,olive-green,a pristine cove.岸边一带林木蓊郁，嫩绿一片，好一个山外的小海湾。
• I saw two children were playing in a cove.我看到两个小孩正在一个小海湾里玩耍。

2 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》

3 devoted   

adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的

参考例句：

• He devoted his life to the educational cause of the motherland.他为祖国的教育事业贡献了一生。
• We devoted a lengthy and full discussion to this topic.我们对这个题目进行了长时间的充分讨论。

4 inspector   

n.检查员，监察员，视察员

参考例句：

• The inspector was interested in everything pertaining to the school.视察员对有关学校的一切都感兴趣。
• The inspector was shining a flashlight onto the tickets.查票员打着手电筒查看车票。

5 offense   

n.犯规，违法行为；冒犯，得罪

参考例句：

• I hope you will not take any offense at my words. 对我讲的话请别见怪。
• His words gave great offense to everybody present.他的发言冲犯了在场的所有人。

6 assent   

v.批准，认可；n.批准，认可

参考例句：

• I cannot assent to what you ask.我不能应允你的要求。
• The new bill passed by Parliament has received Royal Assent.议会所通过的新方案已获国王批准。

7 fixed   

adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的

参考例句：

• Have you two fixed on a date for the wedding yet?你们俩选定婚期了吗？
• Once the aim is fixed,we should not change it arbitrarily.目标一旦确定，我们就不应该随意改变。

8 intensity   

n.强烈，剧烈；强度；烈度

参考例句：

• I didn't realize the intensity of people's feelings on this issue.我没有意识到这一问题能引起群情激奋。
• The strike is growing in intensity.罢工日益加剧。

9 usurper   

n. 篡夺者, 僭取者

参考例句：

• The usurper wrested the power from the king. 篡位者从国王手里夺取了权力。
• The usurper took power by force. 篡夺者武装夺取了权力。

10 substantiate   

v.证实；证明...有根据

参考例句：

• There is little scientific evidence to substantiate the claims.这些主张几乎找不到科学依据来证实。
• These theories are used to substantiate the relationship between the phenomenons of the universe.这些学说是用来证实宇宙现象之间的关系。

11 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。