CHAPTER XXVIII. THE GUEST OF HIS ENEMY.

 While Pompey was gone to seek Gilbert and invite him to the library, James Grey gave the time to rapid reflection. He saw that our hero was a determined¹ and dangerous opponent. He had not credited him with such courage and perseverance². He thought that, being a mere³ boy, he would be easily intimidated—that opposition⁴ and difficulty would daunt⁵ him. But he had hardly reached home, and his nephew was already on his track.

 

"How could he have found out my residence?" thought he. "Maurice Walton wouldn't tell him. He must be sharper than I supposed."

 

When intimidation⁶ and force fail, a good general has recourse to strategy. James Grey was a man of expedients⁷, and he rapidly decided⁸ upon a change of base. When, therefore, Gilbert entered the library, expecting an angry reception, he was astonished by seeing his uncle rise from his chair and advance to meet him with hand outstretched.

 

"Good-morning," he said, smiling. "How did you find your way here?"

 

"I accidentally learned where you lived, Mr. Grey."

 

"Precisely⁹ so. I was quite sure I had not mentioned my address to you."

 

"No, sir, you did not."

 

"It was an oversight¹⁰ on my part. Did you have a pleasant journey from Cincinnati?"

 

"Quite pleasant, sir."

 

"Are you traveling on business?"

 

"On business with you, sir. That is all."

 

"So I supposed. Well, I am glad to see you. We are a small family, and lonely. I hope you will stay with us a few days."

 

"As your guest?" inquired our hero, much surprised.

 

"Yes. That will enable us to transact¹¹ this business at our leisure."

 

"I shouldn't think you would invite me to your house," said Gilbert, in surprise.

 

"Why not?"

 

"You think I am an impostor."

 

"I don't feel sure of that."

 

"You said so in the city."

 

"I thought so in the city," said Mr. Grey, with apparent frankness. "Since I returned home I have been turning the matter over in my mind, and I don't feel so certain about it. You may be deceived."

 

"I know I am not," said Gilbert, firmly.

 

"Of course, you think so, my young friend. We won't dispute about it. I only want to find out the truth, and if you can prove your claim beyond any question I will do what is right. But there must be no doubt of it."

 

"Of course, that is fair enough."

 

"It seemed to me incredible that a son of my brother John should be living, and as he left some property, I thought that you might be playing a sharp game. You mustn't be offended at my plain speaking," he added, with a smile.

 

"No, sir; certainly not. I am in favor of plain speaking. But I hope you will in time have a more favorable opinion of me."

 

"I have already, or I would not invite you to become my guest. Have you your luggage with you?"

 

"Only a carpet-bag."

 

"Where is that?"

 

"At the village hotel."

 

"That is a poor place. You must stay here, and I will send for it."

 

"I don't know what to say," said Gilbert, not yet recovered from his astonishment¹³.

 

"Then I will say for you that you accept without hesitation¹⁴."

 

"Thank you, sir."

 

Mr. Grey rang the bell, and Pompey appeared.

 

"What's wanted, massa?"

 

"Send Dick to the hotel for this young gentleman's carpet-bag."

 

"Yes, sar. What name, sar?"

 

"Gilbert Grey," answered our hero.

 

"Any 'lation?" asked Pompey, with the freedom of a favorite servant.

 

"Mr. Grey thinks there is a relationship," said the uncle. "Now be off, and tell Dick to make haste."

 

"By the way, though it is early to enter upon business, have you brought old Jacob's confession¹⁵?" asked James Grey, in an indifferent tone; but he awaited the answer with a good deal of interest.

 

"No, sir; that is, not the genuine paper. I have with me a copy."

 

"That will do as well," said the other, but he could not wholly hide the disappointment in his voice. "Let me see it, if you please."

 

Gilbert drew the paper from his pocket and handed it without hesitation to his uncle.

 

"If you have no objection I will keep this for a while, and look over it in private."

 

"Certainly, sir. You may keep it permanently¹⁶. I have the other."

 

"Confound you, I know that only too well," thought the uncle, but he only expressed his thanks quietly.

 

"You probably know nothing of my family," continued James Grey, "though as a possible relation, you should do so. My wife is dead, and I have but one child, a boy of about your own age. Jasper is seventeen."

 

"I am about eighteen."

 

"He does not look at all like you, or me either. He favors his mother's family, being quite dark. I think also he is more like his mother in disposition¹⁷ than like me. I hope you will like him."

 

"I hope so," said our hero, politely.

 

"I can't say he altogether pleases me," said James Grey. "He is not as obedient and observant of my wishes as he should be. For example, he went to Alton yesterday without permission, and lost all his money on hand by gaming. I hope you never gamble, Gilbert."

 

"No, sir, I don't approve of it."

 

"You are quite right. I foresee you will have a good influence on Jasper—I was about to say, on your cousin, Jasper—but I will wait till that is proved."

 

"I will not call him cousin while there remains¹⁸ a doubt."

 

"Quite right. I will give my earliest attention to the matter."

 

"I hope you will, sir, as I wish to return to Cincinnati."

 

"If you prove yourself to be my brother's son, there will be no need of that, for the greater part of my property will go to you. You will be independent."

 

"I should be sorry to deprive you of property, sir, though I have no objection to becoming rich."

 

"Of course not. We all want to be rich. I shall not blame you for being my brother's son, if it appears that you are so. How long can you remain with us?"

 

"I won't set a limit, sir. Do you think I can get away in a week?"

 

"That is a short time."

 

"I can stay longer if necessary."

 

"I may need to go to Alton, to consult my lawyer. After examining this paper, which, I suppose, is an exact copy of the original?"

 

"Yes, sir, exact."

 

"He will give me his opinion, which I will at once communicate to you. Probably it will not be in my power to go to Alton for several days."

 

"I don't wish to hurry you too much, Mr. Grey. That will be satisfactory to me."

 

"Very well. Now there is one other thing I wish to speak of. Of course I can't acknowledge you as my nephew immediately."

 

"I do not ask it, sir."

 

"It will be better that your claim to be my nephew should not be made public. I will tell my son, Jasper, and ask him to treat you as a cousin. He will, I think, be able to make you pass your time agreeably. But to the servants you will be Mr. Grey, a distant relative."

 

"Very well, sir, I agree."

 

"Of course, just as soon as your claim is substantiated¹⁹, there will be no further need of concealment²⁰. By the way, do you ride?"

 

"Yes, sir, a little."

 

"I think you will enjoy exploring the country a little with Jasper. You never were in this neighborhood before?"

 

"No, sir."

 

"It won't do you any harm to have a little vacation. By the way, how is Mr. Ferguson, your employer?"

 

"He is well, sir."

 

"Is he aware of the object of your present journey?"

 

"Yes, sir. He was in favor of my undertaking²¹ it."

 

"For which I don't in the least thank him," said James Grey to himself.

 

There was a little more desultory²² conversation, which was interrupted by the entrance of Pompey with our hero's carpet-bag, which his fellow-servant had brought from the village hotel, if it deserved the name.

 

"Pompey, you may conduct this young gentleman to his room. He may wish to wash before dinner. Dinner is at one, Mr. Grey."

 

"Thank you, sir."

 

"Put him in the blue room, Pompey."

 

"Yes, sar."

 

Gilbert followed him up stairs, and into a room finished and furnished throughout in blue. It was comfortable, and even elegant, and our hero saw that he was likely to be well cared for.

 

"Was you a 'lation, sar?" asked Pompey, who possessed²³ an inquiring mind, as he put down the bag.

 

"Yes," said Gilbert.

 

"A near 'lation?" asked Pompey, continuing his catechism.

 

"I can't tell you how near," said our hero, in an equivocal manner.

 

"You must be 'bout¹² Massa Jasper's age."

 

"That is what Mr. Grey says. I have not seen Jasper yet."

 

"He went out ridin'. He's fond of ridin'."

 

"Is he a good rider?"

 

"Pretty good, sar. He thinks he's first-rate," added Pompey, laughing. "Do you ride, sar?"

 

"A little."

 

"Maybe you'll ride out with Massa Jasper?"

 

"Has my—Mr. Grey got many horses?"

 

"Four, sar. Two are carriage horses, and two are for ridin'. But I'm 'ruptin' you, sar. Dinner at one o'clock."

 

"I will be punctual."

 

"I like his looks," said Pompey. "He's better-lookin' than Massa Jasper. Looks like he was better-tempered, too."

1 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

2 perseverance   

n.坚持不懈，不屈不挠

参考例句：

• It may take some perseverance to find the right people.要找到合适的人也许需要有点锲而不舍的精神。
• Perseverance leads to success.有恒心就能胜利。

3 mere   

adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过

参考例句：

• That is a mere repetition of what you said before.那不过是重复了你以前讲的话。
• It's a mere waste of time waiting any longer.再等下去纯粹是浪费时间。

4 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

5 daunt   

vt.使胆怯，使气馁

参考例句：

• Danger did not daunt the hero.危险并没有吓倒这位英雄。
• Even a greater natural calamity cannot daunt us.再大的自然灾害也压不垮我们。

6 intimidation   

n.恐吓，威胁

参考例句：

• The Opposition alleged voter intimidation by the army.反对党声称投票者受到军方的恐吓。
• The gang silenced witnesses by intimidation.恶帮用恐吓的手段使得证人不敢说话。

7 expedients   

n.应急有效的，权宜之计的( expedient的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• He is full of [fruitful in] expedients. 他办法多。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• Perhaps Calonne might return too, with fresh financial expedients. 或许卡洛纳也会回来，带有新的财政机谋。 来自辞典例句

8 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。

9 precisely   

adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地

参考例句：

• It's precisely that sort of slick sales-talk that I mistrust.我不相信的正是那种油腔滑调的推销宣传。
• The man adjusted very precisely.那个人调得很准。

10 oversight   

n.勘漏，失察，疏忽

参考例句：

• I consider this a gross oversight on your part.我把这件事看作是你的一大疏忽。
• Your essay was not marked through an oversight on my part.由于我的疏忽你的文章没有打分。

11 transact   

v.处理；做交易；谈判

参考例句：

• I will transact my business by letter.我会写信去洽谈业务。
• I have been obliged to see him；there was business to transact.我不得不见他，有些事物要处理。

12 bout   

n.侵袭，发作；一次(阵，回)；拳击等比赛

参考例句：

• I was suffering with a bout of nerves.我感到一阵紧张。
• That bout of pneumonia enfeebled her.那次肺炎的发作使她虚弱了。

13 astonishment   

n.惊奇，惊异

参考例句：

• They heard him give a loud shout of astonishment.他们听见他惊奇地大叫一声。
• I was filled with astonishment at her strange action.我对她的奇怪举动不胜惊异。

14 hesitation   

n.犹豫，踌躇

参考例句：

• After a long hesitation, he told the truth at last.踌躇了半天，他终于直说了。
• There was a certain hesitation in her manner.她的态度有些犹豫不决。

15 confession   

n.自白，供认，承认

参考例句：

• Her confession was simply tantamount to a casual explanation.她的自白简直等于一篇即席说明。
• The police used torture to extort a confession from him.警察对他用刑逼供。

16 permanently   

adv.永恒地，永久地，固定不变地

参考例句：

• The accident left him permanently scarred.那次事故给他留下了永久的伤疤。
• The ship is now permanently moored on the Thames in London.该船现在永久地停泊在伦敦泰晤士河边。

17 disposition   

n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署

参考例句：

• He has made a good disposition of his property.他已对财产作了妥善处理。
• He has a cheerful disposition.他性情开朗。

18 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

19 substantiated   

v.用事实支持（某主张、说法等），证明，证实( substantiate的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The results of the tests substantiated his claims. 这些检验的结果证实了他的说法。
• The statement has never been substantiated. 这一陈述从未得到证实。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

20 concealment   

n.隐藏, 掩盖，隐瞒

参考例句：

• the concealment of crime 对罪行的隐瞒
• Stay in concealment until the danger has passed. 把自己藏起来，待危险过去后再出来。

21 undertaking   

n.保证，许诺，事业

参考例句：

• He gave her an undertaking that he would pay the money back with in a year.他向她做了一年内还钱的保证。
• He is too timid to venture upon an undertaking.他太胆小，不敢从事任何事业。

22 desultory   

adj.散漫的，无方法的

参考例句：

• Do not let the discussion fragment into a desultory conversation with no clear direction.不要让讨论变得支离破碎，成为没有明确方向的漫谈。
• The constables made a desultory attempt to keep them away from the barn.警察漫不经心地拦着不让他们靠近谷仓。

23 possessed   

adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的

参考例句：

• He flew out of the room like a man possessed.他像着了魔似地猛然冲出房门。
• He behaved like someone possessed.他行为举止像是魔怔了。