The wind shifted while we were out, and before we could get back to the harbor, the tide had turned against us.It was six o'clock when I arrived at the hotel.A little open carriage was waiting at the door.I found Romayne impatiently expecting me, and no signs of dinner on the table.He informed me that he had accepted an invitation, in which I was included, and promised to explain everything in the carriage.
Our driver took the road that led toward the High Town.Isubordinated my curiosity to my sense of politeness, and asked for news of his aunt's health.
"She is seriously ill, poor soul," he said."I am sorry I spoke so petulantly and s o unfairly when we met at the club.The near prospect of death has developed qualities in her nature which Iought to have seen before this.No matter how it may be delayed, I will patiently wait her time for the crossing to England."So long as he believed himself to be in the right, he was, as to his actions and opinions, one of the most obstinate men I ever met with.But once let him be convinced that he was wrong, and he rushed into the other extreme--became needlessly distrustful of himself, and needlessly eager in seizing his opportunity of making atonement.In this latter mood he was capable (with the best intentions) of committing acts of the most childish imprudence.With some misgivings, I asked how he had amused himself in my absence.
"I waited for you," he said, "till I lost all patience, and went out for a walk.First, I thought of going to the beach, but the smell of the harbor drove me back into the town; and there, oddly enough, I met with a man, a certain Captain Peterkin, who had been a friend of mine at college.""A visitor to Boulogne?" I inquired.
"Not exactly."
"A resident?"
"Yes.The fact is, I lost sight of Peterkin when I left Oxford--and since that time he seems to have drifted into difficulties.We had a long talk.He is living here, he tells me, until his affairs are settled."I needed no further enlightenment--Captain Peterkin stood as plainly revealed to me as if I had known him for years."Isn't it a little imprudent," I said, "to renew your acquaintance with a man of that sort? Couldn't you have passed him, with a bow?"Bolnayne smiled uneasily."I daresay you're right," he answered.
"But, remember, I had left my aunt, feeling ashamed of the unjust way in which I had thought and spoken of her.How did I know that I mightn't be wronging an old friend next, if I kept Peterkin at a distance? His present position may be as much his misfortune, poor fellow, as his fault.I was half inclined to pass him, as you say--but I distrusted my own judgment.He held out his hand, and he was so glad to see me.It can't be helped now.I shall be anxious to hear your opinion of him.""Are we going to dine with Captain Peterkin?""Yes.I happened to mention that wretched dinner yesterday at our hotel.He said, 'Come to my boarding-house.Out of Paris, there isn't such a table d'hote in France.' I tried to get off it--not caring, as you know, to go among strangers--I said I had a friend with me.He invited you most cordially to accompany me.More excuses on my part only led to a painful result.I hurt Peterkin's feelings.'I'm down in the world,' he said, 'and I'm not fit company for you and your friends.I beg your pardon for taking the liberty of inviting you!' He turned away with the tears in his eyes.What could I do?"I thought to myself, "You could have lent him five pounds, and got rid of his invitation without the slightest difficulty." If Ihad returned in reasonable time to go out with Romayne, we might not have met the captain--or, if we had met him, my presence would have prevented the confidential talk and the invitation that followed.I felt I was to blame--and yet, how could I help it? It was useless to remonstrate: the mischief was done.
We left the Old Town on our right hand, and drove on, past a little colony of suburban villas, to a house standing by itself, surrounded by a stone wall.As we crossed the front garden on our way to the door, I noticed against the side of the house two kennels, inhabited by two large watch-dogs.Was the proprietor afraid of thieves?