The Grange advance., 1874-08-26

AVN
and dented by the hand Of time. II. He
was simply dressed, and had the air Of
a London tradesman Of reputable posi-
ton. In answer to my inquiries, ! was
waited by him to the upper floors Of the
house. The two drawing rooms were
altogether empty. lofty, vainscoted
chambers. with heavy cornices and rich
ly moulded ceilings. They led to a
third room, long and narrow, looking
on to tue leads and skylight Of the back
shop below. and boasting a side view Of
small garden beyond, in which Tan
guisAed plane tree and some lilac
bushes ofrathcr wan-and sickly appear
ance. In the rooms above, I was given
to understand, the Brothers Reklam re-
sided, still among stores Of treasures
similar to those crowding dhe shop be-
low. :.
Baron Reklam did not quit me until
l had pledged myself to become the
tenant Of the vacant first.foor. What
moved we to this step I do not even
now clearly understand. It was true
that was at the time under notice to
quit the lodgings I had occupied dur
ing some years. The honse was to be
pulled down, so that new street might
be constructed, or some other metro
politan improvement Of that nature car.
ried into effect. For this purpose an
act Of parliament had been obtained,
and al. due forms observed. And l
was in a sluggish sort Of way-for there
was no special need for haste; / had
still some weeks before me-looking out
for lodgings. Still: as have said, len-
gagged to be the occupant Of the apart
ments.
Next day, repenting Of the bargain, I
entered the shop again, resolved to ex-
euse myself, and now, for the first time,
saw Nathan, the elder brother, who re-
ceived me with all politeness. TO get
off was impossible; besides. saw tha
the rooms had their advantages. In
short, l took possession of them, trust
ing to have some degree of comfort.
After day or two's experience had
nothing to complain Of but certain
degree of fmysteriousness which pervad-
ed the dwelling. One or other of the
brothers was often hanging about, as if
listening or making observations and
occasionally there were loud and un-
pleasant quarrels in an unknown
tongue, which, for anpthing | knew,
might be Hebrew or Polish.
They were certainly strange people
I had got amongst At times I medi-
tated running away; but such step
would have involved forfeiture of all
my goods. therefore held on. Some
months had passed in this fashion !;
there had been no change in the situa-
tion of affairs, and 1 had added little to
my stock of observations concerning
the Brothers Reklam, their proceedings,
and ways Of life, except in this respect {:
[ had not failed to note that all their
collection of treasures, Notwithstanding
their business, was almost altogether at
stand-still. They were tradesmen ap-
parently possessed Of an abundance of
wares, but they really traded in nothing.
No customers ever entered the shop; or
if they did, it was only to quit it again
rapidly, without any sale or purchase
having beee effected. Sometimes, in
deed, the shutters remained closed for
days together.
Another thing I marked, too, was the
late hours they kept. They were sell
dom absent faom the house, and they
never, so far as l could ascertain, re-
ceived any visitors. Yet they seemed
to be moved by strange repugnance
to retire to rest. At all times of the
night could hear them stirring in the
house, restless in the shop, or passing
up and down the staircase, or pacing
to and fro on the floors above me. Their
movements were generally of a stealthy
kind, as though they were seeking to
make as little noise as possible; it
might be out of consideration for my
comfort. But now and then their dis.
position to quarrel asserted itself.
| The domestic arrangements were by
no means effective, but they answered
my moderate wants. There was no
regular female servant-only scat OF
charwoman. who came in the morning
to prepare breakfast, and again ap.
peared for short time at night. This
suited tolerably we'll, for l did not dine
in the house. Odd jobs and errands
were executed by small Jewish boy.
The disappearance of this little fellow
was the first thing that struck me with
surprise. Then, I had fresh cause for
astonishment in. seeing that the shop
shutters were now very seldom removed,
My landlords had, as it seemed, aban-
doned all attempt to carry on publicly
their trade as dealers in antiquities and
curiosities. But they watched me,
felt persuaded, more closely than ever.
l was conscious that my residence under
their roof was becoming more and more
painful and unendurable.
The summer-time7 had arrived, and
for some days the weather had been al
most insuferably sultry. I could
scarcely breathe in my murky oppres-
/ I awe .frnonfc. NTho n,,31o1 oo:l;n