The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-04-26
RODNEY STONE.
A Renaissance of the Ring,
by A. CONAN DOYLE.
CHAPTER v~.-ooNTINUED.

OAANS N'NAN N"o ~
high crimson ourricle coming down the Lon.
don road. with two bay mares harnessed tan.
dem fashion before IL. The reins and fittings
were of a light fawn color and the gentleman
had a driving coat TO match, with a servant
in dark livery behind. They flashed past as in
a rolling cloud of dust. and | had Just a glimpse
of the pale handsome face OF the master and
OF the dark, shrivelled features of the man. I
should never have given them another thought
hal II not CHANGED chat when the village came
Into view there was the curricle again standing
at the door of the inn, and the grooms busy
taking out the horses.
JIM" i cried, II believe II Is my uncle"
and taking TO my heels l ran for home at the
top OF my speed. AT the door was standing
the dark-faced servant. lie carried q cushion
upon which lay a small fluffy lapdog.
You Will excuse me, young SIR said he,
In the s%uavest, most soothing of voices. but
am right in surprising that this Is the house
OF Lieut.. StoneH In that case you will, per-
haps. do me the favor to hand to Mrs. Stone
this note. which her brother, Sir Charles
Tregellis. has Just committed to my care"
l was quite abashed by the mans lowery
way OF talking, 30 unlike anything which / had
ever heard. He had a wizened face and sharp
little dark eyes which took In me and the house
and my mothers startled face at the window
all In the instant. My parents were together.
the two of them, In the sitting room. and my
mother read the note to us.
NJ dear Mary" It ran, II have stopped at
the inn, because | am somewhat ravage by the
dust OF your Sussex roads. A lavender water
bath may restore me to a condition in which I
may fifty pay my compliments to a lady. Mean
time send you Fideiio us n hostage. Pray give
him a half pint of warmish milk, with six
drops OF pure brandy in 1t. A better or more
faithful creature never lived. Toujours a tot,
Charles"
Have him in! Have him in" cried my
father. heartily, running to the door. Come
In. Mr.. Fidelio. Every man to his own taste.
and six drops to the half pint seems a sinful
watering of grog. but If you like 1t SO you shall
have It."
A smile hickered over the dark face of the
servant. but his features reset themselves in
stantly into their usual mask of respectful OBJ
servance.
You are laboring under a eight error. sir. II
you will permit me to say 30. My name Is Am
brose. and I have the honor to be the valet of
Sir Charles Tregellis. This is Fidelio upon the
cushion"
Tut. the dogE' cried my father. in disgust.
'Heave him down by the flreside. Why should
he have brandy when many a Christian has to
go withoutr"
Hush. Anson.' said my mother. taking tho
cushion. You will tell Sir Charles that his
wishes will be carried out. and that we shall
expect him at his own convenience"
Tho man went off noiselessly and swiftly,
but was back in few minutes with q fat
brown basket.
1T is the rejection, madam" said he.
VIII you permit mo to lay the table2 Sir
Charles is accustomed to partake of certain
dishes and to drink certain wines, so that we
usually:bring them with us when We VISIT
H. --.- A. -,I.-A - H. -.--A- A. -
the table all shining with silver and glass, and
all studded with dishes. SO quick and neat
and silent was be in all that he did that my
father was as taken with him as l was.
You'd have made a right good foretopman,
II your heart Is as stout as your fingers are
quick" eaid he. "Didy you never wish to have
the honor of serving your countrv2"
1T is my honor, sir. to serve Sir Charles
Tregellis, and l desire no other MASTER he an
swered. But Z will convey his dressing case
from the inn, and then all will be ready"
He came back with a great silver mounted
box under his arm. and close at his heels
was the gentleman whose coming had made such
a disturbance.
My first impression of my uncle as he en-
tered the room was that one of his eyes was
swollen to the size OF An apple. 1t caught the
breath from my lips, that monstrous glistcning
eye. But the next instant | perceived that he
held a round glass in front of it., which magni-
fled 1t in this fashion. He looked at us each
in turn, and then he bowed very gracefully to
my mother and kissed her upon either cheek.
You will permit me to compliment you, my
dear Mary said he in a voice which was the
most mellow and beautiful that l have ever
heard. II can assure you that the country air
has used you wondrous well. and that ! should
be proud to see my pretty sister in the Mall.
I I'm your servant, sir. he continued, hold
ing out his hand to my father. at was but
last week that | had the honor of dining with
my friend Lord st. Vincent, and / took occa-
sion to mention you to him. / may tell you
that your name Is not forgotten at the Admiral
ty, sir, and I hope that l may see YOU soon
walking the poop of a 74-gun ship of your own.
So this is my nephew, is IT." He put a hand
upon each of my shoulders in u very friendly
way. and looked me up and down.
How old are you, nephew" he asked.
Seventeen, sir"
You look older. You look Is at least. I
find him very passable. Mary-very passable
indeed. He has not the bel air. the tournolr-
in our uncouth English, we have no word for It.
But he is as healthy as a May hedge In bloom"
So within a minute OF his entering our door
he had got himself upon terms with all Of us.
and with so easy and graceful a manner that
1t seemed as II he had known us all for years.
/ hal a good look at him now MS he stood upon
the hearth rug, with my mother on one side
and my father on the other. He was a very
large man, with noble shoulders, small waist,
broad hips. we'll turned legs, and the smallest
of hands and feet. His face was pale and
handsome. with a prominent chin, a jutting
nose. and large blue staring eyes. in which q
sort Of dancing nischievous light was forever
playing. He wore a deep brown coat, with Il
collar as high as his ears, and tails as low as
his knees. His black brooches and silk stock
ings ended in very small pointed shoes, so
highly polished that they twinkled with every
movement. His vest was of black velvet, open
at the top 10 show an embroidered shirt front,
with a high. smooth, white crayat above il.
which kept his neck forever on the stretch.
He stood easily, with one thumb in his armplt
and two fingers of the other hand In his vest
pocket, 1t made me proud as | watched him
TO think that such a magnificent man, with
his easy, masterful ways, should he my own