My Letter of Introduction.

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 69, 27 September 1884, Page 5

My Letter of Introduction.

" I'm sorry I can't go up to London with you." said Mr Bridgnorth, who had just crossed the Channel with me, as we stood chattingattheDoverrailw ay station, whether he had come to see me off. Our brief acquaintance, struck up the night before on tho Calais packet, had been rendered so agreeable by Mr Bridgnorth '& affability that I was more than half prepared, if not to dispute the dogma that grulFness is the predominating feature of English manners, at least to admit that it is a rule not without exception. " It would a/lord me pleasure," he added, " to act the part of • guide, philosopher, and friend,' on your first visit to the great metropolis ; but since that cannot be—business before pleasure, you know— l've written a letter to a chum of mine in town, which you would do well to present as soon as possible, for he I**1 ** a connoisseur in city life, and will see you suitably bestowed." I thanked my new friend for his kindness, put his letter in my pocket, and bidding him many warm adieux, hurried, at the call of the guard, to take my place in the train. I was followed up the steps by a thick-set and rather coarse-featuredman, who, besides my&elf, was the sole occupant of the compartment. The door was locked, the bell rung, and the train set in motion. The stout gentleman busied himself for a time with his newspaper, and then threw it down with a grunt. The next half-hour he looked out of the window, his face betokening anything but pleasure at the prospect, the charms of which were not heightened by the effect of a dull autumn drizzle. Turning about with another grunt, his deep-set grey eyes glanced me over keenly. J "Do you know the — the gentleman you were talking with just before the train started ?" he asked, in a quick, sharp voice. "I do," I answered — mentally adding, " Inquisitiveness, I see, isn't exclusively a Yankee trait." " Seercs to me I've seen him before— what might his name be ?" was the next question. "Bridgnorth." " And your own ?" "Hanley." I was more amused than annoyed at this cross-examination. j " How long have you known Mr Bridgnorth?" continued my inquisitor. " Since we got on the Calais boat together last evening," I replied. "Humph!" I thought it was now my turn. "Do you reside in London ?" 1 began. "Yes." " May I inquire your name ?" "MacGrunilie." " Scotch extraction, I presume ?" " Can't say— never saw the family tree,"

11 Nor need you wish to, if it's known by its fruits," was thereburt I had on the top of ray tongue, but I left it there. "By the way," I said, after a pause, "Mr Bridgnorth was kind enough to give mo a letter of introduction to a friend of his ; perhaps, on our arrival, you can direct me to the place mentioned in tho address." "What is it?" I showed him the superscription. With anotherof his "humphs !" he handed the letter back. "Do you want to go thero at once?" lie inquired. " I might as well," said 1 ; "I have no acquaintances in London, and Mr Bridgnorth has assured me of his friend's kindly offices." " I'll show you the way, "Mr MaeGrumlie was kind enough to say. " It's on my road home. You can leave your luggage at the station, and we'll take a cub together." This agreed to, the conversation flagged, in spite of all efforts on my part to revive it. I couldn't help contrasting the hours so lately enlivened by Bridgnorth's wit and gaioty with those whose tedium had nothing to relieve it but MacGrumlie's everrecuvrinp; soliloquies of "humphs!" and grunts. It was dark w hen we reached the city. My companion hailed a cab, gave the driver the direction, and jumping in by my side, we wore soon rattling down a shabby, illlighted streot. "Here you are !" said MaeGrumlie, as we checked up in front of a sombre-looking building. Few words were spent in leave-takir g. I got out, paid my share of the faro, and having with diih'eulty distinguished the number on the door, I rang the boll, while the cub turned the next corner. Several minutes elapsed, and I was on the point of gi/ing the knob another pull, when I heard steps inside. The door opened, and a not very prepossessing male servant growled : "What do you v. ant?" " I have a letter for Mr Fitz; Quagg," I said ; " is he in '!'' " Gimme it, an' I'll see," said the lackey, snatching rat her than receiving the letter from my hand. Without inviting me to enter, he slammed the door in m^ face, and I heard his heavy £ amp retreating. After another delay, and a sound of lightei footsteps, the door was again opened, and a youngish-looking man, in a garb, as revealed by the imperfect light, which appeared more llashy than genteel, stood beforo mo. " Sorry to've kept you waiting, Mr Hanley," he said, seizing my hand cordially. "Have readßridg's letter— capital fellow, Bridg. Any friend of his always welcome. Just going to dine with a few friends Must join us. Good way to introduce you. Come, Dick," turning to his surly servant, " run ahead, and tell them to put another name in the pot." Cutting short my acknowledgments, MiFit/, Quagg took my aim, and we sauntei*ed leisurely along. As we turned a corner to go clown a street less inviting, if anything, than the one we had left, I caughta glimpse, 1 fancied, of a form on the other side of the way much resembling the burly h'guro of MaeGrumlie. We stopped at length before a door at which my companion knocked peculiarly. We were at once admitted, and Mr Fitz Quagg led the way to a loom lighted by a dim lamp, where, half invisible in an atmosphere of smoke, sat three of his familiar spirits, each with a pipe in his mouth. "I say, Dick," said Fitz Quagg— the ceremony of introduction over — "fill us up the glasses while we're waiting for the solids." Soon each man had a tumbler of punch before him. " Heie's to better acquaintance — no heeltaps, mind !" called out the hilarious Fitz Quagg, using, and draining his joram in honour of the sentiment. Outofshere politeness I swallowed the abominable stuff, though the taste half sickened me. In a few seconds my head began to whirl. Fitz Quagg and his fiiends seemed to be spinning round the room. The cloud- of smoke thickened. My temples throbbed. A dull heaviness settled on my brain, and, at last, came unconsciousness. How long it was before my faculties returned 1 do not know ; but when they did, my companions had disappeared. I felt for my watch to note the time. It was gone, and my pocket-book and money with it The truth Hashed upon me. "Drugged and lobbed !" I exclaimed. " You've hit it exactly," answered a voice which I had heard before ; and turning about, my eyes fell on the impressive face of the gruff MaeGrumlie. "Never mind," ho continued; "your property and the robbers are both safe at the station-house. The fellow you parted with this morning is a noted thief, whose face haying grown too familiar in London, he has been plying his trade on the Continent of late. Ascertaining, probably, that you had a large sum about you, he came across the Channel in your company, but finding he had no safe chance to pick your pocket by the way, and not daring to follow you further, he commended you to the kind offices of his city friends, trusting to their honour to remit him his share of the spoil. "As an old detective, I had very little difficulty in fathoming his scheme as soon as I learned he had given you a letter. So I kept close watch on your movements from the moment you left the cab, which I dismissed immediately after. Then waiting till things had gone far enough to insure tho rogues a good term of penal servitude, I summoned assistance ami pounced upon them before they could make off with their plunder."