Once he might have been a handsome man. There were still traces of determination about his mouth, his nose was finely cut, and his lustreless eyes still retained occasional flashes of their old spirit. There was a recklessness in his face and demeanour which once, when it belonged to an honest man, might been attractive; and when he took off his hat and you saw the well-shaped head with its crisp curly hair, you could not help feeling that you saw the ruin of a fine fellow.
It was when he began to talk that you would best understand what a ruin it was. He was chary of his oaths and loose expressions--but when he spoke the words came out vulgarly, with a sleepy, half-tipsy drawl, which jarred on the ear.
Any words from the lips of Robert Ratman, however, would have jarred on the ears of Captain Oliphant.
"Aren't you glad to see me?" said the new arrival, putting his hat cheerfully on the writing-table and helping himself to an easy-chair. "As usual, writing _billets doux_ to the ladies! Ah, Teddy, my boy, at your time of life too! Now, for a youngster like me--"
"I thought you would not be able to leave Southampton till the end of the week?"
"Couldn't resist the temptation of giving you a pleasant surprise. Why, Teddy, you look exactly as if you thought it was the arm of the law on your shoulder and heard the rattle of the handcuffs. Never mind. They're all safe. I know where they keep them."
"Ratman," said the captain, "you have a very poor idea of humour. You have made me blot my letter, and I shall have to write it over again."
"Take your time, old boy. No hurry. I shall not be going away for six months or so."
Captain Oliphant came to the conclusion he had better finish the letter with the blot than attempt a new one. Having done so, he put it in his pocket, and turned with a good show of coolness to his guest.
"When do we run down to Maxfield?" inquired the latter.
"Not for some time. There is illness in the house. You must wait."
"Oh, I don't mind if you don't. Who is the invalid? Young Croesus?"
"Yes--dangerously ill. I expect every day to hear that it is all over."
"Order two suits of black while you're about it. But, Teddy, my boy, doesn't it strike you you'd be more usefully employed down there than here? It seems unfeeling of a guardian to be enjoying himself in town while his ward is _in extremis_ at home, doesn't it? Who is nursing him?"