Orange explained to him what had taken place since his disappearance; how Mirelle had been married to John Herring, and she had been brought to Welltown.
’That’s queer. I haven’t seen either him or her.’
’I am told that he has been called away on business—military, I suppose—and you cannot be surprised if she has not chosen to see you. She knows well enough who you are. But now, Sampson, about yourself. How came you here? And—are you safe, quite safe, here?’
’No, I arn’t, that’s the cussedness of it all. I can’t stay here, especially now the Countess Candlesticks knows of my presence and has got a tongue in her head. If I stay here I shall be taken, and I can’t go, because I have no money to go with.’
’Cast up by the sea, I reckon,’ answered Sampson.
’But how came you to be wrecked?’ asked Orange.
’You may as well answer me civilly,’ said his sister. ’If you get away from this place, it will be by my help, and I must know all about you, and whither you want to go.’
’Curse it,’ said Sampson, ’if you want to know whence I have come I will tell you—from Bristol, and if you want to know why I left, it is because Polly Skittles has blown on me. If you want to know where I am going, you must be content to remain in ignorance, for I don’t know myself.’
’But, Sampson, how came you to be in Bristol?’
’Because it was not my intention to run to France, or any place where I could not speak a word of their damned parleyvous. I don’t see why a fellow should not lie snug in England instead of going into exile abroad. So, when I had to leave Launceston, I cut off first to Plymouth; but there I became funky, that was too near home, and so I made for Bristol, and there I’ve been enjoying myself ever since, and might have been living at ease like a fighting cock but for Polly Skittles.’
’You behaved abominably, Sampy. You carried off all the money that was in the house, and left mother and me absolutely destitute.’
’Oh, ah! I was not such a fool as to leave anything. Every one for himself is my maxim. But be reasonable; if I had left money you would not have had it, the creditors would have been down on you and have carried off everything. By George! I have had many a laugh over that Ophir since I have washed my hands of it. That was a rare plant, better than Polpluggan. And father did come out splendid in it. The way in which he beat old Flamank’s covers and bagged his game was superlative. Well, he died like Wolfe at Quebec. "They run! Who run?" "The Ophirites." And didn’t they run!’