Authors, English -- 20th century -- Biography; Blackwood, Algernon, 1869-1951
One afternoon about a week after the confession, there came a knock
at the door, and to my complete surprise, in walked a banker, who had
often stayed in our house in England. I was startled and annoyed, for
I feared he would write home and tell the truth that my letters so
carefully concealed. It was a couple of years since I had seen him. How
had he found me out? His first sentence told me: “But this is dreadful.
I knew nothing about your being ill. I didn’t know you were in New York
even. An Englishman named Boyde came to my office yesterday and told
me.” He looked me over with anxiety. “But your bones are showing! Have
you been very bad? Why on earth didn’t you let me know, my dear fellow?”
I had spoken of this acquaintance in Boyde’s presence, and he had
evidently made a note of name and address. I explained quickly that
I had not been seriously ill, that I was nearly well and had a good
doctor, and that I was on the staff of the _Evening Sun_ and doing
well. I told him briefly about my Canadian career as well. The banker
was a very decent fellow. His visit was brief, but he was very kind,
well-meaning and sympathetic--only--I did not want him! He promised,
anyhow, he would not write to my father--was glad, I think, to be
relieved of the necessity--and before going he absolutely insisted
on leaving some money with me. I refused and refused again. But my
own exhaustion and his persistence resulted in his leaving all he had
on him at the moment--$32. Months later I discovered that Boyde had
obtained other sums from him on the plea that I needed a specialist,
and there may have been yet further amounts of similar kind for all I
knew.
On coming in, Boyde took his scolding with a smile; he had “acted for
the best....” We discussed how the money should be spent, agreeing
upon $10 to Mrs. Bernstein, $10 to the doctor next day, $3 to redeem
Kay’s overcoat, which we would send to him, and the balance in hand,
after laying in a store of dried apples, oatmeal and condensed milk, as
our supplies were now exhausted. Next morning, when he left at eight
o’clock for a studio appointment and choir rehearsal, I gave him the
money for the landlady and a dollar he asked for himself. The balance
he put back in the drawer of the little desk beside my bed.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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