There was another person there, one who had evidently just come in, a
traveler, judging by a good-sized valise that was on the floor beside
his chair. This person looked young, for the face, or as much of it as
was not hidden by a very full black beard, was fair and smooth as that
of a woman; while the hair which shaded his white brow was dark as
night, soft and glossy as silk, hanging on short, curling masses about
his face and neck.
He was dressed rather better than the usual run of travelers; in a good
black broad-cloth suit--wore a heavy gold watch-chain, had on a fine
linen shirt, with a diamond pin in the bosom, and appeared to feel quite
satisfied with himself, from the cool and easy manner in which he gave
his orders for a good, substantial meal, in a voice rather low and
musical for one of his apparent age.
The last comer eyed this person very closely, and a smile almost, like
contempt rose on his face, when the dark-eyed stranger called for claret
wine, or if they had not that, for a cup of tea.
But his own strong drink was now brought in, and pouring out a glassful
of undiluted brandy he drank it down and muttered:
"That's the stuff! It will keep up the fire. My veins would stiffen
without it. It has carried me so far, and it must to the end. Then--no
matter!"
The stranger or traveler looked as if wondering that the young man could
take such a fearful dose of fiery liquor, and the wonder must have
increased when a second glassful was drained before the food was on the
table.
But the latter came in now, and the traveler and the young man with
auburn hair, at separate tables, were apparently too busy in disposing
of the eatables to take any further notice of each other.
When the first had finished, he took a roll of cigarettes from one of
his pockets, selected one, took a match from a silver box, drawn from
the same pocket, and lighting his cigarette, threw a cloud of smoke
above his head.
The second, pouring out his third glass of brandy, sipped it
quietly--the first two glasses having evidently supplied the fire he
craved so fiercely.
The traveler, as we may call him, for want of any other knowledge, now
rose, and as if impelled by natural politeness, tendered a cigarette to
the other.
The man with auburn hair looked surprised, and his fierce, wild face
softened a little, as he said:
"Thank you, no. I drink sometimes, like a fish, but I don't smoke.
Tobacco shakes the nerves, they say, and I want my nerves steady.
"Strong drink will shake them more, I've heard," said the traveler, in
his low, musical voice. "But you seem to have a steady hand though you
take brandy as if used to it."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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