"Come, come! You must not lose your courage, my good fellow," said
Mr. Ogden good-naturedly, coming out of the house at the same time.
"But before you do anything else, you should go inside and get those
wet clothes off; yes, that you must do, my man, you look pale enough
indeed, and...."
"The deuce! If that is not our expected entertainer, the humorous
lecturer from Ishle!" cried the stout, dignified hotelier, with a laugh
as he caught sight of the dripping form of the poor, dazed lecturer.
"Lord, what a state he is in! Why he isn't able to lecture!"
"Never mind, a hot grog, some dry clothes from my wardrobe, and the
rest will soon be managed," said Mr. Ogden good-naturedly with a
sign to his valet, greatly gratified in being able to help the poor,
miserable looking man with the pallor of death on his emaciated face.
"And as for your entertainment being a great success, well--leave that
to me, my dear fellow and don't worry; it will be all right," he went
on, clapping the dazed humorist on the shoulder with an encouraging
smile.
He bowed, without being able to utter a word of thanks; he bit his
trembling lips and followed the valet with stumbling, shivering feet.
"Who could this benevolent stranger be? And what was he to that woman?
Was he mistaken or not? If, after all she should be his--his--"
A hot wave flushed his face, distorted with shame as he thought of the
possibility; his sorely tried heart was hammering mightily within him.
He could not get rid of this thought. "If she should really be the
mother of his poor child ... what, in the name of Heaven, was she
then to this man? God have mercy on me and come to my aid!" he cried
aloud, in great misery, his teeth once more chattering audibly in a
fresh attack. "No, no! I can't and won't believe it! She can't be so
shameless as to disgrace me and her innocent child!"
"Come, come quickly, sir," urged the valet impatiently, "I'll help you
as much as I can."
After he had provided him with all the necessary clothes from the
elaborately assorted wardrobe of the rich Englishman, who was about
the same size, he made as careful a toilet as possible, under the
prevailing circumstances and under the careful inspection of the
helpful valet.