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growl and started back。
“Come back！” said the robber。
The dog wagged his tail； but moved not。 Sikes made a running…
noose and called him again。
The dog advanced； retreated； paused an instant； turned； and
scoured away at his hardest speed。
The man whistled again and again； and sat down and waited in
the expectation that he would return。 But no dog appeared； and at
length he resumed his journey。
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Chapter 49
Monks And Mr。 Brownlow At Length Meet—Their
Conversation； And The Intelligence That Interrupts
It。
The twilight was beginning to close in； when Mr。 Brownlow
alighted from a hackney…coach at his own door and
knocked softly。 The door being opened； a sturdy man got
out of the coach and stationed himself on one side of the steps；
while another man； who had been seated on the box； dismounted
too； and stood upon the other side。 At a sign from Mr。 Brownlow；
they helped out a third man； and taking him between them；
hurried him into the house。 This man was Monks。
They walked in the same manner up the stairs without
speaking； and Mr。 Brownlow； preceding them； led the way into a
back room。 At the door of this apartment； Monks； who had
ascended with evident reluctance； stopped。 The two men looked to
the old gentleman as if for instructions。
“He knows the alternative；” said Mr。 Brownlow。 “If he hesitates
or moves a finger but as you bid him； drag him into the street； call
for the aid of the police； and impeach him as a felon in my name。”
“How dare you say this of me？” asked Monks。
“How dare you urge me to it； young man？” replied Mr。
Brownlow； confronting him with a steady look。 “Are you mad
enough to leave this house？ Unhand him。 There； sir。 You are free
to go； and we to follow。 But I warn you； by all I hold most solemn
and most sacred； that the instant you set foot in the street； that
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instant will I have you apprehended on a charge of fraud and
robbery。 I am resolute and immovable。 If you are determined to be
the same； your blood be upon your own head！”
“By what authority am I kidnapped in the street； and brought
here by these dogs？” asked Monks； looking from one to the other
of the men who stood beside him。
“By mine；” replied Mr。 Brownlow。 “Those persons are
indemnified by me。 If you complain of being deprived of your
liberty—you had power and opportunity to retrieve t as you came
along； but you deemed it advisable to remain quiet—I say again；
throw yourself for protection on the law。 I will appeal to the law
too； but when you have gone too far to recede； do not sue to me for
leniency； when the power will have passed into other hands； and
do not say I plunged you down the gulf into which you rushed
yourself。”
Monks was plainly disconcerted； and alarmed besides。 He
hesitated。
“You will decide quickly；” said Mr。 Brownlow； with perfect
firmness and composure。 “If you wish me to prefer my charges
publicly； and consign you to a punishment the extent of which；
although I can； with a shudder； foresee； I cannot control； once
more； I say； you know the way。 If not； and you appeal to my
forbearance； and the mercy of those you have deeply injured； seat
yourself； without a word； in that chair。 It has waited for you two
whole days。”
Monks muttered some unintelligible words； but wavered still。
“You will be prompt；” said Mr。 Brownlow。 “A word from me；
and the alternative has gone for ever。”
Still the man hesitated。
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“I have not the inclination to parley；” said Mr。 Brownlow； “and；
as I advocate the dearest interests of others； I have not the right。”
“Is there；” demanded Monks； with a faltering tongue—“is
there—no middle course？”
“None。”
Monks looked at the old gentleman with an anxious eye； but；
reading in his countenance nothing but severity and
determination； walked into the room； and； shrugging his
shoulders； sat down。
“Lock the door on the outside；” said Mr Brownlow to the
attendants； “and come when I ring。”
The men obeyed； and the two were left alone together。
“This is pretty treatment； sir；” said Monks； throwing down his
hat and cloak； “from my father’s oldest friend。”
“It is because I was your father’s oldest friend； young man；”
returned Mr。 Brownlow； “it is because the hopes and wishes of
young and happy years were bound up with him； and that fair
creature of his blood and kindred who rejoined her God in youth；
and left me here a solitary； lonely man； it is because he knelt with
me beside his only sister’s deathbed when he was yet a boy； on the
morning that would—but Heaven willed otherwise—have made
her my young wife； it is because my seared heart clung to him；
from that time forth； through all his trials and errors； till he died； it
is because old recollections and associations filled my heart； and
even the sight of you brings with it old thoughts of him； it is
because of all these things that I am moved to treat you gently
now—yes； Edward Leeford； even now—and blush for your
unworthiness who bear the name。”
“What has the name to do with it？” asked the other； after
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contemplating； half in silence； and half in dogged wonder； the
agitation of his companion。 “What is the name to me？”
“Nothing；” replied Mr。 Brownlow—“nothing to you。 But it was
hers； and even at this distance of time brings back to me； an old
man； the glow and thrill which I once felt； only to hear it repeated
by a stranger。 I am very glad you have changed it—very—very。”
“This is all mighty fine；” said Monks （to retain his assumed
designation） after a long silence； during which he had jerked
himself in sullen defiance to and fro； and Mr。 Brownlow had sat；
shading his face with his hand。 “But what do you want with me？”
“You have a brother；” said Mr。 Brownlow； rousing himself； “a
brother； the whisper of whose name in your ear when I came
behind you in the street； was； in itself； almost enough to make you
accompany me hither； in wonder and alarm。”
“I have no brother；” replied Monks。 “You know I was an only
child。 Why do you talk to me of brothers？ You know that； as well
as I。”
“Attend to what I do know； and you may not；” said Mr。
Brownlow。 “I shall interest you by and by。 I know that of the
wretched marriage； into which family pride； and the most sordid
and narrowest of all ambition； forced your unhappy father when a
mere boy； you were the sole and most unnatural issue。”
“I don’t care for hard names；” interrupted Monks； with a
jeering laugh。 “You know the fact； and that’s enough for me。”
“But I also know；” pursued the old gentleman； “the misery； the
slow torture； the protracted anguish of that ill…assorted union。 I
know how listlessly and wearily each of that wretched pair
dragged on their heavy chain through a world that was poisoned
to them both。 I know how cold formalities were succeeded by open
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taunts； how indifference gave place to dislike； dislike to hate； and
hate to loathing； until at last they wrenched the clanking bond
asunder； and retiring a wide space apart； carried each a galling
fragment； of which nothing but death could break the rivets； to
hide it in new society beneath the gayest looks they could assume。
Your mother succeeded； she forgot it soon。 But it rusted and
cankered at your father’s heart for years。”
“Well； they were separated；” said Monks； “and what of that？”
“When they had been separated for some time；” returned Mr。
Brownlow； “and your mother； wholly given up to continental
frivolities； had utterly forgotten the young husband ten good years
her junior； who； with prospects blighted； lingered on at home； he
fell among new friends。 This circumstance； at least； you know
already。”
“Not I；” said Monks； turning away his eyes and beating his foot
upon the ground； as a man who is determined to deny everything。
“Not I。”
“Your manner； no less than your actions； assures me that you
have never forgotten it； or ceased to think of it with bitterness；”
returned Mr。 Brownlow。 “I speak of fifteen years ago； when you
were not more than eleven years old； and your father but one…andthirty—for he was； I repeat； a boy； when his father ordered him to
marry。 Must I go back to events which cast a shade upon the
memory of your parent； or will you spare it； and disclose to me the
truth？”
“I have nothing to disclose；” rejoined Monks。 “You must talk on
if you will。”
“These new friends； then；” said Mr。 Brownlow； “were a naval
officer retired from active service； whose wife had died some half a
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year before； and left him with two children—there had been more；
but； of all their family； happily but two survived。 They were both
daughters； on