" Where were those talents now? Certainly they had not made me
shine much during the last few hours.
Now, all this seemed unsubstantial, and I remembered these things dimly,
like a dream or a story told to me in childhood; and sometimes, when
recalling the past, I seemed to be thinking about ancient
history--Sesostris, and the Babylonians and Assyrians, and that sort of
thing. And, besides, it would be very hard to get back from a place
where even the name of London was unknown. And perhaps, if I ever should
succeed in getting back, it would only be to encounter a second Roger
Tichborne case, or to be confronted with the statute of limitations.
Anyhow, a year could not make much difference, and I should also keep my
money, which seemed an advantage, though it wasn't much. I looked up:
they were all once more studying the coins and notes, and exchanging
remarks about them.
"If I bind myself to work one year," said I, "shall I have to wait until
the end of that time before I get the clothes?"
The reply to this question, I thought, would settle the matter one way
or the other.
Pages:
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74