Vol. VI No. 1 - Modernist Magazines Project

THE BERMONDSEY BOOK
time. That would account for much. I do not think that he recognised
me. Presently he began to ramble in the speech, then it became
articulate. I was sitting waiting for the doctor when I felt his eyes
upon me.
"The Empress Eugene lived in a house at Chislehurst." His voice
rang out clear and shrill. "That house should have corned to us by
rights when her died. There was some dispute about de will—the
parson said from de pulpit—said from de pulpit. . . ." His utterance
faltered and stopped.
Suddenly it began again. "I met her onst, over at Appledore cross
roads—by de schoolhouse there—driving in her chaise she were, with
outriders an* all. I had to stand back in de dirty grip so as not to get
run'd over. I saw her plain enough, but she never looked at me ...
a cater cousin of mine or some sort she were."
Soon after that the doctor arrived 5 an old man with a trick of smiling
with clenched teeth. The result might almost be described as a
grimace. He overhauled Williker with skilled expedition until he
came to the wrapped foot. "We had better have a look at this." And
he began to unwind the sodden dirty rags. It was an unsavoury business
but he performed the operation as though handling the dressings
of a slick hospital ward. At one point Williker winced.
"That's a fine pair of gaiters you've got there my friend," flashed
the doctor as quick as thought.
"Yes," responded Williker, his eyes now shining. "There's a queer
yarn about them. The Prince o' Wales gived 'em to a member o*
parley-ment with special orders as how he was to pass 'em on to me
when he had done with 'em. You can see thfey were made for a dook.
Now the fact was that 7 had given the old gaiters to Williker some
two years ago and they were now very much the ^orse for wear. He
seemed unconscious that I knew anything about the matter. The doctor
flung one of his odd grins in my direction as he finished unwrapping
the foot, then I heard his tongue click against the roof of his mouth.
Williker was lying back on the cushions exhausted. "It's de foot and
mouth disease, no bounds," he murmured. "I do believe I've caught
it from them ailing sheep, working in they fields along o' them."
"Where does he hail from?" asked the doctor.
Williker answered the question himself. "I was born in the room
above this 'ere."
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