[The Great Shadow and Other Napoleonic Tales by Arthur Conan Doyle]@TWC D-Link book
The Great Shadow and Other Napoleonic Tales

CHAPTER IX
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However, I have some letters which I must write to-night, and the rest we can talk over to-morrow, when your friend Jim is here to help us." He stepped towards the door.
"And this was whom you were awaiting at the peel tower!" I cried, seeing light suddenly.
"Why, Jock, you are becoming quite sharp," said he, in a mocking tone; and an instant later I heard the door of his room close and the key turn in the lock.
I thought that I should see him no more that night; but a few minutes later he came into the kitchen, where I was sitting with the old folk.
"Madame," said he, bowing down with his hand over his heart, in his own queer fashion, "I have met with much kindness in your hands, and it shall always be in my heart.

I didn't thought I could have been so happy in the quiet country as you have made me.

You will accept this small souvenir; and you also, sir, you will take this little gift, which I have the honour to make to you." He put two little paper packets down upon the table at their elbows, and then, with three more bows to my mother, he walked from the room.
Her present was a brooch, with a green stone set in the middle and a dozen little shining white ones all round it.

We had never seen such things before, and did not know how to set a name to them; but they told us afterwards at Berwick that the big one was an emerald and the others were diamonds, and that they were worth much more than all the lambs we had that spring.

My dear old mother has been gone now this many a year, but that bonny brooch sparkles at the neck of my eldest daughter when she goes out into company; and I never look at it that I do not see the keen eyes and the long thin nose and the cat's whiskers of our lodger at West Inch.


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