thoughts were at that moment fixed upon Hamish and his difficulties,
started away from the man, with an impulse for which he could not have
accounted.

"No need for you to be frightened of me, Mr. Arthur," said the man,
who, in his more palmy days, before he had learnt to take more than was
good for him, had been a clerk in Mr. Channing's office. "I have
nothing about me that will bite you."

He laid a stress upon the "you" in both cases. Arthur understood only
too well what was meant, though he would not appear to do so.

"Nor any one else, either, I hope, Hopper. A warm day, is it not!"

Hopper drew close to Arthur, not looking at him, apparently examining
with hands and eyes the trunk of the elm-tree underneath which they had
halted. "You tell your brother not to put himself in my way," said he,
in a low tone, his lips scarcely moving. "He is in a bit of trouble, as
I suppose you know."

"Yes," breathed Arthur.

"Well, I don't want to serve the writ upon him; I won't serve it unless
he makes me, by throwing himself within length of my arm. If he sees me
coming up one street, let him cut down another; into a shop; anywhere;
I have eyes that only see when I want them to. I come prowling about
here once or twice a day for show, but I come at a time when I am
pretty sure he can't be seen; just gone out, or just gone in. I'd
rather not harm him."