SAILORS' KNOTS

By W. W. Jacobs

1909

DOUBLE DEALING

Mr. Fred Carter stood on the spacious common, inhaling with all the joy ofthe holiday-making Londoner the salt smell of the sea below, andregarding with some interest the movements of a couple of men who hadcome to a stop a short distance away. As he looked they came on again, eying him closely as they approached--a strongly built, shambling man offifty, and a younger man, evidently his son. 

[Illustration: "Stood on the spacious common, inhaling the salt smell ofthe sea below. "]

"Good-evening, " said the former, as they came abreast of Mr. Carter. 

"Good-evening, " he replied. 

"That's him, " said both together. 

They stood regarding him in a fashion unmistakably hostile. Mr. Carter, with an uneasy smile, awaited developments. 

"What have you got to say for yourself?" demanded the elder man, at last. "Do you call yourself a man?"

"I don't call myself anything, " said the puzzled Mr. Carter. "Perhapsyou're mistaking me for somebody else. "

"Didn't I tell you, " said the younger man, turning to the other--"didn'tI tell you he'd say that?"

"He can say what he likes, " said the other, "but we've got him now. Ifhe gets away from me he'll be cleverer than what he thinks he is. "

"What are we to do with him now we've got him?" inquired his son. 

The elder man clenched a huge fist and eyed Mr. Carter savagely. "If Iwas just considering myself, " he said, "I should hammer him till I wastired and then chuck him into the sea. "

His son nodded. "That wouldn't do Nancy much good, though, " he remarked. 

"I want to do everything for the best, " said the other, "and I s'pose theright and proper thing to do is to take him by the scruff of his neck andrun him along to Nancy. "

"You try it, " said Mr. Carter, hotly. "Who is Nancy?"

The other growled, and was about to aim a blow at him when his son threwhimself upon him and besought him to be calm. 

"Just one, " said his father, struggling, "only one. It would do me good;and perhaps he'd come along the quieter for it. "

"Look here!" said Mr. Carter. "You're mistaking me for somebody else, that's what you are doing. What am I supposed to have done?"

"You're supposed to have come courting my daughter, Mr. Somebody Else, "said the other, re-leasing himself and thrusting his face into Mr. Carter's, "and, after getting her promise to marry you, nipping off toLondon to arrange for the wedding. She's been mourning over you for fouryears now, having an idea that you had been made away with. "

"Being true to your memory, you skunk, " said the son. 

"And won't look at decent chaps that want to marry her, " added the other. 

"It's all a mistake, " said Mr. Carter. "I came down here this morningfor the first time in my life. "

"Bring him along, " said the son, impatiently. "It's a waste of timetalking to him. "

Mr. Carter took a step back and parleyed. "I'll come along with you ofmy own free will, " he said, hastily, "just to show you that you arewrong; but I won't be forced. "

He turned and walked back with them towards the town, pausingoccasionally to admire the view. Once he paused so long that an ominousgrowl arose from the elder of his captors. 

"I was just thinking, " said Mr. Carter, eying him in consternation;"suppose that she makes the same mistake that you have made? Oh, Lord!"

"Keeps it up pretty well, don't he, Jim?" said the father. 

The other grunted and, drawing nearer to Mr. Carter as they entered thetown, stepped along in silence. Questions which Mr. Carter asked withthe laudable desire of showing his ignorance concerning the neighborhoodelicited no reply. His discomfiture was increased by the behavior of anelderly boatman, who, after looking at him hard, took his pipe from hismouth and bade him "Good-evening. " Father and son exchanged significantglances. 

[Illustration: "An elderly boatman, who, after looking at him hard, tookhis pipe from his mouth and bade him 'Good-evening. '"]

They turned at last into a small street, and the elder man, opening thedoor of a neat cottage, laid his hand on the prisoner's shoulder andmotioned him in. Mr. Carter obeyed, and, entering a spotless living-room, removed his hat and with affected composure seated himself in aneasy-chair. 

"I'll go up and tell Nan, " said Jim. "Don't let him run away. "

He sprang up the stairs, which led from a corner of the room, and thenext moment the voice of a young lady, laboring under intense excitement, fell on the ears of Mr. Carter. With a fine attempt at unconcern he roseand inspected an aged engraving of "The Sailor's Return. "

"She'll be down in a minute, " said Jim, returning

"P'r'aps it's as well that I didn't set about him, after all, " said hisfather. "If I had done what I should like to do, his own mother wouldn'thave known him. "

Mr. Carter sniffed defiantly and, with a bored air, resumed his seat. Ten minutes passed--fifteen; at the end of half an hour the elder man'simpatience found vent in a tirade against the entire sex. 

"She's dressing up; that's what it is, " explained Jim. "For him!"

A door opened above and a step sounded on the stairs. Mr. Carter lookedup uneasily, and, after the first sensation of astonishment had passed, wondered vaguely what his double had run away for. The girl, her lipsparted and her eyes bright, came swiftly down into the room. 

"Where is he?" she said, quickly. 

"Eh?" said her father, in surprise. "Why, there! Can't you see?"

The light died out of the girl's face and she looked round in dismay. The watchful Mr. Carter thought that he also detected in her glance aspice of that temper which had made her relatives so objectionable. 

"That!" she said, loudly. "That! That's not my Bert!"

"That's what I told 'em, " said Mr. Carter, deferentially, "over and overagain. "

"What!" said her father, loudly. "Look again. "

"If I looked all night it wouldn't make any difference, " said thedisappointed Miss Evans. "The idea of making such a mistake!"

"We're all liable to mistakes, " said Mr. Carter, magnanimously, "even thebest of us. "

"You take a good look at him, " urged her brother, "and don't forget thatit's four years since you saw him. Isn't that Bert's nose?"

"No, " said the girl, glancing at the feature in question, "not a bit likeit. Bert had a beautiful nose. "

"Look at his eyes, " said Jim. 

Miss Evans looked, and meeting Mr. Carter's steady gaze tossed her headscornfully and endeavored to stare him down. Realizing too late themagnitude of the task, but unwilling to accept defeat, she stoodconfronting him with indignant eyes. 

"Well?" said Mr. Evans, misunderstanding. 

"Not a bit like, " said his daughter, turning thank-fully. "And if youdon't like Bert, you needn't insult him. "

She sat down with her back towards Mr. Carter and looked out at thewindow. 

"Well, I could ha' sworn it was Bert Simmons, " said the discomfited Mr. Evans. 

"Me, too, " said his son. "I'd ha' sworn to him anywhere. It's the mostextraordinary likeness I've ever seen. "

He caught his father's eye, and with a jerk of his thumb telegraphed forinstructions as to the disposal of Mr. Carter. 

"He can go, " said Mr. Evans, with an attempt at dignity; "he can go thistime, and I hope that this'll be a lesson to him not to go about lookinglike other people. If he does, next time, p'r'aps, he won't escape soeasy. "

"You're quite right, " said Mr. Carter, blandly. "I'll get a new facefirst thing to-morrow morning. I ought to have done it before. "

He crossed to the door and, nodding to the fermenting Mr. Evans, bowed tothe profile of Miss Evans and walked slowly out. Envy of Mr. Simmons wasmingled with amazement at his deplorable lack of taste and common sense. He would willingly have changed places with him. There was evidently astrong likeness, and----

Busy with his thoughts he came to a standstill in the centre of thefootpath, and then, with a sudden air of determination, walked slowlyback to the house. 

"Yes?" said Mr. Evans, as the door opened and the face of Mr. Carter wasthrust in. "What have you come back for?"

The other stepped into the room and closed the door softly behind him. "I have come back, " he said, slowly--"I have come back because I feelashamed of myself. "

"Ashamed of yourself?" repeated Mr. Evans, rising and confronting him. 

Mr. Carter hung his head and gazed nervously in the direction of thegirl. "I can't keep up this deception, " he said, in a low but distinctvoice. "I am Bert Simmons. At least, that is the name I told you fouryears ago. "

"I knew I hadn't made a mistake, " roared Mr. Evans to his son. "I knewhim well enough. Shut the door, Jim. Don't let him go. "

"I don't want to go, " said Mr. Carter, with a glance in the direction ofNancy. "I have come back to make amends. "

"Fancy Nancy not knowing him!" said Jim, gazing at the astonished MissEvans. 

"She was afraid of getting me into trouble, " said Mr. Carter, "and I justgave her a wink not to recognize me; but she knew me well enough, blessher. "

"How dare you!" said the girl, starting up. "Why, I've never seen youbefore in my life. "

"All right, Nan, " said the brazen Mr. Carter; "but it's no good keepingit up now. I've come back to act fair and square. "

Miss Evans struggled for breath. 

"There he is, my girl, " said her father, patting her on the back. "He'snot much to look at, and he treated you very shabby, but if you want himI suppose you must have him. "

"Want him?" repeated the incensed Miss Evans. "Want him? I tell youit's not Bert. How dare he come here and call me Nan?"

"You used not to mind it, " said Mr. Carter, plaintively. 

"I tell you, " said Miss Evans, turning to her father and brother, "it'snot Bert. Do you think I don't know?"

"Well, he ought to know who he is, " said her father, reasonably. 

"Of course I ought, " said Mr. Carter, smiling at her. "Besides, whatreason should I have for saying I am Bert if I am not?"

"That's a fair question, " said Jim, as the girl bit her lip. "Why shouldhe?"

"Ask him, " said the girl, tartly. 

"Look here, my girl, " said Mr. Evans, in ominous accents. "For fouryears you've been grieving over Bert, and me and Jim have been huntinghigh and low for him. We've got him at last, and now you've got to havehim. "

"If he don't run away again, " said Jim. "I wouldn't trust him fartherthan I could see him. "

Mr. Evans sat and glowered at his prospective son-in-law as thedifficulties of the situation developed themselves. Even Mr. Carter'sreminders that he had come back and surrendered of his own free willfailed to move him, and he was hesitating between tying him up andlocking him in the attic and hiring a man to watch him, when Mr. Carterhimself suggested a way out of the difficulty. 

"I'll lodge with you, " he said, "and I'll give you all my money andthings to take care of. I can't run away without money. "

He turned out his pockets on the table. Seven pounds eighteen shillingsand fourpence with his re-turn ticket made one heap; his watch and chain, penknife, and a few other accessories another. A suggestion of Jim'sthat he should add his boots was vetoed by the elder man as unnecessary. 

"There you are, " said Mr. Evans, sweeping the things into his ownpockets; "and the day you are married I hand them back to you. "

His temper improved as the evening wore on. By the time supper wasfinished and his pipe alight he became almost jocular, and the coldnessof Miss Evans was the only drawback to an otherwise enjoyable evening. 

"Just showing off a little temper, " said her father, after she hadwithdrawn; "and wants to show she ain't going to forgive you too easy. Not but what you behaved badly; however, let bygones be bygones, that'smy idea. "

The behavior of Miss Evans was so much better next day that it reallyseemed as though her father's diagnosis was correct. At dinner, when themen came home from work, she piled Mr. Carter's plate up so generouslythat her father and brother had ample time at their disposal to watch himeat. And when he put his hand over his glass she poured half a pint ofgood beer, that other men would have been thankful for, up his sleeve. 

[Illustration: "She piled Mr. Carter's plate up so generously that herfather and brother had ample time at their disposal to watch him eat. "]

She was out all the afternoon, but at tea time she sat next to Mr. Carter, and joined brightly in the conversation concerning her marriage. She addressed him as Bert, and when he furtively pressed her hand beneaththe table-cloth she made no attempt to withdraw it. 

"I can't think how it was you didn't know him at first, " said her father. "You're usually wide-awake enough. "

"Silly of me, " said Nancy; "but I am silly sometimes. "

Mr. Carter pressed her hand again, and gazing tenderly into her eyesreceived a glance in return which set him thinking. It was too cold andcalculating for real affection; in fact, after another glance, he beganto doubt if it indicated affection at all. 

"It's like old times, Bert, " said Miss Evans, with an odd smile. "Do youremember what you said that afternoon when I put the hot spoon on yourneck?"

"Yes, " was the reply. 

"What was it?" inquired the girl. 

"I won't repeat it, " said Mr. Carter, firmly. 

He was reminded of other episodes during the meal, but, by the exerciseof tact and the plea of a bad memory, did fairly well. He felt that hehad done very well indeed when, having cleared the tea-things away, Nancycame and sat beside him with her hand in his. Her brother grunted, butMr. Evans, in whom a vein of sentiment still lingered, watched them withmuch satisfaction. 

Mr. Carter had got possession of both hands and was murmuring fulsomeflatteries when the sound of somebody pausing at the open door causedthem to be hastily withdrawn. 

"Evening, Mr. Evans, " said a young man, putting his head in. "Why, halloa! Bert! Well, of all the----"

"Halloa!" said Mr. Carter, with attempted enthusiasm, as he rose from hischair. 

"I thought you was lost, " said the other, stepping in and gripping hishand. "I never thought I was going to set eyes on you again. Well, thisis a surprise. You ain't forgot Joe Wilson, have you?"

"Course I haven't, Joe, " said Mr. Carter. "I'd have known you anywhere. "

He shook hands effusively, and Mr. Wilson, after a little pretendedhesitation, accepted a chair and began to talk about old times. 

"I lay you ain't forgot one thing, Bert, " he said at last. 

"What's that?" inquired the other. 

"That arf-quid I lent you, " said Mr. Wilson. 

Mr. Carter, after the first shock of surprise, pretended to think, Mr. Wilson supplying him with details as to time and place, which he was inno position to dispute. He turned to Mr. Evans, who was still acting ashis banker, and, after a little hesitation, requested him to pay themoney. Conversation seemed to fail somewhat after that, and Mr. Wilson, during an awkward pause, went off whistling. 

"Same old Joe, " said Mr. Carter, lightly, after he had gone. "He hasn'taltered a bit. "

Miss Evans glanced at him, but said nothing. She was looking insteadtowards a gentleman of middle age who was peeping round the doorindulging in a waggish game of peep-bo with the unconscious Mr. Carter. Finding that he had at last attracted his attention, the gentleman cameinside and, breathing somewhat heavily after his exertions, stood beforehim with outstretched hand. 

[Illustration: "A gentleman of middle age was peeping round the door. "]

"How goes it?" said Mr. Carter, forcing a smile and shaking hands. 

"He's grown better-looking than ever, " said the gentleman, subsiding intoa chair. 

"So have you, " said Mr. Carter. "I should hardly have known you. "

"Well, I' m glad to see you again, " said the other in a more subduedfashion. "We're all glad to see you back, and I 'ope that when thewedding cake is sent out there'll be a bit for old Ben Prout. "

"You'll be the first, Ben, " said Mr. Carter, quickly. 

Mr. Prout got up and shook hands with him again. "It only shows whatmistakes a man can make, " he said, resuming his seat. "It only shows howeasy it is to misjudge one's fellow-creeturs. When you went away suddenfour years ago, I says to myself, 'Ben Prout, ' I says, 'make up your mindto it, that two quid has gorn. '"

The smile vanished from Mr. Carter's face, and a sudden chill descendedupon the company. 

"Two quid?" he said, stiffly. "What two quid?"

"The two quid I lent you, " said Mr. Prout, in a pained voice. 

"When?" said Mr. Carter, struggling. 

"When you and I met him that evening on the pier, " said Miss Evans, in amatter-of-fact voice. 

Mr. Carter started, and gazed at her uneasily. The smile on her lip andthe triumphant gleam in her eye were a revelation to him. He turned toMr. Evans and in as calm a voice as he could assume, requested him todischarge the debt. Mr. Prout, his fingers twitching, stood waiting"Well, it's your money, " said Mr. Evans, grudgingly extracting a pursefrom his trouser-pocket; "and I suppose you ought to pay your debts;still----"

He put down two pounds on the table and broke off in sudden amazement asMr. Prout, snatching up the money, bolted headlong from the room. Hissurprise was shared by his son, but the other two made no sign. Mr. Carter was now prepared for the worst, and his voice was quite calm as hegave instructions for the payment of the other three gentlemen whopresented claims during the evening endorsed by Miss Evans. As the lastdeparted Mr. Evans, whose temper had been gradually getting beyond hiscontrol, crossed over and handed him his watch and chain, a few coppers, and the return half of his railway ticket. 

"I think we can do without you, after all, " he said, breathing thickly. "I've no doubt you owe money all over England. You're a cadger, that'swhat you are. "

He pointed to the door, and Mr. Carter, after twice opening his lips tospeak and failing, blundered towards it. Miss Evans watched himcuriously. 

"Cheats never prosper, " she said, with gentle severity. 

"Good-by, " said Mr. Carter, pausing at the door. 

"It's your own fault, " continued Miss Evans, who was suffering from aslight touch of conscience. "If you hadn't come here pretending to beBert Simmons and calling me 'Nan' as if you had known me all my life, Iwouldn't have done it. "

"It doesn't matter, " said Mr. Carter. "I wish I was Bert Simmons, that'sall. Good-by. "

"Wish you was!" said Mr. Evans, who had been listening in open-mouthedastonishment. "Look here! Man to man--are you Bert Simmons or are younot?"

"No, " said Mr. Carter. 

"Of course not, " said Nancy. 

"And you didn't owe that money?"

"Nobody owed it, " said Nancy. "It was done just to punish him. "

Mr. Evans, with a strange cry, blundered towards the door. "I'll havethat money out of 'em, " he roared, "if I have to hold 'em up and shake itout of their trouser-pockets. You stay here. "

He hurried up the road, and Jim, with the set face of a man going intoaction against heavy odds, followed him. 

"Your father told me to stay, " said Mr. Carter, coming farther into theroom. 

Nancy looked up at him through her eyelashes. "You need not unless youwant to, " she said, very softly.