"I scarcely know what; but we have a right to fear everything and
anything from his most inexplicable being, whose whole conduct has been
of that mysterious nature, as to put him past all calculation as regards
his motives, his objects, or his actions. I must confess that I would
have hailed his departure from England with feelings of satisfaction;
but what he means now, by this strange manoeuvre, Heaven, and his own
singular intellect, can alone divine." "I must confess," said Flora, "I should not at all have thought this of
Varney. It seems to me as if something new must have occurred to him. Altogether, I do not feel any alarm concerning his actions as regards
us. I am convinced of his sincerity, and, therefore, do not view with
sensations of uneasiness this new circumstance, which appears at present
so inexplicable, but for which we may yet get some explanation that will
be satisfactory to us all." "I cannot conceive," said Henry, "what new circumstances could have
occurred to produce this effect upon Varney. Things remain just as they
were; and, after all, situated as he is, if any change had taken place
in matters out of doors, I do not see how he could become acquainted
with them, so that his leaving must have been a matter of mere
calculation, or of impulse at the moment--Heaven knows which--but can
have nothing to do with actual information, because it is quite evident
he could not get it." "It is rather strange," said Charles Holland, "that just as we were
speculating upon the probability of his doing something of this sort, he
should suddenly do it, and in this singular manner too." "Oh," said the old admiral, "I told you I saw his eye, that was enough
for me. I knew he would do something, as well as I know a mainmast from
a chain cable. He can't help it; it's in the nature of the beast, and
that's all you can say about it." CHAPTER XCII. THE MISADVENTURE OF THE DOCTOR WITH THE PICTURE. The situation of Dr. Chillingworth and Jack Pringle was not of that
character that permitted much conversation or even congratulation. They
were victors it was true, and yet they had but little to boast of
besides the victory. Victory is a great thing; it is like a gilded coat, it bewilders and
dazzles. Nobody can say much when you are victorious. What a sound! and
yet how much misery is there not hidden beneath it. This victory of the worthy doctor and his aid amounted to this, they
were as they were before, without being any better, but much the worse,
seeing they were so much buffetted that they could hardly speak, but sat
for some moments opposite to each other, gasping for breath, and staring
each other in the face without speaking. The moonlight came in through the window and fell upon the floor, and
there were no sounds that came to disturb the stillness of the scene,
nor any object that moved to cast a shadow upon the floor. All was still
and motionless, save the two victors, who were much distressed and
bruised. "Well!" said Jack Pringle, with a hearty execration, as he wiped his
face with the back of his hand; "saving your presence, doctor, we are
masters of the field, doctor; but it's plaguey like capturing an empty
bandbox after a hard fight." "But we have got the picture, Jack--we have got the picture, you see,
and that is something. I am sure we saved that." "Well, that may be; and a pretty d----d looking picture it is after all. Why, it's enough to frighten a lady into the sulks. I think it would be
a very good thing if it were burned." "Well," said the doctor, "I would sooner see it burned than in the hands
of that--"

"What?" exclaimed Jack. "I don't know," said Mr. Chillingworth; "but thief I should say, for it
was somewhat thief-like to break into another man's house and carry off
the furniture." "A pirate--a regular land shark." "Something that is not the same as an honest man, Jack; but, at all
events, we have beaten him back this time." "Yes," said Jack, "the ship's cleared; no company is better than bad
company, doctor." "So it is, and yet it don't seem clear in terms. But, Jack, it you
hadn't come in time, I should have been but scurvily treated. He was too
powerful for me; I was as nigh being killed as ever I have been; but you
were just in time to save me." "Well, he was a large, ugly fellow, sure enough, and looked like an old
tree." "Did you see him?" "Yes, to be sure I did." "Well, I could not catch a glimpse of his features. In fact, I was too
much employed to see anything, and it was much too dark to notice
anything particular, even if I had had leisure." "Why, you had as much to do as you could well manage, I must say that,
at all events. I didn't see much of him myself; only he was a tall,
out-of-the-way sort of chap--a long-legged shark. He gave me such a dig
or two as I haven't had for a long while, nor don't want to get again;
though I don't care if I face the devil himself. A man can't do more
than do his best, doctor." "No, Jack; but there are very few who do do their best, and that's the
truth. You have, and have done it to some purpose too. But I have had
enough for one day; he was almost strong enough to contend against us
both." "Yes, so he was." "And, besides that, he almost carried away the picture--that was a great
hindrance to him. Don't you think we could have held him if we had not
been fighting over the picture?" "Yes, to be sure we could; we could have gone at him bodily, and held
him. He would not have been able to use his hands. We could have hung on
him, and I am sure if I came to grapple yard-arm and yard-arm, he would
have told a different tale; however, that is neither here nor there. How
long had you been here?" "Not very long," replied the doctor, whose head was a little confused by
the blows which he had received. "I can't now tell how long, but only a
short time, I think." "Where did he come from?" inquired Jack. "Come from, Jack?" "Yes, doctor, where did he came from?--the window, I suppose--the same
way he went out, I dare say--it's most likely." "Oh, no, no; he come down from behind the picture. There's some mystery
in that picture, I'll swear to it; it's very strange he should make such
a desperate attempt to carry it away." "Yes; one would think," said Jack, "there was more in it than we can
see--that it is worth more than we can believe; perhaps somebody sets
particular store by it." "I don't know," said Mr. Chillingworth, shaking his head, "I don't know
how that may be; but certain it is, the picture was the object of his
visit here--that is very certain." "It was; he was endeavouring to carry it off," said Jack; "it would be a
very good ornament to the black hole at Calcutta." "The utility of putting it where it cannot be seen," remarked Mr.
Chillingworth, "I cannot very well see; though I dare say it might be
all very well." "Yes--its ugly features would be no longer seen; so far, it would be a
good job. But are you going to remain here all night, and so make a long
watch of it, doctor?"