pgw.uneasymoney-第11章

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　'You　would　be　shocked　if　you　knew　what　I　consider　you！'
　'I　am　endeavouring　to　the　best　of　my　ability'
　'Algie；　listen　to　me！　I　am　quite　calm　at　present；　but　there's　no　knowing　how　soon　I　may　hit　you　with　a　chair　if　you　don't　e　to　earth　quick　and　talk　like　an　ordinary　human　being。　What　is　it　that　you　are　driving　at？'
　'Very　well；　it's　this：　I'll　e　home　if　you　get　rid　of　that　snake。'
　'Never！'
　'It's　surely　not　much　to　ask　of　you；　Polly？'
　'I　won't！'
　Lord　Wetherby　sighed。
　'When　I　led　you　to　the　altar；'　he　said；　reproachfully；　'you　promised　to　love；　honour；　and　obey　me。　I　thought　at　the　time　it　was　a　bit　of　swank！'
　Lady　Wetherby's　manner　thawed。　She　became　more　friendly。
　'When　you　talk　like　that；　Algie；　I　feel　there's　hope　for　you　after　all。　That's　how　you　used　to　talk　in　the　dear　old　days　when　you'd　e　to　me　to　borrow　half…a…crown　to　put　on　a　horse！　Listen；　now　that　at　last　you　seem　to　be　getting　more　reasonable；　I　wish　I　could　make　you　understand　that　I　don't　keep　Clarence　for　sheer　love　of　him。　He's　a　mercial　asset。　He's　an　advertisement。　You　must　know　that　I　have　got　to　have　something　to'
　'I　admit　that　may　be　so　as　regards　the　monkey；　Eustace。　Monkeys　as　aids　to　publicity　have；　I　believe；　been　tested　and　found　valuable　by　other　artistes。　I　am　prepared　to　accept　Eustace；　but　the　snake　is　worthless。'
　'Oh；　you　don't　object　to　Eustace；　then？'
　'I　do　strongly；　but　I　concede　his　uses。'
　'You　would　live　in　the　same　house　as　Eustace？'
　'I　would　endeavour　to　do　so。　But　not　in　the　same　house　as　Eustace　and　Clarence。'
　There　was　a　pause。
　'I　don't　know　that　I'm　so　stuck　on　Clarence　myself；'　said　Lady　Wetherby；　weakly。
　'My　darling！'
　'Wait　a　minute。　I've　not　said　I　would　get　rid　of　him。'
　'But　you　will？'
　Lady　Wetherby's　hesitation　lasted　but　a　moment。　'All　right；　Algie。　I'll　send　him　to　the　Zoo　to…morrow。'
　'My　precious　pet！'
　A　hand；　reaching　under　the　table；　enveloped　Claire's　in　a　loving　clasp。
　From　the　look　on　Lord　Wetherby's　face　she　supposed　that　he　was　under　the　delusion　that　he　was　bestowing　this　attention　on　his　wife。
　'You　know；　Algie；　darling；'　said　Lady　Wetherby；　melting　pletely；　'when　you　get　that　yearning　note　in　your　voice　I　just　flop　and　take　the　full　count。'
　'My　sweetheart；　when　I　saw　you　doing　that　Dream　of　What's…the…girl's…bally…name　dance　just　now；　it　was　all　I　could　do　to　keep　from　rushing　out　on　to　the　floor　and　hugging　you。'
　'Algie！'
　'Polly！'
　'Do　you　mind　letting　go　of　my　hand；　please；　Lord　Wetherby？'　said　Claire；　on　whom　these　saccharine　exchanges　were　beginning　to　have　a　cloying　effect。
　For　a　moment　Lord　Wetherby　seemed　somewhat　confused；　but；　pulling　himself　together；　he　covered　his　embarrassment　with　a　pomposity　that　blended　poorly　with　his　horsy　appearance。
　'Married　life；　Miss　Fenwick；'　he　said；　'as　you　will　no　doubt　discover　some　day；　must　always　be　a　series　of　mutual　promises；　of　cheerful　give　and　take。　The　lamp　of　love'
　His　remarks　were　cut　short　by　a　crash　at　the　other　end　of　the　room。　There　was　a　sharp　cry　and　the　splintering　of　glass。　The　place　was　full　of　a　sudden；　sharp　confusion。　They　jumped　up　with　one　accord。　Lady　Wetherby　spilled　her　iced　coffee；　Lord　Wetherby　dropped　the　lamp　of　love。　Claire；　who　was　nearest　the　pillar　that　separated　them　from　the　part　of　the　restaurant　where　the　accident　had　happened；　was　the　first　to　see　what　had　taken　place。
　A　large　man；　dancing　with　a　large　girl；　appeared　to　have　charged　into　a　small　waiter；　upsetting　him　and　his　tray　and　the　contents　of　his　tray。　The　various　actors　in　the　drama　were　now　engaged　in　sorting　themselves　out　from　the　ruins。　The　man　had　his　back　toward　her；　and　it　seemed　to　Claire　that　there　was　something　familiar　about　that　back。　Then　he　turned；　and　she　recognized　Lord　Dawlish。
　She　stood　transfixed。　For　a　moment　surprise　was　her　only　emotion。　How　came　Bill　to　be　in　America？　Then　other　feelings　blended　with　her　surprise。　It　is　a　fact　that　Lord　Dawlish　was　looking　singularly　unfortable。
　Claire's　eyes　travelled　from　Bill　to　his　partner　and　took　in　with　one　swift　feminine　glance　her　large；　exuberant　blondeness。　There　is　no　denying　that；　seen　with　a　somewhat　biased　eye；　the　Good　Sport　resembled　rather　closely　a　poster　advertising　a　revue。
　Claire　returned　to　her　seat。　Lord　and　Lady　Wetherby　continued　to　talk；　but　she　allowed　them　to　conduct　the　conversation　without　her　assistance。
　'You're　very　quiet；　Claire；'　said　Polly。
　'I'm　thinking。'
　'A　very　good　thing；　too；　so　they　tell　me。　I've　never　tried　it　myself。　Algie；　darling；　he　was　a　bad　boy　to　leave　his　nice　home；　wasn't　he？　He　didn't　deserve　to　have　his　hand　held。'
　
　8
　It　had　been　a　great　night　for　Nutty　Boyd。　If　the　vision　of　his　sister　Elizabeth；　at　home　at　the　farm　speculating　sadly　on　the　whereabouts　of　her　wandering　boy；　ever　came　before　his　mental　eye　he　certainly　did　not　allow　it　to　interfere　with　his　appreciation　of　the　festivities。　At　Frolics　in　the　Air；　whither　they　moved　after　draining　Reigelheimer's　of　what　joys　it　had　to　offer；　and　at　Peale's；　where　they　went　after　wearying　of　Frolics　in　the　Air；　he　was　in　the　highest　spirits。　It　was　only　occasionally　that　the　recollection　came　to　vex　him　that　this　could　not　last；　thatsince　his　Uncle　Ira　had　played　him　falsehe　must　return　anon　to　the　place　whence　he　had　e。
　Why；　in　a　city　of　all…night　restaurants；　these　parties　ever　break　up　one　cannot　say；　but　a　merciful　Providence　sees　to　it　that　they　do；　and　just　as　Lord　Dawlish　was　contemplating　an　eternity　of　the　pany　of　Nutty　and　his　two　panions；　the　end　came。　Miss　Leonard　said　that　she　was　tired。　Her　friend　said　that　it　was　a　shame　to　go　home　at　dusk　like　this；　but；　if　the　party　was　going　to　be　broken　up；　she　supposed　there　was　nothing　else　for　it。　Bill　was　too　sleepy　to　say　anything。
　The　Good　Sport　lived　round　the　corner；　and　only　required　Lord　Dawlish's　escort　for　a　couple　of　hundred　yards。　But　Miss　Leonard's　hotel　was　in　the　neighbourhood　of　Washington　Square；　and　it　was　Nutty's　pleasing　task　to　drive　her　thither。　Engaged　thus；　he　received　a　shock　that　electrified　him。
　'That　pal　of　yours；'　said　Miss　Leonard；　drowsilyshe　was　half…asleep'what　did　you　say　his　name　was？'
　'Chalmers；　he　told　me。　I　only　met　him　to…night。'
　'Well；　it　isn't；　it's　something　else。　It'Miss　Leonard　yawned'it's　Lord　something。'
　'How　do　you　mean；　〃Lord　something〃？'
　'He's　a　lordat　least；　he　was　when　I　met　him　in　London。'
　'Are　you　sure　you　met　him　in　London？'
　'Of　course　I'm　sure。　He　was　at　that　supper　Captain　Delaney　gave　at　Oddy's。　There　can't　be　two　men　in　England　who　dance　like　that！'
　The　recollection　of　Bill's　performance　stimulated　Miss　Leonard　into　a　temporary　wakefulness；　and　she　giggled。
　'He　danced　just　the　same　way　that　night　in　London。　I　wish　I　could　remember　his　name。　I　almost　had　it　a　dozen　times　tonight。　It's　something　with　a　window　in　it。'
　'A　window？'　Nutty's　brain　was　a　little　fatigued　and　he　felt　himself　unequal　to　grasping　this。　'How　do　you　mean；　a　window？'
　'No；　not　a　windowa　door！　I　knew　it　was　something　about　a　house。　I　know　now；　his　name's　Lord　Dawlish。'
　Nutty's　fatigue　fell　from　him　like　a　garment。
　'It　can't　be！'
　'It　is。'
　Miss　Leonard's　eyes　had　closed　and　she　spoke　in　a　muffled　voice。
　'Are　you　sure？'　　'Mm…mm。'
　'By　gad！'
　Nutty　was　wide　awake　now　and　full　of　inquiries；　but　his　panion　unfortunately　was　asleep；　and　he　could　not　put　them　to　her。　A　gentleman　cannot　prod　a　ladyand　his　guest；　at　thatin　the　ribs　in　order　to　wake　her　up　and　ask　her　questions。　Nutty　sat　back　and　gave　himself　up　to　feverish　thought。
　He　could　think　of　no　reason　why　Lord　Dawlish　should　have　e　to　America　calling　himself　William　Chalmers；　but　that　was　no　reason　why　he　should　not　have　done　so。　And　Daisy　Leonard；　who　all　along　had　remembered　meeting　him　in　London；　had　identified　him。
　Nutty　was　convinced。　Arriving　finally　at　Miss　Leonard's　hotel；　he　woke　her　up　and　saw　her　in　at　the　door；　then；　telling　the　man　to　drive　to　the　lodgings　of　his　new　friend；　he　urged　his　mind　to　rapid　thought。　He　had　decided　as　a　first　step　in　the　following　up　of　this　matter　to　invite　Bill　down　to　Elizabeth's　farm；　and　the　thought　occurred　to　him　that　this　had　better　be　done　to…night；　for　he　knew　by　experience　that　on　the　morning　after　these　little　jaunts　he　was　seldom　in　the　mood　to　seek　people　out　and　invite　them　to　go　anywhere。
　All　the　way　to　the　flat　he　continued　to　think；　and　it　was　wonderful　what　possibilities　there　seemed　to　be　in　this　little　scheme　of　courting　the　society　of　the　man　who　had　robbed　him　of　his　inheritance。　He　had　worked　on　Bill's　feelings　so　successfully　as　to　elicit　a　loan　of　a　million　dollars；　and　was　just　proceeding　to　marry　him　to　Elizabeth；　when　the　cab　stopped　with　the　sudden　sharpness　peculiar　to　New　York　cabs；　and　he　woke　up；　to　find　himself　at　his　destination。
　Bill　was　in　bed　when　the　bell　rang；　and　received　his　late　host　in　his　pyjamas；　wondering；　as　he　did　so；　whether　this　was　the　New　York　custom；　to　foregather　again　after　a　party　had　been　broken　up；　and　chat　till　breakfast。　But　Nutty；　it　seemed；　had　e　with　a　motive；　not　from　a　desire　for　more　conversation。
　'Sorry　to　disturb　you；　old　man；'　said　Nutty。　'I　looked　in　to　tell　you　that　I　was　going　down　to　the　country　to…morrow。　I　wondered　whether　you　would　care　to　e　and　spend　a　day　or　two　with　us。'
　Bill　was　delighted。　This　was　better　than　he　had　hoped　for。
　'Rather！'　he　said。　'Thanks　awfully！'
　'There　are　plenty　of　trains　in　the　afternoon；'　said　Nutty。　'I　don't　suppose　either　of　us　will　feel　like　getting　up　early。　I'll　call　for　you　here　at　half…past　six；　and　we'll　have　an　early　dinner　and　catch　the　seven…fifteen；　shall　we？　We　live　very　simply；　you　know。　You　won't　mind　that？'
　'My　dear　chap！'
　'That's　all　right；　then；'　said　Nutty；　closing　the　door。　'Good　night。'
　
　9
　Elizabeth　entered　Nutty's　room　and；　seating　herself　on　the　bed；　surveyed　him　with　a　bright；　quiet　eye　that　drilled　holes　in　her　brother's　uneasy　conscience。　This　was　her　second　visit　to　him　that　morning。　She　had　e　an　hour　ago；　bearing　breakfast　on　a　tray；　and　had　departed　without　saying　a　word。　It　was　this　uncanny　silence　of　hers　even　more　than　the　effectswhich　still　lingeredof　his　revels　in　the　metropolis　that　had　interfered　with　Nutty's　enjoyment　of　the　morning　meal。　Never　a　hearty　breakfaster；　he　had　found　himself　under　the　influence　of　her　wordless　disapproval　physically　unable　to　consume　the　fried　egg　that　confronted　him。　He　had　given　it　one　look；　then；　endorsing　the　opinion　which　he　had　once　heard　a　character　in　a　play　utter　in　somewhat　similar　circumstancesthat　there　was　nothing　on　earth　so　homely　as　an　egghe　had　covered　it　with　a　handkerchief　and　tried　to　pull　himself　round　with　hot　tea。　He　was　now　smoking　a　sad　cigarette　and　waiting　for　the　blow　to　fall。
　Her　silence　had　puzzled　him。　Though　he　had　tried　to　give　her　no　opportunity　of　getting　him　alone　on　the　previous　evening　when　he　had　arrived　at　the　farm　with　Lord　Dawlish；　he　had　fully　expected　that　she　would　have　broken　in　upon　him　with　abuse　and　recrimination　in　the　middle　of　the　night。　Yet　she　had　not　done　this；　nor　had　she　spoken　to　him　when　bringing　him　his　breakfast。　These　things　found　their　explanation　in　Elizabeth's　character；　with　which　Nutty；　though　he　had　known　her　so　long；　w