pgw.adamselindistress-第23章

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an　had　arrested　him　in　the　Haymarket；　his　first　act　had　been　to　thunder　his　identity　at　the　man：　and　the　policeman；　without　saying　in　so　many　words　that　he　disbelieved　him；　had　hinted　scepticism　by　replying　that　he　himself　was　the　king　of　Brixton。　〃I'm　her　brother！〃　he　repeated　thickly。
　The　curate's　disapproval　deepened。　In　a　sense；　we　are　all　brothers；　but　that　did　not　prevent　him　from　considering　that　this　mud…stained　derelict　had　made　an　impudent　and　abominable　mis…statement　of　fact。　Not　unnaturally　he　came　to　the　conclusion　that　he　had　to　do　with　a　victim　of　the　Demon　Rum。
　〃You　ought　to　be　ashamed　of　yourself；〃　he　said　severely。　　〃Sad　piece　of　human　wreckage　as　you　are；　you　speak　like　an　educated　man。　Have　you　no　self…respect？　Do　you　never　search　your　heart　and　shudder　at　the　horrible　degradation　which　you　have　brought　on　yourself　by　sheer　weakness　of　will？〃
　He　raise　his　voice。　The　subject　of　Temperance　was　one　very　near　to　the　curate's　heart。　The　vicar　himself　had　plimented　him　only　yesterday　on　the　good　his　sermons　against　the　drink　evil　were　doing　in　the　village；　and　the　landlord　of　the　Three　Pigeons　down　the　road　had　on　several　occasions　spoken　bitter　things　about　blighters　who　came　taking　the　living　away　from　honest　folks。
　〃It　is　easy　enough　to　stop　if　you　will　but　use　a　little　resolution。　You　say　to　yourself；　'Just　one　won't　hurt　me！'　Perhaps　not。　　But　can　you　be　content　with　just　one？　Ah！　No；　my　man；　there　is　no　middle　way　for　such　as　you。　It　must　be　all　or　nothing。　　Stop　it　nownow；　while　you　still　retain　some　semblance　of　humanity。　Soon　it　will　be　too　late！　Kill　that　craving！　Stifle　it！　Strangle　it！　Make　up　your　mind　nownow；　that　not　another　drop　of　the　accursed　stuff　shall　pass　your　lips。。。　。〃
　The　curate　paused。　He　perceived　that　enthusiasm　was　leading　him　away　from　the　main　issue。　〃A　little　perseverance；〃　he　concluded　rapidly；　〃and　you　will　soon　find　that　cocoa　gives　you　exactly　the　same　pleasure。　And　now　will　you　please　be　getting　along。　You　have　frightened　the　young　lady；　and　she　cannot　continue　her　walk　unless　I　assure　her　that　you　have　gone　away。〃
　Fatigue；　pain　and　the　annoyance　of　having　to　listen　to　this　man's　well…meant　but　ill…judged　utterances　had　bined　to　induce　in　Percy　a　condition　bordering　on　hysteria。　He　stamped　his　foot；　and　uttered　a　howl　as　the　blister　warned　him　with　a　sharp　twinge　that　this　sort　of　behaviour　could　not　be　permitted。
　〃Stop　talking！〃　he　bellowed。　〃Stop　talking　like　an　idiot！　I'm　going　to　stay　here　till　that　girl　es　out；　if　have　to　wait　all　day！〃
　The　curate　regarded　Percy　thoughtfully。　Percy　was　no　Hercules：　but　then；　neither　was　the　curate。　And　in　any　case；　though　no　Hercules；　Percy　was　undeniably　an　ugly…looking　brute。　　Strategy；　rather　than　force；　seemed　to　the　curate　to　be　indicated。　　He　paused　a　while；　as　one　who　weighs　pros　and　cons；　then　spoke　briskly；　with　the　air　of　the　man　who　has　decided　to　yield　a　point　with　a　good　grace。
　〃Dear；　dear！〃　he　said。　〃That　won't　do！　You　say　you　are　this　young　lady's　brother？〃
　〃Yes；　I　do！〃
　〃Then　perhaps　you　had　better　e　with　me　into　the　house　and　we　will　speak　to　her。〃
　〃All　right。〃
　〃Follow　me。〃
　Percy　followed　him。　Down　the　trim　gravel　walk　they　passed；　and　up　the　neat　stone　steps。　Maud；　peeping　through　the　curtains；　thought　herself　the　victim　of　a　monstrous　betrayal　or　equally　monstrous　blunder。　But　she　did　not　know　the　Rev。　　Cyril　Ferguson。　No　general；　adroitly　leading　the　enemy　on　by　strategic　retreat；　ever　had　a　situation　more　thoroughly　in　hand。　　Passing　with　his　panion　through　the　open　door；　he　crossed　the　hall　to　another　door；　discreetly　closed。
　〃Wait　in　here；〃　he　said。　Lord　Belpher　moved　unsuspectingly　forward。　A　hand　pressed　sharply　against　the　small　of　his　back。　　Behind　him　a　door　slammed　and　a　key　clicked。　He　was　trapped。　　Groping　in　Egyptian　darkness；　his　hands　met　a　coat；　then　a　hat；　then　an　umbrella。　Then　he　stumbled　over　a　golf…club　and　fell　against　a　wall。　It　was　too　dark　to　see　anything；　but　his　sense　of　touch　told　him　all　he　needed　to　know。　He　had　been　added　to　the　vicar's　collection　of　odds　and　ends　in　the　closet　reserved　for　that　purpose。
　He　groped　his　way　to　the　door　and　kicked　it。　He　did　not　repeat　the　performance。　His　feet　were　in　no　shape　for　kicking　things。
　Percy's　gallant　soul　abandoned　the　struggle。　With　a　feeble　oath；　he　sat　down　on　a　box　containing　croquet　implements；　and　gave　himself　up　to　thought。
　〃You'll　be　quite　safe　now；〃　the　curate　was　saying　in　the　adjoining　room；　not　without　a　touch　of　placent　self…approval　such　as　bees　the　victor　in　a　battle　of　wits。　〃I　have　locked　him　in　the　cupboard。　He　will　be　quite　happy　there。〃　An　incorrect　statement　this。　〃You　may　now　continue　your　walk　in　perfect　safety。〃
　〃Thank　you　ever　so　much；〃　said　Maud。　〃But　I　do　hope　he　won't　be　violent　when　you　let　him　out。〃
　〃I　shall　not　let　him　out；〃　replied　the　curate；　who；　though　brave；　was　not　rash。　〃I　shall　depute　the　task　to　a　worthy　fellow　named　Willis；　in　whom　I　shall　have　every　confidence。　Hehe　is；　in　fact；　our　local　blacksmith！〃
　And　so　it　came　about　that　when；　after　a　vigil　that　seemed　to　last　for　a　lifetime；　Percy　heard　the　key　turn　in　the　lock　and　burst　forth　seeking　whom　he　might　devour；　he　experienced　an　almost　instant　quieting　of　his　excited　nervous　system。　Confronting　him　was　a　vast　man　whose　muscles；　like　those　of　that　other　and　more　celebrated　village　blacksmith；　were　plainly　as　strong　as　iron　bands。
　This　man　eyed　Percy　with　a　chilly　eye。
　〃Well；〃　he　said。　〃What's　troublin'　you？〃
　Percy　gulped。　The　man's　mere　appearance　was　a　sedative。
　〃Ernothing！〃　he　replied。　〃Nothing！〃
　〃There　better　hadn't　be！〃　said　the　man　darkly。　〃Mr。　　Ferguson　give　me　this　to　give　to　you。　Take　it！〃
　Percy　took　it。　It　was　a　shilling。
　〃And　this。〃
　The　second　gift　was　a　small　paper　pamphlet。　It　was　entitled　〃Now's　the　Time！〃　and　seemed　to　be　a　story　of　some　kind。　　At　any　rate；　Percy's　eyes；　before　they　began　to　swim　in　a　manner　that　prevented　steady　reading；　caught　the　words　〃Job　Roberts　had　always　been　a　hard…drinking　man；　but　one　day；　as　he　was　ing　out　of　the　bar…parlour　。　。　。〃　He　was　about　to　hurl　it　from　him；　when　he　met　the　other's　eye　and　desisted。　Rarely　had　Lord　Belpher　encountered　a　man　with　a　more　speaking　eye。
　〃And　now　you　get　along；〃　said　the　man。　〃You　pop　off。　　And　I'm　going　to　watch　you　do　it；　too。　And；　if　I　find　you　sneakin'　off　to　the　Three　Pigeons　。　。　。〃
　His　pause　was　more　eloquent　than　his　speech　and　nearly　as　eloquent　as　his　eye。　Lord　Belpher　tucked　the　tract　into　his　sweater；　pocketed　the　shilling；　and　left　the　house。　For　nearly　a　mile　down　the　well…remembered　highway　he　was　aware　of　a　Presence　in　his　rear；　but　he　continued　on　his　way　without　a　glance　behind。
　　　　　　　〃Like　one　that　on　a　lonely　road　　　　　　　　　　　Doth　walk　in　fear　and　dread；　　　　　　　　　And；　having　once　looked　back；　walks　on　　　　　　　　　　　And　turns　no　more　his　head！　　　　　　　　　Because　he　knows　a　frightful　fiend　　　　　　　　　　　Doth　close　behind　him　tread！〃
　Maud　made　her　way　across　the　fields　to　the　cottage　down　by　Platt's。　Her　heart　was　as　light　as　the　breeze　that　ruffled　the　green　hedges。　Gaily　she　tripped　towards　the　cottage　door。　　Her　hand　was　just　raised　to　knock；　when　from　within　came　the　sound　of　a　well…known　voice。
　She　had　reached　her　goal；　but　her　father　had　anticipated　her。　　Lord　Marshmoreton　had　selected　the　same　moment　as　herself　for　paying　a　call　upon　George　Bevan。
　Maud　tiptoed　away；　and　hurried　back　to　the　castle。　Never　before　had　she　so　clearly　realized　what　a　handicap　an　adhesive　family　can　be　to　a　young　girl。
　
　CHAPTER　16。
　
　At　the　moment　of　Lord　Marshmoreton's　arrival；　George　was　reading　a　letter　from　Billie　Dore；　which　had　e　by　that　morning's　post。　It　dealt　mainly　with　the　vicissitudes　experienced　by　Miss　Dore's　friend；　Miss　Sinclair；　in　her　relations　with　the　man　Spenser　Gray。　Spenser　Gray；　it　seemed；　had　been　behaving　oddly。　Ardent　towards　Miss　Sinclair　almost　to　an　embarrassing　point　in　the　early　stages　of　their　acquaintance；　he　had　suddenly　cooled；　at　a　recent　lunch　had　behaved　with　a　strange　aloofness；　and　now；　at　this　writing；　had　vanished　altogether；　leaving　nothing　behind　him　but　an　abrupt　note　to　the　effect　that　he　had　been　pelled　to　go　abroad　and　that；　much　as　it　was　to　be　regretted；　he　and　she　would　probably　never　meet　again。
　〃And　if；〃　wrote　Miss　Dore；　justifiably　annoyed；　〃after　saying　all　those　things　to　the　poor　kid　and　telling　her　she　was　the　only　thing　in　sight；　he　thinks　he　can　just　slide　off　with　a　'Good…bye！　　Good　luck！　and　God　bless　you！'　he's　got　another　guess　ing。　　And　that's　not　all。　He　hasn't　gone　abroad！　I　saw　him　in　Piccadilly　this　afternoon。　He　saw　me；　too；　and　what　do　you　think　he　did？　Ducked　down　a　side…street；　if　you　please。　He　must　have　run　like　a　rabbit；　at　that；　because；　when　I　got　there；　he　was　nowhere　to　be　seen。　I　tell　you；　George；　there's　something　funny　about　all　this。〃
　Having　been　made　once　or　twice　before　the　confidant　of　the　tempestuous　romances　of　Billie's　friends；　which　always　seemed　to　go　wrong　somewhere　in　the　middle　and　to　die　a　natural　death　before　arriving　at　any　definite　point；　George　was　not　particularly　interested；　except　in　so　far　as　the　letter　afforded　rather　forting　evidence　that　he　was　not　the　only　person　in　the　world　who　was　having　trouble　of　the　kind。　He　skimmed　through　the　rest　of　it；　and　had　just　finished　when　there　was　a　sharp　rap　at　the　front　door。
　〃e　in！〃　called　George。
　There　entered　a　sturdy　little　man　of　middle　age　whom　at　first　sight　George　could　not　place。　And　yet　he　had　the　impression　that　he　had　seen　him　before。　Then　he　recognized　him　as　the　gardener　to　whom　he　had　given　the　note　for　Maud　that　day　at　the　castle。　The　alteration　in　the　man's　costume　was　what　had　momentarily　baffled　George。　When　they　had　met　in　the　rose…garden；　the　other　had　been　arrayed　in　untidy　gardening　clothes。　　Now；　presumably　in　his　Sunday　suit；　it　was　amusing　to　observe　how　almost　dapper　he　had　bee。　Really；　you　might　have　passed　him　in　the　lane　and　taken　him　for　some　neighbouring　squire。
　George's　heart　raced。　Your　lover　is　ever　optimistic；　and　he　could　conceive　of　no　errand　that　could　have　brought　this　man　to　his　cottage　unless　he　was　charged　with　the　delivery　of　a　note　from　Maud。　He　spared　a　moment　from　his　happiness　to　congratulate　himself　on　having　picked　such　an　admirable　go…between。　Here　evidently；　was　one　of　those　trusty　old　retainers　you　read　about；　faithful；　willing；　discreet；　ready　to　do　anything　for　〃the　little　missy〃　（bless　her　heart！）。　Probably　he　had　danced　Maud　on　his　knee　in　her　infancy；　and　with　a　dog…like　affection　had　watched　her　at　her　childish　sports。　George　beamed　at　the　honest　fellow；　and　felt　in　his　pocket　to　make　sure　that　a　suitable　tip　lay　safely　therein。
　〃Good　morning；〃　he　said。
　〃Good　morning；〃　replied　the　man。
　A　purist　might　have　said　he　spoke　gruffly　and　without　geniality。　But　that　is　the　beauty　of　these　old　retainers。　They　make　a　point　of　deliberately　trying　to　deceive　strangers　as　to　the　goldenness　of　their　hearts　by　adopting　a　forbidding　manner。　And　〃Good　morning！〃　Not　〃Good　morning；　sir！〃　Sturdy　independence；　you　observe；　as　befits　a　free　man。　George　closed　the　door　carefully。　He　glanced　into　the　kitchen。　Mrs。　Platt　was　not　there。　All　was　well。
　〃You　have　brought　a　note　from　Lady　Maud？〃
　T