pgw.adamselindistress-第32章

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　〃I　could　offer　you　an　alternative　position；　if　you　cared　to　accept　it。〃
　Billie　looked　at　him　keenly。　Other　men　in　similar　circumstances　had　made　much　the　same　remark　to　her。　She　was　conscious　of　feeling　a　little　disappointed　in　her　new　friend。
　〃Well？〃　she　said　dryly。　〃Shoot。〃
　〃You　gathered；　no　doubt；　from　Mr。　Bevan's　conversation；　that　my　secretary　has　left　me　and　run　away　and　got　married？　　Would　you　like　to　take　her　place？〃
　It　was　not　easy　to　disconcert　Billie　Dore；　but　she　was　taken　aback。　She　had　been　expecting　something　different。
　〃You're　a　shriek；　dadda！〃
　〃I'm　perfectly　serious。〃
　〃Can　you　see　me　at　a　castle？〃
　〃I　can　see　you　perfectly。〃　Lord　Marshmoreton's　rather　formal　manner　left　him。　〃Do　please　accept；　my　dear　child。　　I've　got　to　finish　this　damned　family　history　some　time　or　other。　　The　family　expect　me　to。　Only　yesterday　my　sister　Caroline　got　me　in　a　corner　and　bored　me　for　half　an　hour　about　it。　　I　simply　can't　face　the　prospect　of　getting　another　from　an　agency。　Charming　girl；　charming　girl；　of　course；　but　。　。　。　but　。　。　。　well；　I'll　be　damned　if　I　do　it；　and　that's　the　long　and　short　of　it！〃
　Billie　bubbled　over　with　laughter。
　〃Of　all　the　impulsive　kids！〃　she　gurgled。　〃I　never　met　anyone　like　you；　dadda！　You　don't　even　know　that　I　can　use　a　typewriter。〃
　〃I　do。　Mr。　Bevan　told　me　you　were　an　excellent　stenographer。〃
　〃So　George　has　been　boosting　me；　too；　has　he？〃　She　mused。　　〃I　must　say；　I'd　love　to　e。　That　old　place　got　me　when　saw　it　that　day。〃
　〃That's　settled；　then；〃　said　Lord　Marshmoreton　masterfully。　　〃Go　to　the　theatre　and　tell　themtell　whatever　is　usual　in　these　cases。　And　then　go　home　and　pack；　and　meet　me　at　Waterloo　at　six　o'clock。　The　train　leaves　at　six…fifteen。〃
　〃Return　of　the　wanderer；　acpanied　by　dizzy　blonde！　　You've　certainly　got　it　all　fixed；　haven't　you！　Do　you　think　the　family　will　stand　for　me？〃
　〃Damn　the　family！〃　said　Lord　Marshmoreton；　stoutly。
　〃There's　one　thing；〃　said　Billie　placently；　eyeing　her　reflection　in　the　mirror　of　her　vanity…case；　〃I　may　glitter　in　the　fighting…top；　but　it　is　genuine。　When　I　was　a　kid；　I　was　a　regular　little　tow…head。〃
　〃I　never　supposed　for　a　moment　that　it　was　anything　but　genuine。〃
　〃Then　you've　got　a　fine；　unsuspicious　nature；　dadda；　and　I　admire　you　for　it。〃
　〃Six　o'clock　at　Waterloo；〃　said　the　earl。　〃I　will　be　waiting　for　you。〃
　Billie　regarded　him　with　affectionate　admiration。　　
　〃Boys　will　be　boys；〃　she　said。　〃All　right。　I'll　be　there。〃
　
　CHAPTER　22。
　
　〃Young　blighted　Albert；〃　said　Keggs　the　butler；　shifting　his　weight　so　that　it　distributed　itself　more　fortably　over　the　creaking　chair　in　which　he　reclined；　〃let　this　be　a　lesson　to　you；　young　feller　me　lad。〃
　The　day　was　a　week　after　Lord　Marshmoreton's　visit　to　London；　the　hour　six　o'clock。　The　housekeeper's　room；　in　which　the　upper　servants　took　their　meals；　had　emptied。　Of　the　gay　pany　which　had　just　finished　dinner　only　Keggs　remained；　placidly　digesting。　Albert；　whose　duty　it　was　to　wait　on　the　upper　servants；　was　moving　to　and　fro；　morosely　collecting　the　plates　and　glasses。　The　boy　was　in　no　happy　frame　of　mind。　　Throughout　dinner　the　conversation　at　table　had　dealt　almost　exclusively　with　the　now　celebrated　elopement　of　Reggie　Byng　and　his　bride；　and　few　subjects　could　have　made　more　painful　listening　to　Albert。
　〃What's　been　the　result　and　what　I　might　call　the　upshot；〃　said　Keggs；　continuing　his　homily；　〃of　all　your　making　yourself　so　busy　and　thrusting　of　yourself　forward　and　meddling　in　the　affairs　of　your　elders　and　betters？　The　upshot　and　issue　of　it　'as　been　that　you　are　out　five　shillings　and　nothing　to　show　for　it。　　Five　shillings　what　you　might　have　spent　on　some　good　book　and　improved　your　mind！　And　goodness　knows　it　wants　all　the　improving　it　can　get；　for　of　all　the　worthless；　idle　little　messers　it's　ever　been　my　misfortune　to　have　dealings　with；　you　are　the　champion。　Be　careful　of　them　plates；　young　man；　and　don't　breathe　so　hard。　You　'aven't　got　hasthma　or　something；　'ave　you？〃
　〃I　can't　breathe　now！〃　plained　the　stricken　child。
　〃Not　like　a　grampus　you　can't；　and　don't　you　forget　it。〃　Keggs　wagged　his　head　reprovingly。　〃Well；　so　your　Reggie　Byng's　gone　and　eloped；　has　he！　That　ought　to　teach　you　to　be　more　careful　another　time　'ow　you　go　gambling　and　plunging　into　sweepstakes。　The　idea　of　a　child　of　your　age　'aving　the　audacity　to　thrust　'isself　forward　like　that！〃
　〃Don't　call　him　my　Reggie　Byng！　I　didn't　draw　'im！〃
　〃There's　no　need　to　go　into　all　that　again；　young　feller。　　You　accepted　'im　freely　and　without　prejudice　when　the　fair　exchange　was　suggested；　so　for　all　practical　intents　and　purposes　he　is　your　Reggie　Byng。　I　'ope　you're　going　to　send　him　a　wedding…present。〃
　〃Well；　you　ain't　any　better　off　than　me；　with　all　your　'ighway　robbery！〃
　〃My　what！〃
　〃You　'eard　what　I　said。〃
　〃Well；　don't　let　me　'ear　it　again。　The　idea！　If　you　'ad　any　objections　to　parting　with　that　ticket；　you　should　have　stated　them　clearly　at　the　time。　And　what　do　you　mean　by　saying　I　ain't　any　better　off　than　you　are？〃
　〃I　'ave　my　reasons。〃
　〃You　think　you　'ave；　which　is　a　very　different　thing。　I　suppose　you　imagine　that　you've　put　a　stopper　on　a　certain　little　affair　by　surreptitiously　destroying　letters　entrusted　to　you。〃
　〃I　never！〃　exclaimed　Albert　with　a　convulsive　start　that　nearly　sent　eleven　plates　dashing　to　destruction。
　〃'Ow　many　times　have　I　got　to　tell　you　to　be　careful　of　them　plates？〃　said　Keggs　sternly。　〃Who　do　you　think　you　area　juggler　on　the　'Alls；　'urling　them　about　like　that？　Yes；　I　know　all　about　that　letter。　You　thought　you　was　very　clever；　I've　no　doubt。　But　let　me　tell　you；　young　blighted　Albert；　that　only　the　other　evening　'er　ladyship　and　Mr。　Bevan　'ad　a　long　and　extended　interview　in　spite　of　all　your　hefforts。　I　saw　through　your　little　game；　and　I　proceeded　and　went　and　arranged　the　meeting。〃
　In　spite　of　himself　Albert　was　awed。　He　was　oppressed　by　the　sense　of　struggling　with　a　superior　intellect。
　〃Yes；　you　did！〃　he　managed　to　say　with　the　proper　note　of　incredulity；　but　in　his　heart　he　was　not　incredulous。　Dimly；　Albert　had　begun　to　perceive　that　years　must　elapse　before　he　could　bee　capable　of　matching　himself　in　battles　of　wits　with　this　master…strategist。
　〃Yes；　I　certainly　did！〃　said　Keggs。　〃I　don't　know　what　'appened　at　the　interviewnot　being　present　in　person。　But　I've　no　doubt　that　everything　proceeded　satisfactorily。〃
　〃And　a　fat　lot　of　good　that's　going　to　do　you；　when　'e　ain't　allowed　to　e　inside　the　'ouse！〃
　A　bland　smile　irradiated　the　butler's　moon…like　face。
　〃If　by　'e　you're　alloodin'　to　Mr。　Bevan；　young　blighted　Albert；　let　me　tell　you　that　it　won't　be　long　before　'e　bees　a　regular　duly　invited　guest　at　the　castle！〃
　〃A　lot　of　chance！〃
　〃Would　you　care　to　'ave　another　five　shillings　even　money　on　it？〃
　Albert　recoiled。　He　had　had　enough　of　speculation　where　the　butler　was　concerned。　Where　that　schemer　was　allowed　to　get　within　reach　of　it；　hard　cash　melted　away。
　〃What　are　you　going　to　do？〃
　〃Never　you　mind　what　I'm　going　to　do。　I　'ave　my　methods。　　All　I　'ave　to　say　to　you　is　that　tomorrow　or　the　day　after　Mr。　　Bevan　will　be　seated　in　our　dining…'all　with　'is　feet　under　our　table；　replying　according　to　his　personal　taste　and　preference；　when　I　ask　'im　if　'e'll　'ave　'ock　or　sherry。　Brush　all　them　crumbs　carefully　off　the　tablecloth；　young　blighted　Albertdon't　shuffle　your　feetbreathe　softly　through　your　noseand　close　the　door　be'ind　you　when　you've　finished！〃
　〃Oh；　go　and　eat　cake！〃　said　Albert　bitterly。　But　he　said　it　to　his　immortal　soul；　not　aloud。　The　lad's　spirit　was　broken。
　Keggs；　the　processes　of　digestion　pleted；　presented　himself　before　Lord　Belpher　in　the　billiard…room。　Percy　was　alone。　　The　house…party；　so　numerous　on　the　night　of　the　ball　and　on　his　birthday；　had　melted　down　now　to　reasonable　proportions。　　The　second　and　third　cousins　had　retired；　flushed　and　gratified；　to　obscure　dens　from　which　they　had　emerged；　and　the　castle　housed　only　the　more　prominent　members　of　the　family；　always　harder　to　dislodge　than　the　small　fry。　The　Bishop　still　remained；　and　the　Colonel。　Besides　these；　there　were　perhaps　half　a　dozen　more　of　the　closer　relations：　to　Lord　Belpher's　way　of　thinking；　half　a　dozen　too　many。　He　was　not　fond　of　his　family。
　〃Might　I　have　a　word　with　your　lordship？〃
　〃What　is　it；　Keggs？〃
　Keggs　was　a　self…possessed　man；　but　he　found　it　a　little　hard　to　begin。　Then　he　remembered　that　once　in　the　misty　past　he　had　seen　Lord　Belpher　spanked　for　stealing　jam；　he　himself　having　acted　on　that　occasion　as　prosecuting　attorney；　and　the　memory　nerved　him。
　〃I　earnestly　'ope　that　your　lordship　will　not　think　that　I　am　taking　a　liberty。　I　'ave　been　in　his　lordship　your　father's　service　many　years　now；　and　the　family　honour　is；　if　I　may　be　pardoned　for　saying　so；　extremely　near　my　'eart。　I　'ave　known　your　lordship　since　you　were　a　mere　boy；　and　。　。　。〃
　Lord　Belpher　had　listened　with　growing　impatience　to　this　preamble。　His　temper　was　seldom　at　its　best　these　days；　and　the　rolling　periods　annoyed　him。
　〃Yes；　yes；　of　course；〃　he　said。　〃What　is　it？〃
　Keggs　was　himself　now。　In　his　opening　remarks　he　had　simply　been；　as　it　were；　winding　up。　He　was　now　prepared　to　begin。
　〃Your　lordship　will　recall　inquiring　of　me　on　the　night　of　the　ball　as　to　the　bona　fides　of　one　of　the　temporary　waiters？　The　one　that　stated　that　'e　was　the　cousin　of　young　bliof　the　boy　Albert；　the　page？　I　have　been　making　inquiries；　your　lordship；　and　I　regret　to　say　I　find　that　the　man　was　a　impostor。　He　informed　me　that　'e　was　Albert's　cousin；　but　Albert　now　informs　me　that　'e　'as　no　cousin　in　America。　I　am　extremely　sorry　this　should　have　occurred；　your　lordship；　and　I　'ope　you　attribute　it　to　the　bustle　and　haste　inseparable　from　duties　as　mine　on　such　a　occasion。〃
　〃I　know　the　fellow　was　an　impostor。　He　was　probably　after　the　spoons！〃
　Keggs　coughed。
　〃If　I　might　be　allowed　to　take　a　further　liberty；　your　lordship；　might　I　suggest　that　I　am　aware　of　the　man's　identity　and　of　his　motive　for　visiting　the　castle。〃
　He　waited　a　little　apprehensively。　This　was　the　crucial　point　in　the　interview。　If　Lord　Belpher　did　not　now　freeze　him　with　a　glance　and　order　him　from　the　room；　the　danger　would　be　past；　and　he　could　speak　freely。　His　light　blue　eyes　were　expressionless　as　they　met　Percy's；　but　inwardly　he　was　feeling　much　the　same　sensation　as　he　was　wont　to　experience　when　the　family　was　in　town　and　he　had　managed　to　slip　off　to　Kempton　Park　or　some　other　race…course　and　put　some　of　his　savings　on　a　horse。　　As　he　felt　when　the　racing　steeds　thundered　down　the　straight；　so　did　he　feel　now。
　Astonishment　showed　in　Lord　Belpher's　round　face。　Just　as　it　was　about　to　be　succeeded　by　indignation；　the　butler　spoke　again。
　〃I　am　aware；　your　lordship；　that　it　is　not　my　place　to　offer　suggestions　as　to　the　private　and　intimate　affairs　of　the　family　I　'ave　the　honour　to　serve；　but；　if　your　lordship　would　consent　to　overlook　the　liberty；　I　think　I　could　be　of　'elp　and　assistance　in　a　matter　which　is　causing　annoyance　and　unpleasantness　to　all。〃
　He　invigorated　himself　with　another　dip　into　the　waters　of　memory。　Yes。　The　young　man　before　him　might　be　Lord　Belpher；　son