pgw.adamselindistress-第6章

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　The　driver　of　the　cab；　who　till　now　had　been　ostentatiously　unaware　that　there　was　any　sort　of　disturbance　among　the　lower　orders；　suddenly　became　humanly　inquisitive。
　〃What's　it　all　about？〃　he　asked；　swinging　around　and　addressing　George's　head。
　〃Exactly　what　I　want　to　know；〃　said　George。　He　indicated　the　collar…stud　merchant。　〃The　gentleman　over　there　with　the　portable　Woolworth…bargain…counter　seems　to　me　to　have　the　best　theory。〃
　The　stout　young　man；　whose　peculiar　behaviour　had　drawn　all　this　flattering　attention　from　the　many…headed　and　who　appeared　considerably　ruffled　by　the　publicity；　had　been　puffing　noisily　during　the　foregoing　conversation。　Now；　having　recovered　sufficient　breath　to　resume　the　attack；　he　addressed　himself　to　George　once　more。
　〃Damn　you；　sir；　will　you　let　me　look　inside　that　cab？〃
　〃Leave　me；〃　said　George；　〃I　would　be　alone。〃
　〃There　is　a　young　lady　in　that　cab。　I　saw　her　get　in；　and　I　have　been　watching　ever　since；　and　she　has　not　got　out；　so　she　is　there　now。〃
　George　nodded　approval　of　this　close　reasoning。
　〃Your　argument　seems　to　be　without　a　flaw。　But　what　then？　　We　applaud　the　Man　of　Logic；　but　what　of　the　Man　of　Action？　　What　are　you　going　to　do　about　it？〃
　〃Get　out　of　my　way！〃
　〃I　won't。〃
　〃Then　I'll　force　my　way　in！〃
　〃If　you　try　it；　I　shall　infallibly　bust　you　one　on　the　jaw。〃
　The　stout　young　man　drew　back　a　pace。
　〃You　can't　do　that　sort　of　thing；　you　know。〃
　〃I　know　I　can't；〃　said　George；　〃but　I　shall。　In　this　life；　my　dear　sir；　we　must　be　prepared　for　every　emergency。　We　must　distinguish　between　the　unusual　and　the　impossible。　It　would　be　unusual　for　a　parative　stranger　to　lean　out　of　a　cab　window　and　sock　you　one；　but　you　appear　to　have　laid　your　plans　on　the　assumption　that　it　would　be　impossible。　Let　this　be　a　lesson　to　you！〃
　〃I　tell　you　what　it　is〃
　〃The　advice　I　give　to　every　young　man　starting　life　is　'Never　confuse　the　unusual　with　the　impossible！'　Take　the　present　case；　for　instance。　If　you　had　only　realized　the　possibility　of　somebody　some　day　busting　you　on　the　jaw　when　you　tried　to　get　into　a　cab；　you　might　have　thought　out　dozens　of　crafty　schemes　for　dealing　with　the　matter。　As　it　is；　you　are　unprepared。　The　thing　es　on　you　as　a　surprise。　The　whisper　flies　around　the　clubs：　'Poor　old　What's…his…name　has　been　taken　unawares。　He　cannot　cope　with　the　situation！〃
　The　man　with　the　collar…studs　made　another　diagnosis。　He　was　seeing　clearer　and　clearer　into　the　thing　every　minute。
　〃Looney！〃　he　decided。　〃This　'ere　one's　bin　moppin'　of　it　up；　and　the　one　in　the　keb's　orf　'is　bloomin'　onion。　That's　why　'e　's　standin'　up　instead　of　settin'。　'E　won't　set　down　'cept　you　bring　'im　a　bit　o'　toast；　'cos　he　thinks　'e　's　a　poached　egg。〃
　George　beamed　upon　the　intelligent　fellow。
　〃Your　reasoning　is　admirable；　but〃
　He　broke　off　here；　not　because　he　had　not　more　to　say；　but　for　the　reason　that　the　stout　young　man；　now　in　quite　a　Berserk　frame　of　mind；　made　a　sudden　spring　at　the　cab　door　and　clutched　the　handle；　which　he　was　about　to　wrench　when　George　acted　with　all　the　promptitude　and　decision　which　had　marked　his　behaviour　from　the　start。
　It　was　a　situation　which　called　for　the　nicest　judgment。　To　allow　the　assailant　free　play　with　the　handle　or　even　to　wrestle　with　him　for　its　possession　entailed　the　risk　that　the　door　might　open　and　reveal　the　girl。　To　bust　the　young　man　on　the　jaw；　as　promised；　on　the　other　hand；　was　not　in　George's　eyes　a　practical　policy。　Excellent　a　deterrent　as　the　threat　of　such　a　proceeding　might　be；　its　actual　acplishment　was　not　to　be　thought　of。　　Gaols　yawn　and　actions　for　assault　lie　in　wait　for　those　who　go　about　the　place　busting　their　fellows　on　the　jaw。　No。　Something　swift；　something　decided　and　immediate　was　indicated；　but　something　that　stopped　short　of　technical　battery。
　George　brought　his　hand　round　with　a　sweep　and　knocked　the　stout　young　man's　silk　hat　off。
　The　effect　was　magical。　We　all　of　us　have　our　Achilles　heel；　andparadoxically　enoughin　the　case　of　the　stout　young　man　that　heel　was　his　hat。　Superbly　built　by　the　only　hatter　in　London　who　can　construct　a　silk　hat　that　is　a　silk　hat；　and　freshly　ironed　by　loving　hands　but　a　brief　hour　before　at　the　only　shaving…parlour　in　London　where　ironing　is　ironing　and　not　a　brutal　attack；　it　was　his　pride　and　joy。　To　lose　it　was　like　losing　his　trousers。　It　made　him　feel　insufficiently　clad。　With　a　passionate　cry　like　that　of　some　wild　creature　deprived　of　its　young；　the　erstwhile　Berserk　released　the　handle　and　sprang　in　pursuit。　At　the　same　moment　the　traffic　moved　on　again。
　The　last　George　saw　was　a　group　scene　with　the　stout　young　man　in　the　middle　of　it。　The　hat　had　been　popped　up　into　the　infield；　where　it　had　been　caught　by　the　messenger　boy。　The　stout　young　man　was　bending　over　it　and　stroking　it　with　soothing　fingers。　It　was　too　far　off　for　anything　to　be　audible；　but　he　seemed　to　George　to　be　murmuring　words　of　endearment　to　it。　　Then；　placing　it　on　his　head；　he　darted　out　into　the　road　and　George　saw　him　no　more。　The　audience　remained　motionless；　staring　at　the　spot　where　the　incident　had　happened。　They　would　continue　to　do　this　till　the　next　policeman　came　along　and　moved　them　on。
　With　a　pleasant　wave　of　farewell；　in　case　any　of　them　might　be　glancing　in　his　direction；　George　drew　in　his　body　and　sat　down。
　The　girl　in　brown　had　risen　from　the　floor；　if　she　had　ever　been　there；　and　was　now　seated　posedly　at　the　further　end　of　the　cab。
　
　CHAPTER　4。
　
　〃Well；　that's　that！〃　said　George。
　〃I'm　so　much　obliged；〃　said　the　girl。
　〃It　was　a　pleasure；〃　said　George。
　He　was　enabled　now　to　get　a　closer；　more　leisurely　and　much　more　satisfactory　view　of　this　distressed　damsel　than　had　been　his　good　fortune　up　to　the　present。　Small　details　which；　when　he　had　first　caught　sight　of　her；　distance　had　hidden　from　his　view；　now　presented　themselves。　Her　eyes；　he　discovered；　which　he　had　supposed　brown；　were　only　brown　in　their　general　colour…scheme。　They　were　shot　with　attractive　little　flecks　of　gold；　matching　perfectly　the　little　streaks　gold　which　the　sun；　ing　out　again　on　one　of　his　flying　visits　and　now　shining　benignantly　once　more　on　the　world；　revealed　in　her　hair。　Her　chin　was　square　and　determined；　but　its　resoluteness　was　contradicted　by　a　dimple　and　by　the　pleasant　good…humour　of　the　mouth；　and　a　further　softening　of　the　face　was　effected　by　the　nose；　which　seemed　to　have　started　out　with　the　intention　of　being　dignified　and　aristocratic　but　had　defeated　its　purpose　by　tilting　very　slightly　at　the　tip。　This　was　a　girl　who　would　take　chances；　but　would　take　them　with　a　smile　and　laugh　when　she　lost。
　George　was　but　an　amateur　physiognomist；　but　he　could　read　what　was　obvious　in　the　faces　he　encountered；　and　the　more　he　looked　at　this　girl；　the　less　he　was　able　to　understand　the　scene　which　had　just　occurred。　The　thing　mystified　him　pletely。　　For　all　her　good…humour；　there　was　an　air；　a　manner；　a　something　capable　and　defensive；　about　this　girl　with　which　he　could　not　imagine　any　man　venturing　to　take　liberties。　The　gold…brown　eyes；　as　they　met　his　now；　were　friendly　and　smiling；　but　he　could　imagine　them　freezing　into　a　stare　baleful　enough　and　haughty　enough　to　quell　such　a　person　as　the　silk…hatted　young　man　with　a　single　glance。　Why；　then；　had　that　super…fatted　individual　been　able　to　demoralize　her　to　the　extent　of　flying　to　the　shelter　of　strange　cabs？　She　was　posed　enough　now；　it　was　true；　but　it　had　been　quite　plain　that　at　the　moment　when　she　entered　the　taxi　her　nerve　had　momentarily　forsaken　her。　There　were　mysteries　here；　beyond　George。
　The　girl　looked　steadily　at　George　and　George　looked　steadily　at　her　for　the　space　of　perhaps　ten　seconds。　She　seemed　to　George　to　be　summing　him　up；　weighing　him。　That　the　inspection　proved　satisfactory　was　shown　by　the　fact　that　at　the　end　of　this　period　she　smiled。　Then　she　laughed；　a　clear　pealing　laugh　which　to　George　was　far　more　musical　than　the　most　popular　song…hit　he　had　ever　written。
　〃I　suppose　you　are　wondering　what　it's　all　about？〃　she　said。
　This　was　precisely　what　George　was　wondering　most　consumedly。
　〃No；　no；〃　he　said。　〃Not　at　all。　It's　not　my　business。〃
　〃And　of　course　you're　much　too　well　bred　to　be　inquisitive　about　other　people's　business？〃
　〃Of　course　I　am。　What　was　it　all　about？〃
　〃I'm　afraid　I　can't　tell　you。〃
　〃But　what　am　I　to　say　to　the　cabman？〃
　〃I　don't　know。　What　do　men　usually　say　to　cabmen？〃
　〃I　mean　he　will　feel　very　hurt　if　I　don't　give　him　a　full　explanation　of　all　this。　He　stooped　from　his　pedestal　to　make　enquiries　just　now。　Condescension　like　that　deserves　some　recognition。〃
　〃Give　him　a　nice　big　tip。〃
　George　was　reminded　of　his　reason　for　being　in　the　cab。
　〃I　ought　to　have　asked　before；〃　he　said。　〃Where　can　I　drive　you？〃
　〃Oh；　I　mustn't　steal　your　cab。　Where　were　you　going？〃
　〃I　was　going　back　to　my　hotel。　I　came　out　without　any　money；　so　I　shall　have　to　go　there　first　to　get　some。〃
　The　girl　started。
　〃What's　the　matter？〃　asked　George。
　〃I've　lost　my　purse！〃
　〃Good　Lord！　Had　it　much　in　it？〃
　〃Not　very　much。　But　enough　to　buy　a　ticket　home。〃
　〃Any　use　asking　where　that　is？〃
　〃None；　I'm　afraid。〃
　〃I　wasn't　going　to；　of　course。〃
　〃Of　course　not。　That's　what　I　admire　so　much　in　you。　　You　aren't　inquisitive。〃
　George　reflected。
　〃There's　only　one　thing　to　be　done。　You　will　have　to　wait　in　the　cab　at　the　hotel；　while　I　go　and　get　some　money。　Then；　if　you'll　let　me；　I　can　lend　you　what　you　require。〃
　〃It's　much　too　kind　of　you。　Could　you　manage　eleven　shillings？〃
　〃Easily。　I've　just　had　a　legacy。〃
　〃Of　course；　if　you　think　I　ought　to　be　economical；　I'll　go　third…class。　That　would　only　be　five　shillings。　Ten…and…six　is　the　first…class　fare。　So　you　see　the　place　I　want　to　get　to　is　two　hours　from　London。〃
　〃Well；　that's　something　to　know。〃
　〃But　not　much；　is　it？〃
　〃I　think　I　had　better　lend　you　a　sovereign。　Then　you'll　be　able　to　buy　a　lunch…basket。〃
　〃You　think　of　everything。　And　you're　perfectly　right。　I　shall　be　starving。　But　how　do　you　know　you　will　get　the　money　back？〃
　〃I'll　risk　it。〃
　〃Well；　then；　I　shall　have　to　be　inquisitive　and　ask　your　name。　Otherwise　I　shan't　know　where　to　send　the　money。〃
　〃Oh；　there's　no　mystery　about　me。　I'm　an　open　book。〃
　〃You　needn't　be　horrid　about　it。　I　can't　help　being　mysterious。〃
　〃I　didn't　mean　that。〃
　〃It　sounded　as　if　you　did。　Well；　who　is　my　benefactor？〃
　〃My　name　is　George　Bevan。　I　am　staying　at　the　Carlton　at　present。〃
　〃I'll　remember。〃
　The　taxi　moved　slowly　down　the　Haymarket。　The　girl　laughed。
　〃Yes？〃　said　George。
　〃I　was　only　thinking　of　back　there。　You　know；　I　haven't　thanked　you　nearly　enough　for　all　you　did。　You　were　wonderful。〃
　〃I'm　very　glad　I　was　able　to　be　of　any　help。〃
　〃What　did　happen？　You　must　remember　I　couldn't　see　a　thing　except　your　back；　and　I　could　only　hear　indistinctly。〃
　〃Well；　it　started　by　a　man　galloping　up　and　insisting　that　you　had　got　into　the　cab。　He　was　a　fellow　with　the　appearance　of　a　before…using　advertisement　of　an　anti…fat　medicine　and　the　manners　of　a　ring…tailed　chimpanzee。〃
　The　girl　nodded。
　〃Then　it　was　Percy！　I　knew　I　wasn't　mistaken。〃
　〃Percy？〃
　〃That　is　his　name。〃