pgw.adamselindistress-第8章

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l　numbers；　some　about　their　love…scenes；　some　had　grumbled　about　their　exit　lines；　others　about　the　lines　of　their　second…act　frocks。　They　had　kicked　in　a　myriad　differing　wayswrathfully；　sweetly；　noisily；　softly；　smilingly；　tearfully；　pathetically　and　patronizingly；　but　they　had　all　kicked；　with　the　result　that　woman　had　now　bee　to　George　not　so　much　a　flaming　inspiration　or　a　tender　goddess　as　something　to　be　dodgedtactfully；　if　possible；　but；　if　not　possible；　by　open　flight。　For　years　he　had　dreaded　to　be　left　alone　with　a　woman；　and　had　developed　a　habit　of　gliding　swiftly　away　when　he　saw　one　bearing　down　on　him。
　The　psychological　effect　of　such　a　state　of　things　is　not　difficult　to　realize。　Take　a　man　of　naturally　quixotic　temperament；　a　man　of　chivalrous　instincts　and　a　feeling　for　romance；　and　cut　him　off　for　five　years　from　the　exercise　of　those　qualities；　and　you　get　an　accumulated　store　of　foolishness　only　parable　to　an　escape　of　gas　in　a　sealed　room　or　a　cellarful　of　dynamite。　A　flicker　of　a　match；　and　there　is　an　explosion。
　This　girl's　tempestuous　irruption　into　his　life　had　supplied　flame　for　George。　Her　bright　eyes；　looking　into　his；　had　touched　off　the　spiritual　trinitrotoluol　which　he　had　been　storing　up　for　so　long。　Up　in　the　air　in　a　million　pieces　had　gone　the　prudence　and　self…restraint　of　a　lifetime。　And　here　he　was；　as　desperately　in　love　as　any　troubadour　of　the　Middle　Ages。
　It　was　not　till　he　had　finished　shaving　and　was　testing　the　temperature　of　his　bath　with　a　shrinking　toe　that　the　realization　came　over　him　in　a　wave　that；　though　he　might　be　in　love；　the　fairway　of　love　was　dotted　with　more　bunkers　than　any　golf　course　he　had　ever　played　on　in　his　life。　In　the　first　place；　he　did　not　know　the　girl's　name。　In　the　second　place；　it　seemed　practically　impossible　that　he　would　ever　see　her　again。　Even　in　the　midst　of　his　optimism　George　could　not　deny　that　these　facts　might　reasonably　be　considered　in　the　nature　of　obstacles。　　He　went　back　into　his　bedroom；　and　sat　on　the　bed。　This　thing　wanted　thinking　over。
　He　was　not　depressedonly　a　little　thoughtful。　His　faith　in　his　luck　sustained　him。　He　was；　he　realized；　in　the　position　of　a　man　who　has　made　a　supreme　drive　from　the　tee；　and　finds　his　ball　near　the　green　but　in　a　cuppy　lie。　He　had　gained　much；　it　now　remained　for　him　to　push　his　success　to　the　happy　conclusion。　The　driver　of　Luck　must　be　replaced　by　the　spoonor；　possibly；　the　niblickof　Ingenuity。　To　fail　now；　to　allow　this　girl　to　pass　out　of　his　life　merely　because　he　did　not　know　who　she　was　or　where　she　was；　would　stamp　him　a　feeble　adventurer。　　A　fellow　could　not　expect　Luck　to　do　everything　for　him。　He　must　supplement　its　assistance　with　his　own　efforts。
　What　had　he　to　go　on？　Well；　nothing　much；　if　it　came　to　that；　except　the　knowledge　that　she　lived　some　two　hours　by　train　out　of　London；　and　that　her　journey　started　from　Waterloo　Station。　　What　would　Sherlock　Holmes　have　done？　Concentrated　thought　supplied　no　answer　to　the　question；　and　it　was　at　this　point　that　the　cheery　optimism　with　which　he　had　begun　the　day　left　George　and　gave　place　to　a　grey　gloom。　A　dreadful　phrase；　haunting　in　its　pathos；　crept　into　his　mind。　〃Ships　that　pass　in　the　night！〃　It　might　easily　turn　out　that　way。　Indeed；　thinking　over　the　affair　in　all　its　aspects　as　he　dried　himself　after　his　tub；　George　could　not　see　how　it　could　possibly　turn　out　any　other　way。
　He　dressed　moodily；　and　left　the　room　to　go　down　to　breakfast。　Breakfast　would　at　least　alleviate　this　sinking　feeling　which　was　unmanning　him。　And　he　could　think　more　briskly　after　a　cup　or　two　of　coffee。
　He　opened　the　door。　On　a　mat　outside　lay　a　letter。
　The　handwriting　was　feminine。　It　was　also　in　pencil；　and　strange　to　him。　He　opened　the　envelope。
　〃Dear　Mr。　Bevan〃　（it　began）。
　With　a　sudden　leap　of　the　heart　he　looked　at　the　signature。
　The　letter　was　signed　〃The　Girl　in　the　Cab。〃
　　　　　〃DEAR　MR。　BEVAN；
　　　　〃I　hope　you　won't　think　me　very　rude；　running　off　　　　　without　waiting　to　say　good…bye。　I　had　to。　I　saw　Percy　　　　　driving　up　in　a　cab；　and　knew　that　he　must　have　followed　us。　　　　　He　did　not　see　me；　so　I　got　away　all　right。　I　managed　　　　　splendidly　about　the　money；　for　I　remembered　that　I　was　　　　　wearing　a　nice　brooch；　and　stopped　on　the　way　to　the　　　　　station　to　pawn　it。
　　　　〃Thank　you　ever　so　much　again　for　all　your　wonderful　　　　　kindness。
　　　　　　　　Yours；　　　　　　　　　THE　GIRL　IN　THE　CAB。〃
　George　read　the　note　twice　on　the　way　down　to　the　breakfast　room；　and　three　times　more　during　the　meal；　then；　having　mitted　its　contents　to　memory　down　to　the　last　ma；　he　gave　himself　up　to　glowing　thoughts。
　What　a　girl！　He　had　never　in　his　life　before　met　a　woman　who　could　write　a　letter　without　a　postscript；　and　this　was　but　the　smallest　of　her　unusual　gifts。　The　resource　of　her；　to　think　of　pawning　that　brooch！　The　sweetness　of　her　to　bother　to　send　him　a　note！　More　than　ever　before　was　he　convinced　that　he　had　met　his　ideal；　and　more　than　ever　before　was　he　determined　that　a　triviality　like　being　unaware　of　her　name　and　address　should　not　keep　him　from　her。　It　was　not　as　if　he　had　no　clue　to　go　upon。　He　knew　that　she　lived　two　hours　from　London　and　started　home　from　Waterloo。　It　narrowed　the　thing　down　absurdly。　There　were　only　about　three　counties　in　which　she　could　possibly　live；　and　a　man　must　be　a　poor　fellow　who　is　incapable　of　searching　through　a　few　small　counties　for　the　girl　he　loves。　Especially　a　man　with　luck　like　his。
　Luck　is　a　goddess　not　to　be　coerced　and　forcibly　wooed　by　those　who　seek　her　favours。　From　such　masterful　spirits　she　turns　away。　But　it　happens　sometimes　that；　if　we　put　our　hand　in　hers　with　the　humble　trust　of　a　little　child；　she　will　have　pity　on　us；　and　not　fail　us　in　our　hour　of　need。　On　George；　hopefully　watching　for　something　to　turn　up；　she　smiled　almost　immediately。
　It　was　George's　practice；　when　he　lunched　alone；　to　relieve　the　tedium　of　the　meal　with　the　assistance　of　reading　matter　in　the　shape　of　one　or　more　of　the　evening　papers。　Today；　sitting　down　to　a　solitary　repast　at　the　Piccadilly　grill…room；　he　had　brought　with　him　an　early　edition　of　the　Evening　News。　And　one　of　the　first　items　which　met　his　eye　was　the　following；　embodied　in　a　column　on　one　of　the　inner　pages　devoted　to　humorous　ments　in　prose　and　verse　on　the　happenings　of　the　day。　　This　particular　happening　the　writer　had　apparently　considered　worthy　of　being　dignified　by　rhyme。　It　was　headed：
　　　　〃THE　PEER　AND　THE　POLICEMAN。〃
　　　　　　〃Outside　the　'Carlton；'　'tis　averred；　these　stirring　　　　　happenings　occurred。　The　hour；　'tis　said　（and　no　one　　　　　doubts）　was　half…past　two；　or　thereabouts。　The　day　was　　　　　fair；　the　sky　was　blue；　and　everything　was　peaceful　too；　　　　　when　suddenly　a　well…dressed　gent　engaged　in　heated　　　　　argument　and　roundly　to　abuse　began　another　well…dressed　　　　　gentleman。　His　suede…gloved　fist　he　raised　on　high　to　dot　　　　　the　other　in　the　eye。　Who　knows　what　horrors　might　have　　　　　been；　had　there　not　e　upon　the　scene　old　London　city's　　　　　favourite　son；　Policeman　C。　231。　　'What　means　this　conduct？　　　　　Prithee　stop！'　exclaimed　that　admirable　slop。　With　which　he　　　　　placed　a　warning　hand　upon　the　brawler's　collarband。　We　　　　　simply　hate　to　tell　the　rest。　No　subject　here　for　flippant　　　　　jest。　The　mere　remembrance　of　the　tale　has　made　our　ink　　　　　turn　deadly　pale。　Let　us　be　brief。　Some　demon　sent　stark　　　　　madness　on　the　well…dressed　gent。　He　gave　the　constable　a　　　　　punch　just　where　the　latter　kept　his　lunch。　The　constable　　　　　said　'Well！　Well！　Well！'　and　marched　him　to　a　dungeon　cell。　　　　　At　Vine　Street　Station　out　it　cameLord　Belpher　was　the　　　　　culprit's　name。　But　British　Justice　is　severe　alike　on　　　　　pauper　and　on　peer；　with　even　hand　she　holds　the　scale；　a　　　　　thumping　fine；　in　lieu　of　gaol；　induced　Lord　B。　to　feel　　　　　remorse　and　learn　he　mustn't　punch　the　Force。〃
　George's　mutton　chop　congealed　on　the　plate；　untouched。　　The　French　fried　potatoes　cooled　off；　unnoticed。　This　was　no　time　for　food。　Rightly　indeed　had　he　relied　upon　his　luck。　　It　had　stood　by　him　nobly。　With　this　clue；　all　was　over　except　getting　to　the　nearest　Free　Library　and　consulting　Burke's　Peerage。　He　paid　his　bill　and　left　the　restaurant。
　Ten　minutes　later　he　was　drinking　in　the　pregnant　information　that　Belpher　was　the　family　name　of　the　Earl　of　Marshmoreton；　and　that　the　present　earl　had　one　son；　Percy　Wilbraham　Marsh；　educ。　Eton　and　Christ　Church；　Oxford；　and　what　the　book　with　its　customary　curtness　called　〃one　d。〃Patricia　Maud。　The　family　seat；　said　Burke；　was　Belpher　Castle；　Belpher；　Hants。
　Some　hours　later；　seated　in　a　first…class　partment　of　a　train　that　moved　slowly　out　of　Waterloo　Station；　George　watched　London　vanish　behind　him。　In　the　pocket　closest　to　his　throbbing　heart　was　a　single　ticket　to　Belpher。
　
　CHAPTER　6。
　
　At　about　the　time　that　George　Bevan's　train　was　leaving　Waterloo；　a　grey　racing　car　drew　up　with　a　grinding　of　brakes　and　a　sputter　of　gravel　in　front　of　the　main　entrance　of　Belpher　Castle。　The　slim　and　elegant　young　man　at　the　wheel　removed　his　goggles；　pulled　out　a　watch；　and　addressed　the　stout　young　man　at　his　side。
　〃Two　hours　and　eighteen　minutes　from　Hyde　Park　Corner；　Boots。　Not　so　dusty；　what？〃
　His　panion　made　no　reply。　He　appeared　to　be　plunged　in　thought。　He；　too；　removed　his　goggles；　revealing　a　florid　and　gloomy　face；　equipped；　in　addition　to　the　usual　features；　with　a　small　moustache　and　an　extra　chin。　He　scowled　forbiddingly　at　the　charming　scene　which　the　goggles　had　hidden　from　him。
　Before　him；　a　symmetrical　mass　of　grey　stone　and　green　ivy；　Belpher　Castle　towered　against　a　light　blue　sky。　On　either　side　rolling　park　land　spread　as　far　as　the　eye　could　see；　carpeted　here　and　there　with　violets；　dotted　with　great　oaks　and　ashes　and　Spanish　chestnuts；　orderly；　peaceful　and　English。　Nearer；　on　his　left；　were　rose…gardens；　in　the　centre　of　which；　tilted　at　a　sharp　angle；　appeared　the　seat　of　a　pair　of　corduroy　trousers；　whose　wearer　seemed　to　be　engaged　in　hunting　for　snails。　　Thrushes　sang　in　the　green　shrubberies；　rooks　cawed　in　the　elms。　　Somewhere　in　the　distance　sounded　the　tinkle　of　sheep　bells　and　the　lowing　of　cows。　It　was；　in　fact；　a　scene　which；　lit　by　the　evening　sun　of　a　perfect　spring　day　and　fanned　by　a　gentle　westerly　wind；　should　have　brought　balm　and　soothing　meditations　to　one　who　was　the　sole　heir　to　all　this　Paradise。
　But　Percy；　Lord　Belpher；　remained　unforted　by　the　notable　co…operation　of　Man　and　Nature；　and　drew　no　solace　from　the　reflection　that　all　these　pleasant　things　would　one　day　be　his　own。　His　mind　was　occupied　at　the　moment；　to　the　exclusion　of　all　other　thoughts；　by　the　recollection　of　that　painful　scene　in　Bow　Street　Police　Court。　The　magistrate's　remarks；　which　had　been　tactless　and　unsympathetic；　still　echoed　in　his　ears。　And　that　infernal　night　in　Vine　Street　police　station　。　。　。　The　darkness　。　。　。　The　hard　bed。　。　。　The　discordant　vocalising　of　the　drunk　and　disorderly　in　the　next　cell。　。　。　。　Time　might　soften　these　memories；　might　lessen　the　sharp　agony　of　them；　but　nothing　could　remove　them　altogether。
　Percy　had　been　shaken　to　the　core　of　his　being。　Physically；　he　was　still　stiff　and　sore　from　the　plank　bed。　Mentally；　he　was　a　volcano