pgw.threemenandamaid-第16章

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　〃Go　down　again　and　say　that　I　insist　on　his　stopping　the　thing。　It's　an　outrage。〃
　〃Very　good；　sir。〃
　In　a　few　minutes；　Webster；　like　the　dove　despatched　from　the　Ark；　was　back　again。
　〃I　fear　my　mission　has　been　fruitless；　sir。　Mr。　Mortimer　appears　adamant　on　the　point　at　issue。〃
　〃You　gave　him　my　message？〃
　〃Verbatim；　sir。　In　reply　Mr。　Mortimer　desired　me　to　tell　you　that；　if　you　did　not　like　it；　you　could　do　the　other　thing。　I　quote　the　exact　words；　sir。〃
　〃He　did；　did　he？〃
　〃Yes；　sir。〃
　〃Very　good！　Webster！〃
　〃Sir？〃
　〃When　is　the　next　train　to　London？〃
　〃I　will　ascertain；　sir。　Cook；　I　believe　has　a　time…table。〃
　〃Go　and　see；　then。　I　want　to　know。　And　send　Miss　Wilhelmina　to　me；〃
　〃Very　good；　sir。〃
　Somewhat　consoled　by　the　thought　that　he　was　taking　definite　action；　Mr。　Bennett　lay　back　and　waited　for　Billie。
　〃I　want　you　to　go　to　London；〃　he　said；　when　she　appeared。
　〃To　London？　Why？〃
　〃I'll　tell　you　why；〃　said　Mr。　Bennett　vehemently。　〃Because　of　that　pest　Mortimer。　I　must　have　legal　advice。　I　want　you　to　go　and　see　Sir　Mallaby　Marlowe。　Here's　his　address。　Tell　him　the　whole　story。　Tell　him　that　this　man　is　annoying　me　in　every　possible　way　and　ask　if　he　can't　be　stopped。　If　you　can't　see　Sir　Mallaby　himself；　see　someone　else　in　the　firm。　Go　up　to…night；　so　that　you　can　see　him　first　thing　in　the　morning。　You　can　stop　the　night　at　the　Savoy。　I've　sent　Webster　to　look　out　a　train。〃
　〃There's　a　splendid　train　in　about　an　hour。　I'll　take　that。〃
　〃It's　giving　you　a　lot　of　trouble；〃　said　Mr。　Bennett　with　belated　consideration。
　〃Oh　no！〃　said　Billie。　〃I'm　only　too　glad　to　be　able　to　do　something　for　you；　father　dear。　This　noise　is　a　terrible　nuisance；　isn't　it。〃
　〃You're　a　good　girl；〃　said　Mr。　Bennett。
　
　CHAPTER　ELEVEN
　
　〃That's　right！〃　said　Sir　Mallaby　Marlowe。　〃Work　while　you're　young；　Sam；　work　while　you're　young。〃　He　regarded　his　son's　bent　head　with　affectionate　approval。　〃What's　the　book　to…day？〃
　〃Widgery　on　Nisi　prius　Evidence；〃　said　Sam；　without　looking　up。
　〃Capital！〃　said　Sir　Mallaby。　〃Highly　improving　and　as　interesting　as　a　novelsome　novels。　There's　a　splendid　bit　on；　I　think；　page　two　hundred　and　fifty…four　where　the　hero　finds　out　all　about　Copyhold　and　Customary　Estates。　It's　a　wonderfully　powerful　situation。　It　appearsbut　I　won't　spoil　it　for　you。　Mind　you　don't　skip　to　see　how　it　all　es　out　in　the　end！〃　Sir　Mallaby　suspended　conversation　while　he　addressed　an　imaginary　ball　with　the　mashie　which　he　had　taken　out　of　his　golf…bag。　For　this　was　the　day　when　he　went　down　to　Walton　Heath　for　his　weekly　foursome　with　three　old　friends。　His　tubby　form　was　clad　in　tweed　of　a　violent　nature；　with　knickerbockers　and　stockings。　〃Sam！〃
　〃Well？〃
　〃Sam；　a　man　at　the　club　showed　me　a　new　grip　the　other　day。　Instead　of　overlapping　the　little　finger　of　the　right　hand　。。。　Oh；　by　the　way；　Sam。〃
　〃Yes？〃
　〃I　should　lock　up　the　office　to…day　if　I　were　you；　or　anxious　clients　will　be　ing　in　and　asking　for　advice；　and　you'll　find　yourself　in　difficulties。　I　shall　be　gone；　and　Peters　is　away　on　his　holiday。　You'd　better　lock　the　outer　door。〃
　〃All　right；〃　said　Sam　absently。　He　was　finding　Widgery　stiff　reading。　He　had　just　got　to　the　bit　about　Raptu　Haeredis；　which；　as　of　course　you　know；　is　a　writ　for　taking　away　an　heir　holding　insocage。
　Sir　Mallaby　looked　at　his　watch。
　〃Well；　I'll　have　to　be　going。　See　you　later；　Sam。〃
　〃Good…bye。〃
　Sir　Mallaby　went　out；　and　Sam；　placing　both　elbows　on　the　desk　and　twining　his　fingers　in　his　hair；　returned　with　a　frown　of　concentration　to　his　grappling　with　Widgery。　For　perhaps　ten　minutes　the　struggle　was　an　even　one；　then　gradually　Widgery　got　the　upper　hand。　Sam's　mind；　numbed　by　constant　batterings　against　the　stony　ramparts　of　legal　phraseology；　weakened；　faltered；　and　dropped　away；　and　a　moment　later　his　thoughts；　as　so　often　happened　when　he　was　alone；　darted　off　and　began　to　circle　round　the　image　of　Billie　Bennett。
　Since　they　had　last　met；　Sam　had　told　himself　perhaps　a　hundred　times　that　he　cared　nothing　about　Billie；　that　she　had　gone　out　of　his　life　and　was　dead　to　him；　but　unfortunately　he　did　not　believe　it。　A　man　takes　a　deal　of　convincing　on　a　point　like　this；　and　Sam　had　never　succeeded　in　convincing　himself　for　more　than　two　minutes　at　a　time。　It　was　useless　to　pretend　that　he　did　not　still　love　Billie　more　than　ever；　because　he　knew　he　did；　and　now；　as　the　truth　swept　over　him　for　the　hundred　and　first　time；　he　groaned　hollowly　and　gave　himself　up　to　the　gray　despair　which　is　the　almost　inseparable　panion　of　young　men　in　his　position。
　So　engrossed　was　he　in　his　meditation　that　he　did　not　hear　the　light　footstep　in　the　outer　office；　and　it　was　only　when　it　was　followed　by　a　tap　on　the　door　of　the　inner　office　that　he　awoke　with　a　start　to　the　fact　that　clients　were　in　his　midst。　He　wished　that　he　had　taken　his　father's　advice　and　locked　up　the　office。　Probably　this　was　some　frightful　bore　who　wanted　to　make　his　infernal　will　or　something；　and　Sam　had　neither　the　ability　nor　the　inclination　to　assist　him。
　Was　it　too　late　to　escape？　Perhaps　if　he　did　not　answer　the　knock；　the　blighter　might　think　there　was　nobody　at　home。　But　suppose　he　opened　the　door　and　peeped　in？　A　spasm　of　Napoleonic　strategy　seized　Sam。　He　dropped　silently　to　the　floor　and　concealed　himself　under　the　desk。　Napoleon　was　always　doing　that　sort　of　thing。
　There　was　another　tap。　Then；　as　he　had　anticipated；　the　door　opened；　Sam；　crouched　like　a　hare　in　its　form；　held　his　breath。　It　seemed　to　him　that　he　was　going　to　bring　this　delicate　operation　off　with　success。　He　felt　he　had　acted　just　as　Napoleon　would　have　done　in　a　similar　crisis。　And　so；　no　doubt；　he　had　to　a　certain　extent；　only　Napoleon　would　have　seen　to　it　that　his　boots　and　about　eighteen　inches　of　trousered　legs　were　not　sticking　out；　plainly　visible　to　all　who　entered。
　〃Good　morning；〃　said　a　voice。
　Sam　thrilled　from　the　top　of　his　head　to　the　soles　of　his　feet。　It　was　the　voice　which　had　been　ringing　in　his　ears　through　all　his　waking　hours。
　〃Are　you　busy；　Mr。　Marlowe？〃　asked　Billie；　addressing　the　boots。
　Sam　wriggled　out　from　under　the　desk　like　a　disconcerted　tortoise。
　〃Dropped　my　pen；〃　he　mumbled；　as　he　rose　to　the　surface。
　He　pulled　himself　with　an　effort　that　was　like　a　physical　exercise。　He　stared　at　Billie　dumbly。　Then；　recovering　speech；　he　invited　her　to　sit　down；　and　seated　himself　at　the　desk。
　〃Dropped　my　pen！〃　he　gurgled　again。
　〃Yes？〃　said　Billie。
　〃Fountain…pen；〃　babbled　Sam；　〃with　a　broad　nib。〃
　〃Yes？〃
　〃A　broad　gold　nib；〃　went　on　Sam；　with　the　painful　exactitude　which　es　only　from　embarrassment　or　the　early　stages　of　intoxication。
　〃Really？〃　said　Billie；　and　Sam　blinked　and　told　himself　resolutely　that　this　would　not　do。　He　was　not　appearing　to　advantage。　It　suddenly　occurred　to　him　that　his　hair　was　standing　on　end　as　the　result　of　his　struggle　with　Widgery。　He　smoothed　it　down　hastily；　and　felt　a　trifle　more　posed。　The　old　fighting　spirit　of　the　Marlowes　now　began　to　assert　itself　to　some　extent。　He　must　make　an　effort　to　appear　as　little　of　a　fool　as　possible　in　this　girl's　eyes。　And　what　eyes　they　were！　Golly！　Like　stars！　Like　two　bright　planets　in。。。。
　However；　that　was　neither　here　nor　there。　He　pulled　down　his　waistcoat　and　became　cold　and　business…likethe　dry　young　lawyer。
　〃Erhow　do　you　do；　Miss　Bennett？〃　he　said　with　a　question　in　his　voice；　raising　his　eyebrows　in　a　professional　way。　He　modelled　this　performance　on　that　of　lawyers　he　had　seen　on　the　stage；　and　wished　he　had　some　snuff　to　take　or　something　to　tap　against　his　front　teeth。　〃Miss　Bennett；　I　believe？〃
　Billie　drew　herself　up　stiffly。
　〃Yes；〃　she　replied。　〃How　clever　of　you　to　remember　me。〃
　〃I　have　a　good　memory。〃
　〃How　nice！　So　have　I！〃
　There　was　a　pause；　during　which　Billie　allowed　her　gaze　to　travel　casually　about　the　room。　Sam　occupied　the　intermission　by　staring　furtively　at　her　profile。　He　was　by　now　in　a　thoroughly　overwrought　condition；　and　the　thumping　of　his　heart　sounded　to　him　as　if　workmen　were　mending　the　street　outside。　How　beautiful　she　looked；　with　that　red　hair　peeping　out　beneath　her　hat　and　。。。　However！
　〃Is　there　anything　I　can　do　for　you？〃　he　asked　in　the　sort　of　voice　Widgery　might　have　used。　Sam　always　pictured　Widgery　as　a　small　man　with　bushy　eyebrows；　a　thin　face；　and　a　voice　like　a　rusty　file。
　〃Well；　I　really　wanted　to　see　Sir　Mallaby。〃
　〃My　father　has　been　called　away　on　important　business　to　Walton　Heath。　Cannot　I　act　as　his　substitute？〃
　〃Do　you　know　anything　about　the　law？〃
　〃Do　I　know　anything　about　the　law！〃　echoed　Sam；　amazed。　〃Do　I　know！　Why；　I　was　reading　my　Widgery　on　Nisi　Prius　Evidence　when　you　came　in。〃
　〃Oh；　were　you？〃　said　Billie　interested。　〃Do　you　always　read　on　the　floor。〃
　〃I　told　you　I　dropped　my　pen；〃　said　Sam　coldly。
　〃And　of　course　you　couldn't　read　without　that！　Well；　as　a　matter　of　fact；　this　has　nothing　to　do　with　Nisiwhat　you　said。〃
　〃I　have　not　specialised　exclusively　on　Nisi　Prius　Evidence。　I　know　the　law　in　all　its　branches。〃
　〃Then　what　would　you　do　if　a　man　insisted　on　playing　the　orchestrion　when　you　wanted　to　get　to　sleep？〃
　〃The　orchestrion？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃The　orchestrion；　eh？　Ah！　H'm！〃　said　Sam。
　〃You　still　haven't　made　it　quite　clear；〃　said　Billie。
　〃I　was　thinking。〃
　〃Oh；　if　you　want　to　think！〃
　〃Tell　me　the　facts；〃　said　Sam。
　〃Well；　Mr。　Mortimer　and　my　father　have　taken　a　house　together　in　the　country；　and　for　some　reason　or　other　they　have　quarrelled；　and　now　Mr。　Mortimer　is　doing　everything　he　can　to　make　father　unfortable。　Yesterday　afternoon　father　wanted　to　sleep；　and　Mr。　Mortimer　started　his　orchestrion　just　to　annoy　him。〃
　〃I　thinkI'm　not　quite　sureI　think　that's　a　tort；〃　said　Sam。
　〃A　what？〃
　〃Either　a　tort　or　a　misdemeanour。〃
　〃Why；　you　do　know　something　about　it　after　all！〃　cried　Billie；　startled　into　a　sort　of　friendliness　in　spite　of　herself。　And　at　the　words　and　the　sight　of　her　quick　smile　Sam's　professional　posure　reeled　on　its　foundations。　He　had　half　risen；　with　the　purpose　of　springing　up　and　babbling　of　the　passion　that　consumed　him；　when　the　chill　reflection　came　to　him　that　this　girl　had　once　said　that　she　considered　him　ridiculous。　If　he　let　himself　go；　would　she　not　continue　to　think　him　ridiculous？　He　sagged　back　into　his　seat　and　at　that　moment　there　came　another　tap　on　the　door　which；　opening；　revealed　the　sinister　face　of　the　holiday…making　Peters。
　〃Good　morning；　Mr。　Samuel；〃　said　Jno。　Peters。　〃Good　morning；　Miss　Milliken。　Oh！〃
　He　vanished　as　abruptly　as　he　had　appeared。　He　perceived　that　what　he　had　taken　at　first　glance　for　the　stenographer　was　a　client；　and　that　the　junior　partner　was　engaged　on　a　business　conference。　He　left　behind　him　a　momentary　silence。
　〃What　a　horrible…looking　man！〃　said　Billie；　breaking　it　with　a　little　gasp。　Jno。　Peters　often　affected　the　opposite　sex　like　that　at　first　sight。
　〃I　beg　your　pardon？〃　said　Sam　absently。
　〃What　a　dreadful…looking　man！　He　quite　frightened　me！〃
　For　some　moments　Sam　sat　without　speaking。　If　this　had　not　been　one　of　his　Napoleonic　mornings；　no　doubt　the　sudden　arrival　of　his　old　friend；　Mr。　Peters；　whom　he　had　imagined　at　his　home　in　Putney　packing