pgw.threemenandamaid-第17章

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s；　whom　he　had　imagined　at　his　home　in　Putney　packing　for　his　trip　to　America；　would　have　suggested　nothing　to　him。　As　it　was　it　suggested　a　great　deal。　He　had　had　a　brain…wave；　and　for　fully　a　minute　he　sat　tingling　under　its　impact。　He　was　not　a　young　man　who　often　had　brain…waves；　and；　when　they　came；　they　made　him　rather　dizzy。
　〃Who　is　he？〃　asked　Billie。　〃He　seemed　to　know　you？　And　who；〃　she　demanded　after　a　slight　pause；　〃is　Miss　Milliken？〃
　Sam　drew　a　deep　breath。
　〃It's　rather　a　sad　story；〃　he　said。　〃His　name　is　John　Peters。　He　used　to　be　clerk　here。〃
　〃But　isn't　he　any　longer？〃
　〃No。〃　Sam　shook　his　head。　〃We　had　to　get　rid　of　him。〃
　〃I　don't　wonder。　A　man　looking　like　that。。。。〃
　〃It　wasn't　that　so　much；〃　said　Sam。　〃The　thing　that　annoyed　father　was　that　he　tried　to　shoot　Miss　Milliken。〃
　Billie　uttered　a　cry　of　horror！
　〃He　tried　to　shoot　Miss　Milliken！〃
　〃He　did　shoot　herthe　third　time；〃　said　Sam　warming　to　his　work。　〃Only　in　the　arm；　fortunately；〃　he　added。　〃But　my　father　is　rather　a　stern　disciplinarian　and　he　had　to　go。　I　mean；　we　couldn't　keep　him　after　that。〃
　〃Good　gracious！〃
　〃She　used　to　be　my　father's　stenographer；　and　she　was　thrown　a　good　deal　with　Peters。　It　was　quite　natural　that　he　should　fall　in　love　with　her。　She　was　a　beautiful　girl；　with　rather　your　own　shade　of　hair。　Peters　is　a　man　of　volcanic　passions；　and；　when；　after　she　had　given　him　to　understand　that　his　love　was　returned；　she　informed　him　one　day　that　she　was　engaged　to　a　fellow　at　Ealing　West；　he　went　right　off　his　onionI　mean；　he　became　pletely　distraught。　I　must　say　that　he　concealed　it　very　effectively　at　first。　We　had　no　inkling　of　his　condition　till　he　came　in　with　the　pistol。　And；　after　that　。。。　well；　as　I　say；　we　had　to　dismiss　him。　A　great　pity；　for　he　was　a　good　clerk。　Still；　it　wouldn't　do。　It　wasn't　only　that　he　tried　to　shoot　Miss　Milliken。　That　wouldn't　have　mattered　so　much；　as　she　left　after　he　had　made　his　third　attempt；　and　got　married。　But　the　thing　became　an　obsession　with　him；　and　we　found　that　he　had　a　fixed　idea　that　every　red…haired　woman　who　came　into　the　office　was　the　girl　who　had　deceived　him。　You　can　see　how　awkward　that　made　it。　Red　hair　is　so　fashionable　nowadays。〃
　〃My　hair　is　red！〃　whispered　Billie　pallidly。
　〃Yes；　I　noticed　it　myself。　I　told　you　it　was　much　the　same　shade　as　Miss　Milliken's。　It's　rather　fortunate　that　I　happened　to　be　here　with　you　when　he　came。〃
　〃But　he　may　be　lurking　out　there　still！〃
　〃I　expect　he　is；〃　said　Sam　carelessly。　〃Yes；　I　suppose　he　is。　Would　you　like　me　to　go　and　send　him　away？　All　right。〃
　〃Butbut　is　it　safe？〃
　Sam　uttered　a　light　laugh。
　〃I　don't　mind　taking　a　risk　or　two　for　your　sake；〃　he　said；　and　sauntered　from　the　room；　closing　the　door　behind　him。　Billie　followed　him　with　worshipping　eyes。
　Jno。　Peters　rose　politely　from　the　chair　in　which　he　had　seated　himself　for　more　fortable　perusal　of　the　copy　of　　Home　Whispers　　which　he　had　brought　with　him　to　refresh　his　mind　in　the　event　of　the　firm　being　too　busy　to　see　him　immediately。　He　was　particularly　interested　in　the　series　of　chats　with　Young　Mothers。
　〃Hullo；　Peters；〃　said　Sam。　〃Want　anything？〃
　〃Very　sorry　to　have　disturbed　you；　Mr。　Samuel。　I　just　looked　in　to　say　good…bye。　I　sail　on　Saturday；　and　my　time　will　be　pretty　fully　taken　up　all　the　week。　I　have　to　go　down　to　the　country　to　get　some　final　instructions　from　the　client　whose　important　papers　I　am　taking　over。　I'm　sorry　to　have　missed　your　father；　Mr。　Samuel。〃
　〃Yes；　this　is　his　golf　day；　I'll　tell　him　you　looked　in。〃
　〃Is　there　anything　I　can　do　before　I　go？〃
　〃Do？〃
　〃Well〃Jno。　Peters　coughed　tactfully〃I　see　that　you　are　engaged　with　a　client；　Mr。　Samuel；　and　was　wondering　if　any　little　point　of　law　had　arisen　with　which　you　did　not　feel　yourself　quite　capable　of　coping；　in　which　case　I　might　perhaps　be　of　assistance。〃
　〃Oh；　that　lady；〃　said　Sam。　〃That　was　Miss　Milliken's　sister。〃
　〃Indeed？　I　didn't　know　Miss　Milliken　had　a　sister。〃
　〃No？〃　said　Sam。
　〃She　is　not　very　like　her　in　appearance。〃
　〃No。　This　one　is　the　beauty　of　the　family；　I　believe。　A　very　bright；　intelligent　girl。　I　was　telling　her　about　your　revolver　just　before　you　came　in；　and　she　was　most　interested。　It's　a　pity　you　haven't　got　it　with　you　now；　to　show　to　her。〃
　〃Oh；　but　I　have！　I　have；　Mr。　Samuel！〃　said　Peters；　opening　a　small　handbag　and　taking　out　a　hymn…book；　half　a　pound　of　mixed　chocolates；　a　tongue　sandwich；　and　the　pistol；　in　the　order　named。　〃I　was　on　my　way　to　the　Rupert　Street　range　for　a　little　practice。　I　should　be　glad　to　show　it　to　her。〃
　〃Well；　wait　here　a　minute　or　two；〃　said　Sam；　〃I'll　have　finished　talking　business　in　a　moment；〃
　He　returned　to　the　inner　office。
　〃Well？〃　cried　Billie。
　〃Eh？　Oh；　he's　gone；〃　said　Sam。　〃I　persuaded　him　to　go　away。　He　was　a　little　excited；　poor　fellow。　And　now　let　us　return　to　what　we　were　talking　about。　You　say。。。。〃　He　broke　off　with　an　exclamation；　and　glanced　at　his　watch。　〃Good　Heavens！　I　had　no　idea　of　the　time。　I　promised　to　run　up　and　see　a　man　in　one　of　the　offices　in　the　next　court。　He　wants　to　consult　me　on　some　difficulty　which　has　arisen　with　one　of　his　clients。　Rightly　or　wrongly　he　values　my　advice。　Can　you　spare　me　for　a　short　while？　I　shan't　be　more　than　ten　minutes。〃
　〃Certainly。〃
　〃Here　is　something　you　may　care　to　look　at　while　I'm　gone。　I　don't　know　if　you　have　read　it？　Widgery　on　Nisi　Prius　Evidence。　Most　interesting。〃
　He　went　out。　Jno。　Peters　looked　up　from　his　　Home　Whispers　。
　〃You　can　go　in　now；〃　said　Sam。
　〃Certainly；　Mr。　Samuel；　certainly。〃
　Sam　took　up　the　copy　of　　Home　Whispers　；　and　sat　down　with　his　feet　on　the　desk。　He　turned　to　the　serial　story　and　began　to　read　the　synopsis。
　In　the　inner　room；　Billie；　who　had　rejected　the　mental　refreshment　offered　by　Widgery；　and　was　engaged　in　making　a　tour　of　the　office；　looking　at　the　portraits　of　whiskered　men　whom　she　took　correctly　to　be　the　Thorpes；　Prescotts；　Winslows　and　Applebys　mentioned　on　the　contents…bill　outside；　was　surprised　to　hear　the　door　open　at　her　back。　She　had　not　expected　Sam　to　return　so　instantaneously。
　Nor　had　he　done　so。　It　was　not　Sam　who　entered。　It　was　a　man　of　repellent　aspect　whom　she　recognised　instantly；　for　Jno。　Peters　was　one　of　those　men　who；　once　seen；　are　not　easily　forgotten。　He　was　smiling；　a　cruel；　cunning　smileat　least；　she　thought　he　was；　Mr。　Peters　himself　was　under　the　impression　that　his　face　was　wreathed　in　a　benevolent　simper；　and　in　his　hand　he　bore　the　largest　pistol　ever　seen　outside　a　motion　picture　studio。
　〃How　do　you　do；　Miss　Milliken？〃　he　said。
　
　CHAPTER　TWELVE
　
　Billie　had　been　standing　near　the　wall；　inspecting　a　portrait　of　the　late　Mr。　Josiah　Appleby；　of　which　the　kindest　thing　one　can　say　is　that　one　hopes　it　did　not　do　him　justice。　She　now　shrank　back　against　this　wall；　as　if　she　were　trying　to　get　through　it。　The　edge　of　the　portrait's　frame　tilted　her　hat　out　of　the　straight；　but　in　this　supreme　moment　she　did　not　even　notice　it。
　〃Erhow　do　you　do？〃　she　said。
　If　she　had　not　been　an　exceedingly　pretty　girl；　one　would　have　said　that　she　spoke　squeakily。　The　fighting　spirit　of　the　Bennetts；　though　it　was　considerable　fighting　spirit；　had　not　risen　to　this　emergency。　It　had　ebbed　out　of　her；　leaving　in　its　place　a　cold　panic。　She　had　seen　this　sort　of　thing　in　the　moviesthere　was　one　series　of　pictures；　The　Dangers　of　Diana；　where　something　of　the　kind　had　happened　to　the　heroine　in　every　reelbut　she　had　not　anticipated　that　it　would　ever　happen　to　her：　and　consequently　she　had　not　thought　out　any　plan　for　coping　with　such　a　situation。　A　grave　error。　In　this　world　one　should　be　prepared　for　everything；　or　where　is　one？　The　best　she　could　do　was　to　stand　and　stare　at　the　intruder。　It　would　have　done　Sam　Marlowe　goodhe　had　now　finished　the　synopsis　and　was　skimming　through　the　current　instalmentif　he　could　have　known　how　she　yearned　for　his　return。
　〃I've　brought　the　revolver；〃　said　Mr。　Peters。
　〃Soso　I　see！〃　said　Billie。
　Mr。　Peters　nursed　the　weapon　affectionately　in　his　hand。　He　was　rather　a　shy　man　with　women　as　a　rule；　but　what　Sam　had　told　him　about　her　being　interested　in　his　revolver　had　made　his　heart　warm　to　this　girl。
　〃I　was　just　on　my　way　to　have　a　little　practice　at　the　range；〃　he　said。　〃Then　I　thought　I　might　as　well　look　in　here。〃
　〃I　supposeI　suppose　you're　a　good　shot？〃　quavered　Billie。
　〃I　seldom　miss；〃　said　Jno。　Peters。
　Billie　shuddered。　Then；　reflecting　that　the　longer　she　engaged　this　maniac　in　conversation；　the　more　hope　there　was　of　Sam　ing　back　in　time　to　save　her；　she　essayed　further　small…talk。
　〃It'sit's　very　ugly！〃
　〃Oh；　no！〃　said　Mr。　Peters；　hurt。
　Billie　perceived　that　she　had　said　the　wrong　thing。
　〃Very　deadly…looking；　I　meant；〃　she　corrected　herself　hastily。
　〃It　may　have　deadly　work　to　do；　Miss　Milliken；〃　said　Mr。　Peters。
　Conversation　languished　again。　Billie　had　no　further　remarks　to　make　of　immediate　interest；　and　Mr。　Peters　was　struggling　with　a　return　of　the　deplorable　shyness　which　so　handicapped　him　in　his　dealings　with　the　other　sex。　After　a　few　moments；　he　pulled　himself　together　again；　and；　as　his　first　act　was　to　replace　the　pistol　in　the　pocket　of　his　coat；　Billie　became　conscious　of　a　faint　stirring　of　relief。
　〃The　great　thing；〃　said　Jno。　Peters；　〃is　to　learn　to　draw　quickly。　Like　this！〃　he　added；　producing　the　revolver　with　something　of　the　smoothness　and　rapidity　with　which　Billie；　in　happier　moments；　had　seen　conjurers　take　a　bowl　of　gold　fish　out　of　a　tall　hat。　〃Everything　depends　on　getting　the　first　shot！　The　first　shot；　Miss　Milliken；　is　vital。〃
　Suddenly　Billie　had　an　inspiration。　It　was　hopeless　she　knew；　to　try　to　convince　this　poor　demented　creature；　obsessed　with　his　　idee　fixe　；　that　she　was　not　Miss　Milliken。　Denial　would　be　a　waste　of　time；　and　might　even　infuriate　him　into　precipitating　the　tragedy。　It　was　imperative　that　she　should　humour　him。　And；　while　she　was　humouring　him；　it　suddenly　occurred　to　her；　why　not　do　it　thoroughly。
　〃Mr。　Peters；〃　she　cried；　〃you　are　quite　mistaken！〃
　〃I　beg　your　pardon；〃　said　Jno。　Peters；　with　not　a　little　asperity。　〃Nothing　of　the　kind！〃
　〃You　are！〃
　〃I　assure　you　I　am　not。　Quickness　in　the　draw　is　essential。〃
　〃You　have　been　misinformed。〃
　〃Well；　I　had　it　direct　from　the　man　at　the　Rupert　Street　range；〃　said　Mr。　Peters　stiffly。　〃And　if　you　had　ever　seen　a　picture　called　Two…Gun　Thomas。。。。〃
　〃Mr。　Peters！〃　cried　Billie　desperately。　He　was　making　her　head　swim　with　his　meaningless　ravings。　〃Mr。　Peters；　hear　me！　I　am　not　married　to　a　man　at　Ealing　West！〃
　Mr。　Peters　betrayed　no　excitement　at　the　information。　This　girl　seemed　for　some　reason　to　consider　her　situation　an　extraordinary　one；　but　many　women；　he　was　aware；　were　in　a　similar　position。　In　fact；　he　could　not　at　the　moment　think　of　any　of　his　feminine　acquaintances　who　　were　　married　to　men　at　Ealing　West。
　〃Indeed？〃　he　said　politely。
　〃Won't　you　believe　me？〃　exclaimed　Billie　wildly。
　〃Why；　certainly；　certainly；〃　said　Jno。　Peters。
　〃Thank　God！〃　said　Billie。　〃I'm　not　even　engaged！　It's　all　been　a　terrible　mistake！〃
　When　two　people　in　a　small　room　are　speaking　on　two　distinct　and　different　subjects　and　neither　knows　what　o