pgw.threemenandamaid-第18章

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　〃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　on　earth　the　other　is　driving　at；　there　is　bound　to　be　a　certain　amount　of　mental　confusion：　but　at　this　point　Jno。　Peters；　though　still　not　wholly　equal　to　the　intellectual　pressure　of　the　conversation；　began　to　see　a　faint　shimmer　of　light　behind　the　clouds。　In　a　nebulous　kind　of　way　he　began　to　understand　that　the　girl　had　e　to　consult　the　firm　about　a　breach…of…promise　action。　Some　unknown　man　at　Ealing　West　had　been　trifling　with　her　hearthardened　lawyer's　clerk　a　he　was；　that　poignant　cry　〃I'm　not　engaged！〃　had　touched　Mr。　Petersand　she　wished　to　start　proceedings。　Mr。　Peters　felt　almost　in　his　depth　again。　He　put　the　revolver　in　his　pocket；　and　drew　out　a　note…book。
　〃I　should　be　glad　to　hear　the　facts；〃　he　said　with　professional　courtesy。　〃In　the　absence　of　the　Guv'nor。。。。〃
　〃I　have　told　you　the　facts！〃
　〃This　man　at　Ealing　West；〃　said　Mr。　Peters；　moistening　the　point　of　his　pencil；　〃he　wrote　you　letters　proposing　marriage？〃
　〃No；　no；　no！〃
　〃At　any　rate；〃　said　Mr。　Peters；　disappointed　but　hopeful；　〃he　made　love　to　you　before　witnesses？〃
　〃Never！　Never！　There　is　no　man　at　Ealing　West！　There　never　was　a　man　at　Ealing　West！〃
　It　was　at　this　point　that　Jno。　Peters　began　for　the　first　time　to　entertain　serious　doubts　of　the　girl's　mental　balance。　The　most　elementary　acquaintance　with　the　latest　census　was　enough　to　tell　him　that　there　were　any　number　of　men　at　Ealing　West。　The　place　was　full　of　them。　Would　a　sane　woman　have　made　an　assertion　to　the　contrary？　He　thought　not；　and　he　was　glad　that　he　had　the　revolver　with　him。　She　had　done　nothing　as　yet　actively　violent；　but　it　was　nice　to　feel　prepared。　He　took　it　out　and　laid　it　nonchalantly　in　his　lap。
　The　sight　of　the　weapon　acted　on　Billie　electrically。　She　flung　out　her　hands；　in　a　gesture　of　passionate　appeal；　and　played　her　last　card。
　〃I　love　　you　！〃　she　cried。　She　wished　she　could　have　remembered　his　first　name。　It　would　have　rounded　off　the　sentence　neatly。　In　such　a　moment　she　could　hardly　call　him　'Mr。　Peters。'　〃You　are　the　only　man　I　love。〃
　〃My　gracious　goodness！〃　ejaculated　Mr。　Peters；　and　nearly　fell　over　backwards。　To　a　naturally　shy　man　this　sudden　and　wholly　unexpected　declaration　was　disconcerting：　and　the　clerk　was；　moreover；　engaged。　He　blushed　violently。　And　yet；　even　in　that　moment　of　consternation；　he　could　not　check　a　certain　thrill。　No　man　ever　thinks　he　is　as　homely　as　he　really　is；　but　Jno。　Peters　had　always　e　fairly　near　to　a　correct　estimate　of　his　charms；　and　it　had　always　seemed　to　him；　that；　in　inducing　his　fiancee　to　accept　him；　he　had　gone　some。　He　now　began　to　wonder　if　he　were　not　really　rather　a　devil　of　a　chap　after　all。　There　must；　he　felt；　be　precious　few　men　going　about　capable　of　inspiring　devotion　like　this　on　the　strength　of　about　six　and　a　half　minutes　casual　conversation。
　Calmer　thoughts　succeeded　this　little　flicker　of　placency。　The　girl　was　mad。　That　was　the　fact　of　the　matter。　He　got　up　and　began　to　edge　towards　the　door。　Mr。　Samuel　would　be　returning　shortly；　and　he　ought　to　be　warned。
　〃So　that's　all　right；　isn't　it！〃　said　Billie。
　〃Oh；　quite；　quite！〃　said　Mr。　Peters。　〃Erthank　you　very　much！〃
　〃I　thought　you　would　be　pleased；〃　said　Billie；　relieved；　but　puzzled。　For　a　man　of　volcanic　passions；　as　Sam　Marlowe　had　described　him；　he　seemed　to　be　taking　the　thing　very　calmly。　She　had　anticipated　a　strenuous　scene。
　〃Oh；　it's　a　great　pliment；〃　Mr。　Peters　assured　her。
　At　this　point　Sam　came　in；　interrupting　the　conversation　at　a　moment　when　it　had　reached　a　somewhat　difficult　stage。　He　had　finished　the　instalment　of　the　serial　story　in　　Home　Whispers　；　and；　looking　at　his　watch　he　fancied　that　he　had　allowed　sufficient　time　to　elapse　for　events　to　have　matured　along　the　lines　which　his　imagination　had　indicated。
　The　atmosphere　of　the　room　seemed　to　him；　as　he　entered；　a　little　strained。　Billie　looked　pale　and　agitated。　Mr。　Peters　looked　rather　agitated　too。　Sam　caught　Billie's　eye。　It　had　an　unspoken　appeal　in　it。　He　gave　an　imperceptible　nod；　a　reassuring　nod；　the　nod　of　a　man　who　understood　all　and　was　prepared　to　handle　the　situation。
　〃e；　Peters；〃　he　said　in　a　deep；　firm；　quiet　voice；　laying　a　hand　on　the　clerk's　arm。　〃It's　time　that　you　went。〃
　〃Yes；　indeed；　Mr。　Samuel！　yes；　yes；　indeed！〃
　〃I'll　see　you　out；〃　said　Sam　soothingly；　and　led　him　through　the　outer　office　and　on　to　the　landing　outside。　〃Well；　good　luck；　Peters；〃　he　said；　as　they　stood　at　the　head　of　the　stairs。　〃I　hope　you　have　a　pleasant　trip。　Why；　what's　the　matter？　You　seem　upset。〃
　〃That　girl；　Mr。　Samuel！　I　really　thinkreally；　she　cannot　be　quite　right　in　her　head。〃
　〃Nonsense；　nonsense！〃　said　Sam　firmly。　〃She's　all　right！　Well；　good…bye。〃
　〃Good…bye；　Mr。　Samuel。〃
　〃When　did　you　say　you　were　sailing？〃
　〃Next　Saturday；　Mr。　Samuel。　But　I　fear　I　shall　have　no　opportunity　of　seeing　you　again　before　then。　I　have　packing　to　do　and　I　have　to　see　this　gentleman　down　in　the　country。。。。〃
　〃All　right。　Then　we'll　say　good…bye　now。　Good…bye；　Peters。　Mind　you　have　a　good　time　in　America。　I'll　tell　my　father　you　called。〃
　Sam　watched　him　out　of　sight　down　the　stairs；　then　turned　and　made　his　way　back　to　the　inner　office。　Billie　was　sitting　limply　on　the　chair　which　Jno。　Peters　had　occupied。。　She　sprang　to　her　feet。
　〃Has　he　really　gone？〃
　〃Yes；　he's　gone　this　time。〃
　〃Was　hewas　he　violent？〃
　〃A　little；〃　said　Sam；　〃a　little。　But　I　calmed　him　down。〃　He　looked　at　her　gravely。　〃Thank　God　I　was　in　time！〃
　〃Oh；　you　are　the　bravest　man　in　the　world！〃　cried　Billie；　and；　burying　her　face　in　her　hands；　burst　into　tears。
　〃There；　there！〃　said　Sam。　〃There；　there！　e　e！　It's　all　right　now！　There；　there；　there！〃
　He　knelt　down　beside　her。　He　slipped　one　arm　round　her　waist。　He　patted　her　hands。
　I　have　tried　to　draw　Samuel　Marlowe　so　that　he　will　live　on　the　printed　page。　I　have　endeavoured　to　delineate　his　character　so　that　it　will　be　as　an　open　book。　And；　if　I　have　succeeded　in　my　task；　the　reader　will　by　now　have　bee　aware　that　he　was　a　young　man　with　the　gall　of　an　Army　mule。　His　conscience；　if　he　had　ever　had　one；　had　bee　atrophied　through　long　disuse。　He　had　given　this　sensitive　girl　the　worst　fright　she　had　had　since　a　mouse　had　got　into　her　bedroom　at　school。　He　had　caused　Jno。　Peters　to　totter　off　to　the　Rupert　Street　range　making　low；　bleating　noises。　And　did　he　care？　No！　All　he　cared　about　was　the　fact　that　he　had　erased　for　ever　from　Billie's　mind　that　undignified　picture　of　himself　as　he　had　appeared　on　the　boat；　and　substituted　another　which　showed　him　brave；　resourceful；　gallant。　All　he　cared　about　was　the　fact　that　Billie；　so　cold　ten　minutes　before；　had　allowed　him　to　kiss　her　for　the　forty…second　time。　If　you　had　asked　him；　he　would　have　said　that　he　had　acted　for　the　best；　and　that　out　of　evil　eth　good；　or　some　sickening　thing　like　that。　That　was　the　sort　of　man　Samuel　Marlowe　was。
　His　face　was　very　close　to　Billie's；　who　had　cheered　up　wonderfully　by　this　time；　and　he　was　whispering　his　degraded　words　of　endearment　into　her　ear；　when　there　was　a　sort　of　explosion　in　the　doorway。　　〃Great　Godfrey！〃　exclaimed　Mr。　Rufus　Bennett；　gazing　on　the　scene　from　this　point　of　vantage　and　mopping　with　a　large　handkerchief　a　scarlet　face；　which；　as　the　result　of　climbing　three　flights　of　stairs；　had　bee　slightly　soluble。　〃Great　Heavens　above！〃
　
　CHAPTER　THIRTEEN
　
　Remarkable　as　the　apparition　of　Mr。　Bennett　appeared　to　his　daughter；　the　explanation　of　his　presence　at　that　moment　in　the　office　of　Marlowe；　Thorpe；　Prescott；　Winslow；　and　Appleby　was　simple。　He　had　woken　early　that　morning；　and；　glancing　at　his　watch　on　the　dressing…table；　he　had　suddenly　bee　aware　of　something　bright　and　yellow　beside　it；　and　had　paused；　transfixed；　like　Robinson　Crusoe　staring　at　the　footprint　in　the　sand。　If　he　had　not　been　in　England；　he　would　have　said　it　was　a　patch　of　sunshine。　Hardly　daring　to　hope；　he　pulled　up　the　shades　and　looked　out　on　the　garden。
　It　was　a　superb　morning。　It　was　as　if　some　giant　had　uncorked　a　great　bottle　full　of　the　distilled　scent　of　grass；　trees；　flowers；　and　hay。　Mr。　Bennett　sniffed　luxuriantly。　Gone　was　the　gloom　of　the　past　days；　swept　away　in　a　great　exhilaration。
　Breakfast　had　deepened　his　content。　Henry　Mortimer；　softened　by　the　same　balmy　influence；　had　been　perfectly　charming。　All　their　little　differences　had　melted　away　in　the　genial　warmth。　And　then　suddenly　Mr。　Bennett　remembered　that　he　had　sent　Billie　up　to　London　to　enlist　the　aid　of　the　Law　against　his　old　friend；　and　remorse　gripped　him。　Half　an　hour　later　he　was　in　the　train；　on　his　way　to　London　to　intercept　her　and　cancel　her　mission。　He　had　arrived；　breathless　at　Sir　Mallaby's　office；　and　the　first　thing　he　had　seen　was　his　daughter　in　the　arms　of　a　young　man　who　was　a　total　stranger　to　him。　The　shock　took　away　his　breath　again　just　as　it　was　ing　back。　He　advanced　shakily　into　the　room；　and　supported　himself　with　one　hand　on　the　desk；　while　with　the　other　he　plied　the　handkerchief　on　his　super…heated　face。
　Billie　was　the　first　to　speak。
　〃Why；　father；〃　she　said；　〃I　didn't　expect　you！〃
　As　an　explanation　of　her　behaviour　this　might；　no　doubt；　have　been　considered　sufficient；　but　as　an　excuse　for　it　Mr。　Bennett　thought　it　inadequate。　He　tried　to　convey　a　fatherly　reproof　by　puffing　like　a　seal　after　a　long　dive　in　search　of　fish。
　〃This　is　Sam；〃　proceeded　Billie。　〃Sam　Marlowe。〃
　Mr。　Bennett　became　aware　that　the　young　man　was　moving　towards　him　with　outstretched　hand。　It　took　a　lot　to　disconcert　Sam；　and　he　was　the　calmest　person　present。　He　gave　evidence　of　this　in　a　neat　speech。　He　did　not　in　so　many　words　congratulate　Mr。　Bennett　on　the　piece　of　luck　which　had　befallen　him；　but　he　tried　to　make　him　understand　by　his　manner　that　he　was　distinctly　to　be　envied　as　the　prospective　father…in…law　of　such　a　one　as　himself。
　Mr。　Bennett　stared　in　a　frozen　sort　of　way　at　the　hand。　He　had　placed　Sam　by　now。　He　knew　that　Sir　Mallaby　had　a　son。　This；　presumably；　was　he。　But　the　discovery　did　not　diminish　his　indignation。
　〃I　am　delighted　to　meet　you；　Mr。　Bennett；〃　said　Sam。　〃You　could　not　have　e　at　a　more　fortunate　moment。　You　see　for　yourself　how　things　are。　There　is　no　need　for　a　long　explanation。　You　came　to　find　a　daughter；　Mr。　Bennett；　and　you　have　found　a　son！〃
　And　he　would　like　to　see　the　man；　thought　Sam；　who　could　have　put　it　more　cleverly　and　pleasantly　and　tactfully　than　that。
　〃What　are　you　talking　about？〃　said　Mr。　Bennett；　recovering　breath。　〃I　haven't　got　a　son。〃
　〃I　will　be　a　son　to　you！　I　will　be　the　prop　of　your　declining　years。。。。〃
　〃What　the　devil　do　you　mean；　my　declining　years？〃　demanded　Mr。　Bennett　with　asperity。
　〃He　means　when　they　do　decline；　father　dear；〃　said　Billie。
　〃Of　course；　of　course；〃　said　Sam。　〃When　they　do　decline。　Not　till　then；　of　course！　I　wouldn't　dream　of　it。　But；　once　they　do　decline；　count　on　me！　And　I　should　like　to　say　for　my　part；〃　he　went　on　handsomely；　〃what　an　honour　I　think　it；　to　bee　the　son…in…law　of　a　man　like　Mr。　Bennett。　Bennett　of　New　York！〃　he　added　spaciously；　not