pgw.threemenandamaid-第20章

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　〃Sketching？〃　said　Mr。　Bennett。
　〃Yes；〃　said　Billie；　for　there　were　no　secrets　between　this　girl　and　her　father。　At　least；　not　many。　She　occasionally　omitted　to　tell　him　some　such　trifle　as　that　she　had　met　Samuel　Marlowe　on　the　previous　morning　in　a　leafy　lane；　and　intended　to　meet　him　again　this　afternoon；　but　apart　from　that　her　mind　was　an　open　book。
　〃It's　a　great　morning；〃　said　Mr。　Bennett。
　〃So　peaceful；〃　said　Billie。
　〃The　eggs　you　get　in　the　country　in　England；〃　said　Mr。　Bennett；　suddenly　striking　a　lyrical　note；　〃are　extraordinary。　I　had　three　for　breakfast　this　morning　which　defied　petition；　simply　defied　petition。　They　were　large　and　brown；　and　as　fresh　as　new…mown…hay！〃
　He　mused　for　a　while　in　a　sort　of　ecstasy。
　〃And　the　hams！〃　he　went　on。　〃The　ham　I　had　for　breakfast　was　what　I　call　ham！　I　don't　know　when　I've　had　ham　like　that。　I　suppose　it's　something　they　feed　the　pigs；〃　he　concluded；　in　soft　meditation。　And　he　gave　a　little　sigh。　Life　was　very　beautiful。
　Silence　fell；　broken　only　by　the　snoring　of　Smith。　Billie　was　thinking　of　Sam；　and　of　what　Sam　had　said　to　her　in　the　lane　yesterday；　of　his　clean…cut　face；　and　the　look　in　his　eyesso　vastly　superior　to　any　look　that　ever　came　into　the　eyes　of　Bream　Mortimer。　She　was　telling　herself　that　her　relations　with　Sam　were　an　idyll；　for；　being　young　and　romantic；　she　enjoyed　this　freshet　of　surreptitious　meetings　which　had　e　to　enliven　the　stream　of　her　life。　It　was　pleasant　to　go　warily　into　deep　lanes　where　forbidden　love　lurked。　She　cast　a　swift　side…glance　at　her　fatherthe　unconscious　ogre　in　her　fairy…story。　What　would　he　say　if　he　knew？　But　Mr。　Bennett　did　not　know；　and　consequently　continued　to　meditate　peacefully　on　ham。
　They　had　sat　like　this　for　perhaps　a　minutetwo　happy　mortals　lulled　by　the　gentle　beauty　of　the　daywhen　from　the　window　of　the　drawing…room　there　stepped　out　a　white…capped　maid。　And　one　may　just　as　well　say　at　onceand　have　done　with　itthat　this　is　the　point　where　the　quiet；　peaceful　scene　in　domestic　life　terminates　with　a　jerk；　and　pity　and　terror　resume　work　at　the　old　stand。
　The　maidher　name；　not　that　it　matters；　was　Susan；　and　she　was　engaged　to　be　married；　though　the　point　is　of　no　importance；　to　the　second　　assistant　at　Green's　Grocery　Stores　in　Windlehurstapproached　Mr。　Bennett。
　〃Please；　sir；　a　gentleman　to　see　you。〃
　〃Eh？〃　said　Mr。　Bennett；　torn　from　a　dream　of　large　pink　slices　edged　with　bread…crumbed　fat。　〃Eh？〃
　〃A　gentleman　to　see　you；　sir。　In　the　drawing…room。　He　says　you　are　expecting　him。〃
　〃Of　course；　yes。　To　be　sure。〃
　Mr。　Bennett　heaved　himself　out　of　the　deck…chair。　Beyond　the　French　windows　he　could　see　an　indistinct　form　in　a　gray　suit；　and　remembered　that　this　was　the　morning　on　which　Sir　Mallaby　Marlowe's　clerkwho　was　taking　those　Schultz　and　Bowen　papers　for　him　to　Americahad　written　that　he　would　call。　To…day　was　Friday；　no　doubt　the　man　was　sailing　from　Southampton　to…morrow。
　He　crossed　the　lawn；　entered　the　drawing…room；　and　found　Mr。　Jno。　Peters　with　an　expression　on　his　ill…favored　face；　which　looked　like　one　of　consternation；　of　uneasiness；　even　of　alarm。
　〃Morning；　Mr。　Peters；〃　said　Mr。　Bennett。　〃Very　good　of　you　to　run　down。　Take　a　seat；　and　I'll　just　go　through　the　few　notes　I　have　made　about　the　matter。〃
　〃Mr。　Bennett；〃　exclaimed　Jno。　Peters。　〃Maymay　I　speak？〃
　〃What　do　you　mean？　Eh？　What？　Something　to　say？　What　is　it？〃
　Mr。　Peters　cleared　his　throat　awkwardly。　He　was　feeling　embarrassed　at　the　unpleasantness　of　the　duty　which　he　had　to　perform；　but　it　was　a　duty；　and　he　did　not　intend　to　shrink　from　performing　it。　Ever　since；　gazing　appreciatively　through　the　drawing…room　windows　at　the　charming　scene　outside；　he　had　caught　sight　of　the　unforgettable　form　of　Billie；　seated　in　her　chair　with　the　sketching…block　on　her　knee；　he　had　realised　that　he　could　not　go　away　in　silence；　leaving　Mr。　Bennett　ignorant　of　what　he　was　up　against。
　One　almost　inclines　to　fancy　that　there　must　have　been　a　curse　of　some　kind　on　this　house　of　Windles。　Certainly　everybody　who　entered　it　seemed　to　leave　his　peace　of　mind　behind　him。　Jno。　Peters　had　been　feeling　notably　happy　during　his　journey　in　the　train　from　London；　and　the　subsequent　walk　from　the　station。　The　splendor　of　the　morning　had　soothed　his　nerves；　and　the　faint　wind　that　blew　inshore　from　the　sea　spoke　to　him　hearteningly　of　adventure　and　romance。　There　was　a　jar　of　pot…pourri　on　the　drawing…room　table；　and　he　had　derived　considerable　pleasure　from　sniffing　at　it。　In　short；　Jno。　Peters　was　in　the　pink；　without　a　care　in　the　world；　until　he　had　looked　out　of　the　window　and　seen　Billie。
　〃Mr。　Bennett；〃　he　said；　〃I　don't　want　to　do　anybody　any　harm；　and；　if　you　know　all　about　it；　and　she　suits　you；　well　and　good；　but　I　think　it　is　my　duty　to　inform　you　that　your　stenographer　is　not　quite　right　in　the　head。　I　don't　say　she's　dangerous；　but　she　isn't　pos。　She　decidedly　is　　not　　pos；　Mr。　Bennett！〃
　Mr。　Bennett　stared　at　his　well…wisher　dumbly　for　a　moment。　The　thought　crossed　his　mind　that；　if　ever　there　was　a　case　of　the　pot　calling　the　kettle　black；　this　was　it。　His　opinion　of　Jno。　Peters'　sanity　went　down　to　zero。
　〃What　are　you　talking　about？　My　stenographer？　What　stenographer？〃
　It　occurred　to　Mr。　Peters　that　a　man　of　the　other's　wealth　and　business　connections　might　well　have　a　troupe　of　these　useful　females。　He　particularised。
　〃I　mean　the　young　lady　out　in　the　garden　there；　to　whom　you　were　dictating　just　now。　The　young　lady　with　the　writing…pad　on　her　knee。〃
　〃What！　What！〃　Mr。　Bennett　spluttered。　〃Do　you　know　who　that　is？〃　he　exclaimed。
　〃Oh；　yes；　indeed！〃　said　Jno。　Peters。　〃I　have　only　met　her　once；　when　she　came　into　our　office　to　see　Mr。　Samuel；　but　her　personality　and　appearance　stamped　themselves　so　forcibly　on　my　mind；　that　I　know　I　am　not　mistaken。　I　am　sure　it　is　my　duty　to　tell　you　exactly　what　happened　when　I　was　left　alone　with　her　in　the　office。　We　had　hardly　exchanged　a　dozen　words；　Mr。　Bennett；　when〃　here　Jno。　Peters；　modest　to　the　core；　turned　vividly　pink；　〃when　she　told　meshe　told　me　that　I　was　the　only　man　she　loved！〃
　Mr。　Bennett　uttered　a　loud　cry。
　〃Sweet　spirits　of　nitre！〃
　Mr。　Peters　could　make　nothing　of　this　exclamation；　and　he　was　deterred　from　seeking　light；　by　the　sudden　action　of　his　host；　who；　bounding　from　his　seat；　with　a　vivacity　of　which　one　could　not　have　believed　him　capable；　charged　to　the　French　window　and　emitted　a　bellow。
　〃Wilhelmina！〃
　Billie　looked　up　from　her　sketching…book　with　a　start。　It　seemed　to　her　that　there　was　a　note　of　anguish；　of　panic；　in　that　voice。　What　her　father　could　have　found　in　the　drawing…room　to　be　frightened　at；　she　did　not　know；　but　she　dropped　her　block　and　hurried　to　his　assistance。
　〃What　it　is；　father？〃
　Mr。　Bennett　had　retired　within　the　room　when　she　arrived；　and；　going　in　after　him；　she　perceived　at　once　what　had　caused　his　alarm。　There　before　her；　looking　more　sinister　than　ever；　stood　the　lunatic　Peters；　and　there　was　an　ominous；　bulge　in　his　right　coat…pocket　which　betrayed　the　presence　of　the　revolver。　What　Jno。　Peters　was；　as　a　matter　of　fact；　carrying　in　his　right　coat…pocket　was　a　bag　of　mixed　chocolates　which　he　had　purchased　in　Windlehurst。　But　Billie's　eyes；　though　bright；　had　no　X…ray　quality。　Her　simple　creed　was　that；　if　Jno。　Peters　bulged　at　any　point；　that　bulge　must　be　caused　by　a　pistol。　She　screamed；　and　backed　against　the　wall。　Her　whole　acquaintance　with　Jno。　Peters　had　been　on　constant　backing　against　walls。
　〃Don't　shoot！〃　she　cried；　as　Mr。　Peters　absent…mindedly　dipped　his　hand　into　the　pocket　of　his　coat。　〃Oh；　please　don't　shoot！〃
　〃What　the　deuce　do　you　mean？〃　said　Mr。　Bennett；　irritably。
　He　hated　to　have　people　gibbering　around　him　in　the　morning。
　〃Wilhelmina；　this　man　says　that　you　told　him　you　loved　him。〃
　〃Yes；　I　did；　and　I　do。　Really；　really；　Mr。　Peters；　I　do！〃
　〃Suffering　cats！〃
　Mr。　Bennett　clutched　at　the　back　of　a　chair。
　〃But　you've　only　met　him　once！〃　he　added　almost　pleadingly。
　〃You　don't　understand；　father　dear；〃　said　Billie　desperately。　〃I'll　explain　the　whole　thing　later；　when。。。。〃
　〃Father！〃　ejaculated　Jno。　Peters　feebly。　〃Did　you　say　'father'？〃
　〃Of　course　I　said　'father'！〃
　〃This　is　my　daughter；　Mr。　Peters。〃
　〃My　daughter！　I　mean；　your　daughter！　Areare　you　sure？〃
　〃Of　course　I'm　sure。　Do　you　think　I　don't　know　my　own　daughter？〃
　〃But　she　called　me　'Mr。　Peters'！〃
　〃Well；　it's　your　name；　isn't　it？〃
　〃But；　if　sheif　this　young　lady　is　your　daughter；　how　did　she　know　my　name？〃
　The　point　seemed　to　strike　Mr。　Bennett。　He　turned　to　Billie。
　〃That's　true。　Tell　me；　Wilhelmina；　when　did　you　and　Mr。　Peters　meet？〃
　〃Why；　inin　Sir　Mallaby　Marlowe's　office；　the　morning　you　came　there　and　found　me　when　I　wastalking　to　Sam。〃
　Mr。　Peters　uttered　a　subdued　gargling　sound。　He　was　finding　this　scene　oppressive　to　a　not　very　robust　intellect。
　〃HeMr。　Samueltold　me　your　name；　Miss　Milliken；〃　he　said　dully。
　Billie　stared　at　him。
　〃Mr。　Marlowe　told　you　my　name　was　Miss　Milliken！〃　she　repeated。
　〃He　told　me　that　you　were　the　sister　of　the　Miss　Milliken　who　acts　as　stenographer　for　the　guv'for　Sir　Mallaby；　and　sent　me　in　to　show　you　my　revolver；　because　he　said　you　were　interested　and　wanted　to　see　it。〃
　Billie　uttered　an　exclamation。　So　did　Mr。　Bennett；　who　hated　mysteries。
　〃What　revolver？　Which　revolver？　What's　all　this　about　a　revolver？　Have　you　a　revolver？〃
　〃Why；　yes；　Mr。　Bennett。　It　is　packed　now　in　my　trunk；　but　usually　I　carry　it　about　with　me　everywhere　in　order　to　take　a　little　practice　at　the　Rupert　Street　range。　I　bought　it　when　Sir　Mallaby　told　me　he　was　sending　me　to　America；　because　I　thought　I　ought　to　be　preparedbecause　of　the　Underworld；　you　know。〃
　A　cold　gleam　had　e　into　Billie's　eyes。　Her　face　was　pale　and　hard。　If　Sam　Marloweat　that　moment　carolling　blithely　in　his　bedroom　at　the　Blue　Boar　in　Windlehurst；　washing　his　hands　preparatory　to　descending　to　the　coffee…room　for　a　bit　of　cold　lunchcould　have　seen　her；　the　song　would　have　frozen　on　his　lips。　Which；　one　might　mention；　as　showing　that　there　is　always　a　bright　side；　would　have　been　much　appreciated　by　the　travelling　gentleman　in　the　adjoining　room；　who　had　had　a　wild　night　with　some　other　travelling　gentlemen；　and　was　then　nursing　a　rather　severe　headache；　separated　from　Sam's　penetrating　baritone；　only　by　the　thickness　of　a　wooden　wall。
　Billie　knew　all。　And；　terrible　though　the　fact　is　as　an　indictment　of　the　male　sex；　when　a　woman　knows　all；　there　is　invariably　trouble　ahead　for　some　man。
　There　was　trouble　ahead　for　Sam　Marlowe。　Billie；　now　in　possession　of　the　facts；　had　examined　them　and　e　to　the　conclusion　that　Sam　had　played　a　practical　joke　on　her；　and　she　was　a　girl　who　strongly　disapproved　of　practical　humor　at　her　expense。
　〃That　morning　I　met　you　at　Sir　Mallaby's　office；　Mr。　Peters；〃　she　said　in　a　frosty　voice；　〃Mr。　Marlowe　had　just　finished　telling　me　a　long　and　convincing　story　to　the　effect　that　you　were　madly　in　love　with　a　Miss　Milliken；　who　had　jilted　you；　and　that　this　had　driven　you　off　your　head；　and　that　you　spent　your　time　going　about　with　a　pistol；　trying　to　shoot　every　red…haired　woman　you　saw；　because　you　thought　they　were　Miss　Milliken。　Naturall