pgw.threemenandamaid-第27章

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ood　sort。　I　hope　you'll　be　very　happy。〃
　〃Thank　you　ever　so　much；　Mr。　Marlowe。　I'm　sure　we　shall。〃
　〃Eustace　is　one　of　the　best。〃
　〃How　nice　of　you　to　say　so。〃
　〃All　this；〃　interrupted　Mrs。　Hignett；　who　had　been　a　chafing　auditor　of　this　interchange　of　courtesies；　〃is　beside　the　point。　Why　did　you　dance　in　the　hall；　Samuel；　and　play　the　orchestrion？〃
　〃Yes；〃　said　Mr。　Bennett；　reminded　of　his　grievance；　〃waking　people　up。〃
　〃Scaring　us　all　to　death！〃　plained　Mr。　Mortimer。
　〃I　remember　you　as　a　boy；　Samuel；〃　said　Mrs。　Hignett；　〃lamentably　lacking　in　consideration　for　others　and　concentrated　only　on　your　selfish　pleasures。　You　seem　to　have　altered　very　little。〃
　〃Don't　ballyrag　the　poor　man；〃　said　Jane　Hubbard。　〃Be　human！　Lend　him　a　can…opener！〃
　〃I　shall　do　nothing　of　the　sort；〃　said　Mrs。　Hignett。　〃I　never　liked　him　and　I　dislike　him　now。　He　has　got　himself　into　this　trouble　through　his　own　wrong…headedness。〃
　〃It's　not　his　fault　his　head's　the　wrong　size；〃　said　Jane。
　〃He　must　get　himself　out　as　best　he　can；〃　said　Mrs。　Hignett。
　〃Very　well；〃　said　Sam　with　bitter　dignity。　〃Then　I　will　not　trespass　further　on　your　hospitality；　Aunt　Adeline。　I　have　no　doubt　the　local　blacksmith　will　be　able　to　get　this　damned　thing　off　me。　I　shall　go　to　him　now。　I　will　let　you　have　the　helmet　back　by　parcel…post　at　the　earliest　possible　opportunity。　Good　night！〃　He　walked　coldly　to　the　front　door。　〃And　there　are　people；〃　he　remarked　sardonically；　〃who　say　that　blood　is　thicker　than　water！　I'll　bet　they　never　had　any　aunts！〃
　5
　Billie；　meanwhile；　with　Bream　trotting　docilely　at　her　heels；　had　reached　the　garage　and　started　the　car。　Like　all　cars　which　have　been　spending　a　considerable　time　in　secluded　inaction；　it　did　not　start　readily。　At　each　application　of　Billie's　foot　on　the　self…starter；　it　emitted　a　tinny　and　reproachful　sound　and　then　seemed　to　go　to　sleep　again。　Eventually；　however；　the　engines　began　to　revolve　and　the　machine　moved　reluctantly　out　into　the　drive。
　〃The　battery　must　be　run　down；〃　said　Billie。
　〃All　right；〃　said　Bream。
　Billie　cast　a　glance　of　contempt　at　him　out　of　the　corner　of　her　eyes。　She　hardly　knew　why　she　had　spoken　to　him　except　that；　as　all　automobilists　are　aware；　the　impulse　to　say　rude　things　about　their　battery　is　almost　irresistible。　To　an　automobilist　the　art　of　conversation　consists　in　rapping　out　scathing　remarks　either　about　the　battery　or　the　oiling…system。
　Billie　switched　on　the　head…lights　and　turned　the　car　down　the　dark　drive。　She　was　feeling　thoroughly　upset。　Her　idealistic　nature　had　received　a　painful　shock　on　the　discovery　of　the　yellow　streak　in　Bream。　To　call　it　a　yellow　streak　was　to　understate　the　facts。　It　was　a　great　belt　of　saffron　encircling　his　whole　soul。　That　she；　Wilhelmina　Bennett；　who　had　gone　through　the　world　seeking　a　Galahad；　should　finish　her　career　as　the　wife　of　a　man　who　hid　under　beds　simply　because　people　shot　at　him　with　elephant　guns　was　abhorrent　to　her。　Why；　Samuel　Marlowe　would　have　perished　rather　than　do　such　a　thing。　You　might　say　what　you　liked　about　Samuel　Marloweand；　of　course；　his　habit　of　playing　practical　jokes　put　him　beyond　the　palebut　nobody　could　question　his　courage。　Look　at　the　way　he　had　dived　overboard　that　time　in　the　harbour　at　New　York！　Billie　found　herself　thinking　hard　about　Samuel　Marlowe。
　There　are　only　a　few　makes　of　car　in　which　you　can　think　hard　about　anything　except　the　actual　driving　without　stalling　the　engines；　and　Mr。　Bennett's　Twin…Six　plex　was　not　one　of　them。　It　stopped　as　if　it　had　been　waiting　for　the　signal。　The　noise　of　the　engine　died　away。　The　wheels　ceased　to　revolve。　The　automobile　did　everything　except　lie　down。　It　was　a　particularly　pig…headed　car　and　right　from　the　start　it　had　been　unable　to　see　the　sense　in　this　midnight　expedition。　It　seemed　now　to　have　the　idea　that　if　it　just　lay　low　and　did　nothing；　presently　it　would　be　taken　back　to　its　cosy　garage。
　Billie　trod　on　the　self…starter。　Nothing　happened。
　〃You'll　have　to　get　down　and　crank　her；〃　she　said　curtly。
　〃All　right；〃　said　Bream。
　〃Well；　go　on；〃　said　Billie　impatiently。
　〃Eh？〃
　〃Get　out　and　crank　her。〃
　Bream　emerged　for　an　instant　from　his　trance。
　〃All　right；〃　he　said。
　The　art　of　cranking　a　car　is　one　that　is　not　given　to　all　men。　Some　of　our　greatest　and　wisest　stand　helpless　before　the　task。　It　is　a　job　towards　the　consummation　of　which　a　noble　soul　and　a　fine　brain　help　not　at　all。　A　man　may　have　all　the　other　gifts　and　yet　be　unable　to　acplish　a　task　the　fellow　at　the　garage　does　with　one　quiet　quick　flick　of　the　wrist　without　even　bothering　to　remove　his　chewing　gum。　This　being　so；　it　was　not　only　unkind　but　foolish　of　Billie　to　grow　impatient　as　Bream's　repeated　efforts　failed　of　their　object。　It　was　wrong　of　her　to　click　her　tongue；　and　certainly　she　ought　not　to　have　told　Bream　that　he　was　not　fit　to　churn　butter。　But　women　are　an　emotional　sex　and　must　be　forgiven　much　in　moments　of　mental　stress。
　〃Give　it　a　good　sharp　twist；〃　she　said。
　〃All　right；〃　said　Bream。
　〃Here；　let　me　do　it；〃　cried　Billie。
　She　jumped　down　and　snatched　the　thingummy　from　his　hand。　With　bent　brows　and　set　teeth　she　wrenched　it　round。　The　engine　gave　a　faint　protesting　mutter；　like　a　dog　that　has　been　disturbed　in　its　sleep；　and　was　still　once　more。
　〃May　I　help？〃
　It　was　not　Bream　who　spoke　but　a　strange　voicea　sepulchral　voice；　the　sort　of　voice　someone　would　have　used　in　one　of　Edgar　Allen　Poe's　cheerful　little　tales　if　he　had　been　buried　alive　and　were　speaking　from　the　family　vault。　ing　suddenly　out　of　the　night　it　affected　Bream　painfully。　He　uttered　a　sharp　exclamation　and　gave　a　bound　which；　if　he　had　been　a　Russian　dancer；　would　probably　have　caused　the　management　to　raise　his　salary。　He　was　in　no　frame　of　mind　to　bear　up　under　sudden　sepulchral　voices。
　Billie；　on　the　other　hand；　was　pleased。　The　high…spirited　girl　was　just　beginning　to　fear　that　she　was　unequal　to　the　task　which　she　had　chided　Bream　for　being　unable　to　perform　and　this　was　mortifying　her。
　〃Oh；　would　you　mind？　Thank　you　so　much。　The　self…starter　has　gone　wrong。〃
　Into　the　glare　of　the　head…lights　there　stepped　a　strange　figure；　strange；　that　is　to　say；　in　these　tame　modern　times。　In　the　Middle　Ages　he　would　have　excited　no　ment　at　all。　Passers…by　would　simply　have　said　to　themselves；　〃Ah；　another　of　those　knights　off　after　the　dragons！〃　and　would　have　gone　on　their　way　with　a　civil　greeting。　But　in　the　present　age　it　is　always　somewhat　startling　to　see　a　helmeted　head　pop　up　in　front　of　your　automobile。　At　any　rate；　it　startled　Bream。　I　will　go　further。　It　gave　Bream　the　shock　of　a　lifetime。　He　had　had　shocks　already　that　night；　but　none　to　be　pared　with　this。　Or　perhaps　it　was　that　this　shock；　ing　on　top　of　those　shocks；　affected　him　more　disastrously　than　it　would　have　done　if　it　had　been　the　first　of　the　series　instead　of　the　last。　One　may　express　the　thing　briefly　by　saying　that；　as　far　as　Bream　was　concerned；　Sam's　unconventional　appearance　put　the　lid　on　it。　He　did　not　hesitate。　He　did　not　pause　to　make　ments　or　ask　questions。　With　a　single　cat…like　screech　which　took　years　off　the　lives　of　the　abruptly　wakened　birds　roosting　in　the　neighbouring　trees；　he　dashed　away　towards　the　house　and；　reaching　his　room；　locked　the　door　and　pushed　the　bed；　the　chest　of　drawers；　two　chairs；　the　towel　stand；　and　three　pairs　of　boots　against　it。　Only　then　did　he　feel　paratively　safe。
　Out　on　the　drive　Billie　was　staring　at　the　man　in　armour　who　had　now；　with　a　masterful　wrench　which　informed　the　car　right　away　that　he　would　stand　no　nonsense；　set　the　engine　going　again。
　〃Whywhy；〃　she　stammered；　〃why　are　you　wearing　that　thing　on　your　head？〃
　〃Because　I　can't　get　it　off。〃
　Hollow　as　the　voice　was；　Billie　recognised　it。
　〃SMr。　Marlowe！〃　she　exclaimed。
　〃Get　in；〃　said　Sam。　He　had　seated　himself　at　the　steering　wheel。　〃Where　can　I　take　you？〃
　〃Go　away！〃　said　Billie。
　〃Get　in！〃
　〃I　don't　want　to　talk　to　you。〃
　〃I　want　to　talk　to　　you！　　Get　in！〃
　〃I　won't。〃
　Sam　bent　over　the　side　of　the　car；　put　his　hands　under　her　arms；　lifted　her　like　a　kitten　and　deposited　her　on　the　seat　beside　him。　Then　throwing　in　the　clutch；　he　drove　at　an　ever　increasing　speed　down　the　drive　and　out　into　the　silent　road。　Strange　creatures　of　the　night　came　and　went　in　the　golden　glow　of　the　head…lights。
　6
　〃Put　me　down；〃　said　Billie。
　〃You'd　get　hurt　if　I　did；　travelling　at　this　pace。〃
　〃What　are　you　going　to　do？〃
　〃Drive　about　till　you　promise　to　marry　me。〃
　〃You'll　have　to　drive　a　long　time。〃
　〃Right　ho！〃　said　Sam。
　The　car　took　a　corner　and　purred　down　a　lane。　Billie　reached　out　a　hand　and　grabbed　at　the　steering　wheel。　〃Of　course；　if　you　　want　　to　smash　up　in　a　ditch！〃　said　Sam；　righting　the　car　with　a　wrench。
　〃You're　a　brute！〃　said　Billie。
　〃Cave…man　stuff；〃　explained　Sam；　〃I　ought　to　have　tried　it　before。〃
　〃I　don't　know　what　you　expect　to　gain　by　this。〃
　〃That's　all　right；〃　said　Sam；　〃I　know　what　I'm　about。〃
　〃I'm　glad　to　hear　it。〃
　〃I　thought　you　would　be。〃
　〃I'm　not　going　to　talk　to　you。〃
　〃All　right。　Lean　back　and　doze　off。　We've　the　whole　night　before　us。〃
　〃What　do　you　mean？〃　cried　Billie；　sitting　up　with　a　jerk。
　〃Have　you　ever　been　to　Scotland？〃
　〃What　do　you　mean？〃
　〃I　thought　we　might　push　up　there。　We've　got　to　go　somewhere　and；　oddly　enough；　I've　never　been　to　Scotland。〃
　Billie　regarded　him　blankly。
　〃Are　you　crazy？〃
　〃I'm　crazy　about　you。　If　you　knew　what　I've　gone　through　to…night　for　your　sake　you'd　be　more　sympathetic。　I　love　you；〃　said　Sam　swerving　to　avoid　a　rabbit。　〃And　what's　more；　you　know　it。〃
　〃I　don't　care。〃
　〃You　will！〃　said　Sam　confidently。　〃How　about　North　Wales？　I've　heard　people　speak　well　of　North　Wales。　Shall　we　head　for　North　Wales？〃
　〃I'm　engaged　to　Bream　Mortimer。〃
　〃Oh　no；　that's　all　off；〃　Sam　assured　her。
　〃It's　not！〃
　〃Right　off！〃　said　Sam　firmly。　〃You　could　never　bring　yourself　to　marry　a　man　who　dashed　away　like　that　and　deserted　you　in　your　hour　of　need。　Why；　for　all　he　knew；　I　might　have　tried　to　murder　you。　And　he　ran　away！　No；　no；　we　eliminate　Bream　Mortimer　once　and　for　all。　He　won't　do！〃
　This　was　so　exactly　what　Billie　was　feeling　herself　that　she　could　not　bring　herself　to　dispute　it。
　〃Anyway；　I　hate　　you　！〃　she　said；　giving　the　conversation　another　turn。
　〃Why？　In　the　name　of　goodness；　why？〃
　〃How　dared　you　make　a　fool　of　me　in　your　father's　office　that　morning？〃
　〃It　was　a　sudden　inspiration。　I　had　to　do　something　to　make　you　think　well　of　me；　and　I　thought　it　might　meet　the　case　if　I　saved　you　from　a　lunatic　with　a　pistol。　It　wasn't　my　fault　that　you　found　out。〃
　〃I　shall　never　forgive　you！〃
　〃Why　not　Cornwall？〃　said　Sam。　〃The　Riviera　of　England！　Let's　go　to　Cornwall。　I　beg　your　pardon。　What　were　you　saying？〃
　〃I　said　I　should　never　forgive　you　and　I　won't。〃
　〃Well；　I　hope　you're　fond　of　motoring；〃　said　Sam；　〃because　we're　going　on　till　you　do。〃
　〃Very　well！　Go　on；　then！〃
　〃I　intend　to。　Of　course；　it's　all　right　now　while　it's　dark。　But　have　you　considered　what　is　going　to　happen　when　the　sun　gets　up？　We　shall　have　a　sort　of　triumphal　procession。　How　the　small　boys　will　laugh　when　they　see　a　man　in　a　helmet　go　by　in　a