the wheels of chance-第14章

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e　done？　Something　behind　the　gate　seemed　to　flutter。　The　man　must　be　got　rid　of　anyhow。

〃I　say；〃　said　Hoopdriver；　with　an　inspiration；　〃can　you　get　me　a　screwdriver？〃

The　man　simply　walked　across　the　shed；　opened　and　shut　a　box；　and　came　up　to　the　kneeling　Hoopdriver　with　a　screwdriver　in　his　hand。　Hoopdriver　felt　himself　a　lost　man。　He　took　the　screwdriver　with　a　tepid　〃Thanks；〃　and　incontinently　had　another　inspiration。

〃I　say；〃　he　said　again。

〃Well？〃

〃This　is　miles　too　big。〃

The　man　lit　the　lantern；　brought　it　up　to　Hoopdriver　and　put　it　down　on　the　ground。　〃Want　a　smaller　screwdriver？〃　he　said。

Hoopdriver　had　his　handkerchief　out　and　sneezed　a　prompt　ATICHEW。　It　is　the　orthodox　thing　when　you　wish　to　avoid　recognition。　〃As　small　as　you　have；〃　he　said；　out　of　his　pocket　handkerchief。

〃I　ain't　got　none　smaller　than　that；〃　said　the　ostler。

〃Won't　do；　really；〃　said　Hoopdriver；　still　wallowing　in　his　handkerchief。

〃I'll　see　wot　they　got　in　the　'ouse；　if　you　like；　sir；〃　said　the　man。　〃If　you　would；〃　said　Hoopdriver。　And　as　the　man's　heavily　nailed　boots　went　clattering　down　the　yard；　Hoopdriver　stood　up；　took　a　noiseless　step　to　the　lady's　machine；　laid　trembling　hands　on　its　handle　and　saddle；　and　prepared　for　a　rush。

The　scullery　door　opened　momentarily　and　sent　a　beam　of　warm；　yellow　light　up　the　road；　shut　again　behind　the　man；　and　forthwith　Hoopdriver　rushed　the　machines　towards　the　gate。　A　dark　grey　form　came　fluttering　to　meet　him。　〃Give　me　this；〃　she　said；　〃and　bring　yours。〃

He　passed　the　thing　to　her；　touched　her　hand　in　the　darkness；　ran　back；　seized　Bechamel's　machine；　and　followed。

The　yellow　light　of　the　scullery　door　suddenly　flashed　upon　the　cobbles　again。　It　was　too　late　now　to　do　anything　but　escape。　He　heard　the　ostler　shout　behind　him；　and　came　into　the　road。　She　was　up　and　dim　already。　He　got　into　the　saddle　without　a　blunder。　In　a　moment　the　ostler　was　in　the　gateway　with　a　full…throated　〃HI！　sir！　That　ain't　allowed；〃　and　Hoopdriver　was　overtaking　the　Young　Lady　in　Grey。　For　some　moments　the　earth　seemed　alive　with　shouts　of；　〃Stop　'em！〃　and　the　shadows　with　ambuscades　of　police。　The　road　swept　round；　and　they　were　riding　out　of　sight　of　the　hotel；　and　behind　dark　hedges；　side　by　side。

She　was　weeping　with　excitement　as　he　overtook　her。　〃Brave；〃　she　said；　〃brave！〃　and　he　ceased　to　feel　like　a　hunted　thief。　He　looked　over　his　shoulder　and　about　him；　and　saw　that　they　were　already　out　of　Bognorfor　the　Vicuna　stands　at　the　very　westernmost　extremity　of　the　sea　frontand　riding　on　a　fair　wide　road。



XXIII

The　ostler　（being　a　fool）　rushed　violently　down　the　road　vociferating　after　them。　Then　he　returned　panting　to　the　Vicuna　Hotel；　and　finding　a　group　of　men　outside　the　entrance；　who　wanted　to　know　what　was　UP；　stopped　to　give　them　the　cream　of　the　adventure。　That　gave　the　fugitives　five　minutes。　Then　pushing　breathlessly　into　the　bar；　he　had　to　make　it　clear　to　the　barmaid　what　the　matter　was；　and　the　'gov'nor'　being　out　；　they　spent　some　more　precious　time　wondering　'whatEVER'　was　to　be　done！　in　which　the　two　customers　returning　from　outside　joined　with　animation。　There　were　also　moral　remarks　and　other　irrelevant　contributions。　There　were　conflicting　ideas　of　telling　the　police　and　pursuing　the　flying　couple　on　a　horse。　That　made　ten　minutes。　Then　Stephen；　the　waiter；　who　had　shown　Hoopdriver　up；　came　down　and　lit　wonderful　lights　and　started　quite　a　fresh　discussion　by　the　simple　question　〃WHICH？〃　That　turned　ten　minutes　into　a　quarter　of　an　hour。　And　in　the　midst　of　this　discussion；　making　a　sudden　and　awestricken　silence；　appeared　Bechamel　in　the　hall　beyond　the　bar；　walked　with　a　resolute　air　to　the　foot　of　the　staircase；　and　passed　out　of　sight。　You　conceive　the　backward　pitch　of　that　exceptionally　shaped　cranium？　Incredulous　eyes　stared　into　one　another's　in　the　bar；　as　his　paces；　muffled　by　the　stair　carpet；　went　up　to　the　landing；　turned；　reached　the　passage　and　walked　into　the　dining…room　overhead。

〃It　wasn't　that　one　at　all；　miss；〃　said　the　ostler；〃I'd　SWEAR〃

〃Well；　that's　Mr。　Beaumont；〃　said　the　barmaid；　〃anyhow。〃

Their　conversation　hung　comatose　in　the　air；　switched　up　by　Bechamel。　They　listened　together。　His　feet　stopped。　Turned。　Went　out　of　the　diningroom。　Down　the　passage　to　the　bedroom。　Stopped　again。

〃Poor　chap！〃　said　the　barmaid。　〃She's　a　wicked　woman！〃

〃Sssh！〃　said　Stephen。

After　a　pause　Bechamel　went　back　to　the　dining…room。　They　heard　a　chair　creak　under　him。　Interlude　of　conversational　eyebrows。

〃I'm　going　up；〃　said　Stephen；　〃to　break　the　melancholy　news　to　him。〃

Bechamel　looked　up　from　a　week…old　newspaper　as；　without　knocking；　Stephen　entered。　Bechamel's　face　suggested　a　different　expectation。　〃Beg　pardon；　sir；〃　said　Stephen；　with　a　diplomatic　cough。

〃Well？〃　said　Bechamel；　wondering　suddenly　if　Jessie　had　kept　some　of　her　threats。　If　so；　he　was　in　for　an　explanation。　But　he　had　it　ready。　She　was　a　monomaniac。　〃Leave　me　alone　with　her；〃　he　would　say；　〃I　know　how　to　calm　her。〃

〃Mrs。　Beaumont；〃　said　Stephen。

〃WELL？〃

〃Has　gone。〃

He　rose　with　a　fine　surprise。　〃Gone！〃　he　said　with　a　half　laugh。

〃Gone；　sir。　On　her　bicycle。〃

〃On　her　bicycle！　Why？〃

〃She　went；　sir；　with　Another　Gentleman。〃

This　time　Bechamel　was　really　startled。　〃Another　Gentlemen！　WHO？〃

〃Another　gentleman　in　brown；　sir。　Went　into　the　yard；　sir；　got　out　the　two　bicycles；　sir；　and　went　off；　sirabout　twenty　minutes　ago。〃

Bechamel　stood　with　his　eyes　round　and　his　knuckle　on　his　hips。　Stephen；　watching　him　with　immense　enjoyment；　speculated　whether　this　abandoned　husband　would　weep　or　curse；　or　rush　off　at　once　in　furious　pursuit。　But　as　yet　he　seemed　merely　stunned。

〃Brown　clothes？〃　he　said。　〃And　fairish？〃

〃A　little　like　yourself；　sirin　the　dark。　The　ostler；　sir；　Jim　Duke〃

Bechamel　laughed　awry。　Then；　with　infinite　fervour；　he　saidBut　let　us　put　in　blank　cartridgehe　said；　〃…　…！〃

〃I　might　have　thought！〃

He　flung　himself　into　the　armchair。

〃Damn　her；〃　said　Bechamel；　for　all　the　world　like　a　common　man。　〃I'll　chuck　this　infernal　business！　They've　gone；　eigh？〃　

〃Yessir。〃

Well；　let　'em　GO；〃　said　Bechamel；　making　a　memorable　saying。　〃Let　'em　GO。　Who　cares？　And　I　wish　him　luck。　And　bring　me　some　Bourbon　as　fast　as　you　can；　there's　a　good　chap。　I'll　take　that；　and　then　I'll　have　another　look　round　Bognor　before　I　turn　in。〃

Stephen　was　too　surprised　to　say　anything　but　〃Bourbon；　sir？〃

〃Go　on；〃　said　Bechamel。　〃Damn　you！〃

Stephen's　sympathies　changed　at　once。　〃Yessir；〃　he　murmured；　fumbling　for　the　door　handle；　and　left　the　room；　marvelling。　Bechamel；　having　in　this　way　satisfied　his　sense　of　appearances；　and　comported　himself　as　a　Pagan　should；　so　soon　as　the　waiter's　footsteps　had　passed；　vented　the　cream　of　his　feelings　in　a　stream　of　blasphemous　indecency。　Whether　his　wife　or　HER　stepmother　had　sent　the　detective；　SHE　had　evidently　gone　off　with　him；　and　that　little　business　was　over。　And　he　was　here；　stranded　and　sold；　an　ass；　and　as　it　were；　the　son　of　many　generations　of　asses。　And　his　only　ray　of　hope　was　that　it　seemed　more　probable；　after　all；　that　the　girl　had　escaped　through　her　stepmother。　In　which　case　the　business　might　be　hushed　up　yet；　and　the　evil　hour　of　explanation　with　his　wife　indefinitely　postponed。　Then　abruptly　the　image　of　that　lithe　figure　in　grey　knickerbockers　went　frisking　across　his　mind　again；　and　he　reverted　to　his　blasphemies。　He　started　up　in　a　gusty　frenzy　with　a　vague　idea　of　pursuit；　and　incontinently　sat　down　again　with　a　concussion　that　stirred　the　bar　below　to　its　depths。　He　banged　the　arms　of　the　chair　with　his　fist；　and　swore　again。　〃Of　all　the　accursed　fools　that　were　ever　spawned；〃　he　was　chanting；　〃I；　Bechamel〃　when　with　an　abrupt　tap　and　prompt　opening　of　the　door；　Stephen　entered　with　the　Bourbon。



THE　MOONLIGHT　RIDE

XXIV

And　so　the　twenty　minutes'　law　passed　into　an　infinity。　We　leave　the　wicked　Bechamel　clothing　himself　with　cursing　as　with　a　garment；the　wretched　creature　has　already　sufficiently　sullied　our　modest　but　truthful　pages；we　leave　the　eager　little　group　in　the　bar　of　the　Vicuna　Hotel；　we　leave　all　Bognor　as　we　have　left　all　Chichester　and　Midhurst　and　Haslemere　and　Guildford　and　Ripley　and　Putney；　and　follow　this　dear　fool　of　a　Hoopdriver　of　ours　and　his　Young　Lady　in　Grey　out　upon　the　moonlight　road。　How　they　rode！　How　their　hearts　beat　together　and　their　breath　came　fast；　and　how　every　shadow　was　anticipation　and　every　noise　pursuit！　For　all　that　flight　Mr。　Hoopdriver　was　in　the　world　of　Romance。　Had　a　policeman　intervened　because　their　lamps　were　not　lit；　Hoopdriver　had　cut　him　down　and　ridden　on；　after　the　fashion　of　a　hero　born。　Had　Bechamel　arisen　in　the　way　with　rapiers　for　a　duel；　Hoopdriver　had　fought　as　one　to　whom　Agincourt　was　a　reality　and　drapery　a　dream。　It　was　Rescue；　Elopement；　Glory！　And　she　by　the　side　of　him！　He　had　seen　her　face　in　shadow；　with　the　morning　sunlight　tangled　in　her　hair；　he　had　seen　her　sympathetic　with　that　warm　light　in　her　face；　he　had　seen　her　troubled　and　her　eyes　bright　with　tears。　But　what　light　is　there　lighting　a　face　like　hers；　to　compare　with　the　soft　glamour　of　the　midsummer　moon？

The　road　turned　northward；　going　round　through　the　outskirts　of　Bognor；　in　one　place　dark　and　heavy　under　a　thick　growth　of　trees；　then　amidst　villas　again；　some　warm　and　lamplit；　some　white　and　sleeping　in　the　moonlight；　then　between　hedges；　over　which　they　saw　broad　wan　meadows　shrouded　in　a　low…lying　mist。　They　scarcely　heeded　whither　they　rode　at　first；　being　only　anxious　to　get　away；　turning　once　westward　when　the　spire　of　Chichester　cathedral　rose　suddenly　near　them　out　of　the　dewy　night；　pale　and　intricate　and　high。　They　rode；　speaking　little；　just　a　rare　word　now　and　then；　at　a　turning；　at　a　footfall；　at　a　roughness　in　the　road。

She　seemed　to　be　too　intent　upon　escape　to　give　much　thought　to　him；　but　after　the　first　tumult　of　the　adventure；　as　flight　passed　into　mere　steady　ridin@@　his　mind　became　an　enormous　appreciation　of　the　position。　The　night　was　a　warm　white　silence　save　for　the　subtile　running　of　their　chains。　He　looked　sideways　at　her　as　she　sat　beside　him　with　her　ankles　gracefully　ruling　the　treadles。　Now　the　road　turned　westward；　and　she　was　a　dark　grey　outline　against　the　shimmer　of　the　moon；　and　now　they　faced　northwards；　and　the　soft　cold　light　passed　caressingly　over　her　hair　and　touched　her　brow　and　cheek。

There　is　a　magic　quality　in　moonshine；　it　touches　all　that　is　sweet　and　beautiful；　and　the　rest　of　the　night　is　hidden。　It　has　created　the　fairies；　whom　the　sunlight　kills；　and　fairyland　rises　again　in　our　hearts　at　the　sight　of　it；　the　voices　of　the　filmy　route；　and　their　faint；　soul…piercing　melodies。　By　the　moonlight　every　man；　dull　clod　though　he　be　by　day；　tastes　something　of　Endymion；　takes　something　of　the　youth　and　strength　of　Enidymion；　and　sees　the　dear　white　goddess　shining　at　him　from　his　Lady's　eyes。　The　firm　substantial　daylight　things　become　ghostly　and　elusive；　the　hills　beyond　are　a　sea　of　unsubstantial　texture；　the　world　a　visible　spirit；　the　spiritual　within　us　rises　out　of　its　darkness；　loses　something　of　its　weight　and　body；　and　swims　up　towards　heaven。　This　road　that　was