malvina of brittany-第16章

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〃I　know！〃　she　said。　　〃The　Popular　Cafe。〃


The　park…keeper　said　he　was　convinced　he　would　know　the　lady　again；
having　taken　particular　notice　of　her。　　She　had　brown　eyes　and　was
wearing　a　black　hat　supplemented　with　poppies。

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Arthur　Horton；　waiter　at　the　Popular　Cafe；　states　as　follows：

I　know　Mr。　John　Parable　by　sight。　　Have　often　heard　him　speak　at
public　meetings。　　Am　a　bit　of　a　Socialist　myself。　　Remember　his
dining　at　the　Popular　Cafe　on　the　evening　of　Thursday。　　Didn't
recognise　him　immediately　on　his　entrance　for　two　reasons。　　One　was
his　hat；　and　the　other　was　his　girl。　　I　took　it　from　him　and　hung　it
up。　　I　mean；　of　course；　the　hat。　　It　was　a　brand…new　bowler；　a
trifle　ikey　about　the　brim。　　Have　always　associated　him　with　a　soft
grey　felt。　　But　never　with　girls。　　Females；　yes；　to　any　extent。　　But
this　was　the　real　article。　　You　know　what　I　meanthe　sort　of　girl
that　you　turn　round　to　look　after。　　It　was　she　who　selected　the
table　in　the　corner　behind　the　door。　　Been　there　before；　I　should
say。

I　should；　in　the　ordinary　course　of　business；　have　addressed　Mr。
Parable　by　name；　such　being　our　instructions　in　the　case　of
customers　known　to　us。　　But；　putting　the　hat　and　the　girl　together；
I　decided　not　to。　　Mr。　Parable　was　all　for　our　three…and…six…penny
table　d'hote；　he　evidently　not　wanting　to　think。　　But　the　lady
wouldn't　hear　of　it。

〃Remember　Miss　Clebb；〃　she　reminded　him。

Of　course；　at　the　time　I　did　not　know　what　was　meant。　　She　ordered
thin　soup；　a　grilled　sole；　and　cutlets　au　gratin。　　It　certainly
couldn't　have　been　the　dinner。　　With　regard　to　the　champagne；　he
would　have　his　own　way。　　I　picked　him　out　a　dry　'94；　that　you　might
have　weaned　a　baby　on。　　I　suppose　it　was　the　whole　thing　combined。

It　was　after　the　sole　that　I　heard　Mr。　Parable　laugh。　　I　could
hardly　credit　my　ears；　but　half…way　through　the　cutlets　he　did　it
again。

There　are　two　kinds　of　women。　　There　is　the　woman　who；　the　more　she
eats　and　drinks；　the　stodgier　she　gets；　and　the　woman　who　lights　up
after　it。　　I　suggested　a　peche　Melba　between　them；　and　when　I
returned　with　it；　Mr。　Parable　was　sitting　with　his　elbows　on　the
table　gazing　across　at　her　with　an　expression　that　I　can　only
describe　as　quite　human。　　It　was　when　I　brought　the　coffee　that　he
turned　to　me　and　asked：

〃What's　doing？　Nothing　stuffy；〃　he　added。　　〃Is　there　an　Exhibition
anywheresomething　in　the　open　air？〃

〃You　are　forgetting　Miss　Clebb；〃　the　lady　reminded　him。

〃For　two　pins；〃　said　Mr。　Parable；　〃I　would　get　up　at　the　meeting　and
tell　Miss　Clebb　what　I　really　think　about　her。〃

I　suggested　the　Earl's　Court　Exhibition；　little　thinking　at　the　time
what　it　was　going　to　lead　to；　but　the　lady　at　first　wouldn't　hear　of
it；　and　the　party　at　the　next　table　calling　for　their　bill　（they　had
asked　for　it　once　or　twice　before；　when　I　came　to　think　of　it）；　I
had　to　go　across　to　them。

When　I　got　back　the　argument　had　just　concluded；　and　the　lady　was
holding　up　her　finger。

〃On　condition　that　we　leave　at　half…past　nine；　and　that　you　go
straight　to　Caxton　Hall；〃　she　said。

〃We'll　see　about　it；〃　said　Mr。　Parable；　and　offered　me　half　a　crown。

Tips　being　against　the　rules；　I　couldn't　take　it。　　Besides；　one　of
the　jumpers　had　his　eye　on　me。　　I　explained　to　him；　jocosely；　that　I
was　doing　it　for　a　bet。　　He　was　surprised　when　I　handed　him　his　hat；
but；　the　lady　whispering　to　him；　he　remembered　himself　in　time。

As　they　went　out　together　I　heard　Mr。　Parable　say　to　the　lady：

〃It's　funny　what　a　shocking　memory　I　have　for　names。〃

To　which　the　lady　replied：

〃You'll　think　it　funnier　still　to…morrow。〃　And　then　she　laughed。


Mr。　Horton　thought　he　would　know　the　lady　again。　　He　puts　down　her
age　at　about　twenty…six；　describing　herto　use　his　own　piquant
expressionas　〃a　bit　of　all　right。〃　　She　had　brown　eyes　and　a
taking　way　with　her。

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Miss　Ida　Jenks；　in　charge　of　the　Eastern　Cigarette　Kiosk　at　the
Earl's　Court　Exhibition；　gives　the　following　particulars：

From　where　I　generally　stand　I　can　easily　command　a　view　of　the
interior　of　the　Victoria　Hall；　that　is；　of　course；　to　say　when　the
doors　are　open；　as　on　a　warm　night　is　usually　the　case。

On　the　evening　of　Thursday；　the　twenty…seventh；　it　was　fairly　well
occupied；　but　not　to　any　great　extent。　　One　couple　attracted　my
attention　by　reason　of　the　gentleman's　erratic　steering。　　Had　he
been　my　partner　I　should　have　suggested　a　polka；　the　tango　not　being
the　sort　of　dance　that　can　be　picked　up　in　an　evening。　　What　I　mean
to　say　is；　that　he　struck　me　as　being　more　willing　than　experienced。
Some　of　the　bumps　she　got　would　have　made　me　cross；　but　we　all　have
our　fancies；　and；　so　far　as　I　could　judge；　they　both　appeared　to　be
enjoying　themselves。　　It　was　after　the　〃Hitchy　Koo〃　that　they　came
outside。

The　seat　to　the　left　of　the　door　is　popular　by　reason　of　its　being
partly　screened　by　bushes；　but　by　leaning　forward　a　little　it　is
quite　possible　for　me　to　see　what　goes　on　there。　　They　were　the
first　couple　out；　having　had　a　bad　collision　near　the　bandstand；　so
easily　secured　it。　　The　gentleman　was　laughing。

There　was　something　about　him　from　the　first　that　made　me　think　I
knew　him；　and　when　he　took　off　his　hat　to　wipe　his　head　it　came　to
me　all　of　a　sudden；　he　being　the　exact　image　of　his　effigy　at　Madame
Tussaud's；　which；　by　a　curious　coincidence；　I　happened　to　have
visited　with　a　friend　that　very　afternoon。　　The　lady　was　what　some
people　would　call　good…looking；　and　others　mightn't。

I　was　watching　them；　naturally　a　little　interested。　　Mr。　Parable；　in
helping　the　lady　to　adjust　her　cloak；　drew　herit　may　have　been　by
accidenttowards　him；　and　then　it　was　that　a　florid　gentleman　with
a　short　pipe　in　his　mouth　stepped　forward　and　addressed　the　lady。
He　raised　his　hat　and；　remarking　〃Good　evening；〃　added　that　he　hoped
she　was　〃having　a　pleasant　time。〃　　His　tone；　I　should　explain；　was
sarcastic。

The　young　woman；　whatever　else　may　be　said　of　her；　struck　me　as
behaving　quite　correctly。　　Replying　to　his　salutation　with　a　cold
and　distant　bow；　she　rose；　and；　turning　to　Mr。　Parable；　observed
that　she　thought　it　was　perhaps　time　for　them　to　be　going。

The　gentleman；　who　had　taken　his　pipe　from　his　mouth；　saidagain　in
a　sarcastic　tonethat　he　thought　so　too；　and　offered　the　lady　his
arm。

〃I　don't　think　we　need　trouble　you；〃　said　Mr。　Parable；　and　stepped
between　them。

To　describe　what　followed　I；　being　a　lady；　am　hampered　for　words。　　I
remember　seeing　Mr。　Parable's　hat　go　up　into　the　air；　and　then　the
next　moment　the　florid　gentleman's　head　was　lying　on　my　counter
smothered　in　cigarettes。　　I　naturally　screamed　for　the　police；　but
the　crowd　was　dead　against　me；　and　it　was　only　after　what　I　believe
in　technical　language　would　be　termed　〃the　fourth　round〃　that　they
appeared　upon　the　scene。

The　last　I　saw　of　Mr。　Parable　he　was　shaking　a　young　constable　who
had　lost　his　helmet；　while　three　other　policemen　had　hold　of　him
from　behind。　　The　florid　gentleman's　hat　I　found　on　the　floor　of　my
kiosk　and　returned　to　him；　but　after　a　useless　attempt　to　get　it　on
his　head；　he　disappeared　with　it　in　his　hand。　　The　lady　was　nowhere
to　be　seen。


Miss　Jenks　thinks　she　would　know　her　again。　　She　was　wearing　a　hat
trimmed　with　black　chiffon　and　a　spray　of　poppies；　and　was　slightly
freckled。

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Superintendent　S。　Wade；　in　answer　to　questions　put　to　him　by　our
representative；　vouchsafed　the　following　replies：

Yes。　　I　was　in　charge　at　the　Vine　Street　Police　Station　on　the　night
of　Thursday；　the　twenty…seventh。

No。　　I　have　no　recollection　of　a　charge　of　any　description　being
preferred　against　any　gentleman　of　the　name　of　Parable。

Yes。　　A　gentleman　was　brought　in　about　ten　o'clock　charged　with
brawling　at　the　Earl's　Court　Exhibition　and　assaulting　a　constable
in　the　discharge　of　his　duty。

The　gentleman　gave　the　name　of　Mr。　Archibald　Quincey；　Harcourt
Buildings；　Temple。

No。　　The　gentleman　made　no　application　respecting　bail；　electing　to
pass　the　night　in　the　cells。　　A　certain　amount　of　discretion　is
permitted　to　us；　and　we　made　him　as　comfortable　as　possible。

Yes。　　A　lady。

No。　　About　a　gentleman　who　had　got　himself　into　trouble　at　the
Earl's　Court　Exhibition。　　She　mentioned　no　name。

I　showed　her　the　charge　sheet。　　She　thanked　me　and　went　away。

That　I　cannot　say。　　I　can　only　tell　you　that　at　nine…fifteen　on
Friday　morning　bail　was　tendered；　and；　after　inquiries；　accepted　in
the　person　of　Julius　Addison　Tupp；　of　the　Sunnybrook　Steam　Laundry；
Twickenham。

That　is　no　business　of　ours。

The　accused　who；　I　had　seen　to　it；　had　had　a　cup　of　tea　and　a　little
toast　at　seven…thirty；　left　in　company　with　Mr。　Tupp　soon　after　ten。


Superintendent　Wade　admitted　he　had　known　cases　where　accused
parties；　to　avoid　unpleasantness；　had　stated　their　names　to　be　other
than　their　own；　but　declined　to　discuss　the　matter　further。

Superintendent　Wade；　while　expressing　his　regret　that　he　had　no　more
time　to　bestow　upon　our　representative；　thought　it　highly　probable
that　he　would　know　the　lady　again　if　he　saw　her。

Without　professing　to　be　a　judge　of　such　matters；　Superintendent
Wade　thinks　she　might　be　described　as　a　highly　intelligent　young
woman；　and　of　exceptionally　prepossessing　appearance。

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From　Mr。　Julius　Tupp；　of　the　Sunnybrook　Steam　Laundry；　Twickenham；
upon　whom　our　representative　next　called；　we　have　been　unable　to
obtain　much　assistance；　Mr。　Tupp　replying　to　all　questions　put　to
him　by　the　one　formula；　〃Not　talking。〃

Fortunately；　our　representative；　on　his　way　out　through　the　drying
ground；　was　able　to　obtain　a　brief　interview　with　Mrs。　Tupp。

Mrs。　Tupp　remembers　admitting　a　young　lady　to　the　house　on　the
morning　of　Friday；　the　twenty…eighth；　when　she　opened　the　door　to
take　in　the　milk。　　The　lady；　Mrs。　Tupp　remembers；　spoke　in　a　husky
voice；　the　result；　as　the　young　lady　explained　with　a　pleasant
laugh；　of　having　passed　the　night　wandering　about　Ham　Common；　she
having　been　misdirected　the　previous　evening　by　a　fool　of　a　railway
porter；　and　not　wishing　to　disturb　the　neighbourhood　by　waking
people　up　at　two　o'clock　in　the　morning；　which；　in　Mrs。　Tupp's
opinion；　was　sensible　of　her。

Mrs。　Tupp　describes　the　young　lady　as　of　agreeable　manners；　but
looking；　naturally；　a　bit　washed　out。　　The　lady　asked　for　Mr。　Tupp；
explaining　that　a　friend　of　his　was　in　trouble；　which　did　not　in　the
least　surprise　Mrs。　Tupp；　she　herself　not　holding　with　Socialists
and　such　like。　　Mr。　Tupp；　on　being　informed；　dressed　hastily　and
went　downstairs；　and　he　and　the　young　lady　left　the　house　together。
Mr。　Tupp；　on　being　questioned　as　to　the　name　of　his　friend；　had
called　up　that　it　was　no　one　Mrs。　Tupp　would　know；　a　Mr。　Quinceit
may　have　been　Quincey。

Mrs。　Tupp　is　aware　that　Mr。　Parable　is　also　a　Socialist；　and　is
acquainted　with　the　saying　about　thieves　hanging　together。　　But　has
worked　for　Mr。　Parable　for　years　and　has　always　found　him　a　most
satisfactory　client；　and；　Mr。　Tupp　appearing　at　this　point；　our
representative　t