beasts and super-beasts(野兽与超级野兽)-第7章
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her voice。
〃On most points he's thoroughly sane and reliable；〃 said Clovis； 〃but
at times he is subject to the most obstinate delusions； and on those
occasions he becomes not merely a nuisance but a decided
embarrassment。〃
〃What sort of delusions？〃
〃Unfortunately they usually centre round one of the guests of the
house party； and that is where the awkwardness comes in。 For instance；
he took it into his head that Matilda Sheringham was the Prophet Elijah；
and as all that he remembered about Elijah's history was the episode of
the ravens in the wilderness he absolutely declined to interfere with what
he imagined to be Matilda's private catering arrangements； wouldn't
allow any tea to be sent up to her in the morning； and if he was waiting
at table he passed her over altogether in handing round the dishes。〃
〃How very unpleasant。 Whatever did you do about it？〃
〃Oh； Matilda got fed； after a fashion； but it was judged to be best for
her to cut her visit short。 It was really the only thing to be done；〃 said
Clovis with some emphasis。
〃I shouldn't have done that；〃 said Jane； 〃I should have humoured him
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in some way。 I certainly shouldn't have gone away。〃
Clovis frowned。
〃It is not always wise to humour people when they get these ideas
into their heads。 There's no knowing to what lengths they may go if
you encourage them。〃
〃You don't mean to say he might be dangerous； do you？〃 asked Jane
with some anxiety。
〃One can never be certain；〃 said Clovis； 〃now and then he gets some
idea about a guest which might take an unfortunate turn。 That is
precisely what is worrying me at the present moment。〃
〃What； has he taken a fancy about some one here now？〃 asked Jane
excitedly； 〃how thrilling！ Do tell me who it is。〃
You；〃 said Clovis briefly。
〃Me？〃
Clovis nodded。
〃Who on earth does he think I am？〃
〃Queen Anne；〃 was the unexpected answer。
〃Queen Anne！ What an idea。 But； anyhow； there's nothing
dangerous about her； she's such a colourless personality。〃
〃What does posterity chiefly say about Queen Anne？〃 asked Clovis
rather sternly。
〃The only thing that I can remember about her；〃 said Jane； 〃is the
saying 'Queen Anne's dead。'〃
〃Exactly；〃 said Clovis； staring at the glass that had held the Ella
Wheeler Wilcox； 〃dead。〃
〃Do you mean he takes me for the ghost of Queen Anne？〃 asked
Jane。
〃Ghost？ Dear no。 No one ever heard of a ghost that came down
to breakfast and ate kidneys and toast and honey with a healthy appetite。
No； it's the fact of you being so very much alive and flourishing that
perplexes and annoys him。 All his life he has been accustomed to
look on Queen Anne as the personification of everything that is dead and
done with； 'as dead as Queen Anne；' you know； and now he has to fill
your glass at lunch and dinner and listen to your accounts of the gay
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time you had at the Dublin Horse Show； and naturally he feels that
something's very wrong with you。〃
〃But he wouldn't be downright hostile to me on that account； would
he？〃 Jane asked anxiously。
〃I didn't get really alarmed about it till lunch to… day；〃 said Clovis； 〃I
caught him glowering at you with a very sinister look and muttering：
'Ought to be dead long ago； she ought； and some one should see to it。'
That's why I mentioned the matter to you。〃
〃This is awful；〃 said Jane； 〃your mother must be told about it at
once。〃
〃My mother mustn't hear a word about it；〃 said Clovis earnestly； 〃it
would upset her dreadfully。 She relies on Sturridge for everything。〃
〃But he might kill me at any moment；〃 protested Jane。
〃Not at any moment； he's busy with the silver all the afternoon。〃
〃You'll have to keep a sharp look…out all the time and be on your
guard to frustrate any murderous attack；〃 said Jane； adding in a tone of
weak obstinacy： 〃It's a dreadful situation to be in； with a mad butler
dangling over you like the sword of What's…his…name； but I'm certainly
not going to cut my visit short。〃
Clovis swore horribly under his breath； the miracle was an obvious
misfire。
It was in the hall the next morning after a late breakfast that Clovis
had his final inspiration as he stood engaged in coaxing rust spots from
an old putter。
〃Where is Miss Martlet？〃 he asked the butler； who was at that
moment crossing the hall。
〃Writing letters in the morning…room； sir；〃 said Sturridge；
announcing a fact of which his questioner was already aware。
〃She wants to copy the inscription on that old basket…hilted sabre；〃
said Clovis； pointing to a venerable weapon hanging on the wall。 〃I
wish you'd take it to her； my hands are all over oil。 Take it without
the sheath； it will be less trouble。〃
The butler drew the blade； still keen and bright in its well…cared for
old age； and carried it into the morning…room。 There was a door near
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the writing…table leading to a back stairway； Jane vanished through it
with such lightning rapidity that the butler doubted whether she had
seen him come in。 Half an hour later Clovis was driving her and her
hastily…packed luggage to the station。
〃Mother will be awfully vexed when she comes back from her ride
and finds you have gone；〃 he observed to the departing guest； 〃but I'll
make up some story about an urgent wire having called you away。 It
wouldn't do to alarm her unnecessarily about Sturridge。〃
Jane sniffed slightly at Clovis' ideas of unnecessary alarm； and was
almost rude to the young man who came round with thoughtful inquiries
as to luncheon… baskets。
The miracle lost some of its usefulness from the fact that Dora wrote
the same day postponing the date of her visit； but； at any rate； Clovis
holds the record as the only human being who ever hustled Jane Martlet
out of the time…table of her migrations。
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THE OPEN WINDOW
〃MY aunt will be down presently； Mr。 Nuttel；〃 said a very self…
possessed young lady of fifteen； 〃in the meantime you must try and put
up with me。〃
Framton Nuttel endeavoured to say the correct something which
should duly flatter the niece of the moment without unduly discounting
the aunt that was to come。 Privately he doubted more than ever
whether these formal visits on a succession of total strangers would do
much towards helping the nerve cure which he was supposed to be
undergoing。
〃I know how it will be；〃 his sister had said when he was preparing to
migrate to this rural retreat； 〃you will bury yourself down there and not
speak to a living soul； and your nerves will be worse than ever from
moping。 I shall just give you letters of introduction to all the people I
know there。 Some of them； as far as I can remember； were quite nice。〃
Framton wondered whether Mrs。 Sappleton； the lady to whom he
was presenting one of the letters of introduction； came into the nice
division。
〃Do you know many of the people round here？〃 asked the niece；
when she judged that they had had sufficient silent communion。
〃Hardly a soul；〃 said Framton。 〃My sister was staying here； at the
rectory； you know； some four years ago； and she gave me letters of
introduction to some of the people here。〃
He made the last statement in a tone of distinct regret。
〃Then you know practically nothing about my aunt？〃 pursued the
self…possessed young lady。
〃Only her name and address；〃 admitted the caller。 He was
wondering whether Mrs。 Sappleton was in the married or widowed state。
An undefinable something about the room seemed to suggest masculine
habitation。
〃Her great tragedy happened just three years ago；〃 said the child；
〃that would be since your sister's time。〃
〃Her tragedy？〃 asked Framton； somehow in this restful country spot
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tragedies seemed out of place。
〃You may wonder why we keep that window wide open on an
October afternoon；〃 said the niece； indicating a large French window
that opened on to a lawn。
〃It is quite warm for the time of the year；〃 said Framton； 〃but has
that window got anything to do with the tragedy？〃
〃Out through that window； three years ago to a day； her husband and
her two young brothers went off for their day's shooting。 They never
came back。 In crossing the moor to
