pgw.adamselindistress-第52章

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　brother；　Percy；　had　been　right　after　all。　What　she　had　mistaken　for　the　love　of　a　lifetime　had　been；　as　they　had　so　often　insisted；　a　mere　infatuation；　unable　to　survive　the　spectacle　of　a　Geoffrey　who　had　been　eating　too　much　butter　and　had　put　on　flesh。
　Geoffrey　swallowed　his　piece　of　cake；　and　bent　forward。
　〃Aren't　you　engaged　to　this　man　Bevan？〃
　Maud　avoided　his　eye。　She　was　aware　that　the　crisis　had　arrived；　and　that　her　whole　future　hung　on　her　next　words。
　And　then　Fate　came　to　her　rescue。　Before　she　could　speak；　there　was　an　interruption。
　〃Pardon　me；〃　said　a　voice。　〃One　moment！〃
　So　intent　had　Maud　and　her　panion　been　on　their　own　affairs　that　neither　of　them　observed　the　entrance　of　a　third　party。　　This　was　a　young　man　with　mouse…coloured　hair　and　a　freckled；　badly…shaven　face　which　seemed　undecided　whether　to　be　furtive　or　impudent。　He　had　small　eyes；　and　his　costume　was　a　blend　of　the　flashy　and　the　shabby。　He　wore　a　bowler　hat；　tilted　a　little　rakishly　to　one　side；　and　carried　a　small　bag；　which　he　rested　on　the　table　between　them。
　〃Sorry　to　intrude；　miss。〃　He　bowed　gallantly　to　Maud；　〃but　I　want　to　have　a　few　words　with　Mr。　Spenser　Gray　here。〃
　Maud；　looking　across　at　Geoffrey；　was　surprised　to　see　that　his　florid　face　had　lost　much　of　its　colour。　His　mouth　was　open；　and　his　eyes　had　taken　a　glassy　expression。
　〃I　think　you　have　made　a　mistake；〃　she　said　coldly。　She　disliked　the　young　man　at　sight。　〃This　is　Mr。　Raymond。〃
　Geoffrey　found　speech。
　〃Of　course　I'm　Mr。　Raymond！〃　he　cried　angrily。　〃What　do　you　mean　by　ing　and　annoying　us　like　this？〃
　The　young　man　was　not　disposed。　He　appeared　to　be　used　to　being　unpopular。　He　proceeded　as　though　there　had　been　no　interruption。　He　produced　a　dingy　card。
　〃Glance　at　that；〃　he　said。　〃Messrs。　Willoughby　and　Son；　Solicitors。　I'm　son。　The　guv'nor　put　this　little　matter　into　my　hands。　I've　been　looking　for　you　for　days；　Mr。　Gray；　to　hand　you　this　paper。〃　He　opened　the　bag　like　a　conjurer　performing　a　trick；　and　brought　out　a　stiff　document　of　legal　aspect。　〃You're　a　witness；　miss；　that　I've　served　the　papers。　You　know　what　this　is；　of　course？〃　he　said　to　Geoffrey。　〃Action　for　breach　of　promise　of　marriage。　Our　client；　Miss　Yvonne　Sinclair；　of　the　Regal　Theatre；　is　suing　you　for　ten　thousand　pounds。　And；　if　you　ask　me；〃　said　the　young　man　with　genial　candour；　dropping　the　professional　manner；　〃I　don't　mind　telling　you；　I　think　it's　a　walk…over！　It's　the　best　little　action　for　breach　we've　handled　for　years。〃　He　became　professional　again。　〃Your　lawyers　will　no　doubt　municate　with　us　in　due　course。　And；　if　you　take　my　advice；〃　he　concluded；　with　another　of　his　swift　changes　of　manner；　〃you'll　get　'em　to　settle　out　of　court；　for；　between　me　and　you　and　the　lamp…post；　you　haven't　an　earthly！〃
　Geoffrey　had　started　to　his　feet。　He　was　puffing　with　outraged　innocence。
　〃What　the　devil　do　you　mean　by　this？〃　he　demanded。　〃Can't　you　see　you've　made　a　mistake？　My　name　is　not　Gray。　This　lady　has　told　you　that　I　am　Geoffrey　Raymond！〃
　〃Makes　it　all　the　worse　for　you；〃　said　the　young　man　imperturbably；　〃making　advances　to　our　client　under　an　assumed　name。　We've　got　letters　and　witnesses　and　the　whole　bag　of　tricks。　And　how　about　this　photo？〃　He　dived　into　the　bag　again。　〃Do　you　recognize　that；　miss？〃
　Maud　looked　at　the　photograph。　It　was　unmistakably　Geoffrey。　And　it　had　evidently　been　taken　recently；　for　it　showed　the　later　Geoffrey；　the　man　of　substance。　It　was　a　full…length　photograph　and　across　the　stout　legs　was　written　in　a　flowing　hand　the　legend；　〃To　Babe　from　her　little　Pootles〃。　　Maud　gave　a　shudder　and　handed　it　back　to　the　young　man；　just　as　Geoffrey；　reaching　across　the　table；　made　a　grab　for　it。
　〃I　recognize　it；〃　she　said。
　Mr。　Willoughby　junior　packed　the　photograph　away　in　his　bag；　and　turned　to　go。
　〃That's　all　for　today；　then；　I　think；〃　he　said；　affably。
　He　bowed　again　in　his　courtly　way；　tilted　the　hat　a　little　more　to　the　left；　and；　having　greeted　one　of　the　distressed　gentlewomen　who　loitered　limply　in　his　path　with　a　polite　〃If　you　please；　Mabel！〃　which　drew　upon　him　a　freezing　stare　of　which　he　seemed　oblivious；　he　passed　out；　leaving　behind　him　strained　silence。
　Maud　was　the　first　to　break　it。
　〃I　think　I'll　be　going；〃　she　said。
　The　words　seemed　to　rouse　her　panion　from　his　stupor。
　〃Let　me　explain！〃
　〃There's　nothing　to　explain。〃
　〃It　was　just　a　。　。　。　it　was　just　a　passing　。　。　。　It　was　nothing　。　。　。　nothing。〃
　〃Pootles！〃　murmured　Maud。
　Geoffrey　followed　her　as　she　moved　to　the　door。
　〃Be　reasonable！〃　pleaded　Geoffrey。　〃Men　aren't　saints！　It　was　nothing！　。　。　。　Are　you　going　to　end　。　。　。　everything　。　。　。　just　because　I　lost　my　head？〃
　Maud　looked　at　him　with　a　smile。　She　was　conscious　of　an　overwhelming　relief。　The　dim　interior　of　Ye　Cosy　Nooke　no　longer　seemed　depressing。　She　could　have　kissed　this　unknown　〃Babe〃　whose　businesslike　action　had　enabled　her　to　close　a　regrettable　chapter　in　her　life　with　a　clear　conscience。
　〃But　you　haven't　only　lost　your　head；　Geoffrey；〃　she　said。　　〃You've　lost　your　figure　as　well。〃
　She　went　out　quickly。　With　a　convulsive　bound　Geoffrey　started　to　follow　her；　but　was　checked　before　he　had　gone　a　yard。
　There　are　formalities　to　be　observed　before　a　patron　can　leave　Ye　Cosy　Nooke。
　〃If　you　please！〃　said　a　distressed　gentlewomanly　voice。
　The　lady　whom　Mr。　Willoughby　had　addressed　as　Mabelerroneously；　for　her　name　was　Ernestinewas　standing　beside　him　with　a　slip　of　paper。
　〃Six　and　twopence；〃　said　Ernestine。
　For　a　moment　this　appalling　statement　drew　the　unhappy　man's　mind　from　the　main　issue。
　〃Six　and　twopence　for　a　cup　of　chocolate　and　a　few　cakes？〃　he　cried；　aghast。　〃It's　robbery！〃
　〃Six　and　twopence；　please！〃　said　the　queen　of　the　bandits　with　undisturbed　calm。　She　had　been　through　this　sort　of　thing　before。　Ye　Cosy　Nooke　did　not　get　many　customers；　but　it　made　the　most　of　those　it　did　get。
　〃Here！〃　Geoffrey　produced　a　half…sovereign。　〃I　haven't　time　to　argue！〃
　The　distressed　brigand　showed　no　gratification。　She　had　the　air　of　one　who　is　aloof　from　worldly　things。　All　she　wanted　was　rest　and　leisureleisure　to　meditate　upon　the　body　upstairs。　　All　flesh　is　as　grass。　We　are　here　today　and　gone　tomorrow。　　But　there；　beyond　the　grave；　is　peace。
　〃Your　change？〃　she　said。
　〃Damn　the　change！〃
　〃You　are　forgetting　your　hat。〃
　〃Damn　my　hat！〃
　Geoffrey　dashed　from　the　room。　He　heaved　his　body　through　the　door。　He　lumbered　down　the　stairs。
　Out　in　Bond　Street　the　traffic　moved　up　and　the　traffic　moved　down。　Strollers　strolled　upon　the　sidewalks。
　But　Maud　had　gone。
　
　CHAPTER　27。
　
　IN　his　bedroom　at　the　Carlton　Hotel　George　Bevan　was　packing。　　That　is　to　say；　he　had　begun　packing；　but　for　the　last　twenty　minutes　he　had　been　sitting　on　the　side　of　the　bed；　staring　into　a　future　which　became　bleaker　and　bleaker　the　more　he　examined　it。　　In　the　last　two　days　he　had　been　no　stranger　to　these　grey　moods；　and　they　had　bee　harder　and　harder　to　dispel。　Now；　with　the　steamer…trunk　before　him　gaping　to　receive　its　contents；　he　gave　himself　up　whole…heartedly　to　gloom。
　Somehow　the　steamer…trunk；　with　all　that　it　implied　of　partings　and　voyagings；　seemed　to　emphasize　the　fact　that　he　was　going　out　alone　into　an　empty　world。　Soon　he　would　be　on　board　the　liner；　every　revolution　of　whose　engines　would　be　taking　him　farther　away　from　where　his　heart　would　always　be。　　There　were　moments　when　the　torment　of　this　realization　became　almost　physical。
　It　was　incredible　that　three　short　weeks　ago　he　had　been　a　happy　man。　Lonely；　perhaps；　but　only　in　a　vague；　impersonal　way。　Not　lonely　with　this　aching　loneliness　that　tortured　him　now。　What　was　there　left　for　him？　As　regards　any　triumphs　which　the　future　might　bring　in　connection　with　his　work；　he　was；　as　Mac　the　stage…door　keeper　had　said；　〃blarzy〃。　Any　success　he　might　have　would　be　but　a　stale　repetition　of　other　successes　which　he　had　achieved。　He　would　go　on　working；　of　course；　but。　The　ringing　of　the　telephone　bell　across　the　room　jerked　him　back　to　the　present。　He　got　up　with　a　muttered　malediction。　Someone　calling　up　again　from　the　theatre　probably。　They　had　been　doing　it　all　the　time　sinc