pgw.uneasymoney-第26章
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'That's a splendid idea。'
'I think I'd better do a good lot of walking from now on。 Didn't Chalmers bring down some Indian clubs with him？ I think I'll borrow them。 I ought to keep out in the open a lot； I think。 I wonder if there's any special diet I ought to have。 Well； anyway； I'll be going for that walk。'
At the foot of the stairs Nutty stopped。 He looked quickly into the porch； then looked away again。
'What's the matter？' asked Elizabeth。
'I thought for a moment I saw the monkey sitting on the hammock。'
He went out of the house and disappeared from view down the drive； walking with long； rapid strides。
Elizabeth's first act； when he had gone； was to fetch a banana from the ice…box。 Her knowledge of monkeys was slight； but she fancied they looked with favour on bananas。 It was her intention to conciliate Eustace。
She had placed Eustace by now。 Unlike Nutty； she read the papers； and she knew all about Lady Wetherby and her pets。 The fact that Lady Wetherby； as she had been informed by the grocer in friendly talk； had rented a summer house in the neighbourhood made Eustace's identity positive。
She had no very clear plans as to what she intended to do with Eustace； beyond being quite resolved that she was going to board and lodge him for a few days。 Nutty had had the jolt he needed； but it might be that the first freshness of it would wear away； in which event it would be convenient to have Eustace on the premises。 She regarded Eustace as a sort of medicine。 A second dose might not be necessary； but it was as well to have the mixture handy。 She took another banana； in case the first might not be sufficient。 She then returned to the porch。
Eustace was sitting on the hammock； brooding。 The plexities of life were weighing him down a good deal。 He was not aware of Elizabeth's presence until he found her standing by him。 He had just braced himself for flight； when he perceived that she bore rich gifts。
Eustace was always ready for a light snackreadier now than usual； for air and exercise had sharpened his appetite。 He took the banana in a detached manner； as it to convey the idea that it did not mit him to any particular course of conduct。 It was a good banana； and he stretched out a hand for the other。 Elizabeth sat down beside him； but he did not move。 He was convinced now of her good intentions。 It was thus that Lord Dawlish found them when he came in from the garden。
'Where has your brother gone to？' he asked。 'He passed me just now at eight miles an hour。 Great Scot！ What's that？'
'It's a monkey。 Don't frighten him； he's rather nervous。'
She tickled Eustace under the ear； for their relations were now friendly。
'Nutty went for a walk because he thought he saw it。'
'Thought he saw it？'
'Thought he saw it；' repeated Elizabeth； firmly。 'Will you remember； Mr Chalmers； that； as far as he is concerned； this monkey has no existence？'
'I don't understand。'
Elizabeth explained。
'You see now？'
'I see。 But how long are you going to keep the animal？'
'Just a day or twoin case。'
'Where are you going to keep it？'
'In the outhouse。 Nutty never goes there； it's too near the bee…hives。'
'I suppose you don't know who the owner is？'
'Yes； I do； it must be Lady Wetherby。'
'Lady Wetherby！'
'She's a woman who dances at one of the restaurants。 I read in a Sunday paper about her monkey。 She has just taken a house near here。 I don't see who else the animal could belong to。 Monkeys are rarities on Long Island。'
Bill was silent。 'Sudden a thought came like a full…blown rose； flushing his brow。' For days he had been trying to find an excuse for calling on Lady Wetherby as a first step toward meeting Claire again。 Here it was。 There would be no need to interfere with Elizabeth's plans。 He would be vague。 He would say he had just seen the runaway； but would not add where。 He would create an atmosphere of helpful sympathy。 Perhaps； later on； Elizabeth would let him take the monkey back。
'What are you thinking about？' asked Elizabeth。
'Oh； nothing；' said Bill。
'Perhaps we had better stow away our visitor for the night。'
'Yes。'
Elizabeth got up。
'Poor； dear Nutty may be ing back at any moment now；' she said。
But poor； dear Nutty did not return for a full two hours。 When he did he was dusty and tired； but almost cheerful。
'I didn't see the brute once all the time I was out；' he told Elizabeth。 'Not once！'
Elizabeth kissed him fondly and offered to heat water for a bath； but Nutty said he would take it cold。 From now on； he vowed； nothing but cold baths。 He conveyed the impression of being a blend of repentant sinner and hardy Norseman。 Before he went to bed he approached Bill on the subject of Indian clubs。
'I want to get myself into shape； old top；' he said。
'Yes？'
'I've got to cut it outto…night I thought I saw a monkey。'
'Really？'
'As plain as I see you now。' Nutty gave the clubs a tentative swing。 'What do you do with these darned things？ Swing them about and all that？ All right； I see the idea。 Good night。'
But Bill did not pass a good night。 He lay awake long； thinking over his plans for the morrow。
15
Lady Wetherby was feeling battered。 She had not realized how seriously Roscoe Sherriff took the art of publicity； nor what would be the result of the half…hour he had spent at the telephone on the night of the departure of Eustace。
Roscoe Sherriff's eloquence had fired the imagination of editors。 There had been a notable lack of interesting happenings this summer。 Nobody seemed to be striking or murdering or having violent accidents。 The universe was torpid。 In these circumstances； the escape of Eustace seemed to present possibilities。 Reporters had been sent down。 There were three of them living in the house now； and Wrench's air of disapproval was deepening every hour。
It was their strenuousness which had given Lady Wetherby that battered feeling。 There was strenuousness in the air； and she resented it on her vacation。 She had e to Long Island to vegetate； and with all this going on round her vegetation was impossible。 She was not long alone。 Wrench entered。
'A gentleman to see you； m'lady。'
In the good old days； when she had been plain Polly Davis； of the personnel of the chorus of various musical edies； Lady Wetherby would have suggested a short way of disposing of this untimely visitor； but she had a position to keep up now。
'From some darned paper？' she asked； wearily。
'No； m'lady。 I fancy he is not connected with the Press。'
There was something in Wrench's manner that perplexed Lady Wetherby； something almost human； as if Wrench were on the point of ing alive。 She did not guess it； but the explanation was that Bill； quite unwittingly； had impressed Wrench。 There was that about Bill that reminded the butler of London and dignified receptions at the house of the Dowager Duchess of Waveney。 It was deep calling unto deep。
'Where is he？'
'I have shown him into the drawing…room； m'lady。'
Lady Wetherby went downstairs and found a large young man awaiting her； looking nervous。
Bill was feeling nervous。 A sense of the ridiculousness of his mission had e upon him。 After all； he asked himself； what on earth had he got to say？ A presentiment had e upon him that he was about to look a perfect ass。 At the sight of Lady Wetherby his nervousness began to diminish。 Lady Wetherby was not a formidable person。 In spite of her momentary peevishness； she brought with her an atmosphere of geniality and camaraderie。
'It's about your monkey；' he said； ing to the point at once。
Lady Wetherby brightened。
'Oh！ Have you seen it？'
He was glad that she put it like that。
'Yes。 It came round our way last night。'
'Where is that？'
'I am staying at a farm near here； a place they call Flack's。 The monkey got into one of the rooms。'
'Yes？'
'And thenerthen it got out again； don't you know。'
Lady Wetherby looked disappointed。
'So it may be anywhere now？' she said。
In the interests of truth； Bill thought it best to leave this question unanswered。
'Well； it's very good of you to have bothered to e out and tell me；' said Lady Wetherby。 'It gives us a clue； at any rate。 Thank you。 At least；
