malvina of brittany-第21章
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And always I have the feeling of having blundered into an empty
theatrewhere the play is ended。
HIS EVENING OUT。
The evidence of the park…keeper； David Bristow； of Gilder Street；
Camden Town； is as follows：
I was on duty in St。 James's Park on Thursday evening； my sphere
extending from the Mall to the northern shore of the ornamental
water east of the suspension bridge。 At five…and…twenty to seven I
took up a position between the peninsula and the bridge to await my
colleague。 He ought to have relieved me at half…past six； but did
not arrive until a few minutes before seven； owing； so he explained；
to the breaking down of his motor…'buswhich may have been true or
may not； as the saying is。
I had just come to a halt； when my attention was arrested by a lady。
I am unable to explain why the presence of a lady in St。 James's
Park should have seemed in any way worthy of notice except that； for
certain reasons； she reminded me of my first wife。 I observed that
she hesitated between one of the public seats and two vacant chairs
standing by themselves a little farther to the east。 Eventually she
selected one of the chairs； and； having cleaned it with an evening
paperthe birds in this portion of the Park being extremely
prolificsat down upon it。 There was plenty of room upon the
public seat close to it； except for some children who were playing
touch； and in consequence of this I judged her to be a person of
means。
I walked to a point from where I could command the southern
approaches to the bridge； my colleague arriving sometimes by way of
Birdcage Walk and sometimes by way of the Horse Guards Parade。 Not
seeing any signs of him in the direction of the bridge； I turned
back。 A little way past the chair where the lady was sitting I met
Mr。 Parable。 I know Mr。 Parable quite well by sight。 He was
wearing the usual grey suit and soft felt hat with which the
pictures in the newspapers have made us all familiar。 I judged that
Mr。 Parable had come from the Houses of Parliament； and the next
morning my suspicions were confirmed by reading that he had been
present at a tea…party given on the terrace by Mr。 Will Crooks。 Mr。
Parable conveyed to me the suggestion of a man absorbed in thought；
and not quite aware of what he was doing； but in this； of course； I
may have been mistaken。 He paused for a moment to look over the
railings at the pelican。 Mr。 Parable said something to the pelican
which I was not near enough to overhear； and then； still apparently
in a state of abstraction； crossed the path and seated himself on
the chair next to that occupied by the young lady。
From the tree against which I was standing I was able to watch the
subsequent proceedings unobserved。 The lady looked at Mr。 Parable
and then turned away and smiled to herself。 It was a peculiar
smile； and； again in some way I am unable to explain； reminded me of
my first wife。 It was not till the pelican put down his other leg
and walked away that Mr。 Parable； turning his gaze westward； became
aware of the lady's presence。
From information that has subsequently come to my knowledge； I am
prepared to believe that Mr。 Parable； from the beginning； really
thought the lady was a friend of his。 What the lady thought is a
matter for conjecture； I can only speak to the facts。 Mr。 Parable
looked at the lady once or twice。 Indeed； one might say with truth
that he kept on doing it。 The lady； it must be admitted； behaved
for a while with extreme propriety； but after a time； as I felt must
happen； their eyes met； and then it was I heard her say：
〃Good evening； Mr。 Parable。〃
She accompanied the words with the same peculiar smile to which I
have already alluded。 The exact words of Mr。 Parable's reply I
cannot remember。 But it was to the effect that he had thought from
the first that he had known her but had not been quite sure。 It was
at this point that； thinking I saw my colleague approaching； I went
to meet him。 I found I was mistaken； and slowly retraced my steps。
I passed Mr。 Parable and the lady。 They were talking together with
what I should describe as animation。 I went as far as the southern
extremity of the suspension bridge； and must have waited there quite
ten minutes before returning eastward。 It was while I was passing
behind them on the grass； partially screened by the rhododendrons；
that I heard Mr。 Parable say to the lady：
〃Why shouldn't we have it together？〃
To which the lady replied：
〃But what about Miss Clebb？〃
I could not overhear what followed； owing to their sinking their
voices。 It seemed to be an argument。 It ended with the young lady
laughing and then rising。 Mr。 Parable also rose； and they walked
off together。 As they passed me I heard the lady say：
〃I wonder if there's any place in London where you're not likely to
be recognised。〃
Mr。 Parable； who gave me the idea of being in a state of growing
excitement； replied quite loudly：
〃Oh； let 'em！〃
I was following behind them when the lady suddenly stopped。
〃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。
* * *
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。
〃
