beasts and super-beasts(野兽与超级野兽)-第43章
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If he says there aren't any I shall say： 'You know who I am； don't you？'
so I'll find out anyway。〃
The plan seemed a sound one； a difficulty in its execution suggested
itself to Jerton。
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〃Of course；〃 said the lady； when he hinted at the obstacle； 〃there's
my fare back to town； and my bill here and cabs and things。 If you'll
lend me three pounds that ought to see me through comfortably。
Thanks ever so。 Then there is the question of that luggage： I don't want
to be saddled with that for the rest of my life。 I'll have it brought down
to the hall and you can pretend to mount guard over it while I'm writing
a letter。 Then I shall just slip away to the station； and you can wander
off to the smoking…room； and they can do what they like with the things。
They'll advertise them after a bit and the owner can claim them。〃
Jerton acquiesced in the manoeuvre； and duly mounted guard over
the luggage while its temporary owner slipped unobtrusively out of the
hotel。 Her departure was not； however； altogether unnoticed。 Two
gentlemen were strolling past Jerton； and one of them remarked to the
other：
〃Did you see that tall young woman in grey who went out just now？
She is the Lady … 〃
His promenade carried him out of earshot at the critical moment
when he was about to disclose the elusive identity。 The Lady Who？
Jerton could scarcely run after a total stranger； break into his
conversation； and ask him for information concerning a chance passer…
by。 Besides； it was desirable that he should keep up the appearance of
looking after the luggage。 In a minute or two； however； the important
personage； the man who knew； came strolling back alone。 Jerton
summoned up all his courage and waylaid him。
〃I think I heard you say you knew the lady who went out of the hotel
a few minutes ago； a tall lady； dressed in grey。 Excuse me for asking if
you could tell me her name； I've been talking to her for half an hour； she
… er … she knows all my people and seems to know me； so I suppose
I've met her somewhere before； but I'm blest if I can put a name to her。
Could you … ？〃
〃Certainly。 She's a Mrs。 Stroope。〃
〃MRS。？〃 queried Jerton。
〃Yes； she's the Lady Champion at golf in my part of the world。 An
awful good sort； and goes about a good deal in Society； but she has an
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awkward habit of losing her memory every now and then； and gets into
all sorts of fixes。 She's furious； too； if you make any allusion to it
afterwards。 Good day； sir。〃
The stranger passed on his way； and before Jerton had had time to
assimilate his information he found his whole attention centred on an
angry…looking lady who was making loud and fretful…seeming inquiries
of the hotel clerks。
〃Has any luggage been brought here from the station by mistake； a
dress…basket and dressing…case； with the name Kestrel…Smith？ It can't
be traced anywhere。 I saw it put in at Victoria； that I'll swear。 Why …
there is my luggage！ and the locks have been tampered with！〃
Jerton heard no more。 He fled down to the Turkish bath； and stayed
there for hours。
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THE STALLED OX
THEOPHIL ESHLEY was an artist by profession； a cattle painter
by force of environment。 It is not to be supposed that he lived on a
ranche or a dairy farm； in an atmosphere pervaded with horn and hoof；
milking…stool； and branding…iron。 His home was in a park…like； villa…
dotted district that only just escaped the reproach of being suburban。
On one side of his garden there abutted a small； picturesque meadow； in
which an enterprising neighbour pastured some small picturesque cows
of the Channel Island persuasion。 At noonday in summertime the
cows stood knee…deep in tall meadow…grass under the shade of a group
of walnut trees； with the sunlight falling in dappled patches on their
mouse…sleek coats。 Eshley had conceived and executed a dainty picture
of two reposeful milch…cows in a setting of walnut tree and meadow…
grass and filtered sunbeam； and the Royal Academy had duly exposed
the same on the walls of its Summer Exhibition。 The Royal Academy
encourages orderly； methodical habits in its children。 Eshley had
painted a successful and acceptable picture of cattle drowsing
picturesquely under walnut trees； and as he had begun； so； of necessity；
he went on。 His 〃Noontide Peace；〃 a study of two dun cows under a
walnut tree； was followed by 〃A Mid…day Sanctuary；〃 a study of a
walnut tree； with two dun cows under it。 In due succession there came
〃Where the Gad… Flies Cease from Troubling；〃 〃The Haven of the Herd；〃
and 〃A…dream in Dairyland；〃 studies of walnut trees and dun cows。
His two attempts to break away from his own tradition were signal
failures： 〃Turtle Doves alarmed by Sparrow…hawk〃 and 〃Wolves on the
Roman Campagna〃 came back to his studio in the guise of abominable
heresies； and Eshley climbed back into grace and the public gaze with
〃A Shaded Nook where Drowsy Milkers Dream。〃
On a fine afternoon in late autumn he was putting some finishing
touches to a study of meadow weeds when his neighbour； Adela
Pingsford； assailed the outer door of his studio with loud peremptory
knockings。
〃There is an ox in my garden；〃 she announced； in explanation of the
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tempestuous intrusion。
〃An ox；〃 said Eshley blankly； and rather fatuously； 〃what kind of
ox？〃
〃Oh； I don't know what kind；〃 snapped the lady。 〃A common or
garden ox； to use the slang expression。 It is the garden part of it that I
object to。 My garden has just been put straight for the winter； and an
ox roaming about in it won't improve matters。 Besides； there are the
chrysanthemums just coming into flower。〃
〃How did it get into the garden？〃 asked Eshley。
〃I imagine it came in by the gate；〃 said the lady impatiently； 〃it
couldn't have climbed the walls； and I don't suppose anyone dropped it
from an aeroplane as a Bovril advertisement。 The immediately
important question is not how it got in； but how to get it out。〃
〃Won't it go？〃 said Eshley。
〃If it
