five tales-第28章

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〃And　when　will　you　be　able…？〃

〃Oh！　　I'llI'll　sendI'll　write。　　Good…bye！〃　　And　suddenly　he　found　that　Mrs。　Larne　had　him　by　the　lapel　of　his　coat。　　The　scent　of　violets　and　fur　was　overpowering；　and　the　thought　flashed　through　him：　'I　believe　she　only　wanted　to　take　money　off　old　Joseph　in　the　Bible。　　I　can't　leave　my　coat　in　her　hands！　　What　shall　I　do？'

Mrs。　Larne　was　murmuring：

〃It　would　be　se　sweet　of　you　if　you　could　manage　it　today〃；　and　her　hand　slid　over　his　chest。　　〃Oh！　　You　have　brought　your　cheque…book　what　a　nice　boy！〃

Bob　Pillin　took　it　out　in　desperation；　and；　sitting　down　at　the　bureau；　wrote　a　cheque　similar　to　that　which　he　had　torn　and　burned。　A　warm　kiss　lighted　on　his　eyebrow；　his　head　was　pressed　for　a　moment　to　a　furry　bosom；　a　hand　took　the　cheque；　a　voice　said：　〃How　delightful！〃　　and　a　sigh　immersed　him　in　a　bath　of　perfume。　　Backing　to　the　door；　he　gasped：

〃Don't　mention　it；　andand　don't　tell　Phyllis；　please。　　Good…bye！〃

Once　through　the　garden　gate；　he　thought：　'By　gum！　　I've　done　it　now。　That　Phyllis　should　know　about　it　at　all！　　That　beast　Ventnor！'

His　face　grew　almost　grim。　　He　would　go　and　see　what　that　meant　anyway！




3

Mr。　Ventnor　had　not　left　his　office　when　his　young　friend's　card　was　brought　to　him。　　Tempted　for　a　moment　to　deny　his　own　presence；　he　thought：　'No！　　What's　the　good？　　Bound　to　see　him　some　time！'　　If　he　had　not　exactly　courage；　he　had　that　peculiar　blend　of　self…　confidence　and　insensibility　which　must　needs　distinguish　those　who　follow　the　law；　nor　did　he　ever　forget　that　he　was　in　the　right。

〃Show　him　in！〃　　he　said。

He　would　be　quite　bland；　but　young　Pillin　might　whistle　for　an　explanation；　he　was　still　tormented；　too；　by　the　memory　of　rich　curves　and　moving　lips；　and　the　possibilities　of　better　acquaintanceship。

While　shaking　the　young　man's　hand　his　quick　and　fulvous　eye　detected　at　once　the　discomposure　behind　that　mask　of　cheek　and　collar；　and　relapsing　into　one　of　those　swivel　chairs　which　give　one　an　advantage　over　men　more　statically　seated；　he　said：

〃You　look　pretty　bobbish。　　Anything　I　can　do　for　you？〃

Bob　Pillin；　in　the　fixed　chair　of　the　consultor；　nursed　his　bowler　on　his　knee。

〃Well；　yes；　there　is。　　I've　just　been　to　see　Mrs。　Larne。〃

Mr。　Ventnor　did　not　flinch。

〃Ah！　　Nice　woman；　pretty　daughter；　too！〃　　And　into　those　words　he　put　a　certain　meaning。　　He　never　waited　to　be　bullied。　　Bob　Pillin　felt　the　pressure　of　his　blood　increasing。

〃Look　here；　Ventnor；〃　he　said；　〃I　want　an　explanation。〃

〃What　of？〃

〃Why；　of　your　going　there；　and　using　my　name；　and　God　knows　what。〃

Mr。　Ventnor　gave　his　chair　two　little　twiddles　before　he　said

〃Well；　you　won't　get　it。〃

Bob　Pillin　remained　for　a　moment　taken　aback；　then　he　muttered　resolutely：

〃It's　not　the　conduct　of　a　gentleman。〃

Every　man　has　his　illusions；　and　no　man　likes　them　disturbed。　　The　gingery　tint　underlying　Mr。　Ventnor's　colouring　overlaid　it；　even　the　whites　of　his　eyes　grew　red。〃

〃Oh！〃　　he　said；　〃indeed！　　You　mind　your　own　business；　will　you？〃

〃It　is　my　businessvery　much　so。　　You　made　use　of　my　name；　and　I　don't　choose…〃

〃The　devil　you　don't！　　Now；　I　tell　you　what…〃

〃Mr。　Ventnor　leaned　forward〃you'd　better　hold　your　tongue；　and　not　exasperate　me。　　I'm　a　good…tempered　man；　but　I　won't　stand　your　impudence。〃

Clenching　his　bowler　hat；　and　only　kept　in　his　seat　by　that　sense　of　something　behind；　Bob　Pillin　ejaculated：

〃Impudence！　　That's　goodafter　what　you　did！　　Look　here；　why　did　you？　　It's　so　extraordinary！〃

Mr。　Ventnor　answered：

〃Oh！　is　it？　　You　wait　a　bit；　my　friend！〃

Still　more　moved　by　the　mystery　of　this　affair；　Bob　Pillin　could　only　mutter：

〃I　never　gave　you　their　address；　we　were　only　talking　about　old　Heythorp。〃


And　at　the　smile　which　spread　between　Mr。　Ventnor's　whiskers；　he　jumped　up；　crying：

〃It's　not　the　thing；　and　you're　not　going　to　put　me　off。　　I　insist　on　an　explanation。〃

Mr。　Ventnor　leaned　back；　crossing　his　stout　legs；　joining　the　tips　of　his　thick　fingers。　　In　this　attitude　he　was　always　self…possessed。

〃You　dodo　you？〃

〃Yes。　　You　must　have　had　some　reason。'

Mr。　Ventnor　gazed　up　at　him。

〃I'll　give　you　a　piece　of　advice；　young　cock；　and　charge　you　nothing　for　it；　too：　Ask　no　questions；　and　you'll　be　told　no　lies。　　And　here's　another：　Go　away　before　you　forget　yourself　again。〃

The　natural　stolidity　of　Bob　Pilings　face　was　only　just　proof　against　this　speech。　　He　said　thickly：

〃If　you　go　there　again　and　use　my　name；　I'll　Well；　it's　lucky　for　you　you're　not　my　age。　　Anyway　I'll　relieve　you　of　my　acquaintanceship　in　future。　　Good…evening！〃　　and　he　went　to　the　door。　　Mr。　Ventnor　had　risen。

〃Very　well；〃　he　said　loudly。　　〃Good　riddance！　　You　wait　and　see　which　boot　the　leg　is　on！〃

But　Bob　Pillin　was　gone；　leaving　the　lawyer　with　a　very　red　face；　a　very　angry　heart；　and　a　vague　sense　of　disorder　in　his　speech。　　Not　only　Bob　Pillin；　but　his　tender　aspirations　had　all　left　him；　he　no　longer　dallied　with　the　memory　of　Mrs。　Larne；　but　like　a　man　and　a　Briton　thought　only　of　how　to　get　his　own　back；　and　punish　evildoers。　The　atrocious　words　of　his　young　friend；　〃It's　not　the　conduct　of　a　gentleman；〃　festered　in　the　heart　of　one　who　was　made　gentle　not　merely　by　nature　but　by　Act　of　Parliament；　and　he　registered　a　solemn　vow　to　wipe　the　insult　out；　if　not　with　blood；　with　verjuice。　　It　was　his　duty；　and　they　should　d…d　well　see　him　do　it！




IV

Sylvanus　Heythorp　seldom　went　to　bed　before　one　or　rose　before　eleven。　　The　latter　habit　alone　kept　his　valet　from　handing　in　the　resignation　which　the　former　habit　prompted　almost　every　night。

Propped　on　his　pillows　in　a　crimson　dressing…gown；　and　freshly　shaved；　he　looked　more　Roman　than　he　ever　did；　except　in　his　bath。　Having　disposed　of　coffee；　he　was　wont　to　read　his　letters；　and　The　Morning　Post；　for　he　had　always　been　a　Tory；　and　could　not　stomach　paying　a　halfpenny　for　his　news。　　Not　that　there　were　many　letters　when　a　man　has　reached　the　age　of　eighty；　who　should　write　to　him；　except　to　ask　for　money？

It　was　Valentine's　Day。　　Through　his　bedroom　window　he　could　see　the　trees　of　the　park；　where　the　birds　were　in　song；　though　he　could　not　hear　them。　　He　had　never　been　interested　in　Naturefull…blooded　men　with　short　necks　seldom　are。

This　morning　indeed　there　were　two　letters；　and　he　opened　that　which　smelt　of　something。　　Inside　was　a　thing　like　a　Christmas　card；　save　that　the　naked　babe　had　in　his　hands　a　bow　and　arrow；　and　words　coming　out　of　his　mouth：　〃To　be　your　Valentine。〃　　There　was　also　a　little　pink　note　with　one　blue　forget…me…not　printed　at　the　top。　　It　ran：

〃DEAREST　GUARDY；…I'm　sorry　this　is　such　a　mangy　little　valentine；　I　couldn't　go　out　to　get　it　because　I've　got　a　beastly　cold；　so　I　asked　Jock；　and　the　pig　bought　this。　　The　satin　is　simply　scrumptious。　　If　you　don't　come　and　see　me　in　it　some　time　soon；　I　shall　come　and　show　it　to　you。　　I　wish　I　had　a　moustache；　because　my　top　lip　feels　just　like　a　matchbox；　but　it's　rather　ripping　having　breakfast　in　bed。　Mr。　Pillin's　taking　us　to　the　theatre　the　day　after　to…morrow　evening。　　Isn't　it　nummy！　　I'm　going　to　have　rum　and　honey　for　my　cold。

〃Good…bye；　〃Your　PHYLLIS。〃


So　this　that　quivered　in　his　thick　fingers；　too　insensitive　to　feel　it；　was　a　valentine　for　him！

Forty　years　ago　that　young　thing's　grandmother　had　given　him　his　last。　　It　made　him　out　a　very　old　chap！　　Forty　years　ago！　　Had　that　been　himself　living　then？　　And　himself；　who；　as　a　youth　came　on　the　town　in　'forty…five？　　Not　a　thought；　not　a　feeling　the　same！　　They　said　you　changed　your　body　every　seven　years。　　The　mind　with　it；　too；　perhaps！　　Well；　he　had　come　to　the　last　of　his　bodies；　now！　　And　that　holy　woman　had　been　urging　him　to　take　it　to　Bath；　with　her　face　as　long　as　a　tea…tray；　and　some　gammon　from　that　doctor　of　his。　　Too　full　a　habitdock　his　portno　alcoholmight　go　off　in　a　coma　any　night！　　Knock　off　not　he！　　Rather　die　any　day　than　turn　tee…totaller！　When　a　man　had　nothing　left　in　life　except　his　dinner；　his　bottle；　his　cigar；　and　the　dreams　they　gave　himthese　doctors　forsooth　must　want　to　cut　them　off！　　No；　no！　　Carpe　diem！　while　you　lived；　get　something　out　of　it。