“You don’t mean to say—” stammered4 the occupant of seat Number Twenty. “It can’t be! I shall begin to think I’m losing my senses.”
“If you’re Mr. Chiswell,” she replied briskly, “there’s no reason to be afraid of that.”
p. 161“A remark,” protested Mr. Chiswell, “so unkind that I can tell it comes from nobody but Miss Everitt.” She lifted her bag to the rack, and when she had succeeded in placing it there, he made a gesture of assistance. Glancing at herself in the mirror below the rack, she remarked that she looked a perfect bird frightener.
“I don’t agree with you,” he said.
“So far as I remember,” she said, “you seldom did.”
“We won’t exaggerate,” urged Mr. Chiswell. “For my part, I’m very glad that we’re to be fellow travellers, and I trust we shall have a pleasant journey. It’s clear enough to me, Miss Everitt, that fate has brought us together again.”
“Then I wish to goodness fate would mind its own business.”
The last passenger came into the saloon; the conductor’s forehead cleared of wrinkles, and he hung up his brown peaked cap with a sigh of relief. The train moved out from the Gare de Lyon in a casual way, as though it were going for a short stroll, and giving no indication that it intended to occupy the day by racing6 down the map of France. Folk p. 162on the low platform of the station waved handkerchiefs, blew kisses, cried.
“Is Freddy with you?” asked Miss Everitt.
“Need you ask! Is Emily with you?”
“Course she is.”
“Neither of ’em married?”
“Neither of them married,” agreed Miss Everitt. “Just as well perhaps. There are people who, so long as they remain single, can keep up a certain style and position; once they get spliced7, first thing they do is to cut down expenses.”
“Exactly the view I took of it,” he cried eagerly. He leaned forward, and gave a glance around the saloon to make certain that no one listened. “Just the way I looked at the matter. Between ourselves, it was because of that I acted as I did.”
The attendant from the dining-car came to inquire whether the passengers wished to lunch in the first series, or in the second series; the two, after consultation8, settled to take the meal together at the later hour. They found new grounds for agreement in the view that coffee and rolls at half-past seven in the morning, at a Paris hotel, formed but a mere5 imitation of a breakfast.
p. 163“I know perfectly9 well that what I’m going to tell you,” said Chiswell confidentially10, “won’t go any further. I recollect11 how in the old days when we were—well, friends—you always knew when to keep your mouth shut. A great quality, that, in a girl, and I don’t want to flatter you when I say that one very seldom comes across it. What I’m about to tell you refers to—”
He jerked his head, and she nodded.
“They might meet,” she said.
“It wouldn’t matter,” he replied confidently. “They’re not on speaking terms now.”
“Fire away with what you were going to tell me.”
“As a Member of Parliament,” began Mr. Chiswell, “Freddy was not what the world might call a roaring success. Used to take a lot of trouble, and the Duke, his old father, was always getting at him, and asking when he was going to be asked to join the Cabinet. As a matter of fact, his speeches sounded all right when he said ’em off to me in Curzon Street, but apparently12 when he tried ’em in the House they didn’t go for nuts. I never went down there to hear him—got too much p. 164respect for myself to go near the place—but I always read the Parliamentary reports, and there, when he did get the chance of speaking, the papers mentioned his name amongst the ‘Also spokes,’ and that was about all. Whatever faults he may have had as a Member of Parliament, he was, and he is, a first-class chap to valet, and I don’t care”—Mr. Chiswell gave a resolute14 gesture—“I don’t care where the next comes from. I’ve only to say one word against a suit of clothes, and that suit of clothes is virtually handed over to me on the spot. I know to a penny what his income is, and I know to a penny what his expenses amount to. A peculiar15 chap, mind you, in some ways; never able, for instance, to bear the idea of being in debt. Most extraordinary, with people of his class.”
Chiswell dismissed this problem.
“Now you must understand—you know me well enough to realise it—that I’m not one of those who want to be always chopping and changing. If I’m in a nice comfortable easy-chair like this, I’m not the kind of chap to give it up, and go and sit out there in the corridor on a tip-up wooden seat. I’m the sort that—”
p. 165“Leave off bragging16 as soon as you’re tired,” suggested Miss Everitt, “and get on with your story.”
The young man, an elbow resting on the ledge17 of the window, and giving no attention to the scenery which flew past, with a straight road curling up like a length of white ribbon, applied18 himself to the task of describing the course of procedure adopted. The girl gave now and again a cough of criticism, here and there a slightly astonished lift of the eyebrows19. Occasionally she sniffed20 at a bottle of Eau de Cologne with the air—obviously copied from some superior model—the air of having temporarily lost interest in the subject. Stated with a brevity that Chiswell, the day before him and personal exultation21 behind, could not be induced to show, the particulars might be fairly stated thus. Chiswell—
“Mind you,” he said firmly, “no one can call me a Paul Pryer. I look after myself; I don’t profess22 to look after others.”
—Chiswell happened, by chance, to come across a note addressed to his master which, so far as he could judge, had no reference to his master’s Parliamentary duties, or to any p. 166scheme for improvement of the masses; he founded his opinion on the fact that it commenced “My dearest.” Chiswell, a man of the world, would have been prepared to exercise tolerance23 and to pass it by with a wink24, but for the fact that the communication was dated from an exclusive ladies’ club; the fact that the writer adopted a pen name baffled him and aroused his curiosity. He left the letter on the table, and concealed25 inquisitiveness26 until he should be entrusted27 with letters for the post. Looking through the bundle handed to him at four o’clock he felt pained and grieved to find that his master had not trusted him fully28 and entirely29; the envelopes were addressed either to Esquires or to ladies known to the world as seriously interested in the work of the party. He particularly asked whether there were any other communications to be placed in the pillar box for despatch30, and his master, on the point of running off to the House, distinctly and formally answered:
“No, Chiswell. That’s the lot. Don’t forget to post them.”
“Quite sure, sir?”
The reply to this polite and deferential31 p. 167question came in the form of a request, first that Chiswell should not be a fool, second that if he could not help being a fool, he would at any rate take steps to hide and to mask the circumstance. Chiswell was affected32 by these remarks as a duck is concerned by water running over its back; what did perturb33 him was the want of confidence shown between master and man after an acquaintance that had lasted for years. Chiswell, pondering on this, was placing the letters singly in the pillar box and giving to each a final examination when he discovered that one, addressed to—
“I know!” said Miss Everitt, much interested.
—Bore a special sign on the flap of the envelope. Mr. Chiswell, scarce hoping that he had struck the trail, retained this and kept it back for further consideration.
The custom of placing scarlet34 wax on the flap of an envelope and impressing the wax with a seal is probably an old-fashioned tradition dating from the days when gum could not be trusted. In the case of an envelope fastened in the ordinary way, Chiswell would have had to take the trouble of p. 168placing a kettle on the gas stove; in the present instance his work was rendered easy by the help of a penknife and, later, the use of a stick of wax and the seal. The matter appeared to be serious. A passing flirtation35 Chiswell might have permitted, although that he would have held undignified in a Member of the House of Commons, but within the few lines of the letter before him there seemed a plain hint of marriage. He was about to tear up the letter in the hope of thus giving a start to a misunderstanding when it suddenly occurred to him—
“An inspiration,” said Chiswell contentedly36. “That’s what you may call it.”
—It suddenly occurred to him that the insertion of two words in the brief note, just two words in a space that seemed to have been left temptingly for them, would entirely alter the meaning: changing it from a hurried message of affection into a hasty intimation of dislike. “Do not” were the two words, and Chiswell took the pen and wrote them as quickly as he now, in the Cote d’Azur express, spoke13 them.
“You’re not blaming me,” urged Mr. Chiswell apprehensively37.
p. 169“Go on,” she ordered.
Little else to go on about. The letter, resealed, went to its destination; the General Election came, and that meant a quick departure for the country. Freddy, greatly worried with one matter and another, seemed, so far as his valet could judge, to enter upon the contest in anything but a whole-hearted fashion; Chiswell managed to intercept38 and cancel a telegram sent to the same young party, urgently begging her to come and help. The meetings were noisy, and the candidate, who but a few years before made retorts which became classical, and delivered speeches the reports of which had to be decorated by reporters with “Loud laughter” and “Long and continued cheering,” gave no signs of alertness, falling back on dreary39 statistics which he himself could not understand, and his audiences declined to accept. Now that it was all over, they were on their way to Nice, where Chiswell hoped to meet no one but other defeated candidates and attendants who, it might be hoped, would, in their own interests, abstain40 from the vulgar chaff41 to which he and his master had been subjected in town.
p. 170“But what I want to point out to you, my dear—beg pardon—what I want to say is that I managed to stop him from entering upon marriage, and in doing so, I reckon I did a good turn for myself, and that I did a good turn for you.”
“She was very much worried and upset.”
Chiswell stretched himself luxuriously42.
“It don’t do to share other people’s anxieties,” he said. “Great thing in this world is to keep trouble off your own shoulders. Do that, and you may reckon you’ve done pretty well. How have you been getting along since—since—”
“Since you dropped me?”
“Mutual consent,” he argued, rather uneasily, “mutual consent.” Both looked out of the window for a time. “By the by, do you ever see anything of that chap Miller43? You don’t remember him perhaps; he was in Grosvenor Gardens when last I heard of him.”
“I believe he’s there still,” she answered, examining the tips of her boots.
“When did you—”
“Oh, don’t bother me!” cried Miss Everitt sharply. “You’re always wanting to know p. 171everything about everybody. A nuisance, that’s what you are.”
“I’ve got no grievance44 against Miller,” contended Chiswell. “You’re doing me an injustice45. Me and Miller are good friends enough. Last time I met him he gave me some information, and we parted on what I may call the most amicable46 terms. I shouldn’t at all mind,” he went on generously, “I shouldn’t object in the least to running across poor Miller again.”
“You needn’t call him ‘poor.’”
“I’m not using the term,” said Mr. Chiswell, “in a monetary47 sense.”
“The monetary sense, as you call it, is about the only one you possess.”
Noting that she tapped the side of her easy-chair and that her head trembled, he decided48 to say nothing more on the subject, reverting49 instead to the matter already discussed. In going over some of the circumstances he found excuse for increased content; the swiftness of his action, and the general dexterity50 he had displayed made his eyes grow round and bulgy51. The dining-car attendant came through to announce that the first series for lunch was ready, and Chiswell said he would smoke one p. 172cigarette and then go along and see whether his services were required by Freddy. Miss Everitt rose, remarking that it would be well, perhaps, for her to ascertain52, at once, whether she could be of any use to Emily.
They returned to their chairs in less than five minutes: one perturbed53, the other calm.
“Well, of all the—” he spluttered. “What I mean to say is, what in the world is going to happen next, I wonder?”
“That’s more than either of us can tell,” remarked Miss Everitt composedly. “What I know is that I do want my lunch. Sight of food in the dining-car has made me feel hungry.”
“The two of them! The two of them sitting there at a small table opposite each other!”
“I caught sight through the glass door of the bill of fare,” said Miss Everitt. “The name of the fish I couldn’t quite make out, but there were c?tes de boeuf r?tis, and poularde, and haricots verts—”
“They were sharing a bottle of Chablis together. And he—he’d placed his hand on the top of her hand. Did you notice?”
“Wonder whether they’ll give us an ice?”
p. 173Chiswell found a handkerchief and rubbed his forehead.
“All very well for you to sit there and talk about food; how do you know that now they’ve met and made it up, that she won’t get rid of you in the same way that he’s jolly well certain to manage without me?”
“It doesn’t matter,” she replied, with calm. “I’ve saved!”
“The amount you’ve saved, my girl,” he declared, “will last you for just about five weeks.”
“What do you know about how much I’ve put by?” she demanded.
“I can tell you the sum to within a pound. I can write it down now, if you’ll lend me a lead pencil.”
He scribbled54 some figures on the margin55 of his newspaper, and handed it across to her.
“Guess again!” she said.
“It isn’t a question of guessing,” he said. “I happen to know. Unless you’ve made a considerable sum within the last three months, that’s the exact amount.”
“You really believed, then, what Mr. Miller told you?”
The conductor came, and returned to each p. 174the green cardboard covers enclosing their tickets. Under the impression that Chiswell was still a blade, a chum, a jovial56 companion, the conductor aimed at him a cheerful blow on the shoulder, and the train giving at this moment a lurch57, the action took something of a more aggressive nature. Chiswell blazed up, trying to disengage himself from his coat. Other passengers in the saloon looked around interestedly; Miss Everitt interposed and ordered Chiswell to behave himself, to remember that he was in the presence of ladies. The conductor apologised and went on; the French passengers remarked to each other that the English formed an excitable nation.
“Pardon me,” said Chiswell to his companion, “but I should like to know your facts. I should be very glad indeed if you’ll kindly58 place me in possession of the true circumstances. To put it plainly—here’s your pencil—how much have you actually got in the bank on deposit, or on current account at the present moment? That’s all I want to know.”
She struck out his figures and wrote underneath59. Leaning over he gave a whistle of astonishment60.
p. 175“My dear,” he said deferentially61. “There’s been a misunderstanding, due to the interference of outsiders. It’s not too late to put it all smooth and right again, but at the same time I’m bound to say such conduct is altogether inexcusable. When I come across Miller, I shall tell him so to his face. Who asked him to come to me, and give me wrong information, I should like to know?”
“I did!” she remarked. “But I’ve just made up for it by giving correct information on another subject to my young mistress.”
Chiswell threw himself back in his chair, and gazed severely62 at the roof of the saloon carriage.
“All I can say is,” he declared, “it’s absolutely ruined my lunch.”
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1
acerbity
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| n.涩，酸，刻薄 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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4
stammered
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| v.结巴地说出( stammer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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racing
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| n.竞赛，赛马；adj.竞赛用的，赛马用的 | |
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7
spliced
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| adj.（针织品）加固的n.叠接v.绞接( splice的过去式和过去分词 )；捻接（两段绳子）；胶接；粘接（胶片、磁带等） | |
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8
consultation
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| n.咨询；商量；商议；会议 | |
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9
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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10
confidentially
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| ad.秘密地，悄悄地 | |
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11
recollect
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| v.回忆，想起，记起，忆起，记得 | |
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12
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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13
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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14
resolute
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| adj.坚决的，果敢的 | |
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15
peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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16
bragging
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| v.自夸，吹嘘( brag的现在分词 )；大话 | |
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17
ledge
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| n.壁架，架状突出物；岩架，岩礁 | |
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18
applied
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| adj.应用的；v.应用，适用 | |
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eyebrows
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| 眉毛( eyebrow的名词复数 ) | |
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sniffed
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| v.以鼻吸气，嗅，闻( sniff的过去式和过去分词 )；抽鼻子（尤指哭泣、患感冒等时出声地用鼻子吸气）；抱怨，不以为然地说 | |
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21
exultation
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| n.狂喜，得意 | |
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profess
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| v.声称，冒称，以...为业，正式接受入教，表明信仰 | |
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tolerance
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| n.宽容；容忍，忍受；耐药力；公差 | |
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wink
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| n.眨眼，使眼色，瞬间；v.眨眼，使眼色，闪烁 | |
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concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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inquisitiveness
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| 好奇，求知欲 | |
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entrusted
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| v.委托，托付( entrust的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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30
despatch
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| n./v.(dispatch)派遣；发送；n.急件；新闻报道 | |
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31
deferential
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| adj. 敬意的，恭敬的 | |
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affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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perturb
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| v.使不安，烦扰，扰乱，使紊乱 | |
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scarlet
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| n.深红色，绯红色，红衣；adj.绯红色的 | |
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flirtation
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| n.调情，调戏，挑逗 | |
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contentedly
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| adv.心满意足地 | |
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apprehensively
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| adv.担心地 | |
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intercept
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| vt.拦截，截住，截击 | |
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dreary
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| adj.令人沮丧的，沉闷的，单调乏味的 | |
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40
abstain
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| v.自制，戒绝，弃权，避免 | |
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41
chaff
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| v.取笑，嘲笑；n.谷壳 | |
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42
luxuriously
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| adv.奢侈地，豪华地 | |
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43
miller
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| n.磨坊主 | |
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grievance
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| n.怨愤，气恼，委屈 | |
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injustice
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| n.非正义，不公正，不公平，侵犯（别人的）权利 | |
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46
amicable
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| adj.和平的，友好的；友善的 | |
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47
monetary
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| adj.货币的，钱的；通货的；金融的；财政的 | |
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48
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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49
reverting
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| 恢复( revert的现在分词 )； 重提； 回到…上； 归还 | |
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50
dexterity
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| n.(手的)灵巧，灵活 | |
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51
bulgy
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| a.膨胀的；凸出的 | |
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52
ascertain
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| vt.发现，确定，查明，弄清 | |
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53
perturbed
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| adj.烦燥不安的v.使（某人）烦恼，不安( perturb的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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54
scribbled
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| v.潦草的书写( scribble的过去式和过去分词 )；乱画；草草地写；匆匆记下 | |
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55
margin
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| n.页边空白；差额；余地，余裕；边，边缘 | |
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56
jovial
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| adj.快乐的，好交际的 | |
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57
lurch
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| n.突然向前或旁边倒；v.蹒跚而行 | |
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58
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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59
underneath
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| adj.在...下面，在...底下；adv.在下面 | |
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60
astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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61
deferentially
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| adv.表示敬意地，谦恭地 | |
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severely
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| adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地 | |
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