“Mr. Lomax is here, my lord.”
Lord Caterham started violently, for, absorbed in the intricacies of whatnot to do with the left wrist, he had not heard the butler approach over thesoft turf. He looked at Tredwell more in sorrow than in anger.
“I told you at breakfast, Tredwell, that I should be particularly engagedthis morning.”
“Yes, my lord, but—”
“Go and tell Mr. Lomax that you have made a mistake, that I am out inthe village, that I am laid up with the gout, or, if all else fails, that I amdead.”
“Mr. Lomax, my lord, has already caught sight of your lordship whendriving up the drive.”
Lord Caterham sighed deeply.
“He would. Very well, Tredwell, I am coming.”
In a manner highly characteristic, Lord Caterham was always most gen-ial when his feelings were in reality the reverse. He greeted George nowwith a heartiness1 quite unparalleled.
“My dear fellow, my dear fellow. Delighted to see you. Absolutely de-lighted. Sit down. Have a drink. Well, well, this is splendid!”
And having pushed George into a large armchair, he sat down oppositehim and blinked nervously2.
“I wanted to see you very particularly,” said George.
“Oh!” said Lord Caterham faintly, and his heart sank, whilst his mindraced actively3 over all the dread4 possibilities that might lie behind thatsimple phrase.
“Very particularly,” said George with heavy emphasis.
Lord Caterham’s heart sank lower than ever. He felt that something wascoming worse than anything he had yet thought of.
“Yes?” he said, with a courageous5 attempt at nonchalance6.
“Is Eileen at home?”
Lord Caterham felt reprieved7, but slightly surprised.
“Yes, yes,” he said. “Bundle’s here. Got that friend of hers with her—thelittle Wade9 girl. Very nice girl—very nice girl. Going to be quite a goodgolfer one day. Nice easy swing—”
He was chatting garrulously10 on when George interrupted with ruthless-ness:
“I am glad that Eileen is at home. Perhaps I might have an interviewwith her presently?”
“Certainly, my dear fellow, certainly.” Lord Caterham still felt very sur-prised, but was still enjoying the sensation of reprieve8. “If it doesn’t boreyou.”
“Nothing could bore me less,” said George. “I think, Caterham, if I maysay so, that you hardly appreciate the fact that Eileen is grown up. She isno longer a child. She is a woman, and, if I may say so, a very charmingand talented woman. The man who succeeds in winning her love will beextremely lucky. I repeat it—extremely lucky.”
“Oh, I daresay,” said Lord Caterham. “But she’s very restless, you know.
Never content to be in one place for more than two minutes together.
However, I daresay young fellows don’t mind that nowadays.”
“You mean that she is not content to stagnate11. Eileen has brains, Cater-ham; she is ambitious. She interests herself in the questions of the day,and brings her fresh and vivid young intellect to bear upon them.”
Lord Caterham stared at him. It occurred to him that what was so oftenreferred to as “the strain of modern life” had begun to tell upon George.
Certainly his description of Bundle seemed to Lord Caterham ludicrouslyunlike.
“Are you sure you are feeling quite well?” he asked anxiously.
George waved the inquiry12 aside impatiently.
“Perhaps, Caterham, you begin to have some inkling of my purpose invisiting you this morning. I am not a man to undertake fresh responsibilit-ies lightly. I have a proper sense, I hope, of what is due to the position Ihold. I have given this matter my deep and earnest consideration. Mar-riage, especially at my age, is not to be undertaken without full—er—con-sideration. Equality of birth, similarity of tastes, general suitability, andthe same religious creed—all these things are necessary and the pros13 andcons have to be weighed and considered. I can, I think, offer my wife a po-sition in society that is not to be despised. Eileen will grace that positionadmirably. By birth and breeding she is fitted for it, and her brains andher acute political sense cannot but further my career to our mutual14 ad-vantage. I am aware, Caterham, that there is—er—some disparity in years.
But I can assure you that I feel full of vigour—in my prime. The balance ofyears should be on the husband’s side. And Eileen has serious tastes—anolder man will suit her better than some young jackanapes without eitherexperience or savoir faire. I can assure you, my dear Caterham, that I willcherish her—er—exquisite16 youth; I will cherish it—er—it will be appreci-ated. To watch the exquisite flower of her mind unfolding—what a priv-ilege! And to think that I never realized—”
He shook his head deprecatingly and Lord Caterham, finding his voicewith difficulty, said blankly:
“Do I understand you to mean—ah, my dear fellow, you can’t want tomarry Bundle?”
“You are surprised. I suppose to you it seems sudden. I have your per-mission, then, to speak to her?”
“Oh, yes,” said Lord Caterham. “If it’s permission you want—of courseyou can. But you know, Lomax, I really shouldn’t if I were you. Just gohome and think it over like a good fellow. Count twenty. All that sort ofthing. Always a pity to propose and make a fool of yourself.”
“I daresay you mean your advice kindly17, Caterham, though I must con-fess that you put it somewhat strangely. But I have made up my mind toput my fortune to the test. I may see Eileen?”
“Oh, it’s nothing to do with me,” said Lord Caterham hastily; “Eileensettles her own affairs. If she came to me tomorrow and said she was go-ing to marry the chauffeur18, I shouldn’t make any objections. It’s the onlyway nowadays. Your children can make life damned unpleasant if youdon’t give in to them in every way. I say to Bundle, ‘Do as you like, butdon’t worry me,’ and really, on the whole, she is amazingly good about it.”
George stood up intent upon his purpose.
“Where shall I find her?”
“Well, really, I don’t know,” said Lord Caterham vaguely19. “She might beanywhere. As I told you just now, she’s never in the same place for twominutes together. No repose20.”
“And I suppose Miss Wade will be with her? It seems to me, Caterham,that the best plan would be for you to ring the bell and ask your butler tofind her, saying that I wish to speak to her for a few minutes.”
Lord Caterham pressed the bell obediently.
“Oh, Tredwell,” he said, when the bell was answered. “Just find her lady-ship, will you. Tell her Mr. Lomax is anxious to speak to her in the draw-ing room.”
“Yes, my lord.”
Tredwell withdrew. George seized Lord Caterham’s hand and wrung21 itwarmly, much to the latter’s discomfort22.
“A thousand thanks,” he said. “I hope soon to bring you good news.”
He hastened from the room.
“Well,” said Lord Caterham. “Well!”
And after a long pause:
“What has Bundle been up to?”
The door opened again.
“Mr. Eversleigh, my lord.”
As Bill hastened in, Lord Caterham caught his hand and spoke23 earnestly.
“Hullo, Bill. You’re looking for Lomax, I suppose? Look here, if you wantto do a good turn, hurry to the drawing room and tell him the Cabinethave called an immediate24 meeting, or get him away somehow. It’s reallynot fair to let the poor devil make an ass15 of himself all for some silly girl’sprank.”
“I’ve not come for Codders,” said Bill. “Didn’t know he was here. It’sBundle I want to see. Is she anywhere about?”
“You can’t see her,” said Lord Caterham. “Not just now, at any rate.
George is with her.”
“Well—what does it matter?”
“I think it does rather,” said Lord Caterham. “He’s probably splutteringhorribly at this minute, and we mustn’t do anything to make it worse forhim.”
“But what is he saying?”
“Heaven knows,” said Lord Caterham. “A lot of damned nonsense, any-way. Never say too much, that was always my motto. Grab the girl’s handand let events take their course.”
Bill stared at him.
“But look here, sir, I’m in a hurry. I must talk to Bundle—”
“Well, I don’t suppose you’ll have to wait long. I must confess I’m ratherglad to have you here with me—I suppose Lomax will insist on comingback and talking to me when it’s all over.”
“When what’s all over? What is Lomax supposed to be doing?”
“Hush,” said Lord Caterham. “He’s proposing.”
“Proposing? Proposing what?”
“Marriage. To Bundle. Don’t ask me why. I suppose he’s come to whatthey call the dangerous age. I can’t explain it any other way.”
“Proposing to Bundle? The dirty swine. At his age.”
Bill’s face grew crimson25.
“He says he’s in the prime of life,” said Lord Caterham cautiously.
“He? Why, he’s decrepit—senile! I—” Bill positively26 choked.
“Not at all,” said Lord Caterham coldly. “He’s five years younger than Iam.”
“Of all the damned cheek! Codders and Bundle! A girl like Bundle! Yououghtn’t to have allowed it.”
“I never interfere,” said Lord Caterham.
“You ought to have told him what you thought of him.”
“Unfortunately modern civilization rules that out,” said Lord Caterhamregretfully. “In the Stone Age now—but, dear me, I suppose even then Ishouldn’t be able to do it—being a small man.”
“Bundle! Bundle! Why, I’ve never dared to ask Bundle to marry me be-cause I knew she’d only laugh. And George—a disgusting windbag27, an un-scrupulous hypocritical old hot air merchant—a foul28, poisonous self-ad-vertiser—”
“Go on,” said Lord Caterham. “I am enjoying this.”
“My God!” said Bill simply and with feeling. “Look here, I must be off.”
“No, no, don’t go. I’d much rather you stayed. Besides, you want to seeBundle.”
“Not now. This has driven everything else out of my head. You don’tknow where Jimmy Thesiger is by any chance? I believe he was stayingwith the Cootes. Is he there still?”
“I think he went back to town yesterday. Bundle and Loraine were overthere on Saturday. If you’ll only wait—”
But Bill shook his head energetically and rushed from the room. LordCaterham tiptoed out into the hall, seized a hat and made a hurried exit bythe side door. In the distance he observed Bill streaking29 down the drive inhis car.
“That young man will have an accident,” he thought.
Bill, however, reached London without any mischance, and proceededto park his car in St. James’s Square. Then he sought out Jimmy Thesiger’srooms. Jimmy was at home.
“Hullo, Bill. I say, what’s the matter? You don’t look your usual brightlittle self.”
“I’m worried,” said Bill. “I was worried anyway, and then somethingelse turned up and gave me a jolt30.”
“Oh!” said Jimmy. “How lucid31! What’s it all about? Can I do anything?”
Bill did not reply. He sat staring at the carpet and looking so puzzledand uncomfortable that Jimmy felt his curiosity aroused.
“Has anything very extraordinary occurred, William?” he asked gently.
“Something damned odd. I can’t make head or tail of it.”
“The Seven Dials business?”
“Yes—the Seven Dials business. I got a letter this morning.”
“A letter? What sort of letter?”
“A letter from Ronny Devereux’s executors.”
“Good lord! After all this time!”
“It seems he left instructions. If he was to die suddenly, a certain sealedenvelope was to be sent to me exactly a fortnight after his death.”
“And they’ve sent it to you?”
“Yes.”
“You’ve opened it?”
“Yes.”
“Well—what did it say?”
Bill turned a glance upon him, such a strange and uncertain one thatJimmy was startled.
“Look here,” he said. “Pull yourself together, old man. It seems to haveknocked the wind out of you, whatever it is. Have a drink.”
He poured out a stiff whisky and soda32 and brought it over to Bill, whotook it obediently. His face still bore the same dazed expression.
“It’s what’s in the letter,” he said. “I simply can’t believe it, that’s all.”
“Oh, nonsense,” said Jimmy. “You must get into the habit of believing siximpossible things before breakfast. I do it regularly. Now then, let’s hearall about it. Wait a minute.”
He went outside.
“Stevens!”
“Yes, sir?”
“Just go out and get me some cigarettes, will you? I’ve run out.”
“Very good, sir.”
Jimmy waited till he heard the front door close. Then he came back intothe sitting room. Bill was just in the act of setting down his empty glass. Helooked better, more purposeful and more master of himself.
“Now then,” said Jimmy. “I’ve sent Stevens out so that we can’t be over-heard. Are you going to tell me all about it?”
“It’s so incredible.”
“Then it’s sure to be true. Come on, out with it.”
Bill drew a deep breath.
“I will. I’ll tell you everything.”
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1
heartiness
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| 诚实，热心 | |
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nervously
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| adv.神情激动地，不安地 | |
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actively
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| adv.积极地，勤奋地 | |
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dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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courageous
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| adj.勇敢的，有胆量的 | |
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nonchalance
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| n.冷淡，漠不关心 | |
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7
reprieved
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| v.缓期执行（死刑）( reprieve的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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8
reprieve
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| n.暂缓执行（死刑）；v.缓期执行；给…带来缓解 | |
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9
wade
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| v.跋涉，涉水；n.跋涉 | |
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garrulously
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11
stagnate
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| v.停止 | |
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inquiry
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| n.打听，询问，调查，查问 | |
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pros
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| abbr.prosecuting 起诉；prosecutor 起诉人；professionals 自由职业者；proscenium （舞台）前部n.赞成的意见( pro的名词复数 )；赞成的理由；抵偿物；交换物 | |
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14
mutual
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| adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的 | |
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15
ass
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| n.驴；傻瓜，蠢笨的人 | |
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exquisite
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| adj.精美的；敏锐的；剧烈的，感觉强烈的 | |
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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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chauffeur
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| n.(受雇于私人或公司的)司机；v.为…开车 | |
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19
vaguely
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| adv.含糊地，暖昧地 | |
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repose
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| v.(使)休息；n.安息 | |
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wrung
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| 绞( wring的过去式和过去分词 )； 握紧（尤指别人的手）； 把（湿衣服）拧干； 绞掉（水） | |
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discomfort
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| n.不舒服，不安，难过，困难，不方便 | |
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23
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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immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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crimson
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| n./adj.深(绯)红色(的)；vi.脸变绯红色 | |
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positively
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| adv.明确地，断然，坚决地；实在，确实 | |
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windbag
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| n.风囊，饶舌之人，好说话的人 | |
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foul
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| adj.污秽的；邪恶的；v.弄脏；妨害；犯规；n.犯规 | |
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streaking
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| n.裸奔（指在公共场所裸体飞跑）v.快速移动( streak的现在分词 )；使布满条纹 | |
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jolt
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| v.（使）摇动，（使）震动，（使）颠簸 | |
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lucid
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| adj.明白易懂的，清晰的，头脑清楚的 | |
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soda
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| n.苏打水；汽水 | |
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