Loraine, playing with a small and delectable1 puppy, was somewhat sur-prised when Bundle rejoined her after an absence of twenty minutes, in abreathless state and with an indescribable expression on her face.
“Whoof,” said Bundle, sinking on to a garden seat. “Whoof.”
“What’s the matter?” asked Loraine, looking at her curiously2.
“George is the matter—George Lomax.”
“What’s he been doing?”
“Proposing to me. It was awful. He spluttered and he stuttered, but hewould go through with it—he must have learnt it out of a book, I think.
There was no stopping him. Oh, how I hate men who splutter! And, unfor-tunately, I didn’t know the reply.”
“You must have known what you wanted to do.”
“Naturally I’m not going to marry an apologetic idiot like George. What Imean is, I didn’t know the correct reply from the book of etiquette3. I couldonly just say flatly: ‘No, I won’t.’ What I ought to have said was somethingabout being very sensible of the honour he had done me and so on and soon. But I got so rattled4 that in the end I jumped out of the window andbolted.”
“Really, Bundle, that’s not like you.”
“Well, I never dreamt of such a thing happening. George—who I alwaysthought hated me—and he did too. What a fatal thing it is to pretend totake an interest in a man’s pet subject. You should have heard the drivelGeorge talked about my girlish mind and the pleasure it would be to formit. My mind! If George knew one quarter of what was going on in mymind, he’d faint with horror!”
Loraine laughed. She couldn’t help it.
“Oh, I know it’s my own fault. I let myself in for this. There’s Fatherdodging round that rhododendron. Hallo, Father.”
Lord Caterham approached with a hangdog expression.
“Lomax gone, eh?” he remarked with somewhat forced geniality5.
“A nice business you let me in for,” said Bundle. “George told me he hadyour full approval and sanction.”
“Well,” said Lord Caterham, “what did you expect me to say? As a mat-ter of fact, I didn’t say that at all, or anything like it.”
“I didn’t really think so,” said Bundle. “I assumed that George had talkedyou into a corner and reduced you to such a state that you could only nodyour head feebly.”
“That’s very much what happened. How did he take it? Badly?”
“I didn’t wait to see,” said Bundle. “I’m afraid I was rather abrupt6.”
“Oh well,” said Lord Caterham. “Perhaps that was the best way. Thankgoodness in the future Lomax won’t always be running over as he hasbeen in the habit of doing, worrying me about things. Everything is for thebest they say. Have you seen my jigger anywhere?”
“A mashie shot or two would steady my nerves, I think,” said Bundle.
“I’ll take you on for sixpence, Loraine.”
An hour passed very peacefully. The three returned to the house in aharmonious spirit. A note lay on the hall table.
“Mr. Lomax left that for you, my lord,” explained Tredwell. “He wasmuch disappointed to find that you had gone out.”
Lord Caterham tore it open. He uttered a pained ejaculation and turnedupon his daughter. Tredwell had retired7.
“Really, Bundle, you might have made yourself clear, I think.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, read this.”
Bundle took it and read:
“My dear Caterham,—I am sorry not to have had a wordwith you. I thought I made it clear that I wanted to see youagain after my interview with Eileen. She, dear child, wasevidently quite unaware8 of the feelings I entertained to-wards her. She was, I am afraid, much startled. I have nowish to hurry her in any way. Her girlish confusion wasvery charming, and I entertain an even higher regard forher, as I much appreciate her maidenly9 reserve. I mustgive her time to become accustomed to the idea. Her veryconfusion shows that she is not wholly indifferent to meand I have no doubts of my ultimate success.
Believe me, dear Caterham,
Your sincere friend,
George Lomax.”
“Well,” said Bundle. “Well, I’m damned!”
Words failed her.
“The man must be mad,” said Lord Caterham. “No one could write thosethings about you, Bundle, unless they were slightly touched in the head.
Poor chap, poor chap. But what persistence10! I don’t wonder he got into theCabinet. It would serve him right if you did marry him, Bundle.”
The telephone rang and Bundle moved forward to answer it. In anotherminute George and his proposal were forgotten, and she was beckoningeagerly to Loraine. Lord Caterham went off to his own sanctum.
“It’s Jimmy,” said Bundle. “And he’s tremendously excited about some-thing.”
“Thank goodness I’ve caught you,” said Jimmy’s voice. “There’s no timeto be lost. Loraine’s there, too?”
“Yes, she’s here.”
“Well, look here, I haven’t got time to explain everything—in fact, I can’tthrough the telephone. But Bill has been round to see me with the mostamazing story you ever heard. If it’s true—well, if it’s true, it’s the biggestscoop of the century. Now, look here, this is what you’ve got to do. Comeup to town at once, both of you. Garage the car somewhere and go straightto the Seven Dials Club. Do you think that when you get there you can getrid of that footman fellow?”
“Alfred? Rather. You leave that to me.”
“Good. Get rid of him and watch out for me and Bill. Don’t showyourselves at the windows, but when we drive up, let us in at once. See?”
“Yes.”
“That’s all right then. Oh, Bundle, don’t let on that you’re going up totown. Make some other excuse. Say your taking Loraine home. Howwould that do?”
“Splendidly. I say, Jimmy, I’m thrilled to the core.”
“And you might as well make your will before starting.”
“Better and better. But I wish I knew what it was all about.”
“You will as soon as we meet. I’ll tell you this much. We’re going to getready the hell of a surprise for No 7!”
Bundle hung up the receiver and turned to Loraine, giving her a rapidrésumé of the conversation. Loraine rushed upstairs and hurriedlypacked her suitcase, and Bundle put her head round her father’s door.
“I’m taking Loraine home, Father.”
“Why? I had no idea she was going today.”
“They want her back,” said Bundle vaguely11. “Just telephoned. Bye-bye.”
“Here, Bundle, wait a minute. When will you be home?”
“Don’t know. Expect me when you see me.”
With this unceremonious exit Bundle rushed upstairs, put a hat on,slipped into her fur coat and was ready to start. She had already orderedthe Hispano to be brought round.
The journey to London was without adventure, except such as was ha-bitually provided by Bundle’s driving. They left the car at a garage andproceeded direct to the Seven Dials Club.
The door was opened to them by Alfred. Bundle pushed her way pasthim without ceremony and Loraine followed.
“Shut the door, Alfred,” said Bundle. “Now, I’ve come here especially todo you a good turn. The police are after you.”
“Oh, my lady!”
Alfred turned chalk white.
“I’ve come to warn you because you did me a good turn the other night,”
went on Bundle rapidly. “There’s a warrant out for Mr. Mosgorovsky, andthe best thing you can do is to clear out of here as quick as you can. Ifyou’re not found here, they won’t bother about you. Here’s ten pounds tohelp you get away somewhere.”
In three minutes’ time an incoherent and badly scared Alfred had left 14Hunstanton Street with only one idea in his head—never to return.
“Well, I’ve managed that all right,” said Bundle with satisfaction.
“Was it necessary to be so—well, drastic?” Loraine demurred12.
“It’s safer,” said Bundle. “I don’t know what Jimmy and Bill are up to,but we don’t want Alfred coming back in the middle of it and wreckingeverything. Hallo, here they are. Well, they haven’t wasted much time.
Probably watching round the corner to see Alfred leave. Go down andopen the door to them, Loraine.”
Loraine obeyed. Jimmy Thesiger alighted from the driving seat.
“You stop here for a moment, Bill,” he said. “Blow the horn if you thinkanyone’s watching the place.”
He ran up the steps and banged the door behind him. He looked pinkand elated.
“Hallo, Bundle, there you are. Now then, we’ve got to get down to it.
Where’s the key of the room you got into last time?”
“It was one of the downstairs keys. We’d better bring the lot up.”
“Right you are, but be quick. Time’s short.”
The key was easily found, the baize- lined door swung back and thethree entered. The room was exactly as Bundle had seen it before, withthe seven chairs grouped round the table. Jimmy surveyed it for a minuteor two in silence. Then his eyes went to the two cupboards.
“Which is the cupboard you hid in, Bundle?”
“This one.”
Jimmy went to it and flung the door open. The same collection of miscel-laneous glassware covered the shelves.
“We shall have to shift all this stuff,” he murmured. “Run down and getBill, Loraine. There’s no need for him to keep watch outside any longer.”
Loraine ran off.
“What are you going to do?” inquired Bundle impatiently.
Jimmy was down on his knees, trying to peer through the crack of theother cupboard door.
“Wait till Bill comes and you shall hear the whole story. This is his staffwork—and a jolly creditable bit of work it is. Hallo—what’s Loraine flyingup the stairs for as though she’s got a mad bull after her?”
Loraine was indeed racing13 up the stairs as fast as she could. She burst inupon them with an ashen14 face and terror in her eyes.
“Bill—Bill—Oh, Bundle—Bill!”
“What about Bill?”
Jimmy caught her by the shoulder.
“For God’s sake, Loraine, what’s happened?”
Loraine was still gasping15.
“Bill—I think he’s dead—he’s in the car still—but he doesn’t move orspeak. I’m sure he’s dead.”
Jimmy muttered an oath and sprang for the stairs, Bundle behind him,her heart pounding unevenly16 and an awful feeling of desolation spreadingover her.
Bill—dead? Oh, no! Oh, no! Not that. Please God—not that.
Together she and Jimmy reached the car, Loraine behind them.
Jimmy peered under the hood17. Bill was sitting as he had left him, lean-ing back. But his eyes were closed and Jimmy’s pull at his arm brought noresponse.
“I can’t understand it,” muttered Jimmy. “But he’s not dead. Cheer up,Bundle. Look here, we’ve got to get him into the house. Let’s pray to good-ness no policeman comes along. If anybody says anything, he’s our sickfriend we’re helping18 into the house.”
Between the three of them they got Bill into the house without much dif-ficulty, and without attracting much attention, save for an unshaven gen-tleman, who said sympathetically:
“Genneman’s ’ad a couple, I shee,” and nodded his head sapiently19.
“Into the little back room downstairs,” said Jimmy. “There’s a sofathere.”
They got him safely on to the sofa and Bundle knelt down beside himand took his limp wrist in her hand.
“His pulse is beating,” she said. “What is the matter with him?”
“He was all right when I left him just now,” said Jimmy. “I wonder ifsomeone’s managed to inject some stuff into him. It would be easily done—just a prick20. The man might have been asking him the time. There’s onlyone thing for it. I must get him a doctor at once. You stay here and lookafter him.”
He hurried to the door, then paused.
“Look here—don’t be scared, either of you. But I’d better leave you myrevolver. I mean—just in case. I’ll be back just as soon as I possibly can.”
He laid the revolver down on the little table by the sofa, then hurriedoff. They heard the front door bang behind him.
The house seemed very still now. The two girls stayed motionless by Bill.
Bundle still kept her finger on his pulse. It seemed to be beating very fastand irregularly.
“I wish we could do something,” she whispered to Loraine. “This is aw-ful.”
Loraine nodded.
“I know. It seems ages since Jimmy went and yet it’s only a minute and ahalf.”
“I keep hearing things,” said Bundle. “Footsteps and boards creaking up-stairs—and yet I know it’s only imagination.”
“I wonder why Jimmy left us the revolver,” said Loraine. “There can’treally be danger.”
“If they could get Bill—” said Bundle and stopped.
Loraine shivered.
“I know—but we’re in the house. Nobody can get in without our hearingthem. And anyway we’ve got the revolver.”
Bundle turned her attention back again to Bill.
“I wish I knew what to do. Hot coffee. You give them that sometimes.”
“I’ve got some smelling salts in my bag,” said Loraine. “And somebrandy. Where is it? Oh, I must have left it in the room upstairs.”
“I’ll get it,” said Bundle. “They might do some good.”
She sped quickly up the stairs, across the gaming room and through theopen door into the meeting place. Loraine’s bag was lying on the table.
As Bundle stretched out her hand to take it, she heard a noise from be-hind her. Hidden behind the door a man stood ready with a sandbag in hishand. Before Bundle could turn her head, he had struck.
With a faint moan, Bundle slipped down, an unconscious heap upon thefloor.
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收听单词发音
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1
delectable
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| adj.使人愉快的；美味的 | |
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curiously
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| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
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etiquette
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| n.礼仪，礼节；规矩 | |
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rattled
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| 慌乱的，恼火的 | |
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geniality
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| n.和蔼，诚恳；愉快 | |
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abrupt
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| adj.突然的，意外的；唐突的，鲁莽的 | |
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retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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unaware
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| a.不知道的，未意识到的 | |
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maidenly
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| adj. 像处女的, 谨慎的, 稳静的 | |
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persistence
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| n.坚持，持续，存留 | |
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vaguely
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| adv.含糊地，暖昧地 | |
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demurred
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| v.表示异议，反对( demur的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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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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ashen
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| adj.灰的 | |
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gasping
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| adj. 气喘的, 痉挛的 动词gasp的现在分词 | |
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16
unevenly
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| adv.不均匀的 | |
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hood
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| n.头巾，兜帽，覆盖；v.罩上，以头巾覆盖 | |
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18
helping
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| n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的 | |
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sapiently
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prick
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| v.刺伤，刺痛，刺孔；n.刺伤，刺痛 | |
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