pgw.adamselindistress-第27部分

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　It　will　be　remembered　that　Billie　Dore　had　told　George　that　the　gardener　with　whom　she　had　bee　so　friendly　had　taken　her　name　and　address　with　a　view　later　on　to　send　her　some　of　his　roses。　The　scrap　of　paper　on　which　this　information　had　been　written　was　now　lost。　Lord　Marshmoreton　had　been　hunting　for　it　since　breakfast　without　avail。
　Billie　Dore　had　made　a　decided　impression　upon　Lord　Marshmoreton。　She　belonged　to　a　type　which　he　had　never　before　encountered；　and　it　was　one　which　he　had　found　more　than　agreeable。　Her　knowledge　of　roses　and　the　proper　feeling　which　she　manifested　towards　rose…growing　as　a　life…work　consolidated　the　earl's　liking　for　her。　Never；　in　his　memory；　had　he　e　across　so　sensible　and　charming　a　girl；　and　he　had　looked　forward　with　a　singular　intensity　to　meeting　her　again。　And　now　some　too　zealous　housemaid；　tidying　up　after　the　irritating　manner　of　her　species；　had　destroyed　the　only　clue　to　her　identity。
　It　was　not　for　some　time　after　this　discovery　that　hope　dawned　again　for　Lord　Marshmoreton。　Only　after　he　had　given　up　the　search　for　the　missing　paper　as　fruitless　did　he　recall　that　it　was　in　George's　pany　that　Billie　had　first　e　into　his　life。　　Between　her；　then；　and　himself　George　was　the　only　link。
　It　was　primarily　for　the　purpose　of　getting　Billie's　name　and　address　from　George　that　he　had　e　to　the　cottage。　And　now　that　the　moment　had　arrived　for　touching　upon　the　subject；　he　felt　a　little　embarrassed。
　〃When　you　visited　the　castle；〃　he　said；　〃when　you　visited　the　castle　。　。　。〃
　〃Last　Thursday；〃　said　George　helpfully。
　〃Exactly。　When　you　visited　the　castle　last　Thursday；　there　was　a　young　lady　with　you。〃
　Not　realizing　that　the　subject　had　been　changed；　George　was　under　the　impression　that　the　other　had　shifted　his　front　and　was　about　to　attack　him　from　another　angle。　He　countered　what　seemed　to　him　an　insinuation　stoutly。
　〃We　merely　happened　to　meet　at　the　castle。　She　came　there　quite　independently　of　me。〃
　Lord　Marshmoreton　looked　alarmed。　〃You　didn't　know　her？〃　he　said　anxiously。
　〃Certainly　I　knew　her。　She　is　an　old　friend　of　mine。　But　if　you　are　hinting　。　。　。〃
　〃Not　at　all；〃　rejoined　the　earl；　profoundly　relieved。　〃Not　at　all。　I　ask　merely　because　this　young　lady；　with　whom　I　had　some　conversation；　was　good　enough　to　give　me　her　name　and　address。　She；　too；　happened　to　mistake　me　for　a　gardener。〃
　〃It's　those　corduroy　trousers；〃　murmured　George　in　extenuation。
　〃I　have　unfortunately　lost　them。〃
　〃You　can　always　get　another　pair。〃
　〃Eh？〃
　〃I　say　you　can　always　get　another　pair　of　corduroy　trousers。〃
　〃I　have　not　lost　my　trousers。　I　have　lost　the　young　lady's　name　and　address。〃
　〃Oh！〃
　〃I　promised　to　send　her　some　roses。　She　will　be　expecting　them。〃
　〃That's　odd。　I　was　just　reading　a　letter　from　her　when　you　came　in。　That　must　be　what　she's　referring　to　when　she　says；　'If　you　see　dadda；　the　old　dear；　tell　him　not　to　forget　my　roses。'　I　read　it　three　times　and　couldn't　make　any　sense　out　of　it。　Are　you　Dadda？〃
　The　earl　smirked。　〃She　did　address　me　in　the　course　of　our　conversation　as　dadda。〃
　〃Then　the　message　is　for　you。〃
　〃A　very　quaint　and　charming　girl。　What　is　her　name？　And　where　can　I　find　her？〃
　〃Her　name's　Billie　Dore。〃
　〃Billie？〃
　〃Billie。〃
　〃Billie！〃　said　Lord　Marshmoreton　softly。　〃I　had　better　write　it　down。　And　her　address？〃
　〃I　don't　know　her　private　address。　But　you　could　always　reach　her　at　the　Regal　Theatre。〃
　〃Ah！　She　is　on　the　stage？〃
　〃Yes。　She's　in　my　piece；　'Follow　the　Girl'。〃
　〃Indeed！　Are　you　a　playwright；　Mr。　Bevan？〃
　〃Good　Lord；　no！〃　said　George；　shocked。　〃I'm　a　poser。〃
　〃Very　interesting。　And　you　met　Miss　Dore　through　her　being　in　this　play　of　yours？〃
　〃Oh；　no。　I　knew　her　before　she　went　on　the　stage。　She　was　a　stenographer　in　a　music…publisher's　office　when　we　first　met。〃
　〃Good　gracious！　Was　she　really　a　stenographer？〃
　〃Yes。　Why？〃
　〃Ohahnothing；　nothing。　Something　just　happened　to　e　to　my　mind。〃
　What　happened　to　e　into　Lord　Marshmoreton's　mind　was　a　fleeting　vision　of　Billie　installed　in　Miss　Alice　Faraday's　place　as　his　secretary。　With　such　a　helper　it　would　be　a　pleasure　to　work　on　that　infernal　Family　History　which　was　now　such　a　bitter　toil。　But　the　day…dream　passed。　He　knew　perfectly　well　that　he　had　not　the　courage　to　dismiss　Alice。　In　the　hands　of　that　calm…eyed　girl　he　was　as　putty。　She　exercised　over　him　the　hypnotic　spell　a　lion…tamer　exercises　over　his　little　playmates。
　〃We　have　been　pals　for　years；〃　said　George　〃Billie　is　one　of　the　best　fellows　in　the　world。〃
　〃A　charming　girl。〃
　〃She　would　give　her　last　nickel　to　anyone　that　asked　for　it。〃
　〃Delightful！〃
　〃And　as　straight　as　a　string。　No　one　ever　said　a　word　against　Billie。〃
　〃No？〃
　〃She　may　go　out　to　lunch　and　supper　and　all　that　kind　of　thing；　but　there's　nothing　to　that。〃
　〃Nothing！〃　agreed　the　earl　warmly。　〃Girls　must　eat！〃
　〃They　do。　You　ought　to　see　them。〃
　〃A　little　harmless　relaxation　after　the　fatigue　of　the　day！〃
　〃Exactly。　Nothing　more。〃
　Lord　Marshmoreton　felt　more　drawn　than　ever　to　this　sensible　young　mansensible；　at　least；　on　all　points　but　one。　It　was　a　pity　they　could　not　see　eye　to　eye　on　what　was　and　what　was　not　suitable　in　the　matter　of　the　love…affairs　of　the　aristocracy。
　〃So　you　are　a　poser；　Mr。　Bevan？〃　he　said　affably。
　〃Yes。〃
　Lord　Marshmoreton　gave　a　little　sigh。　〃It's　a　long　time　since　I　went　to　see　a　musical　performance。　More　than　twenty　years。　　When　I　was　up　at　Oxford；　and　for　some　years　afterwards；　I　was　a　great　theatre…goer。　Never　used　to　miss　a　first　night　at　the　Gaiety。　Those　were　the　days　of　Nellie　Farren　and　Kate　Vaughan。　　Florence　St。　John；　too。　How　excellent　she　was　in　Faust　Up　To　Date！　But　we　missed　Nellie　Farren。　Meyer　Lutz　was　the　Gaiety　poser　then。　But　a　good　deal　of　water　has　flowed　under　the　bridge　since　those　days。　I　don't　suppose　you　have　ever　heard　of　Meyer　Lutz？〃
　〃I　don't　think　I　have。〃
　〃Johnnie　Toole　was　playing　a　piece　called　Partners。　Not　a　good　play。　And　the　Yeoman　of　the　Guard　had　just　been　produced　at　the　Savoy。　That　makes　it　seem　a　long　time　ago；　doesn't　it？　Well；　I　mustn't　take　up　all　your　time。　Good…bye；　Mr。　　Bevan。　I　am　glad　to　have　had　the　opportunity　of　this　little　talk。　　The　Regal　Theatre；　I　think　you　said；　is　where　your　piece　is　playing？　I　shall　probably　be　going　to　London　shortly。　I　hope　to　see　it。〃　Lord　Marshmoreton　rose。　〃As　regards　the　other　matter；　there　is　no　hope　of　inducing　you　to　see　the　matter　in　the　right　light？〃
　〃We　seem　to　disagree　as　to　which　is　the　right　light。〃
　〃Then　there　is　nothing　more　to　be　said。　I　will　be　perfectly　frank　with　you；　Mr。　Bevan。　I　like　you　。　。　。〃
　〃The　feeling　is　quite　mutual。〃
　〃But　I　don't　want　you　as　a　son…in…law。　And；　dammit；〃　exploded　Lord　Marshmoreton；　〃I　won't　have　you　as　a　son…in…law！　Good　God！　do　you　think　that　you　can　harry　and　assault　my　son　Percy　in　the　heart　of　Piccadilly　and　generally　make　yourself　a　damned　nuisance　and　then　settle　down　here　without　an　invitation　at　my　very　gates　and　expect　to　be　weled　into　the　bosom　of　the　family？　If　I　were　a　young　　man　。　。　。〃
　〃I　thought　we　had　agreed　that　you　were　a　young　man。〃
　〃Don't　interrupt　me！〃
　〃I　only　said　。　。　。〃
　〃I　heard　what　you　said。　Flattery！〃
　〃Nothing　of　the　kind。　Truth。〃
　Lord　Marshmoreton　melted。　He　smiled。　〃Young　idiot！〃
　〃We　agree　there　all　right。〃
　Lord　Marshmoreton　hesitated。　Then　with　a　rush　he　unbosomed　himself；　and　made　his　own　position　on　the　matter　clear。
　〃I　know　what　you'll　be　saying　to　yourself　the　moment　my　back　is　turned。　You'll　be　calling　me　a　stage　heavy　father　and　an　old　snob　and　a　number　of　other　things。　Don't　interrupt　me；　dammit！　You　will；　I　tell　you！　And　you'll　be　wrong。　I　don't　think　the　Marshmoretons　are　fenced　off　from　the　rest　of　the　world　by　some　sort　of　divinity。　My　sister　does。　Percy　does。　　But　Percy's　an　ass！　If　ever　you　find　yourself　thinking　differently　from　my　son　Percy；　on　any　subject；　congratulate　yourself。　You'll　be　right。〃
　〃But　。　。　。〃
　〃I　know　what　you're　going　to　say。　Let　me　finish。　If　I　were　the　only　person　concerned；　I　wouldn't　stand　in　Maud's　way；　whoever　she　wanted　to　marry；　provided　he　was　a　good　fellow　and　likely　to　make　her　happy。　But　I'm　not。　There's　my　sister　Caroline。　There's　a　whole　crowd　of　silly；　cackling　foolsmy　sistersmy　sons…in…lawall　the　whole　pack　of　them！　If　I　didn't　oppose　Maud　in　this　damned　infatuation　she's　got　for　youif　I　stood　by　and　let　her　marry　youwhat　do　you　think　would　happen　to　me？I'd　never　have　a　moment's　peace！　The　whole　gabbling　pack　of　them　would　be　at　me；　saying　I　was　to　blame。　　There　would　be　arguments；　discussions；　family　councils！　I　hate　arguments！　I　loathe　discussions！　Family　councils　make　me　sick！　I'm　a　peaceable　man；　and　I　like　a　quiet　life！　And；　damme；　I'm　going　to　have　it。　So　there's　the　thing　for　you　in　letters　of　one　syllable。　I　don't　object　to　you　personally；　but　I'm　not　going　to　have　you　bothering　me　like　this。　I'll　admit　freely　that；　since　I　have　made　your　acquaintance；　I　have　altered　the　unfavourable　opinion　I　had　formed　of　you　from…from　hearsay。　。　。〃
　〃Exactly　the　same　with　me；〃　said　George。　〃You　ought　never　to　believe　what　people　tell　you。　Everyone　told　me　your　middle　name　was　Nero；　and　that。　。　。〃
　〃Don't　interrupt　me！〃
　〃I　wasn't。　I　was　just　pointing　out　。　。　。〃
　〃Be　quiet！　I　say　I　have　changed　my　opinion　of　you　to　a　great　extent。　I　mention　this　unofficially；　as　a　matter　that　has　no　bearing　on　the　main　issue；　for；　as　regards　any　idea　you　may　have　of　inducing　me　to　agree　to　your　marrying　my　daughter；　let　me　tell　you　that　I　am　unalterably　opposed　to　any　such　thing！〃
　〃Don't　say　that。〃
　〃What　the　devil　do　you　meandon't　say　that！　I　do　say　that！　　It　is　out　of　the　question。　Do　you　understand？　Very　well；　then。　Good　morning。〃
　The　door　closed。　Lord　Marshmoreton　walked　away　feeling　that　he　had　been　mendably　stern。　George　filled　his　pipe　and　sat　smoking　thoughtfully。　He　wondered　what　Maud　was　doing　at　that　moment。
　Maud　at　that　moment　was　greeting　her　brother　with　a　bright　smile；　as　he　limped　downstairs　after　a　belated　shave　and　change　of　costume。
　〃Oh；　Percy；　dear；〃　she　was　saying；　〃I　had　quite　an　adventure　this　morning。　An　awful　tramp　followed　me　for　miles！　Such　a　horrible…looking　brute。　I　was　so　frightened