tommy and co.-第20部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！


logic；　〃how　can　I　tell　you　anything　about　it？〃

This　annoyed　the　Club；　whose　curiosity　had　been　whetted。　　Three　
members；　acting　in　the　interests　of　the　whole；　solemnly　undertook　
to　believe　whatever　he　might　tell　them。　　But　Jack　Herring's　
feelings　had　been　wounded。

〃When　gentlemen　cast　a　doubt　upon　another　gentleman's　veracity〃

〃We　didn't　cast　a　doubt；〃　explained　Somerville　the　Briefless。　　〃We　
merely　said　that　we　personally　did　not　believe　you。　　We　didn't　say　
we　couldn't　believe　you；　it　is　a　case　for　individual　effort。　　If　
you　give　us　particulars　bearing　the　impress　of　reality；　supported　
by　details　that　do　not　unduly　contradict　each　other；　we　are　
prepared　to　put　aside　our　natural　suspicions　and　face　the　
possibility　of　your　statement　being　correct。〃

〃It　was　foolish　of　me；〃　said　Jack　Herring。　　〃I　thought　perhaps　it　
would　amuse　you　to　hear　what　sort　of　a　woman　Mrs。　Loveredge　was　
likesome　description　of　Mrs。　Loveredge's　uncle。　　Miss　Montgomery；　
friend　of　Mrs。　Loveredge；　is　certainly　one　of　the　most　remarkable　
women　I　have　ever　met。　　Of　course；　that　isn't　her　real　name。　　But；　
as　I　have　said；　it　was　foolish　of　me。　　These　peopleyou　will　never　
meet　them；　you　will　never　see　them；　of　what　interest　can　they　be　to　
you？〃

〃They　had　forgotten　to　draw　down　the　blinds；　and　he　climbed　up　a　
lamp…post　and　looked　through　the　window；〃　was　the　solution　of　the　
problem　put　forward　by　the　Wee　Laddie。

〃I'm　dining　there　again　on　Saturday；〃　volunteered　Jack　Herring。　　
〃If　any　of　you　will　promise　not　to　make　a　disturbance；　you　can　hang　
about　on　the　Park　side；　underneath　the　shadow　of　the　fence；　and　
watch　me　go　in。　　My　hansom　will　draw　up　at　the　door　within　a　few　
minutes　of　eight。〃

The　Babe　and　the　Poet　agreed　to　undertake　the　test。

〃You　won't　mind　our　hanging　round　a　little　while；　in　case　you're　
thrown　out　again？〃　asked　the　Babe。

〃Not　in　the　least；　so　far　as　I　am　concerned；〃　replied　Jack　Herring。　　
〃Don't　leave　it　too　late　and　make　your　mother　anxious。〃

〃It's　true　enough；〃　the　Babe　recounted　afterwards。　　〃The　door　was　
opened　by　a　manservant　and　he　went　straight　in。　　We　walked　up　and　
down　for　half　an　hour；　and　unless　they　put　him　out　the　back　way；　
he's　telling　the　truth。〃

〃Did　you　hear　him　give　his　name？〃　asked　Somerville；　who　was　
stroking　his　moustache。

〃No；　we　were　too　far　off；〃　explained　the　Babe。　　〃ButI'll　swear　it　
was　Jackthere　couldn't　be　any　mistake　about　that。〃

〃Perhaps　not；〃　agreed　Somerville　the　Briefless。

Somerville　the　Briefless　called　at　the　offices　of　Good　Humour；　in　
Crane　Court；　the　following　morning；　and　he　also　borrowed　Miss　
Ramsbotham's　Debrett。

〃What's　the　meaning　of　it？〃　demanded　the　sub…editor。

〃Meaning　of　what？〃

〃This　sudden　interest　of　all　you　fellows　in　the　British　Peerage。〃

〃All　of　us？〃

〃Well；　Herring　was　here　last　week；　poring　over　that　book　for　half　
an　hour；　with　the　Morning　Post　spread　out　before　him。　　Now　you're　
doing　the　same　thing。〃

〃Ah！　　Jack　Herring；　was　he？　　I　thought　as　much。　　Don't　talk　about　
it；　Tommy。　　I'll　tell　you　later　on。〃

On　the　following　Monday；　the　Briefless　one　announced　to　the　Club　
that　he　had　received　an　invitation　to　dine　at　the　Loveredges'　on　
the　following　Wednesday。　　On　Tuesday；　the　Briefless　one　entered　the　
Club　with　a　slow　and　stately　step。　　Halting　opposite　old　Goslin　the　
porter；　who　had　emerged　from　his　box　with　the　idea　of　discussing　
the　Oxford　and　Cambridge　boat　race；　Somerville；　removing　his　hat　
with　a　sweep　of　the　arm；　held　it　out　in　silence。　　Old　Goslin；　much　
astonished；　took　it　mechanically；　whereupon　the　Briefless　one；　
shaking　himself　free　from　his　Inverness　cape；　flung　it　lightly　
after　the　hat；　and　strolled　on；　not　noticing　that　old　Goslin；　
unaccustomed　to　coats　lightly　and　elegantly　thrown　at　him；　dropping　
the　hat；　had　caught　it　on　his　head；　and　had　been；　in　the　language　
of　the　prompt…book；　〃left　struggling。〃　　The　Briefless　one；　entering　
the　smoking…room；　lifted　a　chair　and　let　it　fall　again　with　a　
crash；　and　sitting　down　upon　it；　crossed　his　legs　and　rang　the　
bell。

〃Ye're　doing　it　verra　weel；〃　remarked　approvingly　the　Wee　Laddie。　　
〃Ye're　just　fitted　for　it　by　nature。〃

〃Fitted　for　what？〃　demanded　the　Briefless　one；　waking　up　apparently　
from　a　dream。

〃For　an　Adelphi　guest　at　eighteenpence　the　night；〃　assured　him　the　
Wee　Laddie。　　〃Ye're　just　splendid　at　it。〃

The　Briefless　one；　muttering　that　the　worst　of　mixing　with　
journalists　was　that　if　you　did　not　watch　yourself；　you　fell　into　
their　ways；　drank　his　whisky　in　silence。　　Later；　the　Babe　swore　on　
a　copy　of　Sell's　Advertising　Guide　that；　crossing　the　Park；　he　had　
seen　the　Briefless　one　leaning　over　the　railings　of　Rotten　Row；　
clad　in　a　pair　of　new　kid　gloves；　swinging　a　silver…headed　cane。

One　morning　towards　the　end　of　the　week；　Joseph　Loveredge；　looking　
twenty　years　younger　than　when　Peter　had　last　seen　him；　dropped　in　
at　the　editorial　office　of　Good　Humour　and　demanded　of　Peter　Hope　
how　he　felt　and　what　he　thought　of　the　present　price　of　Emma　Mines。

Peter　Hope's　fear　was　that　the　gambling　fever　was　spreading　to　all　
classes　of　society。

〃I　want　you　to　dine　with　us　on　Sunday；〃　said　Joseph　Loveredge。　　
〃Jack　Herring　will　be　there。　　You　might　bring　Tommy　with　you。〃

Peter　Hope　gulped　down　his　astonishment　and　said　he　should　be　
delighted；　he　thought　that　Tommy　also　was　disengaged。　　〃Mrs。　
Loveredge　out　of　town；　I　presume？〃　questioned　Peter　Hope。

〃On　the　contrary；〃　replied　Joseph　Loveredge；　〃I　want　you　to　meet　
her。〃

Joseph　Loveredge　removed　a　pile　of　books　from　one　chair　and　placed　
them　carefully　upon　another；　after　which　he　went　and　stood　before　
the　fire。

〃Don't　if　you　don't　like；〃　said　Joseph　Loveredge；　〃but　if　you　don't　
mind；　you　might　call　yourself；　just　for　the　eveningsay；　the　Duke　
of　Warrington。〃

〃Say　the　what？〃　demanded　Peter　Hope。

〃The　Duke　of　Warrington；〃　repeated　Joey。　　〃We　are　rather　short　of　
dukes。　　Tommy　can　be　the　Lady　Adelaide；　your　daughter。〃

〃Don't　be　an　ass！〃　said　Peter　Hope。

〃I'm　not　an　ass；〃　assured　him　Joseph　Loveredge。　　〃He　is　wintering　
in　Egypt。　　You　have　run　back　for　a　week　to　attend　to　business。　　
There　is　no　Lady　Adelaide；　so　that's　quite　simple。〃

〃But　what　in　the　name　of〃　began　Peter　Hope。

〃Don't　you　see　what　I'm　driving　at？〃　persisted　Joey。　　〃It　was　
Jack's　idea　at　the　beginning。　　I　was　frightened　myself　at　first；　
but　it　is　working　to　perfection。　　She　sees　you；　and　sees　that　you　
are　a　gentleman。　　When　the　truth　comes　outas；　of　course；　it　must　
later　onthe　laugh　will　be　against　her。〃

〃You　thinkyou　think　that'll　comfort　her？〃　suggested　Peter　Hope。

〃It's　the　only　way；　and　it　is　really　wonderfully　simple。　　We　never　
mention　the　aristocracy　nowit　would　be　like　talking　shop。　　We　
just　enjoy　ourselves。　　You；　by　the　way；　I　met　in　connection　with　
the　movement　for　rational　dress。　　You　are　a　bit　of　a　crank；　fond　of　
frequenting　Bohemian　circles。〃

〃I　am　risking　something；　I　know；〃　continued　Joey；　〃but　it's　worth　
it。　　I　couldn't　have　existed　much　longer。　　We　go　slowly；　and　are　
very　careful。　　Jack　is　Lord　Mount…Primrose；　who　has　taken　up　with　
anti…vaccination　and　who　never　goes　out　into　Society。　　Somerville　
is　Sir　Francis　Baldwin；　the　great　authority　on　centipedes。　　The　Wee　
Laddie　is　coming　next　week　as　Lord　Garrick；　who　married　that　
dancing…girl；　Prissy　Something；　and　started　a　furniture　shop　in　
Bond　Street。　　I　had　some　difficulty　at　first。　　She　wanted　to　send　
out　paragraphs；　but　I　explained　that　was　only　done　by　vulgar　
personsthat　when　the　nobility　came　to　you　as　friends；　it　was　
considered　bad　taste。　　She　is　a　dear　girl；　as　I　have　always　told　
you；　with　only　one　fault。　　A　woman　easier　to　deceive　one　could　not　
wish　for。　　I　don't　myself　see　why　the　truth　ever　need　come　out
provided　we　keep　our　heads。〃

〃Seems　to　me　you've　lost　them　already；〃　commented　Peter；　〃you're　
overdoing　it。〃

〃The　more　of　us　the　better；〃　explained　Joey；　〃we　help　each　other。　　
Besides；　I　particularly　want　you　in　it。　　There's　a　sort　of　superior　
Pickwickian　atmosphere　surrounding　you　that　disarms　suspicion。〃

〃You　leave　me　out　of　it；〃　growled　Peter。

〃See　here；〃　laughed　Joey；　〃you　come　as　the　Duke　of　Warrington；　and　
bring　Tommy　with　you；　and　I'll　write　your　City　article。〃

〃For　how　long？〃　snapped　Peter。　　Incorruptible　City　editors　are　not　
easily　picked　up。

〃Oh；　well；　for　as　long　as　you　like。〃

〃On　that　understanding；〃　agreed　Peter；　〃I'm　willing　to　make　a　fool　
of　myself　in　your　company。〃

〃You'll　soon　get　used　to　it；〃　Joey　told　him；　〃eight　o'clock；　then；　
on　Sunday；　plain　evening　dress。　　If　you　like　to　wear　a　bit　of　red　
ribbon　in　your　buttonhole；　why；　do　so。　　You　can　get　it　at　Evans'；　
in　Covent　Garden。〃

〃And　Tommy　is　the　Lady〃

〃Adelaide。　　Let　her　have　a　taste　for　literature；　then　she　needn't　
wear　gloves。　　I　know　she　hates　them。〃　　Joey　turned　to　go。

〃Am　I　married？〃　asked　Peter。

Joey　paused。　　〃I　should　avoid　all　reference　to　your　matrimonial　
affairs　if　I　were　you；〃　was　Joey's　advice。　　〃You　didn't　come　out　of　
that　business　too　well。〃

〃Oh！　as　bad　as　that；　was　I？　　You　don't　think　Mrs。　Loveredge　will　
object　to　me？〃

〃I　have　asked　her　that。　　She's　a　dear；　broad…minded　girl。　　I've　
promised　not　to　leave　you　alone　with　Miss　Montgomery；　and　Willis　
has　had　instructions　not　to　let　you　mix　your　drinks。〃

〃I'd　have　liked　to　have　been　someone　a　trifle　more　respectable；〃　
grumbled　Peter。

〃We　rather　wanted　a　duke；〃　explained　Joey；　〃and　he　was　the　only　one　
that　fitted　in　all　round。〃

The　dinner　a　was　a　complete　success。　　Tommy；　entering　into　the　
spirit　of　the　thing；　bought　a　new　pair　of　open…work　stockings　and　
assumed　a　languid　drawl。　　Peter；　who　was　growing　forgetful；　
introduced　her　as　the　Lady　Alexandra；　it　did　not　seem　to　matter；　
both　beginning　with　an　A。　　She　greeted　Lord　Mount…Primrose　as　
〃Billy；〃　and　asked　affectionately　after　his　mother。　　Joey　told　his　
raciest　stories。　　The　Duke　of　Warrington　called　everybody　by　their　
Christian　names；　and　seemed　well　acquainted　with　Bohemian　society
a　more　amiable　nobleman　it　would　have　been　impossible　to　discover。　　
The　lady　whose　real　name　was　not　Miss　Montgomery　sat　in　speechless　
adm