tommy and co.-第24部分

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The　Babe　left　a　deposit；　and　gave　his　name　and　address。　　The　
shopman　promised　the　things　should　be　sent　round　within　an　hour。　　
The　Babe；　who　had　entered　into　the　spirit　of　the　thing；　bought　a　
pair　of　gloves　and　a　small　reticule；　and　made　his　way　to　Bow　
Street。

〃I　want　a　woman's　light　brown　wig；〃　said　the　Babe　to　Mr。　Cox；　the　
perruquier。

Mr。　Cox　tried　on　two。　　The　deceptive　appearance　of　the　second　Mr。　
Cox　pronounced　as　perfect。

〃Looks　more　natural　on　you　than　your　own　hair；　blessed　if　it　
doesn't！〃　said　Mr。　Cox。

The　wig　also　was　promised　within　the　hour。　　The　spirit　of　
completeness　descended　upon　the　Babe。　　On　his　way　back　to　his　
lodgings　in　Great　Queen　Street；　he　purchased　a　ladylike　umbrella　
and　a　veil。

Now；　a　quarter　of　an　hour　after　Johnny　Bulstrode　had　made　his　exit　
by　the　door　of　Mr。　Stinchcombe's　shop；　one；　Harry　Bennett；　actor　
and　member　of　the　Autolycus　Club；　pushed　it　open　and　entered。　　The　
shop　was　empty。　　Harry　Bennett　hammered　with　his　stick　and　waited。　　
A　piled…up　bundle　of　clothes　lay　upon　the　counter；　a　sheet　of　
paper；　with　a　name　and　address　scrawled　across　it；　rested　on　the　
bundle。　　Harry　Bennett；　given　to　idle　curiosity；　approached　and　
read　the　same。　　Harry　Bennett；　with　his　stick；　poked　the　bundle；　
scattering　its　items　over　the　counter。

〃Donth　do　thath！〃　said　the　shopman；　coming　up。　　〃Juth　been　putting　
'em　together。〃

〃What　the　devil；〃　said　Harry　Bennett；　〃is　Johnny　Bulstrode　going　to　
do　with　that　rig…out？〃

〃How　thoud　I　know？〃　answered　the　shopman。　　〃Private　theathricals；　I　
suppoth。　　Friend　o'　yourth？〃

〃Yes；〃　replied　Harry　Bennett。　　〃By　Jove！　he　ought　to　make　a　good　
girl。　　Should　like　to　see　it！〃

〃Well　arthk　him　for　a　ticket。　　Donth　make　'em　dirty；〃　suggested　the　
shopman。

〃I　must；〃　said　Harry　Bennett；　and　talked　about　his　own　affairs。

The　rig…out　and　the　wig　did　not　arrive　at　Johnny's　lodgings　within　
the　hour　as　promised；　but　arrived　there　within　three　hours；　which　
was　as　much　as　Johnny　had　expected。　　It　took　Johnny　nearly　an　hour　
to　dress；　but　at　last　he　stood　before　the　plate…glass　panel　of　the　
wardrobe　transformed。　　Johnny　had　reason　to　be　pleased　with　the　
result。　　A　tall；　handsome　girl　looked　back　at　him　out　of　the　glass…
…a　little　showily　dressed；　perhaps；　but　decidedly　chic。

〃Wonder　if　I　ought　to　have　a　cloak；〃　mused　Johnny；　as　a　ray　of　
sunshine；　streaming　through　the　window；　fell　upon　the　image　in　the　
glass。　　〃Well；　anyhow；　I　haven't；〃　thought　Johnny；　as　the　sunlight　
died　away　again；　〃so　it's　no　good　thinking　about　it。〃

Johnny　seized　his　reticule　and　his　umbrella　and　opened　cautiously　
the　door。　　Outside　all　was　silent。　　Johnny　stealthily　descended；　in　
the　passage　paused　again。　　Voices　sounded　from　the　basement。　　
Feeling　like　an　escaped　burglar；　Johnny　slipped　the　latch　of　the　
big　door　and　peeped　out。　　A　policeman；　pasting；　turned　and　looked　
at　him。　　Johnny　hastily　drew　back　and　closed　the　door　again。　　
Somebody　was　ascending　from　the　kitchen。　　Johnny；　caught　between　
two　terrors；　nearer　to　the　front　door　than　to　the　stairs；　having　no　
time；　chose　the　street。　　It　seemed　to　Johnny　that　the　street　was　
making　for　him。　　A　woman　came　hurriedly　towards　him。　　What　was　she　
going　to　say　to　him？　　What　should　he　answer　her？　　To　his　surprise　
she　passed　him；　hardly　noticing　him。　　Wondering　what　miracle　had　
saved　him；　he　took　a　few　steps　forward。　　A　couple　of　young　clerks　
coming　up　from　behind　turned　to　look　at　him；　but　on　encountering　
his　answering　stare　of　angry　alarm；　appeared　confused　and　went　
their　way。　　It　began　to　dawn　upon　him　that　mankind　was　less　
discerning　than　he　had　feared。　　Gaining　courage　as　he　proceeded；　he　
reached　Holborn。　　Here　the　larger　crowd　swept　around　him　
indifferent。

〃I　beg　your　pardon；〃　said　Johnny；　coming　into　collision　with　a　
stout　gentleman。

〃My　fault；〃　replied　the　stout　gentleman；　as；　smiling；　he　picked　up　
his　damaged　hat。

〃I　beg　your　pardon；〃　repeated　Johnny　again　two　minutes　later；　
colliding　with　a　tall　young　lady。

〃Should　advise　you　to　take　something　for　that　squint　of　yours；〃　
remarked　the　tall　young　lady　with　severity。

〃What's　the　matter　with　me？〃　thought　Johnny。　　〃Seems　to　be　a　sort　
of　mist〃　　The　explanation　flashed　across　him。　　〃Of　course；〃　said　
Johnny　to　himself；　〃it's　this　confounded　veil！〃

Johnny　decided　to　walk　to　the　Marble　Soap　offices。　　〃I'll　be　more　
used　to　the　hang　of　things　by　the　time　I　get　there　if　I　walk；〃　
thought　Johnny。　　〃Hope　the　old　beggar's　in。〃

In　Newgate　Street；　Johnny　paused　and　pressed　his　hands　against　his　
chest。　　〃Funny　sort　of　pain　I've　got；〃　thought　Johnny。　　〃Wonder　if　
I　should　shock　them　if　I　went　in　somewhere　for　a　drop　of　brandy？〃

〃It　don't　get　any　better；〃　reflected　Johnny；　with　some　alarm；　on　
reaching　the　corner　of　Cheapside。　　〃Hope　I'm　not　going　to　be　ill。　　
Whatever〃　　The　explanation　came　to　him。　　〃Of　course；　it's　these　
damned　stays！　　No　wonder　girls　are　short…tempered；　at　times。〃

At　the　offices　of　the　Marble　Soap；　Johnny　was　treated　with　marked　
courtesy。　　Mr。　Jowett　was　out；　was　not　expected　back　till　five　
o'clock。　　Would　the　lady　wait；　or　would　she　call　again？　　The　lady　
decided；　now　she　was　there；　to　wait。　　Would　the　lady　take　the　easy…
chair？　　Would　the　lady　have　the　window　open　or　would　she　have　it　
shut？　　Had　the　lady　seen　The　Times？

〃Or　the　Ha'penny　Joker？〃　suggested　a　junior　clerk；　who　thereupon　
was　promptly　sent　back　to　his　work。

Many　of　the　senior　clerks　had　occasion　to　pass　through　the　waiting…
room。　　Two　of　the　senior　clerks　held　views　about　the　weather　which　
they　appeared　wishful　to　express　at　length。　　Johnny　began　to　enjoy　
himself。　　This　thing　was　going　to　be　good　fun。　　By　the　time　the　
slamming　of　doors　and　the　hurrying　of　feet　announced　the　advent　of　
the　chief；　Johnny　was　looking　forward　to　his　interview。

It　was　briefer　and　less　satisfactory　than　he　had　anticipated。　　Mr。　
Jowett　was　very　busydid　not　as　a　rule　see　anybody　in　the　
afternoon；　but　of　course；　a　lady　Would　Miss〃

〃Montgomery。〃

〃Would　Miss　Montgomery　inform　Mr。　Jowett　what　it　was　he　might　have　
the　pleasure　of　doing　for　her？〃

Miss　Montgomery　explained。

Mr。　Jowett　seemed　half　angry；　half　amused。

〃Really；〃　said　Mr。　Jowett；　〃this　is　hardly　playing　the　game。　　
Against　our　fellow…men　we　can　protect　ourselves；　but　if　the　ladies　
are　going　to　attack　usreally　it　isn't　fair。〃

Miss　Montgomery　pleaded。

〃I'll　think　it　over；〃　was　all　that　Mr。　Jowett　could　be　made　to　
promise。　　〃Look　me　up　again。〃

〃When？〃　asked　Miss　Montgomery。

〃What's　to…day？Thursday。　　Say　Monday。〃　　Mr。　Jowett　rang　the　bell。　　
〃Take　my　advice；〃　said　the　old　gentleman；　laying　a　fatherly　hand　on　
Johnny's　shoulder；　〃leave　business　to　us　men。　　You　are　a　handsome　
girl。　　You　can　do　better　for　yourself　than　this。〃

A　clerk　entered；　Johnny　rose。

〃On　Monday　next；　then；〃　Johnny　reminded　him。

〃At　four　o'clock；〃　agreed　Mr。　Jowett。　　〃Good　afternoon。〃

Johnny　went　out　feeling　disappointed；　and　yet；　as　he　told　himself；　
he　hadn't　done　so　badly。　　Anyhow；　there　was　nothing　for　it　but　to　
wait　till　Monday。　　Now　he　would　go　home；　change　his　clothes；　and　
get　some　dinner。　　He　hailed　a　hansom。

〃Number　twenty…eightno。　　Stop　at　the　Queen's　Street　corner　of　
Lincoln's　Inn　Fields；〃　Johnny　directed　the　man。

〃Quite　right；　miss；〃　commented　the　cabman　pleasantly。　　〃Corner's　
bestsaves　all　talk。〃

〃What　do　you　mean？〃　demanded　Johnny。

〃No　offence；　miss；〃　answered　the　man。　　〃We　was　all　young　once。〃

Johnny　climbed　in。　　At　the　corner　of　Queen　Street　and　Lincoln's　Inn　
Fields；　Johnny　got　out。　　Johnny；　who　had　been　pondering　other　
matters；　put　his　hand　instinctively　to　where；　speaking　generally；　
his　pocket　should　have　been；　then　recollected　himself。

〃Let　me　see；　did　I　think　to　bring　any　money　out　with　me；　or　did　I　
not？〃　mused　Johnny；　as　he　stood　upon　the　kerb。

〃Look　in　the　ridicule；　miss；〃　suggested　the　cabman。

Johnny　looked。　　It　was　empty。

〃Perhaps　I　put　it　in　my　pocket；〃　thought　Johnny。

The　cabman　hitched　his　reins　to　the　whip…socket　and　leant　back。

〃It's　somewhere　about　here；　I　know；　I　saw　it；〃　Johnny　told　himself。　　
〃Sorry　to　keep　you　waiting；〃　Johnny　added　aloud　to　the　cabman。

〃Don't　you　worry　about　that；　miss；〃　replied　the　cabman　civilly；　〃we　
are　used　to　it。　　A　shilling　a　quarter　of　an　hour　is　what　we　
charge。〃

〃Of　all　the　damned　silly　tricks！〃　muttered　Johnny　to　himself。

Two　small　boys　and　a　girl　carrying　a　baby　paused；　interested。

〃Go　away；〃　told　them　the　cabman。　　〃You'll　have　troubles　of　your　own　
one　day。〃

The　urchins　moved　a　few　steps　further；　then　halted　again　and　were　
joined　by　a　slatternly　woman　and　another　boy。

〃Got　it！〃　cried　Johnny；　unable　to　suppress　his　delight　as　his　hand　
slipped　through　a　fold。　　The　lady　with　the　baby；　without　precisely　
knowing　why；　set　up　a　shrill　cheer。　　Johnny's　delight　died　away；　it　
wasn't　the　pocket…hole。　　Short　of　taking　the　skirt　off　and　turning　
it　inside　out；　it　didn't　seem　to　Johnny　that　he　ever　would　find　
that　pocket。

Then　in　that　moment　of　despair　he　came　across　it　accidentally。　　It　
was　as　empty　as　the　reticule！

〃I　am　sorry；〃　said　Johnny　to　the　cabman；　〃but　I　appear　to　have　come　
out　without　my　purse。〃

The　cabman　said　he　had　heard　that　tale　before；　and　was　making　
preparations　to　descend。　　The　crowd；　now　numbering　eleven；　looked　
hopeful。　　It　occurred　to　Johnny　later　that　he　might　have　offered　
his　umbrella　to　the　cabman；　at　least　it　would　have　fetched　the　
eighteenpence。　　One　thinks　of　these　things　afterwards。　　The　only　
idea　that　occurred　to　him　at　the　moment　was　that　of　getting　home。

〃'Ere；　'old　my　'orse　a　minute；　one　of　yer；〃　shouted　the　cabman。

Half　a　dozen　willing　hands　seized　the　dozing　steed　and　roused　it　
into　madness。

〃Hi！　stop　'er！〃　roared　the　cabman。

〃She's　down！〃　shouted　the　excited　crowd。

〃Tripped　over　'er　skirt；〃　explained　the　slatternly　woman。　　〃They　do　
'amper　you。〃

〃　No；　she's　not。　　She's　up　again！〃　vociferated　a　delighted　plumber；　
with　a　sounding　slap　on　his　own　leg。　　〃Gor　blimy；　if　she　ain't　a　
good　'un！〃

Fortunately　the　Square　was　tolerably　clear　and　Johnny　a　good　
runner。　　Holding　now　his　skirt　and　petticoat　high　in　his