malvina of brittany-第22章
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holding up her finger。
〃On condition that we leave at half…past nine； and that you go
straight to Caxton Hall；〃 she said。
〃We'll see about it；〃 said Mr。 Parable； and offered me half a crown。
Tips being against the rules； I couldn't take it。 Besides； one of
the jumpers had his eye on me。 I explained to him； jocosely； that I
was doing it for a bet。 He was surprised when I handed him his hat；
but； the lady whispering to him； he remembered himself in time。
As they went out together I heard Mr。 Parable say to the lady：
〃It's funny what a shocking memory I have for names。〃
To which the lady replied：
〃You'll think it funnier still to…morrow。〃 And then she laughed。
Mr。 Horton thought he would know the lady again。 He puts down her
age at about twenty…six； describing herto use his own piquant
expressionas 〃a bit of all right。〃 She had brown eyes and a
taking way with her。
* * *
Miss Ida Jenks； in charge of the Eastern Cigarette Kiosk at the
Earl's Court Exhibition； gives the following particulars：
From where I generally stand I can easily command a view of the
interior of the Victoria Hall； that is； of course； to say when the
doors are open； as on a warm night is usually the case。
On the evening of Thursday； the twenty…seventh； it was fairly well
occupied； but not to any great extent。 One couple attracted my
attention by reason of the gentleman's erratic steering。 Had he
been my partner I should have suggested a polka； the tango not being
the sort of dance that can be picked up in an evening。 What I mean
to say is； that he struck me as being more willing than experienced。
Some of the bumps she got would have made me cross； but we all have
our fancies； and； so far as I could judge； they both appeared to be
enjoying themselves。 It was after the 〃Hitchy Koo〃 that they came
outside。
The seat to the left of the door is popular by reason of its being
partly screened by bushes； but by leaning forward a little it is
quite possible for me to see what goes on there。 They were the
first couple out； having had a bad collision near the bandstand； so
easily secured it。 The gentleman was laughing。
There was something about him from the first that made me think I
knew him； and when he took off his hat to wipe his head it came to
me all of a sudden； he being the exact image of his effigy at Madame
Tussaud's； which； by a curious coincidence； I happened to have
visited with a friend that very afternoon。 The lady was what some
people would call good…looking； and others mightn't。
I was watching them； naturally a little interested。 Mr。 Parable； in
helping the lady to adjust her cloak； drew herit may have been by
accidenttowards him； and then it was that a florid gentleman with
a short pipe in his mouth stepped forward and addressed the lady。
He raised his hat and； remarking 〃Good evening；〃 added that he hoped
she was 〃having a pleasant time。〃 His tone； I should explain； was
sarcastic。
The young woman； whatever else may be said of her； struck me as
behaving quite correctly。 Replying to his salutation with a cold
and distant bow； she rose； and； turning to Mr。 Parable； observed
that she thought it was perhaps time for them to be going。
The gentleman； who had taken his pipe from his mouth； saidagain in
a sarcastic tonethat he thought so too； and offered the lady his
arm。
〃I don't think we need trouble you；〃 said Mr。 Parable； and stepped
between them。
To describe what followed I； being a lady； am hampered for words。 I
remember seeing Mr。 Parable's hat go up into the air； and then the
next moment the florid gentleman's head was lying on my counter
smothered in cigarettes。 I naturally screamed for the police； but
the crowd was dead against me； and it was only after what I believe
in technical language would be termed 〃the fourth round〃 that they
appeared upon the scene。
The last I saw of Mr。 Parable he was shaking a young constable who
had lost his helmet； while three other policemen had hold of him
from behind。 The florid gentleman's hat I found on the floor of my
kiosk and returned to him； but after a useless attempt to get it on
his head； he disappeared with it in his hand。 The lady was nowhere
to be seen。
Miss Jenks thinks she would know her again。 She was wearing a hat
trimmed with black chiffon and a spray of poppies； and was slightly
freckled。
* * *
Superintendent S。 Wade； in answer to questions put to him by our
representative； vouchsafed the following replies：
Yes。 I was in charge at the Vine Street Police Station on the night
of Thursday； the twenty…seventh。
No。 I have no recollection of a charge of any description being
preferred against any gentleman of the name of Parable。
Yes。 A gentleman was brought in about ten o'clock charged with
brawling at the Earl's Court Exhibition and assaulting a constable
in the discharge of his duty。
The gentleman gave the name of Mr。 Archibald Quincey； Harcourt
Buildings； Temple。
No。 The gentleman made no application respecting bail； electing to
pass the night in the cells。 A certain amount of discretion is
permitted to us； and we made him as comfortable as possible。
Yes。 A lady。
No。 About a gentleman who had got himself into trouble at the
Earl's Court Exhibition。 She mentioned no name。
I showed her the charge sheet。 She thanked me and went away。
That I cannot say。 I can only tell you that at nine…fifteen on
Friday morning bail was tendered； and； after inquiries； accepted in
the person of Julius Addison Tupp； of the Sunnybrook Steam Laundry；
Twickenham。
That is no business of ours。
The accused who； I had seen to it； had had a cup of tea and a little
toast at seven…thirty； left in company with Mr。 Tupp soon after ten。
Superintendent Wade admitted he had known cases where accused
parties； to avoid unpleasantness； had stated their names to be other
than their own； but declined to discuss the matter further。
Superintendent Wade； while expressing his regret that he had no more
time to bestow upon our representative； thought it highly probable
that he would know the lady again if he saw her。
Without professing to be a judge of such matters； Superintendent
Wade thinks she might be described as a highly intelligent young
woman； and of exceptionally prepossessing appearance。
* * *
From Mr。 Julius Tupp； of the Sunnybrook Steam Laundry； Twickenham；
upon whom our representative next called； we have been unable to
obtain much assistance； Mr。 Tupp replying to all questions put to
him by the one formula； 〃Not talking。〃
Fortunately； our representative； on his way out through the drying
ground； was able to obtain a brief interview with Mrs。 Tupp。
Mrs。 Tupp remembers admitting a young lady to the house on the
morning of Friday； the twenty…eighth； when she opened the door to
take in the milk。 The lady； Mrs。 Tupp remembers； spoke in a husky
voice； the result； as the young lady explained with a pleasant
laugh； of having passed the night wandering about Ham Common； she
having been misdirected the previous evening by a fool of a railway
porter； and not wishing to disturb the neighbourhood by waking
people up at two o'clock in the morning； which； in Mrs。 Tupp's
opinion； was sensible of her。
Mrs。 Tupp describes the young lady as of agreeable manners； but
looking； naturally； a bit washed out。 The lady asked for Mr。 Tupp；
explaining that a friend of his was in trouble； which did not in the
least surprise Mrs。 Tupp； she herself not holding with Socialists
and such like。 Mr。 Tupp； on being informed； dressed hastily and
went downstairs； and he and the young lady left the house together。
Mr。 Tupp； on being questioned as to the name of his friend； had
called up that it was no one Mrs。 Tupp would know； a Mr。 Quinceit
may have been Quincey。
Mrs。 Tupp is aware that Mr。 Parable is also a Socialist； and is
acquainted with the saying about thieves hanging together。 But has
worked for Mr。 Parable for years and has always found him a most
satisfactory client； and； Mr。 Tupp appearing at this point；
