beasts and super-beasts(野兽与超级野兽)-第42章
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for name…labels to his neighbour。 After her rather remarkable
announcement； however； he was obliged to say something in the way of
polite inquiry。
〃Yes；〃 answered the lady； 〃I suppose it is a case of partial loss of
memory。 I was in the train coming down here； my ticket told me that I
had come from Victoria and was bound for this place。 I had a couple of
five…pound notes and a sovereign on me； no visiting cards or any other
means of identification； and no idea as to who I am。 I can only hazily
recollect that I have a title； I am Lady Somebody … beyond that my mind
is a blank。〃
〃Hadn't you any luggage with you？〃 asked Jerton。
〃That is what I didn't know。 I knew the name of this hotel and
made up my mind to come here； and when the hotel porter who meets
the trains asked if I had any luggage I had to invent a dressing…bag and
dress…basket； I could always pretend that they had gone astray。 I gave
him the name of Smith； and presently he emerged from a confused pile
of luggage and passengers with a dressing… bag and dress…basket labelled
Kestrel…Smith。 I had to take them； I don't see what else I could have
done。〃
Jerton said nothing； but he rather wondered what the lawful owner of
the baggage would do。
〃Of course it was dreadful arriving at a strange hotel with the name
of Kestrel…Smith； but it would have been worse to have arrived without
luggage。 Anyhow； I hate causing trouble。〃
Jerton had visions of harassed railway officials and distraught
Kestrel…Smiths； but he made no attempt to clothe his mental picture in
words。 The lady continued her story。
〃Naturally； none of my keys would fit the things； but I told an
intelligent page boy that I had lost my key…ring； and he had the locks
forced in a twinkling。 Rather too intelligent； that boy； he will probably
end in Dartmoor。 The Kestrel…Smith toilet tools aren't up to much；
but they are better than nothing。〃
〃If you feel sure that you have a title；〃 said Jerton； 〃 why not get
hold of a peerage and go right through it？〃
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〃I tried that。 I skimmed through the list of the House of Lords in
'Whitaker；' but a mere printed string of names conveys awfully little to
one； you know。 If you were an army officer and had lost your identity
you might pore over the Army List for months without finding out who
your were。 I'm going on another tack； I'm trying to find out by various
little tests who I am NOT … that will narrow the range of uncertainty
down a bit。 You may have noticed； for instance； that I'm lunching
principally off lobster Newburg。〃
Jerton had not ventured to notice anything of the sort。
〃It's an extravagance； because it's one of the most expensive dishes
on the menu； but at any rate it proves that I'm not Lady Starping； she
never touches shell…fish； and poor Lady Braddleshrub has no digestion at
all； if I am HER I shall certainly die in agony in the course of the
afternoon； and the duty of finding out who I am will devolve on the
press and the police and those sort of people； I shall be past caring。
Lady Knewford doesn't know one rose from another and she hates men；
so she wouldn't have spoken to you in any case； and Lady Mousehilton
flirts with every man she meets … I haven't flirted with you； have I？〃
Jerton hastily gave the required assurance。
〃Well； you see；〃 continued the lady； 〃that knocks four off the list at
once。〃
〃It'll be rather a lengthy process bringing the list down to one；〃 said
Jerton。
〃Oh； but； of course； there are heaps of them that I couldn't possibly
be … women who've got grandchildren or sons old enough to have
celebrated their coming of age。 I've only got to consider the ones about
my own age。 I tell you how you might help me this afternoon； if you
don't mind； go through any of the back numbers of COUNTRY LIFE
and those sort of papers that you can find in the smoking…room； and see
if you come across my portrait with infant son or anything of that sort。
It won't take you ten minutes。 I'll meet you in the lounge about tea…
time。 Thanks awfully。〃
And the Fair Unknown； having graciously pressed Jerton into the
search for her lost identity； rose and left the room。 As she passed the
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young man's table she halted for a moment and whispered：
〃Did you notice that I tipped the waiter a shilling？ We can cross
Lady Ulwight off the list； she would have died rather than do that。〃
At five o'clock Jerton made his way to the hotel lounge； he had spent
a diligent but fruitless quarter of an hour among the illustrated weeklies
in the smoking… room。 His new acquaintance was seated at a small tea…
table； with a waiter hovering in attendance。
〃China tea or Indian？〃 she asked as Jerton came up。
〃China； please； and nothing to eat。 Have you discovered
anything？〃
〃Only negative information。 I'm not Lady Befnal。 She
disapproves dreadfully of any form of gambling； so when I recognised a
well…known book maker in the hotel lobby I went and put a tenner on an
unnamed filly by William the Third out of Mitrovitza for the three…
fifteen race。 I suppose the fact of the animal being nameless was
what attracted me。〃
Did it win？〃 asked Jerton。
〃No； came in fourth； the most irritating thing a horse can do when
you've backed it win or place。 Anyhow； I know now that I'm not Lady
Befnal。〃
〃It seems to me that the knowledge was rather dearly bought；〃
commented Jerton。
〃Well； yes； it has rather cleared me out；〃 admitted the identity…seeker；
〃a florin is about all I've got left on me。 The lobster Newburg made my
lunch rather an expensive one； and； of course； I had to tip that boy for
what he did to the Kestrel…Smith locks。 I've got rather a useful idea；
though。 I feel certain that I belong to the Pivot Club； I'll go back to
town and ask the hall porter there if there are any letters for me。 He
knows all the members by sight； and if there are any letters or
telephone messages waiting for me of course that will solve the problem。
If he says there aren't any I shall say： 'You know who I am； don't you？'
so I'll find out anyway。〃
