首页 >出版文学> The Toys of Peace>第4章
  "SirJohnChobham,themanwhoisopposingme,"answeredRobert;
  "thatishishouseawaythereamongthetreesontheright。"
  Sotherewasanuprightman,possiblyaveryHugoincharacter,whowasthwartinganddefyingtheevildoerinhisnefariouscareer,andtherewasadastardlyplotafoottobreakhisneck!Possiblytheattemptwouldbemadewithinthenextfewhours。Hemustcertainlybewarned。AlethiarememberedhowLadySylviaBroomgate,inNightshadeCourt,hadpretendedtobeboltedwithbyherhorseuptothefrontdoorofathreatenedcountymagnate,andhadwhisperedawarninginhisearwhichsavedhimfrombeingthevictimoffoulmurder。Shewonderediftherewasaquietponyinthestablesonwhichshewouldbeallowedtorideoutalone。Thechanceswerethatshewouldbewatched。RobertwouldcomespurringafterherandseizeherbridlejustasshewasturninginatSirJohn'sgates。
  Agroupofmenthattheypassedinavillagestreetgavethemnoveryfriendlylooks,andAlethiathoughtsheheardafurtivehiss;amomentlatertheycameuponanerrandboyridingabicycle。Hehadthefrankopencountenance,neatlybrushedhairandtidyclothesthatbetokenaclearconscienceandagoodmother。Hestaredstraightattheoccupantsofthecar,and,afterhehadpassedthem,sanginhisclear,boyishvoice:
  "We'llhangBobbyBludwardonthesourappletree。"
  Robertmerelylaughed。Thatwashowhetookthescornandcondemnationofhisfellow-men。Hehadgoadedthemtodesperationwithhisshamelessdepravitytilltheyspokeopenlyofputtinghimtoaviolentdeath,andhelaughed。
  Mrs。BludwardprovedtobeofthetypethatAlethiahadsuspected,thin-lipped,cold-eyed,andobviouslydevotedtoherworthlessson。
  Fromhernohelpwastobeexpected。Alethialockedherdoorthatnight,andplacedsuchrampartsoffurnitureagainstitthatthemaidhadgreatdifficultyinbreakinginwiththeearlyteainthemorning。
  AfterbreakfastAlethia,onthepretextofgoingtolookatanoutlyingrose-garden,slippedawaytothevillagethroughwhichtheyhadpassedonthepreviousevening。SherememberedthatRoberthadpointedouttoherapublicreading-room,andheresheconsidereditpossiblethatshemightmeetSirJohnChobham,orsomeonewhoknewhimwellandwouldcarryamessagetohim。Theroomwasemptywhensheenteredit;aGraphictwelvedaysold,ayetoldercopyofPunch,andoneortwolocalpaperslayuponthecentraltable;theothertableswerestackedforthemostpartwithchessanddraughts-
  boards,andwoodenboxesofchessmenanddominoes。Listlesslyshepickeduponeofthepapers,theSentinel,andglancedatitscontents。Suddenlyshestarted,andbegantoreadwithbreathlessattentionaprominentlyprintedarticle,headed"ALittleLimelightonSirJohnChobham。"Thecolourebbedawayfromherface,alookoffrighteneddespaircreptintohereyes。Never,inanynovelthatshehadread,hadadefencelessyoungwomanbeenconfrontedwithasituationlikethis。SirJohn,theHugoofherimagination,was,ifanything,rathermoredepravedanddespicablethanRobertBludward。
  Hewasmean,evasive,callouslyindifferenttohiscountry'sinterests,acheat,amanwhohabituallybrokehisword,andwhowasresponsible,withhisassociates,formostofthepoverty,misery,crime,andnationaldegradationwithwhichthecountrywasafflicted。HewasalsoacandidateforParliament,itseemed,andastherewasonlyoneseatinthisparticularlocality,itwasobviousthatthesuccessofeitherRobertorSirJohnwouldmeanachecktotheambitionsoftheother,hence,nodoubt,therivalryandenmitybetweentheseotherwisekindredsouls。Onewasseekingtohavehisenemydonetodeath,theotherwasapparentlytryingtostiruphissupporterstoanactof"Lynchlaw"。Allthisinorderthattheremightbeanunopposedelection,thatoneorotherofthecandidatesmightgointoParliamentwithhoneyedeloquenceonhislipsandbloodonhisheart。Weremenreallysovile?
  "ImustgobacktoWebblehintonatonce,"Alethiainformedherastonishedhostessatlunchtime;"Ihavehadatelegram。AfriendisveryseriouslyillandIhavebeensentfor。"
  Itwasdreadfultohavetoconcoctlies,butitwouldbemoredreadfultohavetospendanothernightunderthatroof。
  Alethiareadsnovelsnowwithevengreaterappreciationthanbefore。
  ShehasbeenherselfintheworldoutsideWebblehinton,theworldwherethegreatdramasofsinandvillainyareplayedunceasingly。
  Shehadcomeunscathedthroughit,butwhatmighthavehappenedifshehadgoneunsuspectinglytovisitSirJohnChobhamandwarnhimofhisdanger?Whatindeed!ShehadbeensavedbythefearlessoutspokennessofthelocalPress。
  THEINTERLOPERS
  InaforestofmixedgrowthsomewhereontheeasternspursoftheKarpathians,amanstoodonewinternightwatchingandlistening,asthoughhewaitedforsomebeastofthewoodstocomewithintherangeofhisvision,and,later,ofhisrifle。Butthegameforwhosepresencehekeptsokeenanoutlookwasnonethatfiguredinthesportsman'scalendaraslawfulandproperforthechase;UlrichvonGradwitzpatrolledthedarkforestinquestofahumanenemy。
  TheforestlandsofGradwitzwereofwideextentandwellstockedwithgame;thenarrowstripofprecipitouswoodlandthatlayonitsoutskirtwasnotremarkableforthegameitharbouredortheshootingitafforded,butitwasthemostjealouslyguardedofallitsowner'sterritorialpossessions。Afamouslawsuit,inthedaysofhisgrandfather,hadwresteditfromtheillegalpossessionofaneighbouringfamilyofpettylandowners;thedispossessedpartyhadneveracquiescedinthejudgmentoftheCourts,andalongseriesofpoachingaffraysandsimilarscandalshadembitteredtherelationshipsbetweenthefamiliesforthreegenerations。TheneighbourfeudhadgrownintoapersonalonesinceUlrichhadcometobeheadofhisfamily;iftherewasamanintheworldwhomhedetestedandwishedilltoitwasGeorgZnaeym,theinheritorofthequarrelandthetirelessgame-snatcherandraiderofthedisputedborder-forest。Thefeudmight,perhaps,havedieddownorbeencompromisedifthepersonalill-willofthetwomenhadnotstoodintheway;asboystheyhadthirstedforoneanother'sblood,asmeneachprayedthatmisfortunemightfallontheother,andthiswind-
  scourgedwinternightUlrichhadbandedtogetherhisforesterstowatchthedarkforest,notinquestoffour-footedquarry,buttokeepalook-outfortheprowlingthieveswhomhesuspectedofbeingafootfromacrossthelandboundary。Theroebuck,whichusuallykeptintheshelteredhollowsduringastorm-wind,wererunninglikedriventhingsto-night,andtherewasmovementandunrestamongthecreaturesthatwerewonttosleepthroughthedarkhours。Assuredlytherewasadisturbingelementintheforest,andUlrichcouldguessthequarterfromwhenceitcame。
  Hestrayedawaybyhimselffromthewatcherswhomhehadplacedinambushonthecrestofthehill,andwanderedfardownthesteepslopesamidthewildtangleofundergrowth,peeringthroughthetreetrunksandlisteningthroughthewhistlingandskirlingofthewindandtherestlessbeatingofthebranchesforsightandsoundofthemarauders。Ifonlyonthiswildnight,inthisdark,lonespot,hemightcomeacrossGeorgZnaeym,mantoman,withnonetowitness——
  thatwasthewishthatwasuppermostinhisthoughts。Andashesteppedroundthetrunkofahugebeechhecamefacetofacewiththemanhesought。
  Thetwoenemiesstoodglaringatoneanotherforalongsilentmoment。Eachhadarifleinhishand,eachhadhateinhisheartandmurderuppermostinhismind。Thechancehadcometogivefullplaytothepassionsofalifetime。Butamanwhohasbeenbroughtupunderthecodeofarestrainingcivilisationcannoteasilynervehimselftoshootdownhisneighbourincoldbloodandwithoutwordspoken,exceptforanoffenceagainsthishearthandhonour。AndbeforethemomentofhesitationhadgivenwaytoactionadeedofNature'sownviolenceoverwhelmedthemboth。Afierceshriekofthestormhadbeenansweredbyasplittingcrashovertheirheads,anderetheycouldleapasideamassoffallingbeechtreehadthundereddownonthem。UlrichvonGradwitzfoundhimselfstretchedontheground,onearmnumbbeneathhimandtheotherheldalmostashelplesslyinatighttangleofforkedbranches,whilebothlegswerepinnedbeneaththefallenmass。Hisheavyshooting-bootshadsavedhisfeetfrombeingcrushedtopieces,butifhisfractureswerenotasseriousastheymighthavebeen,atleastitwasevidentthathecouldnotmovefromhispresentpositiontillsomeonecametoreleasehim。Thedescendingtwighadslashedtheskinofhisface,andhehadtowinkawaysomedropsofbloodfromhiseyelashesbeforehecouldtakeinageneralviewofthedisaster。Athisside,sonearthatunderordinarycircumstanceshecouldalmosthavetouchedhim,layGeorgZnaeym,aliveandstruggling,butobviouslyashelplesslypinioneddownashimself。Allroundthemlayathick-
  strewnwreckageofsplinteredbranchesandbrokentwigs。
  Reliefatbeingaliveandexasperationathiscaptiveplightbroughtastrangemedleyofpiousthank-offeringsandsharpcursestoUlrich'slips。Georg,whowasearlyblindedwiththebloodwhichtrickledacrosshiseyes,stoppedhisstrugglingforamomenttolisten,andthengaveashort,snarlinglaugh。
  "Soyou'renotkilled,asyououghttobe,butyou'recaught,anyway,"hecried;"caughtfast。Ho,whatajest,UlrichvonGradwitzsnaredinhisstolenforest。There'srealjusticeforyou!"
  Andhelaughedagain,mockinglyandsavagely。
  "I'mcaughtinmyownforest-land,"retortedUlrich。"Whenmymencometoreleaseusyouwillwish,perhaps,thatyouwereinabetterplightthancaughtpoachingonaneighbour'sland,shameonyou。"
  Georgwassilentforamoment;thenheansweredquietly:
  "Areyousurethatyourmenwillfindmuchtorelease?Ihavemen,too,intheforestto-night,closebehindme,andTHEYwillbeherefirstanddothereleasing。Whentheydragmeoutfromunderthesedamnedbranchesitwon'tneedmuchclumsinessontheirparttorollthismassoftrunkrightoveronthetopofyou。Yourmenwillfindyoudeadunderafallenbeechtree。Forform'ssakeIshallsendmycondolencestoyourfamily。"
  "Itisausefulhint,"saidUlrichfiercely。"Mymenhadorderstofollowintenminutestime,sevenofwhichmusthavegonebyalready,andwhentheygetmeout——Iwillrememberthehint。OnlyasyouwillhavemetyourdeathpoachingonmylandsIdon'tthinkI
  candecentlysendanymessageofcondolencetoyourfamily。"
  "Good,"snarledGeorg,"good。Wefightthisquarrelouttothedeath,youandIandourforesters,withnocursedinterloperstocomebetweenus。Deathanddamnationtoyou,UlrichvonGradwitz。"
  "Thesametoyou,GeorgZnaeym,forest-thief,game-snatcher。"
  Bothmenspokewiththebitternessofpossibledefeatbeforethem,foreachknewthatitmightbelongbeforehismenwouldseekhimoutorfindhim;itwasabarematterofchancewhichpartywouldarrivefirstonthescene。
  Bothhadnowgivenuptheuselessstruggletofreethemselvesfromthemassofwoodthatheldthemdown;Ulrichlimitedhisendeavourstoanefforttobringhisonepartiallyfreearmnearenoughtohisoutercoat-pockettodrawouthiswine-flask。Evenwhenhehadaccomplishedthatoperationitwaslongbeforehecouldmanagetheunscrewingofthestopperorgetanyoftheliquiddownhisthroat。
  ButwhataHeaven-sentdraughtitseemed!Itwasanopenwinter,andlittlesnowhadfallenasyet,hencethecaptivessufferedlessfromthecoldthanmighthavebeenthecaseatthatseasonoftheyear;nevertheless,thewinewaswarmingandrevivingtothewoundedman,andhelookedacrosswithsomethinglikeathrobofpitytowherehisenemylay,justkeepingthegroansofpainandwearinessfromcrossinghislips。
  "CouldyoureachthisflaskifIthrewitovertoyou?"askedUlrichsuddenly;"thereisgoodwineinit,andonemayaswellbeascomfortableasonecan。Letusdrink,evenifto-nightoneofusdies。"
  "No,Icanscarcelyseeanything;thereissomuchbloodcakedroundmyeyes,"saidGeorg,"andinanycaseIdon'tdrinkwinewithanenemy。"
  Ulrichwassilentforafewminutes,andlaylisteningtothewearyscreechingofthewind。Anideawasslowlyformingandgrowinginhisbrain,anideathatgainedstrengtheverytimethathelookedacrossatthemanwhowasfightingsogrimlyagainstpainandexhaustion。InthepainandlanguorthatUlrichhimselfwasfeelingtheoldfiercehatredseemedtobedyingdown。
  "Neighbour,"hesaidpresently,"doasyoupleaseifyourmencomefirst。Itwasafaircompact。Butasforme,I'vechangedmymind。
  Ifmymenarethefirsttocomeyoushallbethefirsttobehelped,asthoughyouweremyguest。Wehavequarrelledlikedevilsallourlivesoverthisstupidstripofforest,wherethetreescan'tevenstanduprightinabreathofwind。Lyinghereto-nightthinkingI'vecometothinkwe'vebeenratherfools;therearebetterthingsinlifethangettingthebetterofaboundarydispute。Neighbour,ifyouwillhelpmetoburytheoldquarrelI——Iwillaskyoutobemyfriend。"
  GeorgZnaeymwassilentforsolongthatUlrichthought,perhaps,hehadfaintedwiththepainofhisinjuries。Thenhespokeslowlyandinjerks。
  "Howthewholeregionwouldstareandgabbleifwerodeintothemarket-squaretogether。NoonelivingcanrememberseeingaZnaeymandavonGradwitztalkingtooneanotherinfriendship。Andwhatpeacetherewouldbeamongtheforesterfolkifweendedourfeudto-night。Andifwechoosetomakepeaceamongourpeoplethereisnoneothertointerfere,nointerlopersfromoutside……YouwouldcomeandkeeptheSylvesternightbeneathmyroof,andIwouldcomeandfeastonsomehighdayatyourcastle……Iwouldneverfireashotonyourland,savewhenyouinvitedmeasaguest;andyoushouldcomeandshootwithmedowninthemarsheswherethewildfowlare。Inallthecountrysidetherearenonethatcouldhinderifwewilledtomakepeace。Ineverthoughttohavewantedtodootherthanhateyouallmylife,butIthinkIhavechangedmymindaboutthingstoo,thislasthalf-hour。Andyouofferedmeyourwineflask……UlrichvonGradwitz,Iwillbeyourfriend。"
  Foraspacebothmenweresilent,turningoverintheirmindsthewonderfulchangesthatthisdramaticreconciliationwouldbringabout。Inthecold,gloomyforest,withthewindtearinginfitfulguststhroughthenakedbranchesandwhistlingroundthetree-
  trunks,theylayandwaitedforthehelpthatwouldnowbringreleaseandsuccourtobothparties。Andeachprayedaprivateprayerthathismenmightbethefirsttoarrive,sothathemightbethefirsttoshowhonourableattentiontotheenemythathadbecomeafriend。
  Presently,asthewinddroppedforamoment,Ulrichbrokesilence。
  "Let'sshoutforhelp,"hesaid;hesaid;"inthislullourvoicesmaycarryalittleway。"
  "Theywon'tcarryfarthroughthetreesandundergrowth,"saidGeorg,"butwecantry。Together,then。"
  Thetworaisedtheirvoicesinaprolongedhuntingcall。
  "Togetheragain,"saidUlrichafewminuteslater,afterlisteninginvainforanansweringhalloo。
  "Iheardnothingbutthepestilentialwind,"saidGeorghoarsely。
  Therewassilenceagainforsomeminutes,andthenUlrichgaveajoyfulcry。
  "Icanseefigurescomingthroughthewood。TheyarefollowinginthewayIcamedownthehillside。"
  Bothmenraisedtheirvoicesinasloudashoutastheycouldmuster。
  "Theyhearus!They'vestopped。Nowtheyseeus。They'rerunningdownthehilltowardsus,"criedUlrich。
  "Howmanyofthemarethere?"askedGeorg。
  "Ican'tseedistinctly,"saidUlrich;"nineorten,"
  "Thentheyareyours,"saidGeorg;"Ihadonlysevenoutwithme。"
  "Theyaremakingallthespeedtheycan,bravelads,"saidUlrichgladly。
  "Aretheyyourmen?"askedGeorg。"Aretheyyourmen?"herepeatedimpatientlyasUlrichdidnotanswer。
  "No,"saidUlrichwithalaugh,theidioticchatteringlaughofamanunstrungwithhideousfear。
  "Whoarethey?"askedGeorgquickly,straininghiseyestoseewhattheotherwouldgladlynothaveseen。
  "Wolves。"
  QUAILSEED
  "Theoutlookisnotencouragingforussmallerbusinesses,"saidMr。
  Scarricktotheartistandhissister,whohadtakenroomsoverhissuburbangrocerystore。"Thesebigconcernsareofferingallsortsofattractionstotheshoppingpublicwhichwecouldn'taffordtoimitate,evenonasmallscale——reading-roomsandplay-roomsandgramophonesandHeavenknowswhat。Peopledon'tcaretobuyhalfapoundofsugarnowadaysunlesstheycanlistentoHarryLauderandhavethelatestAustraliancricketscorestickedoffbeforetheireyes。WiththebigChristmasstockwe'vegotinweoughttokeephalfadozenassistantshardatwork,butasitismynephewJimmyandmyselfcanprettywellattendtoitourselves。It'sanicestockofgoods,too,ifIcouldonlyrunitoffinafewweekstime,butthere'snochanceofthat——notunlesstheLondonlinewastogetsnowedupforafortnightbeforeChristmas。IdidhaveasortofideaofengagingMissLuffcombetogiverecitationsduringafternoons;shemadeagreathitatthePostOfficeentertainmentwithherrenderingof'LittleBeatrice'sResolve'。"
  "AnythinglesslikelytomakeyourshopafashionableshoppingcentreIcan'timagine,"saidtheartist,withaverygenuineshudder;"ifIweretryingtodecidebetweenthemeritsofCarlsbadplumsandconfectedfigsasawinterdessertitwouldinfuriatemetohavemytrainofthoughtentangledwithlittleBeatrice'sresolvetobeanAngelofLightoragirlscout。No,"hecontinued,"thedesiretogetsomethingthrowninfornothingisarulingpassionwiththefeminineshopper,butyoucan'taffordtopandereffectivelytoit。Whynotappealtoanotherinstinct;whichdominatesnotonlythewomanshopperbutthemaleshopper——infact,theentirehumanrace?"
  "Whatisthatinstinct,sir?"saidthegrocer。
  ***
  Mrs。GreyesandMissFrittenhadmissedthe2。18toTown,andastherewasnotanothertraintill3。12theythoughtthattheymightaswellmaketheirgrocerypurchasesatScarrick's。Itwouldnotbesensational,theyagreed,butitwouldstillbeshopping。
  Forsomeminutestheyhadtheshopalmosttothemselves,asfarascustomerswereconcerned,butwhiletheyweredebatingtherespectivevirtuesandblemishesoftwocompetingbrandsofanchovypastetheywerestartledbyanorder,givenacrossthecounter,forsixpomegranatesandapacketofquailseed。Neithercommoditywasingeneraldemandinthatneighbourhood。Equallyunusualwasthestyleandappearanceofthecustomer;aboutsixteenyearsold,withdarkoliveskin,largeduskyeyes,andthink,low-growing,blue-
  blackhair,hemighthavemadehislivingasanartist'smodel。Asamatteroffacthedid。Thebowlofbeatenbrassthatheproducedforthereceptionofhispurchaseswasdistinctlythemostastonishingvariationonthestringbagormarketingbasketofsuburbancivilisationthathisfellow-shoppershadeverseen。Hethrewagoldpiece,apparentlyofsomeexoticcurrency,acrossthecounter,anddidnotseemdisposedtowaitforanychangethatmightbeforthcoming。
  "Thewineandfigswerenotpaidforyesterday,"hesaid;"keepwhatisoverofthemoneyforourfuturepurchases。"
  "Averystrange-lookingboy?"saidMrs。Greyesinterrogativelytothegrocerassoonashiscustomerhadleft。
  "Aforeigner,Ibelieve,"saidMr。Scarrick,withashortnessthatwasentirelyoutofkeepingwithhisusuallycommunicativemanner。
  "Iwishforapoundandahalfofthebestcoffeeyouhave,"saidanauthoritativevoiceamomentortwolater。Thespeakerwasatall,authoritative-lookingmanofratheroutlandishaspect,remarkableamongotherthingsforafullblackbeard,worninastylemoreinvogueinearlyAssyriathaninaLondonsuburbofthepresentday。
  "Hasadark-facedboybeenherebuyingpomegranates?"heaskedsuddenly,asthecoffeewasbeingweighedouttohim。
  Thetwoladiesalmostjumpedonhearingthegrocerreplywithanunblushingnegative。
  "Wehaveafewpomegranatesinstock,"hecontinued,"buttherehasbeennodemandforthem。"
  "Myservantwillfetchthecoffeeasusual,"saidthepurchaser,producingacoinfromawonderfulmetal-workpurse。Asanapparentafterthoughthefiredoutthequestion:"Haveyou,perhaps,anyquailseed?"
  "No,"saidthegrocer,withouthesitation,"wedon'tstockit。"
  "Whatwillhedenynext?"askedMrs。Greyesunderherbreath。WhatmadeitseemsomuchworsewasthefactthatMr。ScarrickhadquiterecentlypresidedatalectureonSavonarola。
  Turningupthedeepastrachancollarofhislongcoat,thestrangersweptoutoftheshop,withtheair,MissFrittenafterwardsdescribedit,ofaSatrapproroguingaSanhedrim。WhethersuchapleasantfunctioneverfelltoaSatrap'slotshewasnotquitecertain,butthesimilefaithfullyconveyedhermeaningtoalargecircleofacquaintances。
  "Don'tlet'sbotheraboutthe3。12,"saidMrs。Greyes;"let'sgoandtalkthisoveratLauraLipping's。It'sherday。"
  Whenthedark-facedboyarrivedattheshopnextdaywithhisbrassmarketingbowltherewasquiteafairgatheringofcustomers,mostofwhomseemedtobespinningouttheirpurchasingoperationswiththeairofpeoplewhohadverylittletodowiththeirtime。Inavoicethatwasheardallovertheshop,perhapsbecauseeverybodywasintentlylistening,heaskedforapoundofhoneyandapacketofquailseed。
  "Morequailseed!"saidMissFritten。"Thosequailsmustbevoracious,orelseitisn'tquailseedatall。"
  "Ibelieveit'sopium,andthebeardedmanisadetective,"saidMrs。Greyesbrilliantly。
  "Idon't,"saidLauraLipping;"I'msureit'ssomethingtodowiththePortugueseThrone。"
  "MorelikelytobeaPersianintrigueonbehalfoftheex-Shah,"
  saidMissFritten;"thebeardedmanbelongstotheGovernmentParty。
  Thequail-seedisacountersign,ofcourse;PersiaisalmostnextdoortoPalestine,andquailscomeintotheOldTestament,youknow。"
  "Onlyasamiracle,"saidherwell-informedyoungersister;"I'vethoughtallalongitwaspartofaloveintrigue。"
  TheboywhohadsomuchinterestandspeculationcentredonhimwasonthepointofdepartingwithhispurchaseswhenhewaswaylaidbyJimmy,thenephew-apprentice,who,fromhispostatthecheeseandbaconcounter,commandedagoodviewofthestreet。
  "WehavesomeveryfineJaffaoranges,"hesaidhurriedly,pointingtoacornerwheretheywerestored,behindahighrampartofbiscuittins。Therewasevidentlymoreintheremarkthanmettheear。Theboyflewattheorangeswiththeenthusiasmofaferretfindingarabbitfamilyathomeafteralongdayoffruitlesssubterraneanresearch。Almostatthesamemomentthebeardedstrangerstalkedintotheshop,andflunganorderforapoundofdatesandatinofthebestSmyrnahalvaacrossthecounter。Themostadventuroushousewifeinthelocalityhadneverheardofhalva,butMr。ScarrickwasapparentlyabletoproducethebestSmyrnavarietyofitwithoutamoment'shesitation。
  "WemightbelivingintheArabianNights,"saidMissFritten,excitedly。
  "Hush!Listen,"beseechedMrs。Greyes。
  "Hasthedark-facedboy,ofwhomIspokeyesterday,beenhereto-
  day?"askedthestranger。
  "We'vehadrathermorepeoplethanusualintheshopto-day,"saidMr。Scarrick,"butIcan'trecallaboysuchasyoudescribe。"
  Mrs。GreyesandMissFrittenlookedroundtriumphantlyattheirfriends。Itwas,ofcourse,deplorablethatanyoneshouldtreatthetruthasanarticletemporarilyandexcusablyoutofstock,buttheyfeltgratifiedthatthevividaccountstheyhadgivenofMr。
  Scarrick'strafficinfalsehoodsshouldreceiveconfirmationatfirsthand。
  "Ishallneveragainbeabletobelievewhathetellsmeabouttheabsenceofcolouringmatterinthejam,"whisperedanauntofMrs。
  Greyestragically。
  Themysteriousstrangertookhisdeparture;LauraLippingdistinctlysawasnarlofbaffledragerevealitselfbehindhisheavymoustacheandupturnedastrachancollar。Afteracautiousintervaltheseekerafterorangesemergedfrombehindthebiscuittins,havingapparentlyfailedtofindanyindividualorangethatsatisfiedhisrequirements。He,too,tookhisdeparture,andtheshopwasslowlyemptiedofitsparcelandgossipladencustomers。ItwasEmilyYorling's"day",andmostoftheshoppersmadetheirwaytoherdrawing-room。Togodirectfromashoppingexpeditiontoateapartywaswhatwasknownlocallyas"livinginawhirl"。
  Twoextraassistantshadbeenengagedforthefollowingafternoon,andtheirserviceswereinbriskdemand;theshopwascrowded。
  Peopleboughtandbought,andneverseemedtogettotheendoftheirlists。Mr。Scarrickhadneverhadsolittledifficultyinpersuadingcustomerstoembarkonnewexperiencesingrocerywares。
  Eventhosewomenwhosepurchaseswereofmodestproportionsdawdledoverthemasthoughtheyhadbrutal,drunkenhusbandstogohometo。
  Theafternoonhaddraggeduneventfullyon,andtherewasadistinctbuzzofunpentexcitementwhenadark-eyedboycarryingabrassbowlenteredtheshop。TheexcitementseemedtohavecommunicateditselftoMr。Scarrick;abruptlydesertingaladywhowasmakinginsincereinquiriesaboutthehomelifeoftheBombayduck,heinterceptedthenewcomeronhiswaytotheaccustomedcounterandinformedhim,amidadeathlikehush,thathehadrunoutofquailseed。
  Theboylookednervouslyroundtheshop,andturnedhesitatinglytogo。Hewasagainintercepted,thistimebythenephew,whodartedoutfrombehindhiscounterandsaidsomethingaboutabetterlineoforanges。Theboy'shesitationvanished;healmostscuttledintotheobscurityoftheorangecorner。Therewasanexpectantturnofpublicattentiontowardsthedoor,andthetall,beardedstrangermadeareallyeffectiveentrance。TheauntofMrs。Greyesdeclaredafterwardsthatshefoundherselfsub-consciouslyrepeating"TheAssyriancamedownlikeawolfonthefold"underherbreath,andshewasgenerallybelieved。
  Thenewcomer,too,wasstoppedbeforehereachedthecounter,butnotbyMr。Scarrickorhisassistant。Aheavilyveiledlady,whomnoonehadhithertonoticed,roselanguidlyfromaseatandgreetedhiminaclear,penetratingvoice。
  "YourExcellencydoeshisshoppinghimself?"shesaid。
  "Iorderthethingsmyself,"heexplained;"Ifinditdifficulttomakemyservantsunderstand。"
  Inalower,butstillperfectlyaudible,voicetheveiledladygavehimapieceofcasualinformation。
  "TheyhavesomeexcellentJaffaorangeshere。"Thenwithatinklinglaughshepassedoutoftheshop。
  Themanglaredallroundtheshop,andthen,fixinghiseyesinstinctivelyonthebarrierofbiscuittins,demandedloudlyofthegrocer:"Youhave,perhaps,somegoodJaffaoranges?"
  EveryoneexpectedaninstantdenialonthepartofMr。Scarrickofanysuchpossession。Beforehecouldanswer,however,theboyhadbrokenforthfromhissanctuary。Holdinghisemptybrassbowlbeforehimhepassedoutintothestreet。Hisfacewasvariouslydescribedafterwardsasmaskedwithstudiedindifference,overspreadwithghastlypallor,andblazingwithdefiance。Somesaidthathisteethchattered,othersthathewentoutwhistlingthePersianNationalHymn。Therewasnomistaking,however,theeffectproducedbytheencounteronthemanwhohadseemedtoforceit。Ifarabiddogorarattlesnakehadsuddenlythrustitscompanionshiponhimhecouldscarcelyhavedisplayedagreateraccessofterror。Hisairofauthorityandassertivenesshadgone,hismasterfulstridehadgivenwaytoafurtivepacingtoandfro,asofananimalseekinganoutletforescape。Inadazedperfunctorymanner,alwayswithhiseyesturningtowatchtheshopentrance,hegaveafewrandomorders,whichthegrocermadeashowofenteringinhisbook。Nowandthenhewalkedoutintothestreet,lookedanxiouslyinalldirections,andhurriedbacktokeepuphispretenceofshopping。
  Fromoneofthesesortieshedidnotreturn;hehaddashedawayintothedusk,andneitherhenorthedark-facedboynortheveiledladywereseenagainbytheexpectantcrowdsthatcontinuedtothrongtheScarrickestablishmentfordaystocome。
  ***
  "Icanneverthankyouandyoursistersufficiently,"saidthegrocer。
  "Weenjoyedthefunofit,"saidtheartistmodestly,"andasforthemodel,itwasawelcomevariationonposingforhoursfor'TheLostHylas'。"
  "Atanyrate,"saidthegrocer,"Iinsistonpayingforthehireoftheblackbeard。"
  CANOSSA
  DemosthenesPlatterbaff,theeminentUnrestInducer,stoodonhistrialforaseriousoffence,andtheeyesofthepoliticalworldwerefocussedonthejury。Theoffence,itshouldbestated,wasseriousfortheGovernmentratherthanfortheprisoner。HehadblownuptheAlbertHallontheeveofthegreatLiberalFederationTangoTea,theoccasiononwhichtheChancelloroftheExchequerwasexpectedtopropoundhisnewtheory:"Dopartridgesspreadinfectiousdiseases?"Platterbaffhadchosenhistimewell;theTangoTeahadbeenhurriedlypostponed,buttherewereotherpoliticalfixtureswhichcouldnotbeputoffunderanycircumstances。Thedayafterthetrialtherewastobeaby-
  electionatNemesis-on-Hand,andithadbeenopenlyannouncedinthedivisionthatifPlatterbaffwerelanguishingingaolonpollingdaytheGovernmentcandidatewouldbe"outed"toacertainty。
  Unfortunately,therecouldbenodoubtormisconceptionastoPlatterbaff'sguilt。Hehadnotonlypleadedguilty,buthadexpressedhisintentionofrepeatinghisescapadeinotherdirectionsassoonascircumstancespermitted;throughoutthetrialhewasbusyexaminingasmallmodeloftheFreeTradeHallinManchester。ThejurycouldnotpossiblyfindthattheprisonerhadnotdeliberatelyandintentionallyblownuptheAlbertHall;thequestionwas:Couldtheyfindanyextenuatingcircumstanceswhichwouldpermitofanacquittal?Ofcourseanysentencewhichthelawmightfeelcompelledtoinflictwouldbefollowedbyanimmediatepardon,butitwashighlydesirable,fromtheGovernment'spointofview,thatthenecessityforsuchanexerciseofclemencyshouldnotarise。Aheadlongpardon,ontheeveofabye-election,withthreatsofaheavyvotingdefectionifitwerewithheldorevendelayed,wouldnotnecessarilybeasurrender,butitwouldlooklikeone。Opponentswouldbeonlytooreadytoattributeungenerousmotives。HencetheanxietyinthecrowdedCourt,andinthelittlegroupsgatheredroundthetape-machinesinWhitehallandDowningStreetandotheraffectedcentres。
  Thejuryreturnedfromconsideringtheirverdict;therewasaflutter,anexcitedmurmur,adeath-likehush。Theforemandeliveredhismessage:
  "ThejuryfindtheprisonerguiltyofblowinguptheAlbertHall。
  Thejurywishtoaddariderdrawingattentiontothefactthataby-electionispendingintheParliamentarydivisionofNemesis-on-
  Hand。"
  "That,ofcourse,"saidtheGovernmentProsecutor,springingtohisfeet,"isequivalenttoanacquittal?"
  "Ihardlythinkso,"saidtheJudge,coldly;"Ifeelobligedtosentencetheprisonertoaweek'simprisonment。"
  "AndmaytheLordhavemercyonthepoll,"aJuniorCounselexclaimedirreverently。
  Itwasascandaloussentence,butthentheJudgewasnotontheMinisterialsideinpolitics。
  Theverdictandsentenceweremadeknowntothepublicattwentyminutespastfiveintheafternoon;athalf-pastfiveadensecrowdwasmassedoutsidethePrimeMinister'sresidencelustilysinging,totheairof"Trelawney":
  "AndshouldourHerorotingaol,Fore'enasingleday,There'sFifteenHundredVotingMenWillvotetheotherway。"
  "Fifteenhundred,"saidthePrimeMinister,withashudder;"it'stoohorribletothinkof。Ourmajoritylasttimewasonlyathousandandseven。"
  "Thepollopensateightto-morrowmorning,"saidtheChiefOrganiser;"wemusthavehimoutby7a。m。"
  "Seven-thirty,"amendedthePrimeMinister;"wemustavoidanyappearanceofprecipitancy。"
  "Notlaterthanseven-thirty,then,"saidtheChiefOrganiser;"I
  havepromisedtheagentdowntherethatheshallbeabletodisplaypostersannouncing'PlatterbaffisOut,'beforethepollopens。Hesaiditwasouronlychanceofgettingatelegram'RadpropisIn'
  to-night。"
  Athalf-pastseventhenextmorningthePrimeMinisterandtheChiefOrganisersatatbreakfast,makingaperfunctorymeal,andawaitingthereturnoftheHomeSecretary,whohadgoneinpersontosuperintendthereleasingofPlatterbaff。Despitetheearlinessofthehourasmallcrowdhadgatheredinthestreetoutside,andthehorriblemenacingTrelawneyrefrainofthe"FifteenHundredVotingMen"cameinasteady,monotonouschant。
  "Theywillcheerpresentlywhentheyhearthenews,"saidthePrimeMinisterhopefully;"hark!Theyarebooingsomeonenow!ThatmustbeMcKenna。"
  TheHomeSecretaryenteredtheroomamomentlater,disasterwrittenonhisface。
  "Hewon'tgo!"heexclaimed。
  "Won'tgo?Won'tleavegaol?"
  "Hewon'tgounlesshehasabrassband。Hesaysheneverhasleftprisonwithoutabrassbandtoplayhimout,andhe'snotgoingtogowithoutonenow。"
  "Butsurelythatsortofthingisprovidedbyhissupportersandadmirers?"saidthePrimeMinister;"wecanhardlybesupposedtosupplyareleasedprisonerwithabrassband。HowonearthcouldwedefenditontheEstimates?"
  "Hissupporterssayitisuptoustoprovidethemusic,"saidtheHomeSecretary;"theysayweputhiminprison,andit'souraffairtoseethatheleavesitinarespectablemanner。Anyway,hewon'tgounlesshehasaband。"
  Thetelephonesquealedshrilly;itwasatrunkcallfromNemesis。
  "Pollopensinfiveminutes。IsPlatterbaffoutyet?InHeaven'sname,why——"
  TheChiefOrganiserrangoff。
  "Thisisnotamomentforstandingondignity,"heobservedbluntly;
  "musiciansmustbesuppliedatonce。Platterbaffmusthavehisband。"
  "Whereareyougoingtofindthemusicians?"askedtheHomeSecretarywearily;"wecan'temployamilitaryband,infact,I
  don'tthinkhe'dhaveoneifweofferedit,andthereain'tanyothers。There'samusicians'strikeon,Isupposeyouknow。"
  "Can'tyougetastrikepermit?"askedtheOrganiser。
  "I'lltry,"saidtheHomeSecretary,andwenttothetelephone。
  Eighto'clockstruck。Thecrowdoutsidechantedwithanincreasingvolumeofsound:
  "Willvotetheotherway。"
  Atelegramwasbroughtin。ItwasfromthecentralcommitteeroomsatNemesis。"Losingtwentyvotesperminute,"wasitsbriefmessage。
  Teno'clockstruck。ThePrimeMinister,theHomeSecretary,theChiefOrganiser,andseveralearnesthelpfulfriendsweregatheredintheinnergatewayoftheprison,talkingvolublytoDemosthenesPlatterbaff,whostoodwithfoldedarmsandsquarelyplantedfeet,silentintheirmidst。Golden-tonguedlegislatorswhoseeloquencehadswayedtheMarconiInquiryCommittee,oratanyratethegreaterpartofit,expendedtheirartsoforatoryinvainonthisstubbornunyieldingman。Withoutabandhewouldnotgo;andtheyhadnoband。
  Aquarterpastten,half-past。Aconstantstreamoftelegraphboyspouredinthroughtheprisongates。
  "Yamley'sfactoryhandsjustvotedyoucanguesshow,"ranadespairingmessage,andtheotherswereallofthesametenour。
  NemesiswasgoingthewayofReading。
  "Haveyouanybandinstrumentsofaneasynaturetoplay?"demandedtheChiefOrganiserofthePrisonGovernor;"drums,cymbals,thosesortofthings?"
  "Thewardershaveaprivatebandoftheirown,"saidtheGovernor,"butofcourseIcouldn'tallowthementhemselves——"
  "Lendustheinstruments,"saidtheChiefOrganiser。
  Oneoftheearnesthelpfulfriendswasaskilledperformeronthecornet,theCabinetMinisterswereabletoclashcymbalsmoreorlessintune,andtheChiefOrganiserhassomeknowledgeofthedrum。
  "Whattunewouldyouprefer?"heaskedPlatterbaff。
  "Thepopularsongofthemoment,"repliedtheAgitatorafteramoment'sreflection。
  Itwasatunetheyhadallheardhundredsoftimes,sotherewasnodifficultyinturningoutapassableimitationofit。Totheimprovisedstrainsof"Ididn'twanttodoit"theprisonerstrodeforthtofreedom。Thewordofthesonghadreference,itwasunderstood,totheincarceratingGovernmentandnottothedestroyeroftheAlbertHall。
  Theseatwaslost,afterall,byanarrowmajority。ThelocalTradeUnioniststookoffenceatthefactofCabinetMinistershavingpersonallyactedasstrike-breakers,andeventhereleaseofPlatterbafffailedtopacifythem。
  Theseatwaslost,butMinistershadscoredamoralvictory。Theyhadshownthattheyknewwhenandhowtoyield。
  THETHREAT
  SirLulworthQuaynesatintheloungeofhisfavouriterestaurant,theGallusBankiva,discussingtheweaknessesoftheworldwithhisnephew,whohadlatelyreturnedfromamuch-enlivenedexileinthewildsofMexico。Itwasthatblessedseasonoftheyearwhentheasparagusandtheplover'seggareabroadintheland,andtheoysterhasnotyetwithdrawnintoit'ssummerentrenchments,andSirLulworthandhisnephewwereinthatenlightenedafter-dinnermoodwhenpoliticsareseenintheirrightperspective,eventhepoliticsofMexico。
  "Mostoftherevolutionsthattakeplaceinthiscountrynowadays,"
  saidSirLulworth,"aretheproductofmomentsoflegislativepanic。