The Money Moon. Jeffery Farnol

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СКАЧАТЬ three weeks, Baxter."

      "Indeed, sir!"

      "You were, I believe, aware of the fact that Miss Marchmont and I were as good as engaged?"

      "I had—hem!—gathered as much, sir."

      "Then—confound it all, Baxter!—why aren't you surprised?"

      "I am quite—over-come, sir!" said Baxter, stooping to recover the salt-spoon which had slipped to the floor.

      "Consequently," pursued Bellew, "I am—er—broken-hearted, as I told you—"

      "Certainly, sir."

      "Crushed, despondent, and utterly hopeless, Baxter, and shall be, henceforth, pursued by the—er—Haunting Spectre of the Might Have Been."

      "Very natural, sir, indeed!"

      "I could have hoped, Baxter, that, having served me so long—not to mention my father, you would have shown just a—er shade more feeling in the matter."

      "And if you were to ask me—as between man and man sir—why I don't show more feeling, then, speaking as the old servant of your respected father, Master George, sir—I should beg most respectfully to say that regarding the lady in question, her conduct is not in the least surprising, Miss Marchmont being a beauty, and aware of the fact, Master George. Referring to your heart, sir, I am ready to swear that it is not even cracked. And now, sir—what clothes do you propose to wear this morning?"

      "And pray, why should you be so confident of regarding the—er—condition of my heart?"

      "Because, sir—speaking as your father's old servant, Master George, I make bold to say that I don't believe that you have ever been in love, or even know what love is, Master George, sir."

      Bellew picked up the salt-spoon, balanced it very carefully upon his finger, and put it down again.

      "Nevertheless," said he, shaking his head, "I can see for myself but the dreary perspective of a hopeless future, Baxter, blasted by the Haunting Spectre of the Might Have Been;—I'll trouble you to push the cigarettes a little nearer."

      "And now, sir," said Baxter, as he rose to strike, and apply the necessary match, "what suit will you wear to-day?"

      "Something in tweeds."

      "Tweeds, sir! surely you forget your appointment with the Lady Cecily Prynne, and her party? Lord Mountclair had me on the telephone, last night—"

      "Also a good, heavy walking-stick, Baxter, and a knap-sack."

      "A knap-sack, sir?"

      "I shall set out on a walking tour—in an hour's time."

      "Certainly, sir—where to, sir?"

      "I haven't the least idea, Baxter, but I'm going—in an hour. On the whole, of the four courses you describe for one whose life is blighted, whose heart—I say whose heart, Baxter, is broken—utterly smashed, and—er—shivered beyond repair, I prefer to disappear—in an hour, Baxter."

      "Shall you drive the touring car, sir, or the new racer?"

      "I shall walk, Baxter, alone—in an hour."

CHAPTER III

       Table of Contents

       Which concerns itself with a hay-cart, and a belligerent Waggoner

      It was upon a certain August morning that George Bellew shook the dust of London from his feet, and, leaving Chance, or Destiny to direct him, followed a hap-hazard course, careless alike of how, or when, or where; sighing as often, and as heavily as he considered his heart-broken condition required—which was very often, and very heavily—yet heeding, for all that, the glory of the sun, and the stir and bustle of the streets about him.

      Thus it was that, being careless of his ultimate destination, Fortune condescended to take him under her wing, (if she has one), and guided his steps across the river, into the lovely land of Kent—that county of gentle hills, and broad, pleasant valleys, of winding streams and shady woods, of rich meadows and smiling pastures, of grassy lanes and fragrant hedgerows—that most delightful land which has been called, and very rightly, "The Garden of England."

      It was thus, as has been said, upon a fair August morning, that Bellew set out on what he termed "a walking tour." The reservation is necessary because Bellew's idea of a walking-tour is original, and quaint. He began very well, for Bellew—in the morning he walked very nearly five miles, and, in the afternoon, before he was discovered, he accomplished ten more on a hay-cart that happened to be going in his direction.

      He had swung himself up among the hay, unobserved by the somnolent driver, and had ridden thus an hour or more in that delicious state between waking, and sleeping, ere the waggoner discovered him, whereupon ensued the following colloquy:

      THE WAGGONER. (Indignantly) Hallo there! what might you be a doing of in my hay?

      BELLEW. (Drowsily) Enjoying myself immensely.

      THE WAGGONER. (Growling) Well, you get out o' that, and sharp about it.

      BELLEW. (Yawning) Not on your life! No sir—'not for Cadwallader and all his goats!'

      THE WAGGONER. You jest get down out o' my hay—now come!

      BELLEW. (Sleepily) Enough, good fellow—go to!—thy voice offends mine ear!

      THE WAGGONER. (Threateningly) Ear be blowed! If ye don't get down out o' my hay—I'll come an' throw ye out.

      BELLEW. (Drowsily) 'Twould be an act of wanton aggression that likes me not.

      THE WAGGONER. (Dubiously) Where be ye goin'?

      BELLEW. Wherever you like to take me; Thy way shall be my way, and—er—thy people—(Yawn) So drive on, my rustic Jehu, and Heaven's blessings prosper thee!

      Saying which, Bellew closed his eyes again, sighed plaintively, and once more composed himself to slumber.

      But to drive on, the Waggoner, very evidently, had no mind; instead, flinging the reins upon the backs of his horses, he climbed down from his seat, and spitting on his hands, clenched them into fists and shook them up at the yawning Bellew, one after the other.

      "It be enough," said he, "to raise the 'Old Adam' inside o' me to 'ave a tramper o' the roads a-snoring in my hay—but I ain't a-going to be called names, into the bargain. 'Rusty'—I may be, but I reckon I'm good enough for the likes o' you—so come on down!" and the Waggoner shook his fists again.

      He was a very square man, was this Waggoner, square of head, square of jaw, and square of body, with twinkling blue eyes, and a pleasant, good-natured face; but, just now, the eyes gleamed, and the face was set grimly, and, altogether, he looked a very ugly opponent.

      Therefore Bellew sighed again, stretched himself, and, very reluctantly, climbed СКАЧАТЬ