The Essential W. Somerset Maugham Collection. W. Somerset Maugham

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      'Why?' asked Dick, on his guard.

      'We're all so dreadfully tired of being goddesses. For centuries foolish men have set us up on a pedestal and vowed they were unworthy to touch the hem of our garments. And it _is_ so dull.'

      'What a clever woman you are, Mrs. Crowley. You always say what you don't mean.'

      'You're really very rude.'

      'Now that impropriety is out of fashion, rudeness is the only short cut to a reputation for wit.'

      Canon Spratte did not like Dick. He thought he talked too much. It was fortunately easy to change the conversation.

      'Unlike Mr. Lomas, I thoroughly enjoy a dance,' he said, turning to Lady Kelsey. 'My tastes are ingenuous, and I can only hope you've enjoyed your evening as much as your guests.'

      'I?' cried Lady Kelsey. 'I've been suffering agonies.' They all knew to what she referred, and the remark gave Boulger an opportunity to speak to Dick Lomas.

      'I suppose you saw the _Mail_ this morning?' he asked.

      'I never read the papers except in August,' answered Dick drily.

      'When there's nothing in them?' asked Mrs. Crowley.

      'Pardon me, I am an eager student of the sea-serpent and of the giant gooseberry.'

      'I should like to kick that man,' said Bobbie, indignantly.

      Dick smiled.

      'My dear chap, Alec is a hardy Scot and bigger than you; I really shouldn't advise you to try.'

      'Of course you've heard all about this business?' said Canon Spratte.

      'I've only just arrived from Paris. I knew nothing of it till Lady Kelsey told me.'

      'What do you think?'

      'I don't think at all; I _know_ there's not a word of truth in it. Since Alec arrived at Mombassa, he's been acclaimed by everyone, private and public, who had any right to an opinion. Of course it couldn't last. There was bound to be a reaction.'

      'Do you know anything of this man Macinnery?' asked Boulger.

      'It so happens that I do. Alec found him half starving at Mombassa, and took him solely out of charity. But he was a worthless rascal and had to be sent back.'

      'He seems to me to give ample proof for every word he says,' retorted Bobbie.

      Dick shrugged his shoulders scornfully.

      'As I've already explained to Lady Kelsey, whenever an explorer comes home there's someone to tell nasty stories about him. People forget that kid gloves are not much use in a tropical forest, and they grow very indignant when they hear that a man has used a little brute force to make himself respected.'

      'All that's beside the point,' said Boulger, impatiently. 'MacKenzie sent poor George into a confounded trap to save his own dirty skin.'

      'Poor Lucy!' moaned Lady Kelsey. 'First her father died....'

      'You're not going to count that as an overwhelming misfortune?' Dick interrupted. 'We were unanimous in describing that gentleman's demise as an uncommon happy release.'

      'I was engaged to dine with him this evening,' said Bobbie, pursuing his own bitter reflections. 'I wired to say I had a headache and couldn't come.'

      'What will he think if he sees you here?' cried Lady Kelsey.

      'He can think what he likes.'

      Canon Spratte felt that it was needful now to put in the decisive word which he always expected from himself. He rubbed his hands blandly.

      'In this matter I must say I agree entirely with our friend Bobbie. I read the letter with the utmost care, and I could see no loophole of escape. Until Mr. MacKenzie gives a definite answer I can hardly help looking upon him as nothing less than a murderer. In these things I feel that one should have the courage of one's opinions. I saw him in Piccadilly this evening, and I cut him dead. Nothing will induce me to shake hands with a man on whom rests so serious an accusation.'

      'I hope to goodness he doesn't come,' said Lady Kelsey.

      Canon Spratte looked at his watch and gave her a reassuring smile.

      'I think you may feel quite safe. It's really growing very late.'

      'You say that Lucy doesn't know anything about this?' asked Dick.

      'No,' said Lady Kelsey. 'I wanted to give her this evening's enjoyment unalloyed.'

      Dick shrugged his shoulders again. He did not understand how Lady Kelsey expected no suggestion to reach Lucy of a matter which seemed a common topic of conversation. The pause which followed Lady Kelsey's words was not broken when Lucy herself appeared. She was accompanied by a spruce young man, to whom she turned with a smile.

      'I thought we should find your partner here.'

      He went to Grace Vizard, and claiming her for the dance that was about to begin, took her away. Lucy went up to Lady Kelsey and leaned over the chair in which she sat.

      'Are you growing very tired, my aunt?' she asked kindly.

      'I can rest myself till supper time. I don't think anyone else will come now.'

      'Have you forgotten Mr. MacKenzie?'

      Lady Kelsey looked up quickly, but did not reply. Lucy put her hand gently on her aunt's shoulder.

      'My dear, it was charming of you to hide the paper from me this morning. But it wasn't very wise.'

      'Did you see that letter?' cried Lady Kelsey. 'I so wanted you not to till to-morrow.'

      'Mr. MacKenzie very rightly thought I should know at once what was said about him and my brother. He sent me the paper himself this evening.'

      'Did he write to you?' asked Dick.

      'No, he merely scribbled on a card: _I think you should read this_.'

      No one answered. Lucy turned and faced them; her cheeks were pale, but she was very calm. She looked gravely at Robert Boulger, waiting for him to say what she knew was in his mind, so that she might express at once her utter disbelief in the charges that were brought against Alec. But he did not speak, and she was obliged to utter her defiant words without provocation.

      'He thought it unnecessary to assure me that he hadn't betrayed the trust I put in him.'

      'Do you mean to say the letter left any doubt in your mind?' said Boulger.

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