The Green Overcoat . Hilaire Belloc
Чтение книги онлайн.
Читать онлайн книгу The Green Overcoat - Hilaire Belloc страница 4
Название: The Green Overcoat
Автор: Hilaire Belloc
Издательство: Bookwire
Жанр: Языкознание
isbn: 4064066383534
isbn:
He had upon him thirty shillings in gold, it was a sovereign and half sovereign, in the right-hand waistcoat pocket of his evening clothes, and he thought he also had in the right-hand trousers pocket a few loose shillings and coppers. It was a great deal to sacrifice. For all he knew, it was compounding a felony; but he would risk that. He would think of it as a rather high hotel bill—and he would be free! He nodded his gagged head, mooed cheerfully, and looked acquiescent with his eyes.
"That 's right!" said Jimmy, greatly relieved (for in his heart he had never dared hope for so easy a solution). "That 's right!" and he sighed contentedly. "That 's right," he repeated for the third time. "We are really very sorry, sir! But it 'll seem all right afterwards. When you have kept your side of the bargain we shall certainly keep ours." He said it courteously. "All we want is the money, and when we have the money and you are free, why, sir, I hope you will not grudge us what we have done."
So it was all going to end happily after all? The Professor almost felt himself at liberty again, hurrying home through the night—hurrying anywhere at his free will, loosed from that accursed place, when Jimmy added—
"Of course, you will have to sign the letter?"
CHAPTER II.
In which a Philosopher wrestles with the Problem of Identity.
The Professor was in deeper water than ever. He had been called some name or other at the beginning of this conversation. What name he could not remember. What the friendlier of the two beasts meant by "a letter" he could not conceive until Jimmy, continuing, partly enlightened him.
"You will have to sign the brief note we have drafted here to accompany your payment. It 's obvious."
Professor Higginson dimly guessed that he was wanted to safeguard them in some way against the consequences of his kidnapping. … Well, he had made up his mind, and he would not depart from it. He nodded again cheerfully enough, and his eyes were as acquiescent as ever.
Jimmy leaned forward, and in set tones of some gravity, said formally—
We understand, this gentleman and I, that you acknowledge the payment due to us, and if we take off the—er—the impediment which we were compelled to put over your mouth, you will act up to your promise and you will pay us?"
For the third time the Professor nodded vigorously.
"And you will sign the note?"
He nodded even more vigorously once again.
"Very well," said Jimmy in the tone of a great arbitrator who has managed to settle matters without unpleasantness. "Melba, be good enough to untie your aunt's shawl, which for the moment prevents this gentleman from performing his promise by word of mouth."
Melba did as he was bid, jerking—as Mr. Higginson thought—the knot in the fabric rather ungently. He treasured it up against him.
The shawl was off, Melba was seated again, and Professor Higginson breathed the night air untainted by the savour of an ancient human garment, and an aunt's at that.
"I need not repeat all I have just been saying," said Jimmy, "but you must confirm it before we go further."
"I do," said the Professor, with a curiously successful affectation of cheerfulness for so untrained an actor. "Yes, certainly, gentlemen, I confirm it."
There was, if anything, a little precipitancy in his manner, as though he were eager to pay, as he most certainly was to get rid of those ropes round his arms and legs.
There was another thing bothering the Pragmatist. The Green Overcoat, which still wrapped him all about, was being woefully delayed. If the delay lasted much longer the owner might miss it … and then, the tight cords at its elbows were doing it no good. They might actually be marking it. The thought made Professor Higginson very uncomfortable indeed. He had no idea whose it was, but it certainly belonged to someone of importance. … He wished he had never seen it.
He was not to be the last to wish that, but Hell is a hard taskmaster and the Professor was caught.
"We think," said Jimmy a little pompously, "at least, I think——" (after glancing at Melba).
"I don't," said Melba.
The Professor was caught
"Well, I think," continued Jimmy, "and I think we ought to think, that you are doing the right thing, and, well, I like to tell you so."
The relations between Jimmy and his prisoner were getting almost cordial. He pushed the table so that that prisoner, when he was untied, should be able to write upon it. He put before him a type-written sheet of note-paper, an envelope, an ink-bottle, and a pen, which, with the exception of the benches on which he and his companion sat, the table and the chair, were all the furniture the place contained.
"And now, sir," added Jimmy, going behind the Psychologist and releasing his elbows, "now, sir" (here he wound the rope round the Professor's waist, secured it, and left his legs still tied to the chair rungs), "now, sir, perhaps we can come to business!"
Poor Mr. Higginson had never been so cramped in his life. He was far from young. The circulation in his lower arms had almost stopped. He brought them forward painfully and slowly and composed them upon the table, then his right hand slowly sought his waistcoat pocket, where reposed the sovereign and half-sovereign of his ransom.
"Of course," he began, intending to explain the smallness of the sum, for he could not but feel that it was very little gold for so considerable a circumstance of paper formalities and violence, "of course——" when Jimmy interrupted him.
"I need not tell you the sum," said that youth rather coldly.
"Oh, no," twittered Melba, "he knows that well enough!" Then added, "G-r-r-r!" as in anger at a dog.
"Well—er—gentlemen, I confess"—began Mr. Higginson, hesitating.
"To be frank," said Jimmy rather sharply, "we all three know the sum perfectly well, and you perhaps, sir, with your business habits and your really peculiar ideas upon honour, best of all. It 's two thousand pounds," he concluded calmly.
"Two thousand pounds?" shrieked the Professor.
"What did you expect?" broke in Melba an octave higher. "A bonus and a presentation gold watch?"
"Two thousand pounds!" repeated the bewildered Philosopher in a gasping undertone.
"Yes," rapped out Jimmy smartly, "two thousand pounds! … Really! After all that has passed——"
"But," shouted the Professor wildly, saying the first words that came to him, "I haven't got such a sum in the world. I—I don't know what you mean?"
Jimmy's СКАЧАТЬ