Part 10 (2/2)
”You are contesting Hythe?” said Melville.
”Fate points that way,” said Chatteris.
”They threaten a dissolution for September.”
”It will come in a month,” said Chatteris, with the inimitable tone of one who knows.
”In that case we shall soon be busy.”
”And _I_ may canva.s.s,” said the Sea Lady. ”I never have----”
”Miss Waters,” explained Chatteris, ”has been telling me she means to help us.” He met Melville's eye frankly.
”It's rough work, Miss Waters,” said Melville.
”I don't mind that. It's fun. And I want to help. I really do want to help--Mr. Chatteris.”
”You know, that's encouraging.”
”I could go around with you in my bath chair?”
”It would be a picnic,” said Chatteris.
”I mean to help anyhow,” said the Sea Lady.
”You know the case for the plaintiff?” asked Melville.
She looked at him.
”You've got your arguments?”
”I shall ask them to vote for Mr. Chatteris, and afterwards when I see them I shall remember them and smile and wave my hand. What else is there?”
”Nothing,” said Chatteris, and shut the lid on Melville. ”I wish I had an argument as good.”
”What sort of people are they here?” asked Melville. ”Isn't there a smuggling interest to conciliate?”
”I haven't asked that,” said Chatteris. ”Smuggling is over and past, you know. Forty years ago. It always has been forty years ago. They trotted out the last of the smugglers,--interesting old man, full of reminiscences,--when there was a count of the Saxon Sh.o.r.e. He remembered smuggling--forty years ago. Really, I doubt if there ever was any smuggling. The existing coast guard is a sacrifice to a vain superst.i.tion.”
”Why!” cried the Sea Lady. ”Only about five weeks ago I saw quite near here----”
She stopped abruptly and caught Melville's eye. He grasped her difficulty.
”In a paper?” he suggested.
”Yes, in a paper,” she said, seizing the rope he threw her.
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