Part 58 (2/2)

”Richard,” murmured Mrs. Marsden, in a still tremulous voice. ”I'm sorry I said it.”

”All right. That's enough.... But now, if you please, we men will talk;”

and he looked from one to another. The veins showed redly on his forehead; his glistening jaw was protruded; and he squared his huge shoulders pugnaciously. ”I tell you, once for all, I'm not going to stand any d.a.m.ned rot. As to the sale--Mr. Clever Bence,--I repudiate it utterly. It was obtained under false pretences, and I'll have it set aside. As to the separation--I'm speaking to you, Prentice,--that bargain falls through with the other.... And to show you what I think of it--I am now going to tear up the deed.”

”Oh no, you're not,” said Collins.

”I warn you all,” said Marsden furiously: ”if anyone touches me, he'll be sorry for it. Now, Prentice, fetch out your deed again. You shoved it away in that safe, didn't you? Well, out with it.” And he moved to the side of Mr. Prentice, and stood over him threateningly. ”Out with it--d'you hear?”

Bence and Collins had both begun to clap their hands loudly. And with this noisy applause other sounds were mingling. Mr. Prentice, as he rose to confront Marsden, heard quick footsteps in the pa.s.sage. The door was abruptly opened, and two policemen came into the room.

”This way, officers,” said Collins pompously. ”You are just in time to prevent a breach of the peace. There's your man--keep your eyes on him.”

Marsden, turning hurriedly, saw the two uniforms and helmets solemnly advance, and showed a craven dissatisfaction at the sight.

”What are you up to now?” he asked glumly.

But Collins, ignoring the question, continued to talk pompously to the new arrivals.

”As I told your superintendent, he is a dangerous character. He has been threatening us with a.s.sault and battery--but we do not wish to give him in charge, if we can help it. Your presence will probably be sufficient to restrain him.”

”Very good, sir.”

”He is the same man who made the disturbance at the Red Cow--and I think he has been charged once or twice as a drunk and disorderly.”

”You needn't introduce him so carefully,” said Bence, with a sn.i.g.g.e.r.

”Mr. Marsden is already well known to the police.”

”Yes, Mr. Bence,” said one of the policemen, ”_we_ know the gent.”

”Very well,” continued Collins, with the air of a magistrate presiding over a crowded court. ”He is leaving the town to-night--forever,--and I shall ask for a constable to see him off. From the mayor down to the humblest citizen, Mallingbridge is tired of him--so he is going to the western states of America. He will be more at home among the desperados of some mining camp than he can be in a peaceful hum-drum town like this.” And Mr. Collins turned to Marsden, as though haranguing the prisoner. ”Now, sir, will you behave yourself, and let us finish our conversation quietly and decently?”

”Oh, you can finish your chin-music in any tune you like.” Marsden growled this out; but the voice was heavy and dejected, altogether lacking in animation. Very obviously the arrival of the police had crushed his spirit.

”So be it,” said Collins. ”Then I think, officers, that will do. You may safely leave us for the moment. But please wait outside the door, to protect us if necessary.”

”Yes,” said Bence, ”we'll give you the same signal, if you're wanted again.”

”All right, Mr. Bence.”

And the policemen left the room. To their eyes the famous Mr. Bence was the natural chieftain of any a.s.semblage, no matter how pompously anybody else talked. Here, they were at his service, detailed for Bence's just as much as if it had been a sale day and they and their mates were regulating the traffic in front of the shop.

”Now,” said Collins, with a change of manner, and speaking in a conciliatory if argumentative tone, ”we can pick up our little debate.

Mr. Marsden, come now, after all, what is this fuss about?”

Marsden laughed; but his laughter was dull and spiritless.

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