Part 30 (1/2)
I'm going to send Lambert on to kill him for me.”
Kate looked at Morton with inquiring eye--he shook his head.
Britt resumed: ”I am trusting in you, Serviss. If I could be sure of living two weeks longer I would stay and help, but money and breath are now vital to me, and I must go. However, I'm perfectly willing to put Clarke out of the way if you advise it. He really ought to die, Mrs. Rice,” he gravely explained as he rose to go. ”He is a male vampire. To think of him despoiling that glorious young soul maddens me. I am the son of a coa.r.s.e, powerful, sensual, drunken father; but he neglected to endow me with his brutal health. My mother was an invalid; therefore, here am I, old and worn out at forty--that's why I wors.h.i.+p youth and beauty. Health is the only heaven I know, and that is denied me.” Here his smile died, his eyes softened, and his face set in impenetrable gravity. ”Had I the power I would keep Viola Lambert forever young and forever virgin.” Then, with a quick return to his familiar drawl: ”But I am going away without even killing Clarke, to plod my little round in Colorow and wait news from you. If I do not see you again, Mrs. Rice, keep me in mind. I make the same promise your husband made--I will 'manifest' to you if I can.”
”I would rather you came in the flesh,” she replied.
He bowed deeply. ”I thank you both for a very satisfying glimpse of a civilised home.”
”Sometimes I think we're over-civilized,” she replied, quickly. ”But come and see us again.”
”I fear it will be as a spook--they laugh at microbes as well as locks. However, I promise to rap when I call.”
”Thank you, that will make you a most considerate ghost.”
When they were alone together Kate said, with a sigh: ”What an amount of sin and sickness and trouble and death there is in the world!”
”That's a sign we're getting on,” he replied. ”When we're young we laugh at the falling leaves--they are only a sign of some new sport.
When I'm as old as you are I suppose I'll begin to observe all the bald-heads at the theatre.”
”Well, now, for our dinner-party. I must write to Mrs. Lambert to-night.”
”You'd better take second thought about this matter--'Reckless Kate.'”
”I have.”
”Take a third. Consider this--the girl may go into a trance at the table.”
”Oh, if she only would! My fear is she'll be like other amateur performers--'subject to a cold' or something. These gifted people are so often disappointing.”
”Now, see here, Kit, seriously, if you invite Miss Lambert to our house it must be as any other charming guest--”
”You didn't suppose I was _really_ going to ask her to spookle?” she indignantly answered; then added, with a smile: ”Of course, if she _insists_ on reading my palm--or--any little thing like that, it wouldn't be nice to refuse, would it?”
”I knew it! You have designs upon her. Don't do it. It would be too gross after your protest against others for using her. She herself complained bitterly of just this treatment. You must not even speak of her powers.”
She lifted her hand solemnly. ”_I swear!_”
”I mistrust you even when you swear,” he ended, doubtfully. ”There's a tell-tale gleam in your eyes.”
And at this moment of banter they both lost their sense of the girl's imminent peril and thought of her only as a most entertaining possibility as a guest.
XII
VIOLA IN DINNER-DRESS
Viola glowed with joy over Kate's invitation to dinner, and, flying to the telephone (as she was requested to do), accepted without consulting either her mother or Clarke, and fell immediately into wonder whether she possessed a gown becoming enough to fit the golden opportunity.
Mrs. Lambert was also pleased, but at once said, ”I hope Tony will feel like going.”