Part 9 (2/2)

This was an exaggeration. I am sometimes away from home for more than a week at a time and G.o.dfrey does not always complain about Crossan in his letters.

”Look here, Excellency,” said G.o.dfrey, ”it's far better for you to know what Crossan's doing. He's going about all over the country day after day. He's got a motor car.”

I can quite understand that Crossan's owning a motor car must have a very irritating effect on G.o.dfrey. I cannot afford to keep one. That any one else in the district over which I ought, according to G.o.dfrey's theory, to be a kind of king, should a.s.sume a grandeur impossible for me is simply an aggravated kind of insolence. No wonder that G.o.dfrey, with the honour of the family at heart, resented Crossan's motor car. I tried to soothe him.

”It's probably quite an inferior machine,” I said. ”It will break down soon.”

”It's not only that,” said G.o.dfrey, ”though I think Crossan ought to stay at home and mind his business. He must be neglecting things.

But--I wish you'd walk up to the store with me, Excellency. Crossan's away.”

”I'd much rather go when Crossan's at home,” I said; ”but, of course, if you won't leave me in peace until I do, I may as well go at once.”

I got my hat and walking stick. On the way up to the store G.o.dfrey preserved an air of mysterious importance. I had no objection whatever to his doing this; because he could not talk and look mysterious at the same time, and I particularly dislike being talked to by G.o.dfrey.

I expect he tried to be dignified with a view to impressing me, but just before we reached the store he broke down and babbled fatuously.

”Marion told me yesterday,” he said, ”that she'd had a letter from that fellow Power.”

”She told me that too,” I said.

”Well, I think you ought to put a stop to it. It's not right.”

”My dear G.o.dfrey,” I said, ”you appear to forget that he's one of the Powers of Kilfenora and private secretary to a millionaire.”

This twofold appeal to the highest and strongest feelings which G.o.dfrey possesses ought to have silenced him. He did, I think, feel the force of what I said. But he was not satisfied.

”If you knew all that was going on,” he said, ”you wouldn't like it.”

We reached the store. The young woman who controls the sale of miscellaneous goods was alert and smiling behind her counter. Whatever Crossan might be doing she at all events was attending to her business. G.o.dfrey took no notice of her. He led me through the shop to the yard behind it. He pushed open the door of one of the outhouses.

”That door ought to be locked,” he said.

This was true. I was somewhat surprised to find it open.

”I forced the lock this morning,” said G.o.dfrey, ”with a screw driver.”

”In that case,” I said, ”you can hardly blame Crossan for its being open. Why did you do it?”

”I wanted to see what he had inside,” said G.o.dfrey, ”and I wanted you to see.”

There was a good deal inside. In fact the outhouse, a large building, was filled from floor to ceiling with packing-cases, some of them very large indeed. G.o.dfrey pointed to a small one near the door.

”Just lift that up, will you, Excellency?” said G.o.dfrey.

”No, I won't. Why should I? I'm not a railway porter, and it looks heavy.”

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