Part 26 (2/2)

The constable came and stood over the head end of the sufferer, who was now leaning on one arm.

”Do you want to prosecute this gentleman?” asked the constable.

”Nichevo,” murmured the other. ”No. Brandee.”

”Thought so,” said Jones. Then he walked away towards the entrance with the constable.

”My address is Carlton House Terrace,” said he. ”When you get that chap on his pins you can tell him to come there and I'll give him another dose. Here's a sovereign for you.”

”Thanks, your Lords.h.i.+p,” said the guardian of the Peace, ”you landed him fine, I will say. I didn't see the beginning of the sc.r.a.p, but I saw the knock out--you won't have any more bother with him.”

”I don't think so,” said Jones.

He was elated, jubilant, a weight seemed lifted from his mind, all his evil humour had vanished. The feel of those whiskers and the resisting jaw was still with him, he had got one good blow in at circ.u.mstance and the world. He could have sung. He was coming out of the station when someone ran up from behind.

It was Venetia. Venetia, delirious and jabbering.

”Teresa is in the car--You have done it now--you have done it now. What _made_ you do this awful thing? Are you mad? Here in the open station--before everyone--you have h-h-heaped this last disgrace on us--on _me_.”

”Oh, shut up,” said Jones.

He sighted the car, ran to it and opened the door. A whimpering bundle in the corner stretched out hands as if to ward him off.

”Oh! oh! oh!” sighed and murmured the bundle.

Jones caught one of the hands, leaned in and kissed it. Then he turned to Venetia who had followed him.

”Get in,” he said.

She got in. He got in after her and closed the door. Venetia put her head out of the window:

”Home,” cried she to the chauffeur.

Jones said nothing till they had cleared the station precincts. Then he began to talk in the darkness, addressing his remarks to both women in a weird sort of monologue.

”All this is nothing,” said he, ”you must both forget it. When you hear what I have to tell you to-morrow you won't bother to remember all this.

No one that counts saw that, they were all strangers and making for the cars--I gave the officer a sovereign. What I have to say is this--I must have a meeting of the whole family to-morrow, to-morrow morning. Not about this affair, about something else, something entirely to do with me. I have been trying to explain all day--tried to write it out but couldn't. I have to tell you something that will simply knock you all out of time.”

Suddenly the sniffing bundle in the corner became articulate.

”I didn't want to do it, I didn't want to do it--I hate him--oh, Ju-Ju, if you had not treated me so last night, I would never have done it, never, never, never.”

”I know,” he replied, ”but it was not my fault leaving you like that. I had to go. You will know everything to-morrow--when you hear all you will very likely never speak to me again--though I am innocent enough, Lord knows.”

Then came Venetia's voice:

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