Part 8 (1/2)
POLLYOOLY IS CALLED IN
On his way back to the King's Bench Walk the Honourable John Ruffin pondered this matter of salary and came to the conclusion that five pounds would not be too high a fee for the d.u.c.h.ess to pay for skilled work of this kind. He must remember to tell Eglantine to tell her to give Pollyooly that sum.
Pollyooly was rather earlier than he had expected: at five and twenty minutes to five he heard her latchkey in the lock of his outer door, and when it opened he called to her to come to him.
She entered leading the Lump. His red hair was a rather brighter red than the hair of Pollyooly; but his eyes were of the same deep blue and his clear skin of the same paleness. They would have made a charming picture of Cupid led by an angel child.
”Ah, Pollyooly!” said the Honourable John Ruffin cheerfully. ”You are about to realise the truth of those immortal lines:
”Oh, what a tangled web we weave When first we practice to deceive!”
”Please, sir, I haven't been deceiving any one,” said Pollyooly, knitting her brow in a faint anxiety.
”Not recently, perhaps. But you have deceived. You deceived the Duke of Osterley by taking the place of his daughter.”
”Oh, him?” said Pollyooly in a very care-free tone; and her face grew serene.
”You don't seem to feel it much,” said the Honourable John Ruffin sadly. ”But now you are called on to deceive lawyers and detectives.”
”Am I to be Lady Marion again?” said Pollyooly quickly.
”You are, indeed,” said the Honourable John Ruffin.
”And shall I be paid again for doing it?”
Her angel face flushed, and her blue eyes danced.
”Certainly you will be paid. I am going to tell Eglantine, the d.u.c.h.ess's maid, to see to it. She's coming for you, and you haven't any time to lose. She's going to take you down to Devons.h.i.+re by the train which leaves Paddington at six,” said the Honourable John Ruffin.
”Then I'd better take the Lump round to Mrs. Brown at once,” said Pollyooly; and her eyes sparkled and danced.
”You had,” said the Honourable John Ruffin. ”It's only for a couple of nights at the outside, tell her.”
”And that's quite as long as I like to leave him,” she said in a tone of complete satisfaction; and she ran briskly up-stairs to their attic for the Lump's sleeping-suit.
She was not long taking him to Mrs. Brown, who lived in the little slum, the last remnant of Alsatia, behind the King's Bench Walk; and she welcomed him warmly. Pollyooly and he had lodged with her before they had gone to live in the King's Bench Walk, and Mrs. Brown had grown very fond of him. She had taken charge of him during the time Pollyooly had spent at Ricksborough Court and was delighted to have him with her again. Also she was disengaged for the next two days and was able to take charge of the housekeeping at number 75 the King's Bench Walk during Pollyooly's absence.
Pollyooly had not been gone five minutes, when there came a gentle knocking at the door of the Honourable John Ruffin's chambers. He opened it to find Eglantine, a pretty, dark, slim girl of twenty-two, standing on the doormat, carrying a small kitbag and wearing an air of deepest mystery.
”You're Mademoiselle Eglantine, I suppose?” he said.
”Ye--es. And you are Monsieur Ruffin,” she whispered with an air of utter secrecy. ”Ze d.u.c.h.ess she 'av been 'ere?”
”She has. Come on in. Pollyooly is making preparations to go with you,” said the Honourable John Ruffin briskly. ”She'll be here in a few minutes.”
He stepped aside for her to pa.s.s. She looked back down the staircase carefully and with the greatest caution; then she entered and went on tiptoe, noiselessly, down the pa.s.sage into the sitting-room. There could be no doubt that she was thoroughly enjoying the part of a conspirator and resolved to play it to the limit.
The Honourable John Ruffin was the last man in the world to spoil her simple pleasure, and as they came into the sitting-room he suddenly gripped her arm.
Eglantine jumped and squeaked.