Part 11 (1/2)

Mrs. Bubb laughed, the strangest laugh ever heard from her respectable lips. Words were needless, and in a few seconds she panted before her friends downstairs.

”She says she's a-goin' to bed. Of all the s.h.i.+meless creatures! Called me every nime she could turn her tongue to! And wouldn't open her door not if the 'ouse was burning. Do you hear her?”

Mr. Gammon b.u.t.toned his coat from top to bottom, smoothed his moustache and his side-whiskers, and had the air of a man who is in readiness for stern duty.

”I want both of you to come up with me,” he said quietly.

Mrs. Clover began to look alarmed, even embarra.s.sed.

”But perhaps she's really gone to bed.”

”All right, she shall have time,” he nodded, laughing. ”I want both of you to come up to see fair play.”

”But, Mr. Gammon, I shouldn't like--”

”Mrs. Clover, you've come here to see Polly, and you've a right to see Polly, and by jorrocks you shall see Polly! Follow me upstairs. I've said all that need be said; now to business.”

They ascended; Gammon three steps at a stride, the others in a hurry and a flutter. Light streamed from the Cheesemans' room; the first-floor lodgers; incapable any longer of self-restraint, were out on the landing. On the next floor it was dark, but Mr. Gammon saw a gleam along the bottom of Polly's door. He knocked--the knock of a policeman armed with a warrant.

”Miss Sparkes!”

”Oh, it's you this time, is it? Come just to say good night? You needn't have put yourself out.”

”Miss Sparkes, are you in your proper dress?”

”What d'you mean?” Polly answered resentfully. ”You've been drinking again, I suppose.”

”Not at all, my dear. I asked you for a good and sufficient reason. I'm going to break your door open, that's all, and I wish to give you fair warning. Are you dressed or not?”

”Impudent wretch! What are you doing here? What business is it of yours?”

”I'm the only strong man handy, that's all. Paid for the job, being out of work just now.”

Mrs. Bubb t.i.ttered; Mrs. Cheeseman, down below, choked audibly.

”Will you answer that question or not? Very good; I give you till I've counted fifty, slow. When I say fifty, bang goes the bloomin' door.”

Amid an awful silence, enveloped, as it were, by the dull rumbling of vehicles without, Mr. Gammon's voice began counting. He expected to hear Polly's key turn in the lock, so did Mrs. Bubb and Mrs. Clover.

But the key moved not.

”Forty-eight--forty-nine--fifty!”

Gammon drew back to give himself impetus, and rushed against the door.

With raised foot he struck it just by the handle, and the house seemed to quiver. A second a.s.sault was successful; with crash and splintering the lock yielded, the door flew open. At the far side of the room stood Polly, but in no att.i.tude of surrender; she held a clothes brush, and as soon as the a.s.sailant showed himself flung it violently at his head.

Another missile would have followed, but Gammon was too quick; with a red Indian yell of victory he crossed the floor at one bound and had Polly in his arms.

”Look out, ladies!” he shouted. ”See fair play!”

Mrs. Bubb vented her emotions in ”Oh my!” and ”Did you ever!” with little screams of excitement verging on sheer laughter. It avenged her delightfully to see Miss Sparkes gripped by the waist and hoisted for removal. But Mrs. Clover was evidently possessed by very different feelings. Drawing back, as if in alarm or shame, a glow on each cheek, she uttered an involuntary cry of protest.