Part 60 (1/2)
BY ORDER.
”Now what,” said Mrs. Trapes, refolding the circular very reverently and shutting it into the testament, ”jest what d'ye think o' that?”
”Quite a--er--remarkable doc.u.ment, Mrs. Trapes!”
”Remarkable?” snorted Mrs. Trapes.
”Yes,” said Ravenslee, beginning to fill his pipe, ”extraordinary, most extraordinary--er--very much so--”
”Extraordinary? Mr. Geoffrey, is that all you got t' say about it?” And Mrs. Trapes sniffed loudly.
”Well, what more should I say?”
”Why, ain't it th' wonder o' th' whole round world? Ain't it th'
merrycle of all time?”
”Certainly! Not a doubt of it!” he agreed. ”By the way, what do you happen to have for supper? You see I've been--”
”Supper?”
”I'm quite hungry--I'm always hungry lately and--”
”Hungry!” e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Mrs. Trapes, rolling her eyes, ”here I tell him of wonders an' omens beyond pore huming understanding an'--he's hungry!
Lord, ain't that jest like a man! A man's soul, if a man has a soul, lays in his stummick. Hungry! But you shall be fed--prompt, Mr.
Geoffrey. How'll b'iled salmon an' peas soot?”
”Splendidly! And I think--”
”'On and after,'” said Mrs. Trapes, slowly and dreamily, ”'on and after the above date, all tenants soever residin'--I've learned it by heart, Mr. Geoffrey. Then it goes on to say, 'within the tennyment house known as Mulligan's are warned'--hum! I wonder why 'warned'?--'are warned that all rents will be re-dooced by fifty per cent!' Fifty per cent!” she repeated in a dreamy rapture, ”which is jest half, y' see. An', Mr.
Geoffrey, that's jest what's got me plumb scared--it's all so unnacheral. I've heard o' rents bein' rose--constant, but who ever heard of 'em bein' took down before? Well, well! My land! Well, well!”
With which remark Mrs. Trapes went about her household duties, leaving Ravenslee to lounge and smoke and dream blissfully of Hermione.
”Y' see,” said Mrs. Trapes, wandering in with a plate, ”it'll make things s' much easier for all of us; we shall begin t' feel almost rich--some of us. 'Are warned that all rents will be re-dooced by fifty per cent.' Well, well!” and she wandered out again.
But presently she was back once more, this time with the tablecloth, which she proceeded to spread, though still lost in dreamy abstraction.
”At first I couldn't an' I wouldn't believe it, Mr. Geoffrey--no, sir!”
she continued in the same rapt voice. ”But every one's got a notice same as mine, so I guess it must be true--don't ye think?”
”Not a doubt of it!” answered Ravenslee.
”But th' burnin' question as I asks myself is--who? It's signed 'By Order', y' see, well--whose? One sure thing, it ain't Mulligan.”
”But he owns the place, doesn't he?”
”He did, Mr. Geoffrey, an' that's what worries me--continual. What I demands is--who now?”