Part 32 (1/2)
”You had better go and see her at once. Have you any explanation to offer?”
”None; it must be a trick. See for yourself how her opening sentence starts in this story: there is a dignity about each word; the style is beautiful. Compare it with this.” As Franks spoke he pointed to a paragraph of the _Argonaut_ and a paragraph in poor Florence's essay. ”I will rush off at once and see if I can find her,” he said; ”she must have sent this to pay me out. She did not want to write; I did not think she would be so disobliging.”
”Offer her bigger terms to send us a paper to-morrow. We must overlook this very shabby trick she has played on us.”
”Of course, the thing could not possibly be printed,” said Franks. ”I will go and see her.”
He s.n.a.t.c.hed up his hat, hailed a hansom, and drove straight to Prince's Mansions, and arrived there just as Florence was going out. She turned pale when she saw him. One glance at his face made her fear the worst.
He had found her out. She leant up against the lintel of the door.
”What is it?” she said.
He glanced at her, and said, in a gruff voice: ”Come up to my sister's room. I must speak to you.”
They went upstairs together. As soon as they entered the room, Florence turned and faced Franks.
”You--of course you won't use it?”
”No; how can I use it? It is stuff; it is worse: it is nursery nonsense.
Why did you send it to me? I did not think that you would play me such a trick.”
”I told you I could only write fiction.”
”Nonsense, nonsense! I might have expected something poor compared to your fiction; but at least you did know the Queen's English: you did know how to spell. You have behaved very badly, and it is only because the governor and I feel certain that this is a trick that we put up with it. Come, have we not offered you enough? I will pay you a little more, but another essay I must have, and in twenty-four hours from the present time.”
”And suppose I refuse?”
”In that case, Miss Aylmer, I shall be driven to conclude that your talent was but fict.i.tious, and that--”
”That I am a humbug?” said Florence. A look came into her eyes which he could not quite fathom. It was a hungry look. They lit up for a moment, then faded, then an expression of resolve crept round her lips.
”I will write something,” she said; ”but give me two days instead of one.”
”What do you mean by two days?”
”I cannot let you have it to-morrow evening; you shall have it the evening after. It shall be good; it shall be my best. Give me time.”
”That's right,” he said, grasping her hand. ”Upon my word you gave me a horrid fright. Don't play that sort of trick again, that's all. We are to have that article, then, in two days?”
”Yes, yes.”
He left her. The moment he had done so Florence s.n.a.t.c.hed up the paper which he had brought back, tore it into a hundred fragments, thrust the fragments into the fire, and rushed downstairs. She herself was desperate now. She went to the nearest telegraph-office and sent the following message to Bertha Keys:--
”Expect me at Aylmer's Court to-morrow at ten. Must see you. You can manage so that my aunt does not know.”
CHAPTER x.x.x.
THE TELEGRAM.
The Sharstons and Sir John Wallis were enjoying themselves very much at Aylmer's Court. Mrs. Aylmer exerted herself to be specially agreeable.