Part 41 (1/2)

”If you do get on to the stage,” he said, ”and it's anything worth seeing, and you send me an order, and I can find the time, maybe I'll come and see you.”

I thanked him for his promised support and jumped upon the tram.

The O'Kelly's address was in Belsize Square. I was about to ring and knock, as requested by a highly-polished bra.s.s plate, when I became aware of pieces of small coal falling about me on the doorstep. Looking up, I perceived the O'Kelly leaning out of an attic window. From signs I gathered I was to retire from the doorstep and wait. In a few minutes the door opened and his hand beckoned me to enter.

”Walk quietly,” he whispered; and on tip-toe we climbed up to the attic from where had fallen the coal. ”I've been waiting for ye,” explained the O'Kelly, speaking low. ”Me wife--a good woman, Paul; sure, a better woman never lived; ye'll like her when ye know her, later on--she might not care about ye're calling. She'd want to know where I met ye, and--ye understand? Besides,” added the O'Kelly, ”we can smoke up here;” and seating himself where he could keep an eye upon the door, near to a small cupboard out of which he produced a pipe still alight, the O'Kelly prepared himself to listen.

I told him briefly the reason of my visit.

”It was my fault, Paul,” he was good enough to say; ”my fault entirely.

Between ourselves, it was a d.a.m.ned silly idea, that party, the whole thing altogether. Don't ye think so?”

I replied that I was naturally prejudiced against it myself.

”Most unfortunate for me,” continued the O'Kelly; ”I know that. Me cabman took me to Hammersmith instead of Hampstead; said I told him Hammersmith. Didn't get home here till three o'clock in the morning.

Most unfortunate--under the circ.u.mstances.”

I could quite imagine it.

”But I'm glad ye've come,” said the O'Kelly. ”I had a notion ye did something foolish that evening, but I couldn't remember precisely what.

It's been worrying me.”

”It's been worrying me also, I can a.s.sure you,” I told him; and I gave him an account of my Wednesday evening's experience.

”I'll go round to-morrow morning,” he said, ”and see one or two people.

It's not a bad idea, that of Jarman's. I think I may be able to arrange something for ye.”

He fixed a time for me to call again upon him the next day, when Mrs.

O'Kelly would be away from home. He instructed me to walk quietly up and down on the opposite side of the road with my eye on the attic window, and not to come across unless he waved a handkerchief.

Rising to go, I thanked him for his kindness. ”Don't put it that way, me dear Paul,” he answered. ”If I don't get ye out of this sc.r.a.pe I shall never forgive meself. If we d.a.m.ned silly fools don't help one another,”

he added, with his pleasant laugh, ”who is to help us?”

We crept downstairs as we had crept up. As we reached the first floor, the drawing-room door suddenly opened.

”William!” cried a sharp voice.

”Me dear,” answered the O'Kelly, s.n.a.t.c.hing his pipe from his mouth and thrusting it, still alight, into his trousers pocket. I made the rest of the descent by myself, and slipping out, closed the door behind me as noiselessly as possible.

Again I did not return to Nelson Square until the early hours, and the next morning did not venture out until I had heard Miss Sellars, who appeared to be in a bad temper, leave the house. Then running to the top of the kitchen stairs, I called for Mrs. Peedles. I told her I was going to leave her, and, judging the truth to be the simplest explanation, I told her the reason why.

”My dear,” said Mrs. Peedles, ”I am only too glad to hear it. It wasn't for me to interfere, but I couldn't help seeing you were making a fool of yourself. I only hope you'll get clear off, and you may depend upon me to do all I can to help you.”

”You don't think I'm acting dishonourably, do you, Mrs. Peedles?” I asked.

”My dear,” replied Mrs. Peedles, ”it's a difficult world to live in--leastways, that's been my experience of it.”

I had just completed my packing--it had not taken me long--when I heard upon the stairs the heavy panting that always announced to me the up-coming of Mrs. Peedles. She entered with a bundle of old ma.n.u.scripts under her arm, torn and tumbled booklets of various shapes and sizes.

These she plumped down upon the rickety table, and herself upon the nearest chair.