Part 23 (1/2)

”I think you're hardly fair to her,” he said.

”It's possible,” Millicent replied carelessly. ”Does it matter?”

”Well,” he broke out with some warmth, ”the girl hasn't such an easy time among you; and one can only respect her for the way she stands by her brother.”

”Have you anything to say in his favor?”

”It would be pretty difficult,” admitted Lisle. ”But you can't blame his sister for that.”

”I don't think I've shown any desire to do so,” she retorted.

Lisle knit his brows.

”You people are rather curious in your ideas. Now, here's a lonely girl who's pluckily trying to look after that senseless lad, and not a one of you can spare her a word of sympathy, because she doesn't run on the same stereotyped lines as you do. Can you help only the people who will conform?”

Millicent let this pa.s.s, and after an indifferent word or two she turned away. Before she reached home, however, she met Nasmyth.

”Why don't you keep Mr. Lisle out of those Marples' hands?” she asked him.

”In the first place, I'm not sure that I could do so; in the second, I don't see why I should try,” Nasmyth replied. ”On the whole, considering that he's a Western miner, I don't think he's running a serious risk.

Perhaps I might hint that Bella Crestwick's hardly likely to consider him as big enough game.”

”Don't be coa.r.s.e!” Millicent paused. ”But he spoke hotly in her defense.”

”After all,” responded Nasmyth, ”I shouldn't wonder if she deserves it; but it has no significance. You see, he's a rather chivalrous person.”

Millicent flashed a quick glance at him, but his face was expressionless.

”What did he say?” he asked.

”I don't remember exactly: he hinted that we were narrow-minded and uncharitable.”

Nasmyth laughed.

”I almost think there's some truth in it. I've seen you a little severe on those outside the fold.”

”A man's charity is apt to be influenced by a pretty face,” Millicent retorted.

”I'll admit it,” replied Nasmyth dryly. ”But I can't undertake to determine how far that fact has any bearing on this particular instance.”

Millicent talked about something else, but she was annoyed with herself when the question Nasmyth had raised once more obtruded itself on her attention during the evening.

On Wednesday Lisle walked over to Marple's house, because he had promised to go, though he would much rather have spent an hour or two with Nasmyth and Millicent in the latter's drawing-room. He had no opportunity for any private speech with Bella, but she flung him a grateful glance as he came in. He waited patiently and followed her brother here and there, but he could not secure a word with him alone.

Some time had pa.s.sed when, escaping from a group engaged in what struck him as particularly stupid badinage, he sauntered toward the billiard-room, struggling with a feeling of irritation. He was generally good-humored and tolerant rather than hypercritical, but the somewhat senseless hilarity of Marple's guests was beginning to jar on him. A burst of laughter which he thought had been provoked by one of Bella's sallies followed him down the corridor, but when he quietly opened the door the billiard-room was empty except for a group of three in one corner. He stopped just inside the threshold, glancing at them, and it was evident that they had not heard his approach.

Wreaths of cigar smoke drifted about the room; the light of the shaded lamps fell upon the men seated on a lounge, and their expressions and att.i.tudes were significant. Gladwyne leaned back languidly graceful; Batley, a burlier figure, was talking, his eyes fixed on Crestwick; and the lad sat upright, looking eager. Batley appeared to be discussing the principles of operating on the stock exchange.

”It's obvious,” he said, ”that there's very little to be made by waiting until any particular stock becomes a popular favorite--the premium equalizes the profit and sometimes does away with it. The essential thing is to take hold at the beginning, when the shares are more or less in disfavor and can be picked up cheap.”

Lisle stood still--he was in the shadow--watching the lad, who now showed signs of uncertainty.