Part 20 (2/2)
”We might drop Belinda,” he suggested turning to his friend and speaking in low, confidential tones. ”She is quite a manageable person. Quite.
She could--for example--be left behind with the luggage and sent on by train. I do not know if you realize how the land lies in that quarter.
It needs only a word to Miss Grammont.”
There was no immediate reply. For a moment he had a wild hope that his companion would agree, and then he perceived that the doctor's silence meant only the preparation of an ultimatum.
”I object to Miss Grammont and that side of the thing, more than I do to Miss Seyffert.”
Sir Richmond said nothing.
”It may help you to see this affair from a slightly different angle if I tell you that twice today Miss Seyffert has asked me if you were a married man.”
”And of course you told her I was.”
”On the second occasion.”
Sir Richmond smiled again.
”Frankly,” said the doctor, ”this adventure is altogether uncongenial to me. It is the sort of thing that has never happened in my life. This highway coupling--”
”Don't you think,” said Sir Richmond, ”that you are attaching rather too much--what shall I say--romantic?--flirtatious?--meaning to this affair?
I don't mind that after my rather lavish confessions you should consider me a rather overs.e.xed person, but isn't your att.i.tude rather unfair,--unjust, indeed, and almost insulting, to this Miss Grammont?
After all, she's a young lady of very good social position indeed.
She doesn't strike you--does she?--as an undignified or helpless human being. Her manners suggest a person of considerable self-control. And knowing less of me than you do, she probably regards me as almost as safe as--a maiden aunt say. I'm twice her age. We are a party of four.
There are conventions, there are considerations.... Aren't you really, my dear Martineau, overdoing all this side of this very pleasant little enlargement of our interests.”
”AM I?” said Dr. Martineau and brought a scrutinizing eye to bear on Sir Richmond's face.
”I want to go on talking to Miss Grammont for a day or so,” Sir Richmond admitted.
”Then I shall prefer to leave your party.”
There were some moments of silence.
”I am really very sorry to find myself in this dilemma,” said Sir Richmond with a note of genuine regret in his voice.
”It is not a dilemma,” said Dr. Martineau, with a corresponding loss of asperity. ”I grant you we discover we differ upon a question of taste and convenience. But before I suggested this trip, I had intended to spend a little time with my old friend Sir Kenelm Latter at Bournemouth.
Nothing simpler than to go to him now....”
”I shall be sorry all the same.”
”I could have wished,” said the doctor, ”that these ladies had happened a little later....”
The matter was settled. Nothing more of a practical nature remained to be said. But neither gentleman wished to break off with a harsh and bare decision.
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