Part 31 (1/2)

”I wish you a pleasant journey, Mrs. Bundercombe,” I said, raising my hat.

”I suppose I shall find Eve in?”

”No doubt you will!” she snapped.

I glanced at the depressed young woman.

”I am taking a temporary secretary with me,” Mrs. Bundercombe explained.

”Recent reports of my speeches in this country have been so unsatisfactory that I have lost confidence in the Press. I am taking an experienced shorthand-writer with me, who will furnish the various journals with a verbatim report of what I say.”

”Much more satisfactory, I am sure,” I agreed, edging toward the house. ”I wish you a successful meeting, Mrs. Bundercombe. You mustn't miss your train!”

”And I trust,” Mrs. Bundercombe concluded, as she turned to enter the cab, ”that if you accompany Eve in her shopping expeditions to-day, or during my absence, you will not encourage her in any fresh extravagances.”

I made my way into the house and entered the morning room as the cab drove off. Mr. Bundercombe and Eve were waltzing. Mr. Bundercombe paused at my entrance and wiped his forehead. He was very hot.

”A little ebullition of feeling, my dear Paul,” he explained, ”on seeing you. You met Mrs. Bundercombe? You have heard the news?”

”I gathered,” I remarked, ”that Mrs. Bundercombe's sense of duty is taking her to Leeds.”

Mr. Bundercombe breathed a resigned sigh.

”We shall be alone,” he announced, with ill-concealed jubilation, ”if we have any luck at all, for three days! One never knows, though! I propose that we celebrate to-night, unless,” he added, with a sudden gloom, ”you two want to go off and dine somewhere alone.”

”Not likely!” I a.s.sured him quickly.

”Daddy!” Eve exclaimed reproachfully.

Mr. Bundercombe cheered up.

”Then, if you're both agreeable,” he proposed, ”let us go and pay Luigi a visit. I have rather a fancy to show him a reestablished Mr. Bundercombe.

You know, I sometimes think,” he went on, ”that Luigi was beginning to regard me with suspicion!”

”There isn't any doubt about it,” I observed dryly.

”We will dine there to-night,” Mr. Bundercombe decided, ”that is, if you two are willing.”

I hesitated for a moment. Eve was looking at me for my decision.

”I really see no reason why we shouldn't go there,” I said. ”I have to take Eve to some rather dull relatives for luncheon, and I suppose we shall be shopping afterward. It will brighten up the day.”

”We will give Luigi no intimation of our coming,” Mr. Bundercombe suggested with relish. ”We shall be in no hurry; so we can order our dinner when we arrive there. At eight o'clock?”

”At eight o'clock!” I agreed.

”More presents, Paul!” Eve informed me, taking my arm. ”Come along and help me unpack! Isn't it fun?”

Luigi's reception of us that night was most gratifying. He escorted us to the best table in the place, from which he ruthlessly seized the mystic label that kept it from the onslaughts of less privileged guests. He congratulated me upon my parliamentary honors and my engagement in the same breath.

It was perfectly clear to me that Luigi knew all about us. He addressed Mr. Bundercombe with an air of deep respect in which was visible, too, an air of relieved apprehension. He took our order himself, with the aid of an a.s.sistant _maitre d'hotel_, at whom Mr. Bundercombe glanced with some surprise.

”Where is Louis?” he inquired.

”Gone--left!” Luigi answered.