Part 38 (1/2)

shops,” Mr. Bundercombe replied.

”Where are you spending most of your time?” I asked, determined to take the bull by the horns.

Mr. Bundercombe set down his gla.s.s.

”I've been expecting this,” he remarked pleasantly. ”Eve's been setting you on to pump me, eh?”

I nodded.

”That's exactly it,” I admitted. ”We are due to be married in ten days. We are neither of us anxious for anything in the way of an unfortunate incident.”

Mr. Bundercombe appeared to view with surprise the advent of a second tumbler. He reconciled himself to its arrival, however, and handed money to the attendant.

”I realize the position entirely, my dear fellow,” he a.s.sured me. ”I am glad you have opened the subject up. I have been bursting to tell you all about it; but I have hesitated for fear of being misunderstood.”

I glanced at his nails.

”Of course,” I observed slowly, ”the position of an elderly gentleman with a marriageable daughter and a wife,” I went on bravely, ”who finances a young lady interested in manicuring in an establishment in Bond Street is liable to misinterpretation.”

Mr. Bundercombe was a little taken aback. He hid his face for a moment behind the newly arrived tumbler.

”Kind of observant, aren't you?” he remarked.

”I saw you in Bond Street this morning,” I told him, ”you and a paper parcel. You were entering the establishment, I believe, of Mademoiselle Blanche, whoever she is.”

”Small place, London!” Mr. Bundercombe sighed. ”Were you--er--alone?”

”I was with Eve,” I replied; ”but she did not see you and I did not mention the matter.”

”My boy,” Mr. Bundercombe decided, ”I shall take you wholly into my confidence. I am engaged in a big affair!” My heart sank.

”I can only pray to Heaven,” I said fervently, ”that the denouement of this affair will not take place within the next ten days.”

”On the contrary,” Mr. Bundercombe answered, leaning back in his chair and looking at me, with the flat of one hand laid on the table and the palm of the other on his left knee, ”on the contrary,” he repeated, ”the denouement is due to-morrow.”

”Glad you didn't consider us,” I observed gloomily.

Mr. Bundercombe smiled.

”I find myself in this last affair,” he remarked airily, ”occupying what I must confess, for me, is a somewhat peculiar position. I am on the side of the established authorities. I am in the cast-iron position of the man who falls into line with the law of the land. In other words, you behold in me, so far as regards this affair, respectability and rect.i.tude personified. I may even choose to give our friend Mr. Cullen a leg up.”

I was relieved to hear it and told him so.

”I presume,” I said, ”that Mademoiselle Blanche, of Bond Street, is identical with the young lady who talked to us at Stephano's the other night?”

”Say, you're becoming perfectly wonderful at the art of deduction!” my future father-in-law declared. ”Same person!”

”She seems quite attractive,” I admitted, ”with a taste for pink roses, I think.”

Mr. Bundercombe appeared to regard my remark as frivolous. He moved his chair, however, and brought it closer to mine.