Part 66 (1/2)
”You're a long way ahead of that, I fancy,” Lenox remarked, with an odd change of tone.
For a statement of that kind Richardson had no answer. He could only acknowledge it with a rueful smile that did not lift the shadow from his eyes. There were no sunbeams caught in Quita's 'bits of sea water'
just then; and for a while silence and tobacco-smoke reigned in the room. Richardson, who appeared to be reading the closely written sheet of foolscap at his elbow, was casting about in his mind for the best means of saying that which must be said; while Lenox, watching him keenly, arrived at the masculine conclusion that d.i.c.k had 'come a cropper' over something, and possibly needed his help.
”Anything on your mind, old chap?” he asked bluntly, when the silence had lasted nearly five minutes. And Richardson, taking his resolution in both hands, looked up from the meaningless page.
”Yes, that's about it. Don't misunderstand me, Lenox. I'd sooner work with you than with any man in creation; but--there are difficulties . . . I can't put it plainer--and I'm thinking of applying for a Staff appointment. My uncle in the Secretariat would give me a helping hand, if you'd forward the thing with a decent recommendation. But if you think me too much of a duffer for Staff work, I must try--for an exchange----”
He could get no further; and Lenox, leaning across the corner of the table, scrutinised his face with eyes that penetrated like a searchlight.
”Well . . . I'm d.a.m.ned!” he said slowly. ”Am I to understand that after all we've pulled through together, you want to get away from the Battery at any price?”
”It's not a question of what I want to do; it's what I've got to do,”
the other answered, averting his eyes.
”My good d.i.c.k, you're talking in riddles. Have you taken temporary leave of your senses? Or is it a case of 'urgent private affairs'?”
Lenox's tone had an edge to it. Of course the man was free to go where he chose. But it had grown to be an understood thing between them that they would work together as long as might be, and he could not conceal his disappointment. Richardson knew this, and looked up quickly. It was the worst quarter of an hour he had ever known. Facing Waziri bullets was a small matter compared with this despicable business of disappointing and deceiving his friend.
”It's urgent enough, G.o.d knows!” he answered desperately. ”I can't say more than that, Lenox. I swear I can't.”
He looked straight at Lenox in speaking. And this time the older man's gaze held him, in spite of himself, till the blood burned under his fair skin; till he perceived, between shame and relief, that his secret was his no longer; that Lenox had seen, and understood. His first instinct was--to escape. Such knowledge shared was enough to strike any man dumb.
”You _will_ recommend me, won't you, old chap?” he asked all in a breath, with a forward movement, as if to rise and depart.
But Lenox reached across the table, and a heavy hand on his shoulder pressed him back into his seat.
”No need to hurry away, Max. We've settled nothing yet.”
The a.s.surance of unshaken friends.h.i.+p in his altered manner, and in the sudden use of Richardson's first name, automatically readjusted the situation, without need of so much as a glance of mutual understanding, which neither could have endured.
”I'm afraid I can't recommend you for Staff work,” Lenox went on quietly, as though dealing with a mere official detail, submitted for his approval. ”Not because you are a duffer, but because I can't spare my right-hand man. I'm not an easy chap to work with, as you know.
But we've learnt one another's ways by now, and, unless political work claims me, we can't do better than run the Battery together till you get a command--and that's not far off now. As for your urgent need of a change, if six months at home would suit you, I'll do my best to square it. We might manage sick-leave, on the strength of your leg, eh?”
Richardson breathed deeply.
”Thank you, Lenox. It's splendid of you. I'd be awfully glad of the change.”
”That's all right. And I tell you what, d.i.c.k,” he paused, and smiled upon his friend. ”Hope I'm not taking an infernal liberty! But if you can afford it--and if you can hit on the right girl--you might do worse than bring a wife back with you. You're the sort that's bound to marry some time, and you may take my word for it, thirty's a better age to start than thirty-five.”
Richardson laughed, and coloured again, hotly.
”It takes two to make that sort of start,” he said, ”And if a fellow hits on the wrong one, it must be the very devil.”
”Yes, by Jove, it must!” Lenox answered feelingly; adding in his own mind that even with the right one, it could be the very devil, now and again. ”Think of poor Norton. But you'll have better luck, I hope.
About stopping on for the present, of course you must please yourself.
You'd be very welcome; and if you're afraid of taking up too much of my wife's time, you can easily give me more of your company than you have done so far. See how you feel about it to-morrow.”