Part 10 (1/2)
”If you are writing to the other you might give him my love,” said T.
X., ”and make most tender enquiries after his mother. I particularly ask this.”
Kara said nothing until the car was out of earshot then he lay back on the down cus.h.i.+ons and abandoned himself to a paroxysm of rage and blasphemy.
CHAPTER V
Six months later T. X. Meredith was laboriously tracing an elusive line which occurred on an ordnance map of Suss.e.x when the Chief Commissioner announced himself.
Sir George described T. X. as the most wholesome corrective a public official could have, and never missed an opportunity of meeting his subordinate (as he said) for this reason.
”What are you doing there?” he growled.
”The lesson this morning,” said T. X. without looking up, ”is maps.”
Sir George pa.s.sed behind his a.s.sistant and looked over his shoulder.
”That is a very old map you have got there,” he said.
”1876. It shows the course of a number of interesting little streams in this neighbourhood which have been lost sight of for one reason or the other by the gentleman who made the survey at a later period. I am perfectly sure that in one of these streams I shall find what I am seeking.”
”You haven't given up hope, then, in regard to Lexman?”
”I shall never give up hope,” said T. X., ”until I am dead, and possibly not then.”
”Let me see, what did he get--fifteen years!”
”Fifteen years,” repeated T. X., ”and a very fortunate man to escape with his life.”
Sir George walked to the window and stared out on to busy Whitehall.
”I am told you are quite friendly with Kara again.”
T. X. made a noise which might be taken to indicate his a.s.sent to the statement.
”I suppose you know that gentleman has made a very heroic attempt to get you fired,” he said.
”I shouldn't wonder,” said T. X. ”I made as heroic an attempt to get him hung, and one good turn deserves another. What did he do? See ministers and people?”
”He did,” said Sir George.
”He's a silly a.s.s,” responded T. X.
”I can understand all that”--the Chief Commissioner turned round--”but what I cannot understand is your apology to him.”
”There are so many things you don't understand, Sir George,” said T. X.
tartly, ”that I despair of ever cataloguing them.”