Part 32 (1/2)
”There's somebody coming up the drive,” said Lottie, who was gazing indifferently out of the window.
A few minutes later the door was opened by the captain's butler, an elderly gentleman of benevolent appearance. A student of physiognomy would have put him down as a rather eccentric and easily-imposed-upon philanthropist. (He had made his living almost exclusively out of this fact for the past thirty years.)
”Young feller to see you, Cap,” he announced, having first satisfied himself that, saving the presence of the Princ.i.p.al Boy, his employer was alone.
”About the motor?”
”Yes.”
”Show him in.”
The butler retired, and presently returned, ushering a young man, squarely built and black of hair, with serious blue eyes and a healthy brown face.
”I came to see if you were still in want of a chauffeur, sir,” he said in reply to the captain's interrogation. ”I have been employed at the Gresley works.”
”I do want a chauffeur” replied the warrior on the hearthrug; ”but how am I to know that you will do, my man?”
”If you care to go and put any part of the machinery out of order, I will undertake to put it right again; and after that I could take you for a run in the car.”
This sounded direct and business-like, and pleased the captain, and, incidentally, the captain's daughter.
”Well, that's fair enough. Go and have something to eat now, and after that you can take Miss Lottingar and myself for a spin. By the way, what's your name?”
”John Armstrong--sir!” said Pip. (He was always forgetting that word.)
”Have you any references?”
”No.”
”Could you get any?”
”I might, but I'd rather not.”
The captain regarded this blunt young man curiously. He possessed no references himself, and he moved in a cla.s.s of society where such things were regarded with pious horror. Pip rather attracted him.
”Never mind them at present,” he said, ringing the bell. ”If you can handle the car you will suit me. If you can't, you are worth nothing, and you'll get nothing. Would you be willing to do odd jobs as well?”
”Certainly.”
The butler appeared.
”Howard,” said the captain, ”take this man and give him something to eat in the steward's room, and let me see him again at three o'clock.”
Mr. Howard, looking particularly benevolent, led Pip away, and Captain Lottingar was left alone with his daughter.
”He'll do, Lottie, I think,” he said carelessly.
”M' yes--he'll do,” said Lottie.
Her father turned round.