United States or Poland ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
T. X. himself was a busy man that day, and it was not until night was falling that he again turned to Beston Tracey to find a telegram waiting for him. He opened it and read, "Chauffeur's name, Goole. Formerly waiter English Club, Constantinople. Left for east by early train this morning, his mother being ill."
The letter was brief: "I must see you to-night without fail," ran the scrawl; "meet me at the crossroads between Beston Tracey and the Eastbourne Road. I shall be there at eleven o'clock, and, if you want to preserve your life, you had better bring me a substantial instalment." It was signed "Vassalaro." John read the letter aloud.
Beston having no occasion to make herself miserable is your true feeling on the subject, and therefore I am convinced that if I had 'adopted a different course, it would not have been to your advantage in any way, and it would certainly have been very much to the reverse of mine.
But no thought of books, or plots, or stories filled his troubled mind as he strode along the deserted road to Little Beston.
"Would you swear that you have not seen Vassalaro for a week?" "Certainly," smiled the Greek. "That you did not in fact see him last night," persisted T. X., "and interview him on the station platform at Lewes, that you did not after leaving him continue on your way to London and then turn your car and return to the neighbourhood of Beston Tracey?"
He stifled the temptation realizing that she would not consent to his going out if she knew the truth. "It is nothing very much," he said. "I have to go down to Beston Tracey to meet the last train. I am expecting some proofs down." He hated lying to her, and even an innocuous lie of this character was repugnant to him.
She talked to all the men at once, and they appeared to appreciate her sallies; but their own replies were vapid. She seemed to be the only one of the party with any wit. Mrs. Beston joined her. She was a little dark woman with a patient anxious face, and eyes that wandered incessantly till she discovered her husband with Mrs. Guthrie Brimston.
The next morning John Lexman was lodged in Lewes gaol on a charge of wilful murder. A telegram brought Mansus from London to Beston Tracey, and T. X. received him in the library. "I sent for you, Mansus, because I suffer from the illusion that you have more brains than most of the people in my department, and that's not saying much."
There he found Captain Belliot, Colonel Beston, and a few more of his particular friends, all discussing something in tones of righteous indignation. Mr. Price and Mr. St. John were there also. A mail had just arrived bringing the details of Edith's illness from Morningquest. Mr. St.
"I wish you good luck," he said, and took both Grace Lexman's hands in his. "One of these days," he said paternally, "I shall come down to Beston Tracey and your husband shall tell me another and a happier story." He paused at the door as he was going out and looking back caught the grateful eyes of Lexman. "By the way, Mr.
Word Of The Day