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Updated: June 8, 2025
A ribald voice from the other side of the road, addressing his companion as "Mother Kybird," told her not to hug the man, and a small boy whom they met loudly asseverated his firm intention of going straight off to tell Mr. Kybird. By the time they reached the house Mr. Hardy entertained views on homicide which would have appeared impossible to him half an hour before.
"I 'ave 'eard it's a matter o' thirty pounds or thereabouts." Mr. Nathan Smith rose, and his eyes were almost expressive. He nodded good-night to the ladies and crossed to the door. Mrs. Kybird suddenly seized him by the coat and held him. "Don't be in a 'urry, Nat," she pleaded. "We ain't all as clever as you are." "Talk about looking a gift-'orse in the mouth " began the indignant Mr. Smith.
I've run across him once or twice before. He's almost as bashful and retiring as you are." Hardy grunted. "If the captain isn't in London, where is he?" he inquired. The other shook his head. "I've got an idea," he replied, "but I want to make sure. Kybird and Smith are old friends, as Nugent might have known, only he was always too high and mighty to take any interest in his inferiors.
"I shall get it sooner or later," said Mr. Kybird. "That stuck-up father of 'is 'll be in a fine way at 'im living here. That's wot I'm thinking of." "I don't see why," said Mrs. Kybird, bridling. "Who's Captain Nugent, I should like to know? We're as good as what 'e is, if not better. And as for the gell, if she'd got 'all Amelia's looks she'd do." "'Melia's a fine-looking gal," assented Mr.
"She can get home alone all right," he whispered. Miss Nugent drew herself up disdainfully; Dr. Murchison, looking scandalized at his brusqueness, hastened to the rescue. "As a medical man," he said, with a considerable appearance of gravity, "I don't think that Mrs. Kybird ought to go home alone." "Think not?" inquired Hardy, grimly. "Certain of it," breathed the doctor.
There was a prolonged silence. Dr. Murchison gave a whimsical glance at Miss Nugent, and meeting no response in that lady's indignant eyes, stroked his moustache and awaited events. "It looks as though your brother is not coming," said Hardy to Miss Nugent. "He'll turn up by-and-by," interposed Mrs. Kybird, looking somewhat morosely at the company.
Still, as far as money goes, young Nugent 'll be all right." "'Ow?" inquired his wife. Mr. Kybird hesitated and took a sip of his gin and water. Then he regarded the wife of his bosom with a calculating glance which at once excited that lady's easily kindled wrath. "You know I never tell secrets," she cried. "Not often," corrected Mr. Kybird, "but then I don't often tell you any.
"Suppose 'e managed to get enough strength to alter 'is will?" Mr. Kybird shivered. "It takes time to get married, though," he objected. "Yes," said Mr. Smith, ironically, "it does. Get round young Teddy, and then put the banns up. Take your time about it, and be sure and let Mr. Swann know. D'ye think 'e wouldn't understand wot it meant, and spoil it, to say nothing of Teddy seeing through it?
"I didn't expect to lose by it," said the boarding-master, pointedly. "Come over and 'ave a glass at the Chequers, Dan, and then you can go along and see Teddy." The summer evening was well advanced when Mr. Kybird and his old friend parted.
Two or three times he thought he saw signs of appreciation in his listener's face, but the mouth under the heavy moustache was firm and the eyes steady. Only when he related Swann's interview with Nathan Smith and Kybird did the captain's features relax. He gave a chuckling cough and, feeling for his handkerchief, blew his nose violently.
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