Gernham got up to go.
“One thing I promise you,” he said. “I’ll set at rest your doubts in a
very short time. I’ll find out for certain that Kersteven is treating
that dog properly. I devote my life to our dumb friends, as you know.
Well, they shan’t find me wanting now, though a man who has been my
chum and my colleague is concerned in this matter.”
“What are you going to do?”
“To-morrow I ought to be working with Kersteven. After to-day I didn’t
mean to go, I didn’t feel as if I could go. But now I will, and I’ll
see the spaniel and see him with Kersteven. Never fear!”
He spoke with biting decision. I looked at him and felt that he would
do what he said.
“Brush my suspicions away,” I said, “and I’ll be only too thankful.
Good-bye.”
He went off quickly.
When the door was shut behind him I thought how strange it was that
Gernham’s purpose in connection with Vernon was exactly the same as had
been Vernon’s in connection with Deeming when he left Rome for London.
He had wanted to see a black spaniel with Deeming. Gernham wanted to
see a black spaniel with him.
X
Just before lunch the next day Gernham was announced.
“Good morning,” he said, coming into the room close upon the heels of
my man. “Can I lunch with you?”
“Certainly. Lunch for two, Bates.”
“Yes, Sir.”
The man went out and shut the door. Then I turned to Gernham.
“You’ve been to Wimpole Street?” I asked.
“Yes. Do you remember I told you yesterday that Kersteven had taken my
punishment lying down?”
“Of course I do.”
“Well, since then he’s thought it over, and got up.”
“What do you mean?”
“Yesterday I declined to work with him. To-day, he’s declined to work
with me. He’s refused me admittance to his house. See that!”
He put a note down on the table beside me. I took it and read as
follows:
+Dear Gernham+—I don’t know whether you will come to-day; but
should you do so, I’ve told Cragg to give you this. I did not care
to quarrel with a man in my own house; and so yesterday, when
you were impertinent to me, I did not appear to resent it. As you
know, I admire your character and respect your enthusiasm, and it
has been a great pleasure to me to be associated with you in a
work which I love with my whole heart and soul. But I allow no man
to criticise my conduct as you have chosen to criticise it. I am
sorry, therefore, that unless you feel inclined to apologise, I
cannot admit you to my house.—Believe me, faithfully,
+Vernon Kersteven+.
“What do you think of that, eh?” asked Gernham, when I finished reading
the note. “Pretty blunt, isn’t it?”
“Vernon has decidedly got up,” I said.