"I am afraid I hadn't thought about it from that point of view," she
replied. "In any case, you can make your mind quite easy, Mr.
Dryden. I have swum over twenty miles in the sea before now, so I
don't suppose I am likely to get into trouble bathing off a beach."
She glanced at the slim gold watch which she was wearing on her
wrist. "Why, it's past four o'clock," she exclaimed, with sudden
consternation. "I had no idea it was as late as that."
She rose quickly to her feet, and I at once followed her example.
"Christine," I said, "you're not going like this? Last time you
rushed away before we could make any arrangements, and I can't leave
things in the same impossible state again."
She stood hesitating, the very picture of troubled indecision.
"I don't know what to say," she answered. "I have done wrong in
seeing you to-day. I only came because--well, because you didn't
give me much choice in the matter, did you?"
Once more I took her two hands in mine.
"I hadn't any choice myself," I said. "It's all very well for me to
make promises, but how can you expect me to keep them? I love you so
much that----"
"Oh, don't, don't," she broke in pitifully. "You mustn't say that
sort of thing. I am trying to help you; I want to be your friend if
I can; but----"
"Forgive me, Christine," I pleaded. "It just slipped out before I
could stop it." I paused for a moment to gaze hungrily into her
wide-open, tear-stained eyes. "Only for God's sake let me see you
again before long. I don't know what I shall do unless I can look
forward to that."
"Very well," she said, almost inaudibly. "If it's possible I will
write to you or send you a message."
"Do you know a boy called Jimmy who is always hanging round the
quay?" I asked her. "A little curly-haired kid of about eleven, with
blue eyes and a dirty face?"
She nodded.
"Well, he's by way of being rather a particular friend of mine. If
you just scribble a line and give it to him, he'll bring it over to
the island immediately."
She nodded again, and made a movement as if to release her hands.
"You must say good-bye--please, Mr. Dryden. I oughtn't to have
stayed as long as this."
I had intended to play the game to the end, but there are times when
all the good resolutions in the world are perfectly useless. A
sudden feeling that I was about to lose her swept over me with
overwhelming force, and then, almost before I knew what was
happening, I had drawn her close into my arms, and was pressing a
passionate kiss upon her soft and slightly parted lips.
"Christine, Christine," I whispered hoarsely. "I've loved you from
the first moment that you came on board the _Neptune_."
I felt her body tremble all over as I kissed her again, fiercely and
recklessly. Then with a choking sob she pushed me away from her,
and, freeing herself from my arms, turned blindly towards the door.
I remained motionless where I was, a mingled sensation of remorse and
triumph rioting wildly through my heart. I was sorry and ashamed for
what I had done, but even my self-reproaches could not alter the
glowing conviction of Christine's love which had come to me as our
lips met. It was a revelation so intoxicating that for several
seconds I stood there like a man in a trance, the faint fragrance of
her hair still lingering deliciously in my memory.
At last, with a big effort, I managed to shake off the spell, and,
walking back to the mantelpiece, lighted myself a cigarette. The
question uppermost in my mind was what I should do next. From every
point of view it seemed advisable to allow a few minutes to elapse
before attempting to leave the shop. It was quite on the cards that
someone who knew Christine might have seen her come out, and to
emerge myself a moment later would be simply to invite trouble.
Besides, there was the old lady downstairs to be considered. She was
probably under the impression that we had had a quarrel, in which
case she would doubtless relate the circumstances to any of her
friends and neighbours who happened to drop in for an afternoon
gossip. I had to find some way of lulling her suspicions, and I felt
that I could hardly begin better than by making my own exit in as
leisurely and cheerful a fashion as possible.
So I finished my cigarette without any attempt at hurrying, and then,
leaving the canary to brood over his ghastly splendour, I descended
the staircase and pushed open the side door which led into the shop.
The proprietress was engaged in serving out some sweets to a youthful
customer, but by the time I had passed through into the outer
department this piece of business was successfully transacted.
"I should like to square up accounts," I said; and, taking out two
half-crowns, I laid them down on the counter.
The good woman pushed one of them back towards me.
"It won't be as much as that, sir," she replied. "One shilling's our
charge, unless the party has eggs."
"And very cheap too," I said, pocketing the rejected coin. "I am
only sorry my friend had to run away so soon, but unfortunately she
had an appointment at four o'clock."
I was rewarded by a glance of sympathy. "Dear me, that was a pity,
sir. I hope you both enjoyed your tea?"
"I did for one," I said truthfully. "In fact, it was quite the best
shilling's worth I have ever had in my life."
With a gratified smile she handed me my sixpence change, and, feeling
that I had left exactly the impression I desired, I walked to the
door, and stepped out into the street.
I was in no immediate hurry to get home, and, apart from that, there
was the chance that if I started at once I might overtake Christine
on her way back to Pen Mill. Attractive as this prospect was, I had
a regrettable conviction that it would be altogether against her
wishes, so, strolling across the road, I entered the open door of the
White Hart Hotel, where in bygone days Bobby and I had been
accustomed to refresh our war-worn energies with occasional bouts of
snooker.
I found a marker in attendance, a little rabbity-faced man with an
unpleasant habit of potting the black from every conceivable angle.
He beat me handsomely in both the games we played, and, having paid
tribute to his skill in the shape of a large tankard of beer, I set
out in a chastened mood on my return journey.
It must have been close on six o'clock by the time I reached the
harbour. For once in a way there was no sign of Jimmy, so, going up
to where my boat was moored, I began to unfasten the painter. I was
engaged on this task when he suddenly appeared from the back door of
the inn, and came hurrying up the jetty wiping his mouth on his
sleeve.
"Sorry I weren't 'ere, guv'nor," he began. "I'd just gorn inside to
'ave me tea."
As though in proof of this assertion, he gulped down what seemed to
be a large portion of the interrupted banquet.
"Quite right," I said. "One can't do really good work without plenty
of nourishment." I handed him his usual retaining fee, and stepped
down into the boat. "I have got a little job for you, Jimmy," I
added. "I suppose you're the sort of boy who can keep his mouth
shut?"
A reassuring nod was the prompt answer.
"Do you know Miss de Roda by sight?" I asked him. "The young lady
who has come to live at 'The Laurels'?"
There was a brief pause.
"Wot, 'er with the pretty faice?" he enquired.
"That's the one," I said. "Well, some day she may give you a note
for me. If she does, will you bring it over to the island at once?"
He nodded again. "You'll get it all right, guv'nor; you can trust me
for that."
"And don't talk about it to anybody, will you, Jimmy?" I added. "Not
even to your own pals?"
"Not me," he said stoutly. "There ain't no one who can keep a secret
better'n wot I can."
There was a ring of pride in his voice which inspired confidence,
and, under the comforting impression that I had established a
reliable line of communication, I pulled off down the creek.
When I got back to the house I found a letter for me lying on the
hall table. As I picked it up the green baize door which led down to
the pantry opened quietly, and Bascomb came in with a plate basket on
his arm.
"The postman brought that letter this afternoon, sir. 'E 'ad to call
about some registration papers 'e wanted filled in."
I turned the envelope over, and saw the name of Wilmot and Drayton
stamped on the flap.
"How about this evening?" I asked him. "Have you managed to get us a
decent meal?"
He nodded ungraciously. "I reckon it's good enough--considerin' the
party wot's expected. I'm just settin' about laying the table now."
"Well, let me know when the doctor arrives," I said. "I am going
upstairs to change, and I don't want him wandering round the house by
himself."
"I'll see to that, sir," was Bascomb's grim answer, and without
another word he resumed his interrupted progress towards the
dining-room.
On reaching my own apartment, I sat down on the bed and opened Mr.
Drayton's letter. It was not typed, but written in his own
handwriting, and bore the previous day's date.
"MY DEAR DRYDEN,--If you can tear yourself away from the numerous
attractions of Greensea Island, I should be glad to see your
cheery countenance in town one day this week. There are several
fresh papers I want you to sign, and one or two details in
connection with the estate which it would be more convenient to
talk over than to write about.
"I hope that you have found things fairly comfortable, and that
Bascomb and the dog have proved themselves to be entertaining
companions.
"I saw our mutual friend, Inspector Campbell, yesterday. He
enquired affectionately after you, and was particularly anxious
to know how you were getting on. I fancy he is still a little
piqued--professionally--over his failure to discover anything
with reference to your late uncle. At all events he seems to be
under the impression that there is something remarkably
mysterious with regard to the whole affair, and that sooner or
later fresh developments are bound to crop up. Let us hope that
they will take the pleasant shape of a bundle of missing
securities.
"Ring me up as soon as you get to town, and we will fix something
in the way of lunch or dinner.
"Yours sincerely,
"GEORGE DRAYTON."
Laying this genial missive down on the dressing-table, I began slowly
to change my clothes.
I had no objection to a run up to town the next day; indeed, on the
whole, the prospect distinctly appealed to me. I should be glad to
see Mr. Drayton again and find out how my affairs were progressing,
while, after a week on the island, I was quite ready for a little
mild dissipation in the shape of a good dinner or a theatre.
I promised myself, too, that I would take the opportunity of looking
up Inspector Campbell, who had given me his address the day we
lunched at the Holborn. From the moment of my first introduction to
him I had felt a curious confidence in this big, shrewd,
slow-speaking Scotsman, and I derived no little comfort from the
knowledge that he was still taking a friendly interest in my welfare.
There was one special matter in which his help might prove to be
invaluable. He was just the sort of man who would probably be able
to unearth a lot of interesting facts with regard to the past career
of Dr. Manning, and if I could only persuade him to undertake the job
without any inconvenient questions, my journey to town would
certainly not be wasted.
Meditating in this fashion, I proceeded to array myself in a
loose-fitting suit of tweeds, which was the style of evening dress I
usually patronised on the island.
I was on the point of completing my toilet when the front door bell
rang loudly, and, after a short interval, I heard Bascomb ascending
the stairs.
As he advanced along the passage I opened my door.
"'E's come," observed my retainer, jerking his thumb towards the
banisters.
"And what have you done with him?" I enquired.
"Left 'im in the 'all," was the answer. "'E's sittin' there nice and
comf'table--long o' Satan."