按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
〃But I may not be here this afternoon。〃
〃Then we must choose another day。〃
〃But why not settle it now？〃
〃Because I prefer not；〃 said the Admiral shortly。
〃Very well。 But remember that my offer is only for to…day。 It is off
unless you take it at once。〃
〃Let it be off； then。
〃There's my fee；〃 cried the doctor。
〃How much？〃
〃A guinea。〃
The Admiral threw a pound and a shilling upon the table。 〃Come；
Westmacott；〃 said he； and they walked together from the room。
〃I don't like it；〃 said Charles； when they found themselves in the street
once more； 〃I don't profess to be a very sharp chap； but this is a trifle too
thin。 What did he want to go out and speak to the doctor for？ And how
very convenient this tale of a weak heart was！ I believe they are a couple
of rogues； and in league with each other。〃
〃A shark and a pilot fish；〃 said the Admiral。
〃I'll tell you what I propose； sir。 There's a lawyer named McAdam
who does my aunt's business。 He is a very honest fellow； and lives at the
91
… Page 92…
BEYOND THE CITY
other side of Poultry。 We'll go over to him together and have his opinion
about the whole matter。〃
〃How far is it to his place？〃
〃Oh； a mile at least。 We can have a cab。〃
〃A mile？ Then we shall see if there is any truth in what that swab of
a doctor said。 Come； my boy； and clap on all sail； and see who can stay
the longest。〃
Then the sober denizens of the heart of business London saw a
singular sight as they returned from their luncheons。 Down the roadway；
dodging among cabs and carts； ran a weather…stained elderly man； with
wide flapping black hat； and homely suit of tweeds。 With elbows braced
back； hands clenched near his armpits； and chest protruded； he scudded
along； while close at his heels lumbered a large…limbed； heavy； yellow
mustached young man； who seemed to feel the exercise a good deal more
than his senior。 On they dashed； helter…skelter； until they pulled up
panting at the office where the lawyer of the Westmacotts was to be found。
〃There now！〃 cried the Admiral in triumph。 〃What d'ye think of that？
Nothing wrong in the engine…room； eh？〃
〃You seem fit enough； sir。
〃Blessed if I believe the swab was a certificated doctor at all。 He was
flying false colors； or I am mistaken。〃
〃They keep the directories and registers in this eating…house；〃 said
Westmacott。 〃We'll go and look him out。〃
They did so； but the medical rolls contained no such name as that of
Dr。 Proudie； of Bread Street。
〃Pretty villainy this！〃 cried the Admiral； thumping his chest。 〃A
dummy doctor and a vamped up disease。 Well； we've tried the rogues；
Westmacott！ Let us see what we can do with your honest man。〃
92
… Page 93…
BEYOND THE CITY
CHAPTER XIV。
EASTWARD HO！
Mr。 McAdam； of the firm of McAdam and Squire； was a highly
polished man who dwelt behind a highly polished table in the neatest and
snuggest of offices。 He was white…haired and amiable； with a deep…lined
aquiline face； was addicted to low bows； and indeed； always seemed to
carry himself at half…cock； as though just descending into one； or just
recovering himself。 He wore a high…buckled stock； took snuff； and
adorned his conversation with little scraps from the classics。
〃My dear Sir；〃 said he； when he had listened to their story； 〃any friend
of Mrs。 Westmacott's is a friend of mine。 Try a pinch。 I wonder that
you should have gone to this man Metaxa。 His advertisement is enough
to condemn him。 Habet foenum in cornu。 They are all rogues。〃
〃The doctor was a rogue too。 I didn't like the look of him at the
time。〃
〃Arcades ambo。 But now we must see what we can do for you。 Of
course what Metaxa said was perfectly right。 The pension is in itself no
security at all； unless it were accompanied by a life assurance which
would be an income in itself。 It is no good whatever。〃
His clients' faces fell。
〃But there is the second alternative。 You might sell the pension right
out。 Speculative investors occasionally deal in such things。 I have one
client； a sporting man； who would be very likely to take it up if we could
agree upon terms。 Of course； I must follow Metaxa's example by
sending for a doctor。〃
For the second time was the Admiral punched and tapped and listened
to。 This time； however； there could be no question of the qualifications
of the doctor； a well…known Fellow of the College of Surgeons； and his
report was as favorable as the other's had been adverse。
〃He has the heart and chest of a man of forty；〃 said he。 〃I can
recommend his life as one of the best of his age that I have ever
examined。〃
93
… Page 94…
BEYOND THE CITY
〃That's well；〃 said Mr。 McAdam； making a note of the doctor's
remarks； while the Admiral disbursed a second guinea。 〃Your price； I
understand； is five thousand pounds。 I can communicate with Mr。
Elberry； my client； and let you know whether he cares to touch the matter。
Meanwhile you can leave your pension papers here； and I will give you a
receipt for them。〃
〃Very well。 I should like the money soon。〃
〃That is why I am retaining the papers。 If I can see Mr。 Elberry to…
day we may let you have a cheque to…morrow。 Try another pinch。 No？
Well； good…bye。 I am very happy to have been of service。〃 Mr。
McAdam bowed them out； for he was a very busy man； and they found
themselves in the street once more with lighter hearts than when they bad
left it。
〃Well； Westmacott； I am sure I am very much obliged to you；〃 said the
Admiral。 〃You have stood by me when I was the better for a little help；
for I'm clean out of my soundings among these city sharks。 But I've
something to do now which is more in my own line； and I need not trouble
you any more。〃
〃Oh； it is no trouble。 I have nothing to do。 I never have anything to
do。 I don't suppose I could do it if I had。 I should be delighted to come
with you； sir； if I can be of any use。〃
〃No； no； my lad。 You go home again。 It would be kind of you；
though； if you would look in at number one when you get back and tell my
wife that all's well with me； and that I'll be back in an hour or so。〃
〃All right； sir。 I'll tell her。〃 Westmacott raised his hat and strode
away to the westward； while the Admiral； after a hurried lunch； bent his
steps towards the east。
It was a long walk； but the old seaman swung along at a rousing pace；
leaving street after street behind him。 The great business places
dwindled down into commonplace shops and dwellings； which decreased
and became more stunted； even as the folk who filled them did； until he
was deep in the evil places of the eastern end。 It was a land of huge； dark
houses and of garish gin…shops； a land； too； where life moves irregularly
and where adventures are to be gainedas the Admiral was to learn to his
94
… Page 95…
BEYOND THE CITY
cost。
He was hurrying down one of the long； narrow； stone…flagged lanes
between the double lines of crouching； disheveled women and of dirty
children who sat on the hollowed steps of the houses； and basked in the
autumn sun。 At one side was a barrowman with a load of walnuts； and
beside the barrow a bedraggled woman with a black fringe and a
chequered shawl thrown over her head。