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肩書を与える: The 行方不明の Angel
Author: Erle Cox
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The 行方不明の Angel

by

Erle Cox

RGL e-調書をとる／予約する Cover 2018^ｩ

To MOLL, KATH and HAROLD

Published by Robertson & Mullens, Melbourne, 1947

This e-調書をとる／予約する 版: 事業／計画（する） Gutenberg Australia, 2018

"The 行方不明の Angel," Robertson & Mullens, Melbourne, 1939

"My Lords, there was an island of 別れの（言葉，会）,
Whence parted those things real from those
that only seemed to be."

All characters in this story, except that of Nicholas 上級の, are fictitious.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

From the "Australian Writers Series," The Australasian, Melbourne, 3 June 1939.

Portrait sketch of Erle Cox, ca. 1939.

THE 指名する of Erle Cox is 井戸／弁護士席 known to readers of The Australasian, by 推論する／理由 of his 週刊誌 調書をとる／予約する review, and is also familiar to a wide public through the medium of his own 調書をとる／予約するs, 特に "Out of the Silence," which has 持続するd— and is 持続するing—a 安定した sale over a period of 20 years or so, something unusual in these days of 集まり 生産／産物 and short lives in novels.

He needs, therefore, little introduction to you as a 指名する, but here he is as a personality, looking, in the opinion of Esther Paterson, who here 描写するs him, somewhat like John Galsworthy facially, though any resemblance does not 延長する to the 最高の，を越す of the 長，率いる—Mr. Cox's 存在 covered with a vigorous growth of hair.

He was born in Melbourne, and on leaving school went on to the land as a vine grower at Rutherglen, on the Victorian 味方する of the Murray. But though there producing the "subtle alchemist," he was also developing his own 力／強力にするs of alchemy, transmuting the 淡褐色 of daily experience into 詩（を作る） and story. For 令状ing was in his 血. His paternal grand father, who was an 公式の／役人 with the Astoria Co., a fur-貿易（する）ing 競争相手 to the Hudson Bay Company, wrote a 調書をとる／予約する on the Columbia River, which was published in 1831. And his father, Boss Cox, was also a 井戸／弁護士席-known writer in Melbourne.

So during the 10 years he was vine growing at Rutherglen he wrote, and continued doing so when he went into 商売／仕事 in Tasmania later. His short stories first 設立する 出版（物） in the 孤独な 手渡す, and from then on he wrote stories and 詩（を作る） for さまざまな papers in Australia, beginning to 令状 "Oriel" 詩（を作る） for The Argus in 1918, に引き続いて attention attracted to his 詩（を作る） when he won a 競争 for an Anzac 記念の poem. He continued to 令状 "Oriel" 詩（を作る）s 週刊誌 for more than 18 years.

Out of the Silence, Erle Cox's first imaginative novel, was written over a long period during the years between 1913 and 1918. It appeared as a serial in The Argus in 1919, and was published in 調書をとる／予約する form in 1924, having had a 安定した sale ever since.

Fool's 収穫, striking a 警告 公式文書，認める to Australia in an imagined 侵略 by the Cambasians, also first appeared as a serial in The Argus. It was first published in 調書をとる／予約する form 早期に this year.

Now Erle Cox has another novel 近づくing 完成, again an imaginative story, with the probable 肩書を与える of The 行方不明の Angel.

Erle Cox 令状s by 手渡す and with a pen. He cannot concentrate on work until he is 現実に sitting at his desk with a pen in his 手渡す—but having got so far, he 収容する／認めるs he 現実に enjoys the physical work of 令状ing. And since his readers enjoy the results, it would appear a good 明言する／公表する of 事件／事情／状勢s for all 関心d.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER I

To-know all is to 許す all. So, therefore, if you would 非難 Tydvil Jones because of what happened when he made the 試みる／企てる to 再度捕まえる his lost 青年, you should know why and how he lost his 青年.

A biographical introduction to a story is always boring, but I cannot help that. You must know how Tydvil was brought up or it will be impossible to understand him. When you know he began life with a 障害（者） that not one man in a million could carry to the winning 地位，任命する you will recognise that he might have been much worse than he was.

To begin with Tydvil was an only child. His father was middle- 老年の when Tydvil arrived, and was a man 深く，強烈に 吸収するd in his 商売／仕事. His mother was a woman of アイロンをかける will and an ultra pious disposition. That she 主張するd on calling her son Tydvil because his father had been born in Merthyr Tydvil, and had her way, is one proof of the inflexibility of her 目的.

It was the boy's good luck that with his mother's will he 相続するd the 商売／仕事 ability of his father. As there was not room in one family for two will-力／強力にするs such as her own, Mrs. Jones, 上級の, did her best to eradicate that of her son in his 幼少／幼藍期; but never recognised that, though 抑えるd, it remained latent.

Now, Mrs. Jones as the moving spirit in half a dozen societies for the moral 改良 of everybody and everything, 得るd an insight into 面s of life that are usually kept decently covered up. Not 存在 as wise as she believed herself to be, and seeing results without understanding 原因（となる）s, she was 堅固に 納得させるd that all men were brutes. She 主張するd her belief so often that the natural brutality of man became the basic axiom of her life.

She was 決定するd, therefore, that her son would grow up an exception, and took 対策 accordingly. It was the boy's hard luck that; as an only child, she was able to 充てる her entire attention to him while she was not さもなければ engaged in 改革（する）ing society.

To give her her 予定, she was 井戸／弁護士席 equipped for the 職業. It would have been better for Tydvil perhaps had she not been する権利を与えるd to 調印する herself M.A. By the time he was 老年の eighteen years he was better furnished educationally than thousands of public school boys. さもなければ the results of his home training were deplorable beyond words.

He knew no other boys of his age except at long 範囲. His only sport was tennis played with serious-minded 上級のs of either sex on the family 法廷，裁判所. On the rare occasions when he （機の）カム into 接触する with 青年s of his own age, he could not understand them. He considered their 見通し on life to be sinful. Their opinion of him, 表明するd with the freedom of 青年, was far from flattering.

On one occasion, after 反映するing on their manners and customs to two amazed boys, he only escaped 集会 the 十分な 収穫 of his temerity by one 抑制するing the other on the 嘆願 that it was impossible to strike a lady. They parted with him after giving him a 簡潔な／要約する, but lurid, 要約 of his character that left him pink to the ears.

The truth was, that at this age, a more intolerable and obnoxious young prig than Tydvil Jones could not have been 設立する outside the pages of "Sanford and Merton," a literary masterpiece that is, fortunately, forgotten by the 現在の 世代.

CHAPTER II

To his father, Tydvil's belated arrival had been a 原因（となる） of 当惑 rather than 楽しみ. He felt 内密に relieved when his wife had undertaken to を取り引きする a 国内の problem with which he felt himself unable to 対処する. He had his 疑問s as to the value of the boy's education at home. But he 隠すd them from his wife. Thirty years of married life had made him a 国内の 外交官.

It was a 救済, too, when his wife decided that Tydvil had arrived at the age when he should enter his father's office. It was his unspoken 恐れる that his wife would 需要・要求する a professional career for their son.

Away 支援する in the '50's of last century, there had been 設立するd the 会社／堅い of Craddock, 燃やすs and Despard. The 会社／堅い had 繁栄するd exceedingly. 燃やすs's daughter had married a Jones in the '70's. Subsequently, through a 一連の 決定的な and 商業の 解散s, the father of Tydvil Jones became the 単独の partner and owner of the 会社／堅い of Craddock, 燃やすs and Despard. The 長，率いる office was housed in a 広大な six-storied building, and the women of six 明言する／公表するs paid 尊敬の印 into the coffers of C. B. & D.

For the first time in his life, Tydvil Jones （機の）カム into direct 接触する with his father. It was a belated 接触する that led to a 相互の 尊敬（する）・点, based, although they did not recognise the fact, on 相互の 苦しむing.

The 緩和するing of the apron strings, however, by no means meant emancipation. In the 倉庫／問屋, Tydvil experienced the 孤立／分離 of "the boss's son." It was the 孤立／分離 of the man who would 結局 take the reins. Departmental 長，率いるs who imparted （警察などへの）密告，告訴（状） were courteous but 抑制するd. The general staff, both office and 倉庫／問屋, 見解（をとる）d his advent with 疑惑.

The boy's natural reticence 増加するd, and, 否定するd friendship, he threw himself wholeheartedly into his work. He had 十分な sense not to make his position too obvious to the staff. The natural ability he had 相続するd from his father 設立する a proper 出口, and it was not long before Tydvil began to make his 示す.

徐々に the staff recognised he was not presumptuous. Moreover, to their 広大な／多数の／重要な and がまんするing joy, they discovered that he was innocent of the world and the flesh to an extent that was unbelievable to a horde of 普通の／平均（する） 商売／仕事 pagans.

The typists 設立する with delight that, on 存在 spoken to by one of them, he would blush a rosy pink. Therefore, they made 適切な時期s to approach him, and the 注目する，もくろむs of a dozen other minxes watched for the tell-tale blush.

There grew up around Tydvil legends of his innocence, that lost nothing in the telling. "Have you heard Tyddie's 最新の?" became a 在庫／株 question. 非，不，無 the いっそう少なく, while the staff grinned joyously at his blameless life, they began to have a real 尊敬（する）・点 for him as a 商売／仕事 man.

Said one departmental 長，率いる to another: "He may be a 襲う，襲って強奪する in many 尊敬（する）・点s, but there was nothing of the 襲う，襲って強奪する in the way he 扱うd that old swine Graham of Graham and 石／投石する over those 契約s. You know the old man's gift of language when the spirit moves him?"

The other nodded, and laughed.

"井戸／弁護士席," the 語り手 continued, "he 削減（する） loose on young Tyddie. He had hardly got his first 'damn,' when the lad 麻薬を吸うs up, 'You will be good enough not to use obscene and blasphemous language in my office. It does not impress me, and it is 不快な／攻撃. Kindly 限定する your 発言／述べるs to 商売／仕事.'"

The listener laughed. "That must have 改善するd the atmosphere."

"A の近くに-up of old G's 直面する would have been 価値（がある） a fortune. He gulped out, 'I've done 商売／仕事 with this house for five and thirty years, and have never been spoken to like that.' 'Hump,' snapped Tyddie, 'then it's about time someone took you in 手渡す. If you don't like the way I talk to you, you can get out and の近くに the account.'"

"That, to old Michael Graham?"

"Just that! And believe it or not, he いじめ（る）d the old devil till he didn't know whether he was awake or enjoying a nightmare. He 調印するd up for all the allowances we asked for and agreed to 取って代わる the 欠陥のある stuff. Tyddie may be a perfect lady, but he is no 襲う，襲って強奪する."

CHAPTER III

In his twenty-fifth year, Tydvil Jones married. Had he been asked at the time, he would have said he had made 解放する／自由な 選択. Really, the choice had been his mother's. That matron was somewhat disappointed at the result of her matchmaking.

She knew Amy to be very pious and serious but she under- 概算の her generalship and fighting strength. Amy suddenly developed a will that was more inflexible than her own. In the several ruthless but 簡潔な／要約する 戦う／戦いs fought for the 所有権 of Tydvil Jones, Amy was signally 勝利を得た.

The bone of 論争 knew nothing of the war that had been fought. He 設立する he had 単に 交流d one 国内の 支配者 for another. To him the gynecocracy that would have driven another man to drink or 罪，犯罪, was a normal 明言する／公表する of 事件／事情／状勢s. The only 影響 of the change was that he noticed Amy talked a good 取引，協定 more than his mother did.

After his marriage his home life took on a new 面. Under his mother's 支配する Tydvil had been able to 避ける taking part in her activities for the reformation of society.

Amy had other ideas.

First, she 行うd war on her mother-in-法律 to 得る 支配（する）／統制する of several of her pet societies. To give the 年上の woman her 予定, she put up a perfectly willing fight. Outside of actual physical 暴力／激しさ, there was no 限界 to their endeavours. The war was 行うd under Rafferty's 支配するs, and Amy was again 勝利を得た.

What Mrs. Jones, 上級の, said about Mrs. Jones, junior, though in the main true, was libellous and scathing. Indeed, there was no need to embroider the stories, the facts were more scandalous than anything she could have invented. Amy's methods were new and atrocious beyond the wide experience of her vanquished mother-in- 法律.

Who but Amy would have thought of telephoning to every one of her mother-in-法律's 支持者s, on the morning of a 決定的な 会合, that the 会合 had been 延期するd? But Amy did that, and （機の）カム 負かす／撃墜する with her own ギャング（団） and elected all her own 指名された人s for office 反対者のない.

Partly to irritate his mother, and partly for her own convenience, Amy enlisted Tydvil for social service. Having no other 利益／興味s outside his 商売／仕事, he 設立する the work an 出口 for his 黒字／過剰 energies. Amy 設立する his （疑いを）晴らす judgment no small 援助 in her （選挙などの）運動をするs.

Therefore, in 確かな circles, Tydvil Jones became a somewhat 著名な 人物／姿／数字. He 熟考する／考慮するd social questions and spoke from many 壇・綱領・公約s. He also subscribed to 原因（となる）s the value of which he 疑問d, though at that period his 疑問s were kept to himself.

CHAPTER IV

At the age of thirty an 雪崩／（抗議などの）殺到 smote the life of Tydvil Jones. In the one six months he lost both his parents. 早期に in the year, a moment of 不決断 settled the 運命／宿命 of his mother. The driver of the モーター car was 厳しく 非難d by the 検死官, though the 陪審／陪審員団 brought in a 判決 of misadventure.

Just six months later, his father 放棄するd his life as unobtrusively as he had lived. Their actual loss had little 影響 on their son. Neither had been demonstratively affectionate. 非，不，無 the いっそう少なく, the result was to sweep Tydvil from a harbour of comparative 静める into an ocean of serious 責任／義務s.

He knew when he 後継するd to the 支配（する）／統制する of Craddock, 燃やすs and Despard, that his father's death had made him a 豊富な man. But when the 人物／姿／数字s relating to the 広い地所 were known, confreres of the 死んだ merchant opened their 注目する，もくろむs with astonishment, and the 明言する／公表する Treasurer of the day licked his lips over the death 義務s.

Thanks to his previous 態度 に向かって his staff, the succession of Tydvil Jones to the 王位 of C. B. & D. was 遂行するd without 摩擦 or 不安. にもかかわらず its 広大な／多数の／重要な 繁栄, the thirty years of 保守的な 専制政治 of the late 支配者 lay ひどく on the 倉庫／問屋. Without undue haste, and carefully feeling his way, the new 支配者 学校／設けるd 改革（する）s that sent a sigh of 救済 from 地階 to roof.

But, from the day he assumed the reins, Tydvil began to live a 二塁打 life—but not in the usually 受託するd sense of the 称する，呼ぶ／期間／用語. One was the 国内の life in which he was the 支配する of an autocrat. The other, his real life, was as 支配者 of an 設立 capitalised at three-４半期/4分の1s of a million, and controlling the 運命s of some four hundred fellow 存在s.

From his elevated position his horizon was 大きくするd. He （機の）カム into direct 接触する with his peers in 商売／仕事, who received him with some circumspection, having heard stories of his peculiar 見解（をとる）s. It was not long before they recognised that he was a man not to be despised in the game of buying and selling by which they all made a more or いっそう少なく honest living.

Outside their ありふれた 利益／興味, however, they were at a loss what to make of him, and he could not understand them. But after 放棄するing the first very natural idea that he was pulling their 脚s, they summed him up as a most amazing prig.

There was some justification for their 判決. He had been brought up to believe that a theatre was a vestibule to Hades, and 株d with race-courses and hotels the distinction of wearing the hall-示すs of depravity. If you 大打撃を与える a doctrine, however fantastic, into a human 存在 from childhood, it will take an 巨大な 量 of eradicating.

But, in these 早期に days of his 責任／義務s, Tydvil did a lot of 静かな thinking and 観察するing. It did not take him long to arrive at the 結論 that it was he and not his 商売／仕事 associates who were 異常な. Then the 革命の truth 徐々に 形態／調整d itself in his mind, that all his life he had 許すd others to do his thinking, and he awoke to the knowledge that all his ideas apart from his 商売／仕事, were second 手渡す.

At home he 許すd no 調印する of his changing ideas to be noticed. He entered into his social activities as an 観察者／傍聴者 rather than a participator. His 賞賛 for his associates faded when he noticed how they fawned on Amy. He also awoke to the fact that it was the cheque 調書をとる／予約する of Tydvil Jones rather than Tydvil Jones himself that 命令（する）d the 尊敬（する）・点 given to him. He 得るd a good 取引，協定 of 冷笑的な amusement from watching how 熱望して Amy lapped up the flattery of her friends.

It was about this time that Tydvil began to 熟考する／考慮する his wife. But it was a 熟考する／考慮する of her habits and customs and not a 熟考する／考慮する of her 慰安. Amy was good looking; there was no 疑問 about that. But there were lines about her mouth that were seldom seen by anyone but her husband. They showed up すぐに he questioned any 行為／法令／行動する or opinion of hers. When her friends complimented him on the unfailing sweetness of "dear Amy," Jones agreed cheerfully and dutifully, but the thought of those lines was always in the background.

Few but he recognised the diamond hardness of the 甘い nature of Amy. He had occasionally met other women who took the good things of life thankfully and graciously. They were women who laughed 自然に and who did not want to 改革（する） society.

Once, 実験的に, he 示唆するd a modification of her Spartan hair dressing and more expensive frocks. After Amy's first shock of surprise, her discourse on frivolous dressing lasted for 45 minutes. Who had hinted she was unbecomingly 着せる／賦与するd? Had she ever shown a 傾向 to extravagance? Nothing but her knowledge of his impeccable life saved him from a 疑惑 of having sideslipped from grace. Indeed, her 主張 on returning to the 支配する of the 推論する／理由s for his suggestion awoke in Jones the thought that she would find the 苦痛 of a misdemeanour 緩和するd by the joy of 改革（する）ing him, if necessary.

However, as he listened to her homily, he tried, without much success, to reconcile her ideas of economy in dress with a twenty-roomed house, three モーター cars and eight maids.

CHAPTER V

However, Tydvil's 熟考する／考慮する of Amy led him to the 発見 that though he had been married to her for six years, he knew very little of his wife. It was a little disconcerting at first to realise that she was no saint, and that in 追跡 of her 客観的なs her methods were, to put it mildly, peculiar. Recollections of passages between Amy and his mother, unnoticed at the time, 強化するd this 有罪の判決.

Then the 発見 of a letter from his mother to his father opened his 注目する，もくろむs still wider. It narrated the episode of Amy's telephone 策略 before referred to, and 負傷させる up with a 要約 of Amy's character as it appeared to the writer: "A more selfish, deceitful and hard-hearted woman never 存在するd. I feel that her piety is the grossest hypocrisy, and that 約束 and charity are as far beyond her as my poor son is beyond hope in her 手渡すs."

許すing for his mother's habit of 強調, Jones was 軍隊d to 結論する that there was something in the unflattering sketch of Amy. Then he remembered his father's self-effacement, and he saw a light. As he ripped the letter viciously to pieces, for the first time in his life, at the age of thirty-two years, Tydvil Jones swore. "No more! No more!" he said aloud, bringing his clenched 握りこぶし 負かす／撃墜する on the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する before him, "I'm damned if I'll stand it any longer!" The trouble was, that Tydvil learned he had been robbed of his 青年 and the joy of living it. That the 強盗 was committed with pious 意図, was no salve to his feelings. Affection may have misled his mother, but Amy had been an 従犯者, not for love, but ambition. It was not 甘い to realise that he was 支配する for amused pity の中で the men he met in 商売／仕事. The worst of it was he felt his 事例／患者 was beyond 治療（薬）.

Two 出来事/事件s occurred about this time that made him 解決する on emancipation. In both of these he was an unwilling eavesdropper.

One night, while returning home from a 会合, he entered an empty 鉄道 compartment. At the next 駅／配置する, two men, 井戸／弁護士席 known to him, took the 隣接するing compartment. When he recognised their 発言する／表明するs, he was 妨げるd from making his presence known by their first words, evidently the 延長／続編 of a discussion. "Tydvil Jones—heavens, what a 指名する!—is a hopeless wowser. And I can't stand a wowser."

The 残り／休憩（する） of the conversation （機の）カム in illuminating patches. "I don't believe he ever..." What it was, the angry listener could not catch, but the shout of mirth that …を伴ってd the 表現 of unbelief, made Tydvil's 血 boil. "McRae or Daglish should take him in 手渡す and 完全にする his education..."

"He would be an awfully decent fellow if someone would de- moralise him."

Fortunately, in the 中央 of ribald suggestions for the 改良 of Tydvil Jones, the train drew up at a 壇・綱領・公約, and the 支配する of their 憶測s, stooping low, fled.

The second 出来事/事件 was far more pleasant, and gave Tydvil even more food for reflection.

One evening he was working 支援する in his office some time after the staff had left. Through a mind concentrated on his work, he became conscious of 発言する／表明するs 近づく him, but for some time their 趣旨 did not 沈む in. Then suddenly, without volition, he 設立する himself 警報 and listening to the words, "井戸／弁護士席, anyhow, Tyddie is a dear in spite of his innocence."

The 発言する／表明する was that of his 上級の typist. In a moment he realised that to make his presence known at that juncture would be exceedingly embarrassing both to himself and the （衆議院の）議長. With a grim smile, he felt that, of the two, he would 苦しむ the more acutely. He hoped the conversation would lose its very personal 公式文書，認める.

But the next words 納得させるd him that the hope was vain. "I'll bet," （機の）カム a second 発言する／表明する, and he recognised the accents of that impertinent little 行方不明になる Marsden, "that no one has ever told Tyddie how good looking he is. I just love the way his hair waves, and those brown 注目する，もくろむs of his. Did you ever notice what a kissable mouth he has?"

The listening man felt perspiration on his forehead. Then （機の）カム the 発言する／表明する of the 上級の typist. "Why don't you tell him that, 足緒?"

There was a ripple of happy laughter, and 足緒 replied: "Poor Tyddie! If I told him that I would be tried for 過失致死. Tyddie would 死なせる／死ぬ from spontaneous 燃焼 brought on by his own blushes."

Little 行方不明になる Jessica Marsden never knew how 近づく she was to bringing about that 大災害. "It's a jolly shame to think he's tied up to Amy," from the 上級の typist. "My sister, ジーンズ, was at school with her, and she says that Amy wasn't fit for human 消費." Jones started, and drew a 深い breath. This was getting home with a vengeance.

"She is a beast," commented 足緒 簡単に and 心から.

The 上級の typist took up the tale. "It gives me the pip to see her come sailing along with her condescending—'Is Mr. Jones in his office, my dear?'"

The words were such a perfect imitation of his wife's 発言する／表明する, that it took Jones all his time to keep still. "Pity she can't get someone to tell her how to dress herself."

Jessica echoed the wish, and went on, "I always call them the beauty and the beast. It's a 逆転 of 役割s, but it's 正確な."

The 発言する／表明するs died away 負かす／撃墜する the empty 倉庫／問屋. When he was sure they had 出発／死d, the 単独の partner of Craddock, 燃やすs and Despard drew a long breath of 救済. The next thing he did was rather unusual for him. He rose and walked across the room to the mirror that hung over the 直す／買収する，八百長をするd 水盤／入り江 behind the 審査する in the corner. Jones 調査するd his reflection long and 真面目に. Whether 行方不明になる Marsden's judgments were 権利, he was too modest to decide. But he did think that thirty-three years of sober and upright living had left him looking curiously youthful. The 発見 was not unpleasing.

On the に引き続いて Friday evening when the 上級の typist and that impudent little 行方不明になる Marsden received their 支払う／賃金 envelopes, they were amazed to find a wholly 予期しない and 全く unaccountable 増加する of ten shillings a week in their salaries.

Had they known that the portent 発表するd the awakening of Tydvil Jones, they would have been still more bewildered.

CHAPTER VI

So now we see why Tydvil Jones was 熟した for 反乱 against life in general, and his wife in particular. He felt he had had a raw 取引，協定. He did not やめる know what to do about it, but he was 決定するd to do something, and in the humour he was in, he did not care much what he did.

The 延滞の 爆発 occurred about a fortnight after the episode of the two typists. He entered his breakfast room, as usual, the first arrival. It was Amy's practice to appear at breakfast always, but unless she had something particular to say to him, usually annoying, she seldom arrived on the scene until a few minutes before he was timed to 出発／死 for his office.

She did not like 早期に rising, but she did like to say to her friends, "I think, my dear, it is a wife's 義務 to give her husband her society at breakfast." She considered it 示すd her as a 充てるd spouse who was willing to sacrifice her 慰安 for her husband's 楽しみ. She certainly did sacrifice her 慰安, but whether Tydvil 設立する 楽しみ in it is open to argument.

The maid who …に出席するd to his simple wants 設立する the master 異常に unresponsive. He was as much loved by his 世帯 staff as Amy was disliked—which says 容積／容量s for his 人気. Tydvil had slept 不正に, and was still simmering from a 国内の argument of the previous night.

There was, の中で others, an 会・原則 known as the Moral Uplift Society, of which Amy was 大統領，／社長. Its 目的（とする） was to 補助装置 unfortunate girls, who had run off the rails, 支援する to the 跡をつけるs of righteousness. Jones had, on several occasions, 与える／捧げるd lavishly to its upkeep. A 静かな 調査, however, had 示唆するd to him, that though its 支出 was real, the results accruing from its 成果／努力s were doubtful.

His 主張 on 存在 given some 固める／コンクリート 証拠 of its usefulness was met with replies so vague, and so 相反する, that he arrived at the 結論 that its 長官 was a son of Ananias, and several of the helpers were daughters of Sapphira. Moreover, his requests for a balance sheet had been fruitless, though he admired the 技術 with which his curiosity on the 支配する was baffled.

For several days Amy had been angling for a cheque for one thousand 続けざまに猛撃するs for the Moral Uplift Society. Usually he submitted to her exactions 根気よく. This time, however, she met with a flat 拒絶 until he had seen a balance sheet 用意が出来ている by his own auditor.

Amy was annoyed, but had no 疑惑s as to the 結果 of Tydvil's 驚くべき／特命の／臨時の stubbornness. On the previous evening she had given up an 約束／交戦 to 充てる herself 本気で to the 事柄. From eight o'clock until ten-thirty, when he fled to his room, still recalcitrant, and locked himself in—and her out—she had wrought with him faithfully. He had remained silent, sullen and unyielding under the ordeal by tongue.

All this may explain, if it does not excuse, the 爆発 of Tydvil Jones as his 注目する，もくろむs ran over the columns of the newspaper the maid had placed beside his plate. Suddenly he sat 築く. He dropped his half 解除するd cup 支援する into the saucer with a 衝突／不一致 of 磁器 and jingle of silver that 粉々にするd the dignified silence of the room.

In both 手渡すs he grabbed the paper, and glared at it with incredulous 注目する，もくろむs. It was no wonder he 疑問d their 正確, for he read, under ３倍になる and flattering headlines, the に引き続いて paragraph: "Members and friends of the Moral Uplift Society passed a hearty 投票（する） of thanks to Mr. Tydvil Jones, the 井戸／弁護士席 known philanthropist, at their 月毎の 会合 yesterday afternoon. Mrs. Tydvil Jones, the 大統領，／社長 of the Society, read a letter from her husband in which he 申し込む／申し出d a 寄付 of one thousand 続けざまに猛撃するs to be used for any 目的 the 委員会 may direct. This is the third cheque for a 類似の 量 which Mr. Jones has 与える／捧げるd to the 基金s of the society."

"That 井戸／弁護士席 known philanthropist, Mr. Tydvil Jones," read that paragraph three times before its enormity filtered 完全に into his system. The third time, he read it standing up. The startled maid regarded her 雇用者 with wide-注目する，もくろむd 関心. She thought he was choking, so suffused had his 直面する become. Then the long 抑えるd 火山の 爆発 took place. Tydvil 投げつけるd the newspaper to the 床に打ち倒す and ground it tinder his heel. This was bad enough, but his language..."It's an 乱暴／暴力を加える!" he shouted. "A damned 乱暴／暴力を加える and a damned 共謀! Not a penny! Not one damned penny!"

運命／宿命 法令d that, at that moment Amy entered the room and both saw and heard her husband's demonstration. It was only when his wife had 前進するd に向かって the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する that he was aware of her presence. Not that that made any difference, Tydvil was beyond caring two hoots for Amy or anyone else.

Scenting 戦う／戦い, the wide-注目する，もくろむd maid fled—but not out of earshot. Amy 前進するd, showing no 調印する of emotion, and, stooping 負かす／撃墜する, drew the newspaper from under her husband's foot. Deliberately she smoothed out the creases of the torn page, and 静かに placed it on the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する. Then, as 静かに, she walked 一連の会議、交渉／完成する the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する and took her seat. She leaned 支援する in her 議長，司会を務める with her 冷淡な 注目する，もくろむs 直す／買収する，八百長をするd on his 紅潮／摘発するd 直面する. There was a long thirty seconds' silence.

Then Amy spoke calmly, "I am waiting, Tydvil."

"For what?" he snapped.

"For your 陳謝." Her 注目する，もくろむs never left his for a moment.

"Then you'll wait a dashed long time!" He had leaned に向かって her with both 手渡すs 残り／休憩（する）ing on the 辛勝する／優位 of the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する, and his out-thrust chin gave him an 異常に bellicose 空気／公表する.

The lines about Amy's mouth 常習的な. Her lips compressed to a straight pink line, and there was 冷淡な fury in her grey 注目する，もくろむs. Very few of her friends would have recognised "Dear Amy" at that moment.

"I think, Tydvil, dear," she said 平等に, though the white knuckles clenched on the arm of her 議長，司会を務める showed what it cost to 支配（する）／統制する her 発言する／表明する—"I think, Tydvil, dear, that you have been overworking yourself. I will ask Dr. Morris to call this evening. Perhaps a holiday will be necessary.

"Morris, be hanged!" he snorted.

Amy raised her brows わずかに. "Perhaps, my dear Tydvil," she knew of old how the 繰り返し言うd "Dear Tydvil" grated, "you will explain the 原因（となる） of your irritation. Your 行為／行う may be, indeed is, unpardonable." She waved a 手渡す わずかに and went on, "I am やめる 未使用の, as you know, to 審理，公聴会 such language. Neither am I used to 存在 sworn at before my servants."

The 声明s were unassailable facts. Usually she would have 味方する-跡をつけるd Tydvil into a defence that he had not sworn at her. But he was too 十分な of wrath to be distracted by minor 問題／発行するs. He snatched up the crumpled paper and, in a 発言する／表明する that she scarcely recognised, he read that outrageous paragraph aloud. "What's the meaning of that infernal falsehood?" he 需要・要求するd. "You know I have 辞退するd to subscribe to that den of 脅迫者，不正手段で暴利を得る者s. Eh? Eh?"

There was a 汚い little smile on the corners of Amy's lips as she answered.

"The paragraph is やめる in order, my dear Tydvil. It 明言する／公表するs what 現実に took place at our 会合 yesterday." She paused, and the smile 深くするd. "Indeed, I 手渡すd the paragraph into the newspaper offices myself."

"会合—yesterday—afternoon!" He gasped his surprise with each word. "You told me you knew I 特に wished to be 現在の. You told me yourself it was—延期するd." Amazement struggled with his wrath.

Amy nodded わずかに, やめる unabashed. "I am やめる aware of that, as I was aware that you ーするつもりであるd to make a very disagreeable fuss over a やめる unnecessary balance sheet. I most 堅固に 反対する to your 干渉，妨害 in 事柄s in any of my societies that do not 関心 you."

星／主役にするing at her, open mouthed, Tydvil sank slowly 支援する into his 議長，司会を務める. "But the letter!" he gasped, "the letter..."

"I saw to that, too." She spoke as though humouring a petulant child.

Jones turned the 発覚 over in his mind. "Do you mean to tell me you wrote that letter yourself?" he said at last.

She nodded. "I typed it myself, and read it to the 会合. It was not 調印するd, and no one saw it but myself."

"And," his 発言する／表明する shook with his rising wrath again, "you 推定する／予想する me to を引き渡す that cheque!"

She nodded emphatically. "I most certainly do."

"Then let me tell you this," he shouted, 強くたたくing the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する while everything on it jangled to his blows, "I'll see you to Jericho before I give you a farthing; and you can explain why as you dashed 井戸／弁護士席 please."

"After the publicity the 事柄 has been given, you will find it rather ぎこちない to say that you have changed your mind." Amy smiled her derision.

Jones 圧力（をかける）d his finger furiously on the bell button. The maid arrived with a rapidity that would have excited 疑惑 had either combatant been in a mood to notice trifles.

He turned to her. "Tell Carter to bring 一連の会議、交渉／完成する the 選び出す／独身- seater," he said 突然の. "Tell him I wish him to 運動 me to the office." The girl 消えるd on the word.

一方／合間, the 緊張 between the two 増加するd. Up till now, Tydvil's 活動／戦闘s, to use 外交の phraseology, had been 単に unfriendly. The ordering of the car had been a 宣言 of war. Like some other good people, Amy's self-否定 延長するd only to others. She had laid it 負かす／撃墜する that the 演習 of the walk along St. Kilda road to the city was necessary for his health. Moreover, it 始める，決める the staff an example of unostentation. Now, his ordering of the car was flat and 極悪の 反乱.

When the maid disappeared, Amy said acidly, "I think, Tydvil dear, we have already settled the question of your using a car to take you to the office."

"井戸／弁護士席, I'm unsettling it," he snorted. He 選ぶd up the paper and, turning a most 積極的な 支援する on his wife, he pretended to read.

Five minutes passed in 緊張するd silence. The maid returned. "The car is waiting, sir."

Before Jones could move, his wife said quickly, "Oh, Kate! Mr. Jones has changed his mind. Tell Carter to take the car 支援する."

This was one of Amy's choicest methods of 管理／経営. She relied for its success on Tydvil's horror of scenes, even in 私的な, and felt 確かな he would 縮む from a brawl before the maid. But, for, once, she had misjudged the extent of the 反乱.

Jones sprang to his feet, and 逮捕（する）d the maid as she moved, with a barked "Wait!" The girl stopped. "If you 伝える that message, both you and Carter will be summarily 解任するd. Bring me my hat and coat."

The girl hesitated, and looked at her mistress for 指導／手引. She was between a horde of devils and a very 深い sea. "Do you hear me!" 雷鳴d the 発言する／表明する of the master, and never before had she heard it with such a （犯罪の）一味 of fury. Suddenly she recognised that she was a 観客 to a 革命. When, a minute later, she returned, Amy was sobbing, with her 直面する in her plate.

"Oh, Tydvil! To think you would 侮辱 me before the maids!"

"I 港／避難所't begun 侮辱ing you yet!" he growled truculently. "Just wait a bit!" and he left without even ちらりと見ることing at her again.

That he reached his office by car instead of using his 脚s, 追加するd one more link to the chain of circumstances. He arrived just twenty minutes before the time his staff had learned to 推定する／予想する him, and saw 確かな things that were as 予期しない as he was.

CHAPTER VII

Beside the door of Tydvil Jones's 私的な office at the 倉庫／問屋, was a railed enclosure 含む／封じ込めるing a large 令状ing （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する. This was 統括するd over by 行方不明になる Geraldine Brand, who was a young woman of no small importance in C. B. & D. She was not only 後見人 of the door, but was Tydvil's 私的な 長官 and his link with the departmental 長，率いるs.

The self-所有するd and 完全に 適する Geraldine knew as much of Jones's 事件／事情／状勢s as did his 銀行業者 or his solicitor. 長，率いるs of departments paused at her desk and 扱う／治療するd her as a fellow and an equal. From her they learned if their visits were propitiously timed.

Tydvil, who had 実験（する）d her carefully, knew that she would 訂正する lapses of English in his 口述, and that she knew how to keep silent in 事柄s where silence was golden. She remembered nothing which she should forget and forgot nothing she should remember. Their relations were 完全に impersonal. To him, she was a perfect 器具 for his 商売／仕事 needs. No one ever knew what Geraldine thought of Tydvil.

On the morning of the 革命, Geraldine arrived on the 一打／打撃 of nine. In the inner office she spent a few moments patting a helmet of hair, more red than gold, into order. Systematically she 調査するd the 広大な／多数の／重要な oaken desk, saw the date stamp had been altered, straightened the wide blotting pad and ちらりと見ることd over, the pen stand. Then she opened one of the two office 安全なs, and took from it two basket of papers, one of which she placed on either 味方する of the blotting pad. 満足させるd that all was 井戸／弁護士席, she seated herself opposite the leather padded 議長，司会を務める for the first work of the day.

There was a long pause until she heard the sound of 迅速な steps approaching. A junior hurried in 耐えるing a large 捕らえる、獲得する, from which he sent an 雪崩／（抗議などの）殺到 of letters on to the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する in 前線 of Geraldine. As the boy turned away, she 停止（させる）d him with a peremptory "Stop!"

He looked at her uneasily. "Listen, Jimmy," she said decisively, "this is the third time in a fortnight you have kept me waiting. If it happens again you'll be 追跡（する）ing another 職業— understand?" She 削減（する） short a glib explanation with, "No good, Jimmy! I've heard that yarn better told by a 行列 of your pre-decessors. Your 職業 is to have the mail on this （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する at nine. Chase yourself!" The boy fled. With the deftness of long practice, Geraldine sorted the letters into piles. Some few she passed untouched to the blotting pad opposite. Then, taking a long, pliant blade, she 速く 削減（する） envelope after envelope along three 味方するs, leaving the contents undisturbed. As she 削減（する） them she stacked them neatly at her 権利 手渡す.

She was so 意図 on her work, that the new-corner who had entered 静かに, had ample time to enjoy the picture she made before a movement on his part impelled her to turn. The slight frown at the interruption changed to a smile as he walked 一連の会議、交渉／完成する the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する and, without 儀式, seated himself in the 議長，司会を務める sacred to Tydvil Jones.

After the first ちらりと見ること, the girl had turned to her work again without speaking. The man watched her for a while as one who gazed on something 価値（がある） seeing. Presently he said, with mock 儀式, "Good morning, Geraldine."

Without pausing to look up, she said 静かに, "Good morning, Mr. Brewer." There was just enough 強調 on the prefix to 伝える a rebuke.

The man smiled. "My 指名する, Geraldine, happens to be William, but it's 一般に Billy."

"And 地雷," the girl retorted, "happens to be 行方不明になる Brand. I wish you would remember it.'

"I've a shocking memory," pleaded Billy, "and Geraldine is about the only 指名する I think of."

The letters passed 速く through the slender white 手渡すs to the zip-zip-zip of the 飛行機で行くing blade. If she had noticed what he said, she gave no 調印する. Brewer was silent, content in looking at her. Presently she ちらりと見ることd up. "Do you realize that you are 占領するing Mr. Jones's 議長，司会を務める, and that he is likely to be in at any moment; and also,"—she paused to draw a fresh pile of letters に向かって her—"you have no 商売／仕事 in this room whatever."

Billy looked at the clock on the mantelpiece. "Oh! That one so lovely should be so 誤った." He chuckled. "Tyddie will not be here for another thirty-five minutes, as you know better than I do. I consider looking at you to be most important 商売／仕事. As for the 議長，司会を務める, it fits me admirably. So much for your 反対s to my presence."

The girl gave a light laugh. "God gie us a guid conceit o' orselves. You're not nearly big enough to fit that 議長，司会を務める comfortably, Mr. Billy Brewer."

"If you would 収容する／認める how 極端に 有能な I am, you would not have said that. However, Geraldine, your 試みる／企てる to 傷つける my feelings has failed. Flopped! My pride remains uninjured."

"I don't flatter myself that anything I could say would shake your colossal self-conceit," she retorted.

Billy laughed heartily. "It is not often you are really complimentary, Geraldine..."

"行方不明になる Brand," she interrupted はっきりと.

"Geraldine," he continued unmoved, "but when you are you make a man blush."

"You blush!" she said scornfully. "The fact is that you think because you are easily the best salesman in the city—I 認める you that..."

"Please don't!" he 抗議するd. "You make me feel dizzy."

"You are an ass," she said dispassionately. "Because no 買い手, man or woman, can resist your insidious 影響（力）, you think you are big enough to run C. B. & D. But you're not, my friend, not by miles."

"Would that you were a 買い手, Geraldine," he said, grinning provocatively and leaning に向かって her. She prodded at him with the paper knife and returned to her letters.

"Perhaps," she said presently, "you think you should be 申し込む／申し出d a 共同."

"Would you 受託する a 共同 if it were 申し込む／申し出d to you?" he asked, smiling.

"Rather!" she replied incautiously.

"Hooray!" he exclaimed. "Then I do 申し込む／申し出 you one. Let us go into 共同 as Brewer and Brand, doing 商売／仕事 under the style of William Brewer—制限のない."

Geraldine placed the last of the letters together and leaned 支援する in her 議長，司会を務める. Unabashed at the suggestion, she met his 注目する，もくろむs 刻々と. For months there had been this sparring between them. The girl knew he was in earnest. Worse still, she had reached a 行う／開催する／段階 where she scarcely cared to analyse her own feelings. She looked at him reflectively before speaking, and then said deliberately, "Indeed, and how many sleeping partners would there be in the 会社／堅い?" There was no mistaking the 意向 or the innuendo. Billy 紅潮／摘発するd under her unwavering 注目する，もくろむs, and tried to pass it off with a jest.

"Really, Geraldine, you shock me," he said, half laughing. "If I am dumb, I am not deaf," she went on. "You're not dumb, Geraldine, I'll 断言する you're not. I heard you speak most distinctly just now."

"You think," she took up the tale, "that because people make no comment to you, that they are blind to the habits and customs of Mr. William Brewer. You might just 同様に disabuse your mind of the idea. I believe in 説 what I think."

"Yes," he broke in, "I have noticed that."

She went on without noticing the interruption. "And I'm not blind to the fact that you have seen fit to give me the 利益 of a good 取引，協定 of your society lately. If a fraction of what is said about you is true, if you have any regard for a girl, you can show it best by keeping away from her."

Billy whistled softly. "Your 手渡す is not nearly as light as it looks," he said. "However, I suppose 非，不，無 of my 肉親，親類d friends has told you that I have 削減（する） out all that sort of thing these many moons." He paused. "Just because I realised what you have just told me. Give me a chance," he pleaded, and his 発言する／表明する was very soft.

She shook her 長，率いる and stood up. "Billy Brewer, you have been a very bad boy, and I'd want to be very sure of you before I gave you a chance."

"If you were sure?" he asked.

For the first time, her 注目する，もくろむs fell. "証明する to me that I can be sure."

She bent to 選ぶ up the letters from the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する as he moved 一連の会議、交渉／完成する beside her. Then, thinking that direct 活動／戦闘 might 後継する where 説得／派閥 failed, Billy Brewer made a 誤った move. As she bent, he 速く flung an arm 一連の会議、交渉／完成する her, pinning her 武器 to her 味方する. 即時に she straightened and half turned. Billy took a 完全にする 戦術の advantage of the unguarded lips.

With a little cry, she wrenched her arm 解放する／自由な. As she did so, a strange thing happened. Brewer 解放（する）d her suddenly and stood with his 注目する，もくろむs 直す／買収する，八百長をするd on some 反対する over her shoulder.

Blind with 怒り／怒る, Geraldine did not notice the change in Billy's 態度. "You brute! You utter brute!" she gasped, and, with all her 軍隊, she struck him in the 直面する with her clenched 手渡す. It was an active tennis and ゴルフ 手渡す, and Geraldine struck to make her 示す—and did. Three times that 手渡す landed on the same 位置／汚点／見つけ出す before Geraldine awoke to the fact that Billy was 星／主役にするing over her shoulder, and made no 成果／努力 to defend himself. He might have been cast in bronze for all the notice he took of her enthusiastic 強襲，強姦.

Then she, too, turned, and herself became frozen into one of a group. For, there in the doorway 調査するing the scene, stood Tydvil Jones. Aye! Tydvil, who by his self made 法律s, should not have arrived for another twenty minutes, at the earliest.

CHAPTER VIII

It would be difficult to say which of the three was the most astounded by the episode. It was Tydvil, however, who first 回復するd himself. "If, Mr. Brewer, you have all you needed, there is no 推論する／理由 for you to wait." The 氷点の politeness of the words matched his manner. He stood aside, 持つ／拘留するing the door open for the 出口 of the 犯人. And—Mr. Brewer went, but not gracefully. The 紅潮／摘発するd girl waited beside her 議長，司会を務める as Tydvil hung up his coat and hat. He took his seat and 動議d her to hers. As she sat 負かす／撃墜する, Geraldine stammered, "Oh, Mr. Jones—I— I."

He held up his 手渡す. "I think, 行方不明になる Brand, that unless you 特に wish to discuss the—er—episode, which, I have no 疑問, was 極端に distasteful to you, we will not 言及する to it--for the 現在の, at any 率. Let us get to our mail first."

Geraldine murmured her thanks, and passed the piled letters across the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する. In a few minutes they were 深い in work. Long practice and a 完全にする understanding of his methods made words almost unnecessary between them. Papers passed to and fro almost in silence. Occasionally he paused to give her a 公式文書，認める to be brought before him later. In a remarkably short space of time, the piled letters 消えるd, leaving only those that 要求するd his personal attention. As she took the last letter from his 手渡す, she 選ぶd up her pencil. "Ready?" he asked. The girl nodded assent.

"First," he said, "I wish you to look through all of the morning papers for a paragraph 類似の to this." He passed her a cutting. "Then send this 公式文書，認める to the editor of each paper in which it appears. I want this done at once, and sent out by special messenger."

"To the editor.—Sir, my attention has been drawn to a paragraph in your columns this morning which 明言する／公表するd that I have 申し込む／申し出d a gift of one thousand 続けざまに猛撃するs to the 基金s of the Moral Uplift Society. I would be pleased if you would give 類似の publicity to my personal 声明 that I did not make any 申し込む／申し出 of the 肉親，親類d. その上の, I would like it to be 明確に understood that I do not ーするつもりである in 未来 to make any 出資／貢献s to the society について言及するd."

Tydvil paused, and said smilingly, "What happens when one 燃やすs one's boats, 行方不明になる Brand?"

Geraldine ちらりと見ることd up from her 公式文書，認める-調書をとる／予約する. "I suppose you stay where you are, or swim home."

"正確に／まさに," he replied, "and I cannot swim."

That morning Geraldine 設立する a strange 不決断 in Tydvil's 口述. Usually her pencil had to 飛行機で行く to keep up with him, but now, for minutes at a time, she 設立する herself tracing patterns with her pencil while waiting for him to continue.

The fact was that Tydvil had 設立する that his 小競り合い with Amy, followed so closely by the Brand-Brewer episode, had 完全に disjointed his normal 整然とした mind. For the first time since she had taken on her 義務s as his 長官, he recognised that 行方不明になる Brand was not only a young woman, but a 前向きに／確かに beautiful young woman. It seemed as though Brewer, by some 魔法, had opened his 注目する，もくろむs.

Again and again he 設立する himself wondering how he had, until now, overlooked the beauty of that rich 長，率いる of hair. Never, until that morning, had he 観察するd those mischievous little curls that nestled against her neck. Again, as he paused, his 注目する，もくろむ was taken by the delicate line and perfect colour of the half turned cheek.

Between two 宣告，判決s in an important letter to the 経営者／支配人 of his Sydney 支店, Tydvil was staggered by the 侵入占拠 of an idea that, after all, Billy Brewer was not so much to 非難する for 落ちるing from grace. This was followed by a thought still more heinous. He 設立する himself envying Billy's freedom to kiss a lovely girl without 乱すing his 良心; and contrasting it with his own enthralment. Billy had lived, but he—"Phoo!" The exclamation escaped him unconsciously.

At the sound, Geraldine ちらりと見ることd up. "I'm afraid I did not やめる catch..."

"Nothing at all," replied Jones, more airily than he felt, "I did not speak."

At last it was over. "I do not wish to be interrupted this morning, as I shall be busy," he said, as Geraldine 選ぶd up her baskets 十分な of papers and turned to leave the room.

At the door she hesitated and turned 一連の会議、交渉／完成する. He looked at her enquiringly.

"I would like to say..." Her 直面する 紅潮／摘発するd divinely. "I mean, that so far as I am 関心d—there will be no need to—" then, with a 急ぐ, "to say anything to Mr. Brewer about his foolishness this morning. I am able to look after my own 利益／興味s."

There was a quizzical smile on the 直面する of Tydvil Jones as he answered, "Yes, I noticed that, too. However, I shall do as you wish, 行方不明になる Brand." She went out and の近くにd the door softly behind her. For a long time Jones sat 星／主役にするing at it in smiling thought. "Now, I wonder!" he said to himself. "Now, I wonder!"

CHAPTER IX

Jones turned to his work with 決意／決議, but again and again he 設立する his thoughts wandering. Finally, he 押し進めるd his papers aside impatiently and, with his 肘s on his （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する and his 長，率いる in his 手渡すs, he 降伏するd to the mood of the moment. As moods go, it was a very unchristian でっちあげる，人を罪に陥れる of mind in which he 設立する himself.

He knew Amy too 井戸／弁護士席 to flatter himself that the 小競り合い of the morning could be magnified into a 決定的な 戦う／戦い. In his mind he pictured her planning a 反撃 in reply to his success. Through his mind ran a 計画（する） of 軍隊ing her into a position in which she would be compelled to 受託する a judicial 分離. It was his one hope for a 平和的な life. But, as the 計画（する） took 形態／調整, he realised that her 策略 would be to throw the odium of the 合法的な 過程 on him.

His only means of defence would be to use the 武器s that Amy would use without compunction—the stiletto and poisonous gas. Why should he not use them? Why not? Ethically, the suggestion might be untenable, but 製造者s of 倫理学 were not married to Amy.

Then his mind drifted off to the scene he had 証言，証人／目撃するd an hour earlier. It surprised him a little to think that, instead of 存在 righteously wrathful against Brewer, his feelings were akin to envy. He had 受託するd 行方不明になる Brand's intercession as an 平易な way out of a 状況／情勢 in which he felt 自信のない of himself. After all, he thought, was he 正当化するd in 裁判官ing Brewer, or any, man, by codes that were his mother's and Amy's?

He remembered his father's self-effacement. Would he follow his example and remain subservient under the 支配 of—a tongue? Yes, that was all it was a tongue! He, Tydvil Jones, 長，率いる of C. B. & D., with an income of fifty thousand 続けざまに猛撃するs a year, whom all his peers envied for his 所有／入手s! Yet, he realised that not all his wealth nor all his 力／強力にする had given him as much of liberty as any one of the men who did him service.

The thought that the two women who might have helped him were the ones who had led him under 誤った 基準s, was very bitter.

Billy Brewer would have been astounded had he known how much of his 私的な life was an open 調書をとる／予約する to Tydvil Jones. More than once he had been called on to "the carpet." He had come each time with such an airy grace of gracelessness, that it 武装解除するd 司法（官）. Jones knew that whatever his peccadilloes, he had never let them 干渉する with his work. While he did not feel inclined to copy Billy in manner or morals, Jones recognised that Billy knew more of life and living than an army 軍団 of Tydvil Joneses.

"Was it," Tydvil asked himself, "such a sin to kiss a pretty girl?" He, himself, had never kissed anyone but Amy; and kissing Amy was rather いっそう少なく 刺激するing than drinking iced water in winter. 明らかに, にもかかわらず her active indignation, Geraldine Brand did not consider it a 資本／首都 offence, or she would not have interceded on に代わって of the 犯人. True, Geraldine had blushed, but he had no recollection of seeing Amy blush even as a bride.

The memory of his courtship （機の）カム 支援する. His courtship! The farce of it! He had to thank his mother for that. He remembered how, a few days before his marriage, his mother had told him, that if ever there were a saint, Amy was one. Saints! These saints had stolen his boyhood and his 青年. These saints had bound him 手渡す and foot. "If these be saints," he muttered aloud, "may Satan himself come and 解放する／自由な me from their 作品." He 屈服するd his 長，率いる 今後 on his 手渡すs until it 残り／休憩（する）d on his blotting pad.

CHAPTER X

Minutes passed before he moved again. At last he leaned 支援する with a sigh. As he did so, he started 築く with an exclamation of astonishment. In the armchair reserved for 訪問者s at the end of the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する, sat a stranger. For a moment 怒り／怒る got the better of his surprise. How could 行方不明になる Brand have dared to 収容する／認める him after the order he had given? Never before had she so lapsed from 義務. Then 怒り／怒る and surprise gave way to curiosity. Although Tydvil 星／主役にするd in a manner in which he would scarcely have permitted himself in ordinary circumstances, the stranger seemed やめる unabashed. He met the 尋問 星／主役にする 率直に, with just a flicker of amusement in his 注目する，もくろむs.

The 侵入者 was 明らかに tall, and slender without 存在 thin. As he leaned 支援する in his 議長，司会を務める, perfectly composed, Tydvil was struck with a sense of latent 力／強力にする and 当局 in the man, although there was nothing in the 提起する／ポーズをとる to 示唆する it. Tydvil seldom took particular notice of another man's 外見, but the distinction of his 訪問者's person 軍隊d itself to his attention. He might have been anything between thirty and sixty years of age. There was 青年 in the smooth and nobly formed forehead and in the （疑いを）晴らす, olive cheeks. There was 青年, too, and boundless vitality in the dark, flashing 注目する，もくろむs, and in the straight, shapely mouth.

But then, again, there was age in the 砕く of grey on either 寺, that seemed the finishing touch to his distinguished 長，率いる. But there was something more than age—something that spoke of tremendous experience. His 宙に浮く and self-保証／確信 could be guessed at rather than seen. His dark grey tweed coat was perfect without the 失敗 of 存在 too perfect. From the sleek, 黒人／ボイコット 長，率いる to the polished shoes, there was no discordant 公式文書，認める. One 手渡す held his hat, and the other, brown, but 井戸／弁護士席 cared for, 残り／休憩（する）d on his 膝.

As Tydvil took in these 詳細（に述べる）s, it 夜明けd on him that, though the stranger might be an uninvited 侵入者, his whole 外見 and 耐えるing bore 証言 that he was one to be 扱う／治療するd with deference.

During the long minutes of Jones's 調査する, the stranger sat motionless, almost as motionless as Jones did in his amazement. At last, the 長，率いる of Craddock, 燃やす, and Despard 設立する his 発言する／表明する. "I really beg your 容赦," he said, "I had no idea there was anyone in the room. I certainly did not hear you enter."

The dancing lights flickered for a moment in the stranger's 注目する，もくろむs. "And I, too, must ask your 容赦 for coming unannounced, but, as it happened, I had no 選択."

"Oh! I understand; my 長官 was not at her 地位，任命する?" queried Tydvil.

"On the contrary, she was," （機の）カム the answer, 簡単に. "I did not 協議する her because I felt sure she would 辞退する me admission. I was 強いるd to take other steps."

There was a trace of annoyance in Tydvil Jones's 直面する. He felt that the reply was tinged with impertinence. His 返答 was rather stiff. "Then I have no 疑問 that since you took such unusual steps to 得る an interview, your 商売／仕事 is of some importance."

The dark, finely arched eyebrows 解除するd わずかに. "I am really sorry if my 活動／戦闘 has 原因（となる）d you any annoyance, Mr. Jones..."

"You have an advantage of me in knowing my 指名する," interrupted the other crisply.

His 訪問者 waved a deprecating 手渡す, but paused a moment before answering. "I am afraid," he said, "that I shall have some trouble in explaining myself. But as you so 緊急に and expressly sent for Me, I 信用, as I said before, that my coming has not inconvenienced you."

"I sent for you!" There was no mistaking the 本物の astonishment in Tydvil's 発言する／表明する. "Why, my dear sir, I am perfectly sure I have never seen you before."

The other nodded. "やめる so," he said. "Until now you have only come into 接触する with my スパイ／執行官s."

Jones mentally ran over in his mind the 指名するs of any of his overseas 商売／仕事 関係s who might, by any chance, be visiting Australia, but 非，不，無 occurred to him. "I am afraid I must ask you to explain yourself more 明確に," he said finally.

His 訪問者 looked at him thoughtfully a moment before replying. "As I said before, I am afraid I will have some little trouble in making myself （疑いを）晴らす. I can perhaps best explain my presence by asking you to 解任する to your memory a wish you 表明するd aloud some five or ten minutes ago."

Tydvil reddened to the roots of his hair. Had the man been in the room all that time? he wondered. And 存在 there, had he the audacity to 言及する to what he might have heard? For the moment Jones had forgotten 正確に／まさに what he had said, but he felt sure the words were not such as he would care to have overheard. "I have no 際立った recollection of having said anything that might 利益／興味 you," he replied coldly. "As you 明らかに overheard my words, there will be no need for me to repeat them."

The stranger received the rebuke unmoved. He passed his 手渡す to the inner pocket of his coat and produced a flat leather wallet. He placed his hat and glove carefully on the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する, and drew from the wallet a card about six by four インチs in size. To Jones, it looked like a ledger 索引 card. This he 協議するd carefully for a moment, and then looked up. "The exact words you used, Mr. Jones, were, 'If these be saints, may Satan himself come and 解放する／自由な me from them!' And, therefore," he continued, "I feel myself 正当化するd in 繰り返し言うing that I am here at your 表明する and 緊急の 招待."

Again Tydvil's 直面する 紅潮／摘発するd from a mixture of shame and 怒り／怒る. It was bad enough that his words had been overheard, but worse still that this 静かな and impressive stranger should see fit to make a jest of them.

"Sir!" he 主張するd 怒って, "you have 明らかに listened to something that was not ーするつもりであるd for other ears than my own. You have seen fit to use those words against me in a spirit of ill- timed levity and banter. I find your behaviour intolerable, sir, and I must ask you to leave this room, 即時に!" He 強調d the last word so as to leave no room for argument.

Instead of 存在 abashed or annoyed at the 突発／発生, the 訪問者 settled himself coolly 支援する in his 議長，司会を務める. With an 肘 on either arm, he joined the outspread tips of his fingers and thumbs and regarded Jones above them with a smile twitching at his lips.

"My friend," he said with gentle suavity, "you will find, as many others have done before you, that it is far easier to call me up than to 配置する／処分する／したい気持ちにさせる of me. I did not think it likely that you would 受託する my （人命などを）奪う，主張する to the personality, which, for the 現在の, we may define as 'Satan,' without hesitation. Still, on reflection, you may not find it so preposterous after all."

Tydvil 星／主役にするd at the （衆議院の）議長, with not only wide open 注目する，もくろむs, but a わずかに opened mouth. His feelings were a blend of 怒り／怒る and curiosity. Of course, one could never tell, but insanity takes such strange forms. The man did not look mad. But it might be 同様に to humour him.

"Do you mean to 断言する," he asked 厳しく, "that you （人命などを）奪う，主張する to be the Prince of Evil in person?"

The other pursed his lips わずかに and answered. "井戸／弁護士席, I cannot say I am altogether in love with the 肩書を与える, Mr. Jones, it is not flattering, and of the two I almost prefer the word 'Satan,' but since you choose it, it may do 同様に as another. I repeat that you see before you His Highness in person."

Jones moved very uneasily in his seat, then his 注目する，もくろむs and 手渡すs both sought the button on the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する beside him. Before he could 圧力（をかける） it, the other 介入するd, "That line of communication is の近くにd—一時的に." He spoke a little incisively.

Then Tydvil began to lose his temper. "Sir!" he said 怒って, "I am very busy and this absurd interview has already lasted too long. I must again ask you to leave—即時に!"

Had he 推定する／予想するd his amazing 訪問者 to obey him at all, he 推定する／予想するd him to do so in a 従来の manner, and through the door. His method of leaving, however, left Tydvil 星／主役にするing blankly at the empty armchair from which the stranger had 消えるd as he spoke. He did not fade out; he just went out like the 炎上 of a candle, leaving no trace of his presence. Stay, though! There was an expensive, new hat with a glove lying beside it on the corner of the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する to impress upon Jones the fact that the amazing interview had not been the 結果 of an overwrought nervous system.

Tydvil half rose from his 議長，司会を務める and 星／主役にするd around his room, and then at the empty 議長，司会を務める and very inexplicable hat and glove. Then he said, slowly, and in an awed 発言する／表明する, "井戸／弁護士席, I'll be..."

"Softly! Softly! All in good time, my dear Mr. Jones! All in good time!" （機の）カム a mocking 発言する／表明する from the 議長，司会を務める, and with the words the stranger re-appeared as suddenly as he had 消えるd. 明らかに he had never moved from his place.

"The Duce!" exclaimed Tydvil.

"正確に!" smiled the claimant to the 肩書を与える.

"You were there all the time?" 需要・要求するd Jones, 沈むing 支援する in his 議長，司会を務める.

"正確に／まさに," the other replied. "Mere gallery play, you know— but— nothing else would 納得させる you that I had at least some ground for my （人命などを）奪う，主張する."

Jones 圧力（をかける）d his 手渡す to his 長，率いる. "Am I losing my 推論する／理由?" he muttered.

"Not at all, my friend, not at all!" （機の）カム the quick answer, though the muttered words were scarcely audible. "You are certainly を受けるing a most unusual experience for these days. 非，不，無 the いっそう少なく if you will listen to me for a few moments I think I can 納得させる you of my bona fides."

"You wish me to listen to you, assuming your （人命などを）奪う，主張するs to be 本物の?"

The other nodded. "Why not? Does not what you have just seen 納得させる you that I am no ordinary human 存在?"

Tydvil waved his 手渡すs helplessly. "Go on then! Go on!" he said weakly.

"My dear sir," 開始するd the claimant to the 王位 of 不明瞭. "I do not 非難する you in the slightest for your scepticism. I must 収容する／認める that I have neglected your world very much for the last few centuries, and it is but natural that you should 疑問 my 存在. You see, I recognise it is all my own fault. My work has been going on so 井戸／弁護士席 without my personal attention. However, here is the position." He settled himself 負かす／撃墜する more comfortably as he spoke.

Jones felt there was no comment he could make.

"It has lately been borne on me," continued the 訪問者 confidentially, "that I have become too 保守的な in my 商売／仕事 政策s. My methods of 行政 of home 事件／事情／状勢s are rather out of date. I feel I should move with the times."

"Of late years there has been a 苦しめるing and 乱すing 侵入占拠 of terrestrial politics into my kingdom. The new element of 共産主義 is now almost more 非常に／多数の than the old aristocracy of my kingdom. My gentlemen are rather proud and they resent 協会 with these 共産主義者s."

Jones nodded. There seemed nothing else to do.

"I 警告するd Judas Iscariot," said the 訪問者 reflectively, "that he was making a mistake in inventing the Marx doctrines. He thought he was 原因（となる）ing something smart in the way of trouble. He did not see the probable reaction on our politics as I did. However, the fact remains and the 状況／情勢 has to be met. You follow me so far?" he enquired.

Jones nodded again. He considered the man, or whatever his 訪問者 was, was doubtless in earnest. If he were insane, he was an 利益／興味ing bird. If, on the other 手渡す, he were what he （人命などを）奪う，主張するd to be, then he was worthy of sympathy.

"井戸／弁護士席," continued the stranger, "after turning the 事柄 over, I thought I could 得る a better しっかり掴む of the 状況／情勢 by visiting the earth and looking into things for myself. There was one difficulty, however."

"I should not have thought," put in Tydvil, "that you would find any difficulty insuperable."

"Usually, no," he replied. "In this instance, however, I was under a 確かな disability in that I am unable to make a visit unless 特に called upon by one of the inhabitants; and I have been waiting a かなりの time for the 招待. That alone せねばならない 納得させる me times have changed. A few centuries ago there was always some churchman or scientist invoking my 援助（する）. So, my dear Mr. Jones. I am indeed in your 負債 for your 援助."

"I'm afraid it was a やめる unconscious service." In the circumstances Tydvil was not anxious to assume the credit for his 訪問者's presence. "にもかかわらず, my 義務 remains," said the stranger civilly.

CHAPTER XI

Tydvil's 長，率いる was whirling with bewilderment. Perhaps, the thought occurred to him, both he and his 訪問者 were 非，不，無 compos mentis. However, if the strange creature were a 製品 of a prostrated nervous system it might be better to play up to him. 特に as the next question was, "By the way, my friend, will you tell me where on earth I am?"

"You are, at 現在の," he replied, "in the city of Melbourne, which is the 資本／首都 of the 明言する／公表する of Victoria in the 連邦／共和国 of Australia."

"Melbourne—Australia," murmured the other thoughtfully. "Er really, Mr. Jones, you must 許す me, but I do not seem to remember the 指名するs. Have you altered your European or Asiatic nomenclature by any means?"

It was Tydvil's turn to 星／主役にする. Strange to say, he felt a little nettled that, if his 訪問者 were what he professed to be, he should be ignorant of Australia and, more 特に, of Melbourne. Then he saw a light. "Perhaps," he 示唆するd, "your long absence from the world accounts for your difficulty. You see, the continent has been known to Europeans for only about two hundred years, and has been 占領するd for no more than one hundred and fifty years. Still, it rather surprises me that you have not heard of it."

"That would hardly account..." said His Highness thoughtfully. "But— one moment! Is there a place called Sydney in it!"

"That's 権利!" exclaimed Tydvil. "A place with a wonderful harbour!"

"Now I recollect. They do talk about Sydney Harbour in Hell. It is one of the minor 罰s. Yes, we did have some people from Sydney, but they 原因（となる）d so much trouble that the 移住 department 国外追放するd them and 禁じるd その上の 輸入するs. I 混乱させるd Australia with Austria for the moment. Ah, 井戸／弁護士席! I am sure your country will 供給する an 利益／興味ing 熟考する／考慮する."

He again 協議するd the card to which he had before referred. It excited Tydvil's curiosity as a 実業家. He 召喚するd up his courage. "Would I be in order," he asked, "if I enquired the nature of that card you have twice 協議するd?'

"Most certainly, Mr. Jones, most certainly!" he 答える／応じるd politely. "Indeed, as a 実業家, I have no 疑問 you will find it 利益／興味ing. One of my 最近の 革新s is a card system for keeping 明言する／公表する accounts. It is necessary for 記録，記録的な／記録する 目的s to keep an account of all human 活動／戦闘s. This is the master card. An 改良 of my own. On it, every 記録，記録的な／記録する I 願望（する） to 診察する appears すぐに. It fades when I have finished with it."

Tydvil sat 築く. "You mean to say you have a 記録，記録的な／記録する of the lives of all living people?" he asked in amazement.

"井戸／弁護士席, not 正確に／まさに. Our 記録，記録的な／記録するs 適用する only to 行為s which should not have been committed. And, of course, to words and thoughts also. They are kept to 設立する our （人命などを）奪う，主張するs when the 必然的な occasion arises."

"I suppose, then," said Tydvil hesitantly, "you have a card for me in your system, then?"

"Undoubtedly, my friend." He had been 持つ／拘留するing the card in his 手渡す. Then he looked up, smiling pleasantly. "Just for the sake of curiosity, we will see how our account stands."

He turned the master card over and ran his 注目する，もくろむs 負かす／撃墜する its columns. Then a queer 表現 （機の）カム over the lean 知識人 直面する. It 連合させるd astonishment with mystification. He 星／主役にするd at the card, then at Jones, and again at the card. Then he shook it 試験的に, as one shakes a troublesome telephone. Finally he sat up and 星／主役にするd at Tydvil. There was no mistaking the astonishment of his 表現.

"I hope," he 滞るd anxiously, "it is not so bad as your looks 示す?" His Highness paused before speaking. "Whether good or bad, Mr. Jones, depends on the viewpoint. I am not often surprised at anything, but I must 収容する／認める your 記録，記録的な／記録する is almost unique. I have seldom, in a long experience, seen anything 類似の. My dear sir, what a very dull time you must have had."

Tydvil's curiosity became insupportable. He looked at his 訪問者 appealingly. And then said anxiously, half 持つ／拘留するing out his 手渡す, "Might I?"

"井戸／弁護士席, Mr. Jones, it is most unusual, and I scarcely care to create a precedent. But the 現在の circumstances are exceptional. So we will stretch a point in this instance." And he passed the card into the eager 手渡す.

Tydvil's 手渡す shook as he ちらりと見ることd at it. "Why!" he exclaimed, looking up, "there is scarcely any thing on it."

"That, my dear sir, is the remarkable point. Most remarkable! I 保証する you! Why, do you know that for a man of your age the 普通の／平均（する） number of 入ること／参加（者）s would be from twenty to thirty thousand? And of those, at least fifteen per cent would be red. We put the more heinous 入ること／参加（者）s in red so that they can be more easily 公式文書，認めるd. You, as you will notice, have not a 選び出す／独身 red debit against you but the last—the one that is responsible for my 存在 here."

Tydvil was reading his card with concentrated 利益／興味. Suddenly he half stood up and ejaculated, "Oh! I say, this is not fair! I didn't, I'll 断言する I didn't!" His 直面する reddened perceptibly.

"Surely you are mistaken. I 保証する you, Mr. Jones, our 調書をとる／予約する- keeping system is infallible."

Jones 手渡すd 支援する the card, and pointed to it with a finger that shook. "That 入ること／参加（者）, 時代遅れの August 7. The one in the pale blue 署名／調印する."

His Highness took the card and ちらりと見ることd at the 入ること／参加（者）. Then he shook a playful finger at Tydvil. "Come, come, my friend! The girl in pink with the dark 注目する，もくろむs, on the Sydney 鉄道 壇・綱領・公約! That is 訂正する!"

"But I can't 収容する／認める it," retorted Jones, a good 取引，協定 nettled.

"My dear fellow," （機の）カム the suave reply. "Your memory must be betraying you. You did not take 配達／演説／出産, certainly, but that does not 取り消す your 義務."

"Still," 抗議するd the delinquent, "there should be some allowance for a mere passing thought."

His Highness shook his 長，率いる. "Impossible, my friend! やめる impossible! Still, it is only a trifle. These blue 署名／調印する 記録，記録的な／記録するs are 単に formal."

"By Jove!" exclaimed Tydvil, struck by a 有望な idea. "Would it be possible to see my wife's account?"

Mirth and gravity fought in the dark 注目する，もくろむs, and mirth won. He laughed heartily and replied, "Oh, my friend! Consider a moment! What is your colloquial 表現? Be a sport, eh? That would be hardly playing the game. As a 事柄 of 商売／仕事, I せねばならない let you see it, but still..." He waved the thought away with his 手渡す.

"井戸／弁護士席, I don't know," replied Tydvil. "I am sure Amy would have no nice feelings about 検査／視察するing 地雷."

"Doubtless! What woman would hesitate if she had a chance of 診察するing an 正確な and impartial 声明 of her husband's little lapses?"

Jones chuckled at the idea. Much to his own surprise, he 設立する himself 受託するing his 訪問者 at his 額面価格, and was also 現実に enjoying the 慣習に捕らわれない interview. "If such a thing were possible, ennui would 消える from the world."

"And so would the human race," laughed His Highness. "No, it would not do at all."

Then he sat up and spoke 本気で. "However, this is not 商売／仕事, is it? And I am afraid I am taking up a good 取引，協定 of your 価値のある time. Now, what can I do for you?"

The abrupt question sobered Jones すぐに. The idea that his 訪問者 could be of any 援助 to him had never entered his mind. Now the idea was implanted there, the thought of 受託するing anything from such a ４半期/4分の1 shocked him. Doubtless his look betrayed the thought.

"Of course, Mr. Jones," said His Highness 真面目に, "there is no compulsion on you to 受託する the 明確な／細部 service you について言及するd when you asked for this interview. I would he very sorry to 持つ／拘留する you to the letter of your word. Any man in your position may easily be excused for what he might say in a moment of irritation. Still, my 義務 is very 広大な／多数の／重要な, and I would like to show my 感謝."

There was no mistaking the 誠実 of the words. The 説 that his 訪問者 was not so 黒人／ボイコット as he was painted, flashed across Tydvil's mind. The other, watching, answered the unspoken thought. "There is a good 取引，協定 of truth in that old 説," he said. "I suppose no one has been more maligned than I with いっそう少なく chance of defending himself. I am 感謝する even for that small 譲歩."

As he spoke he drew a handsome cigarette 事例／患者 from his pocket. "Do you mind if I smoke?"

"Not at all," answered Jones politely.

His Highness held out the open 事例／患者. "You will join me?" he said pleasantly.

Jones shook his 長，率いる. "Thank you, but I never smoke."

The other smiled quizzically. "Ah, my friend! You would be far better able to 耐える your troubles if you did. Self-否定 comes to a point where it becomes self-righteousness—an unpleasant characteristic. Let me 圧力（をかける） you!" He again held out the 事例／患者.

Jones looked at it indecisively. "I have often thought of beginning, but my wife detests the habit." His Highness raised his eyebrows in gentle mockery. "And," went on Jones, "it might make me sick."

The other laughed lightly. "Not one of these. の中で other virtues, they have the 質 of 変えるing anyone who uses them into an habitual smoker, whom no タバコ, however strong, can upset."

Tydvil hesitated no longer, and placed one of the white cylinders between his lips. His Highness followed 控訴 and, to Tydvil's astonishment, the moment it touched his lips it became alight. Then he bent 今後, 申し込む／申し出ing the glowing tip to his host.

Jones had no 反対 to タバコ, indeed, he really liked the aroma. Only the 恐れる of Amy had kept him from indulging earlier. Now, as he drew the first ガス／煙s into his mouth, a delicious sense of contentment （機の）カム over him.

"井戸／弁護士席?" queried his guest through the blue smoke.

"Splendid!" quoth Tydvil.

"Good!" smiled His Highness. "And now we can 再開する our talk. I really hope that you are not going to 辞退する my 申し込む／申し出," he went on persuasively.

"井戸／弁護士席," said Tydvil reflectively; the first hesitation had 消えるd with the first cloud of smoke. "I really don't see what there is that you can do for me."

"There is very little I cannot do for you," （機の）カム the suave answer. "One hesitates to say such a thing, but really, Mr. Jones, you have made singularly little use of your 広大な／多数の／重要な 適切な時期s. You have lived and so has a jellyfish. I'm afraid the analogy sounds rude, and I can readily excuse you for taking exception to it, but you must 収容する／認める its 司法（官）."

"I 収容する／認める I find life rather dull," 譲歩するd Tydvil a little ruefully. "Perhaps I would be more content with a little enjoyment." He 星／主役にするd at the smoke spirals from his cigarette without looking up.

"井戸／弁護士席, it is all at your 命令（する）. What would you have. Wealth?"

"I already have that."

"Health?"

"I am as sound as a bell and 堅い as hickory."

"力／強力にする?"

"I have 十分な."

"Ambition?"

"I have 非，不，無 that I have not already 満足させるd."

"Love of women?"

Jones looked up はっきりと. "I have had one experience in that direction," he said dryly, "and I am not hankering for any more, thank you."

"Oh! I mean the 本物の 肉親，親類d," laughed His Highness. "Once bitten..." 引用するd Jones sourly. "I wouldn't take the 危険."

"悲観論者!" chuckled the other.

"Maybe," （機の）カム the short answer. "But if you had lived with Amy for ten years I know which of our 住居s you would prefer."

"What about the はしけ 味方する of life?" asked His Highness. "The joy of living."

Tydvil knitted his brows. "Yes," he said slowly. "I 収容する／認める that 控訴，上告s to me. But look how I am tied up. I am an example. A pious pattern. A guiding light. How could I break away from the family tradition? Sheer hypocrisy, I suppose! I am so used to 存在 looked up to that it takes an 成果／努力 to come 負かす／撃墜する from my pedestal. I cannot have the fun in someone else's 指名する.' He sighed a little in self pity.

"やめる possible, my friend," （機の）カム the 誘発する answer. "Eh!" Jones looked up, startled.

"It would be easily possible for you to assume another 身元 for your 企業," said His Highness, smiling.

"You don't mean to say..." The question stuck in Tydvil's throat.

"正確に／まさに! But it rather 複雑にするs 事柄s. You see, so long as the service you ask is an every day 事柄, I would give it 喜んで and without 条件. The other would be 支配する to some 制限s which, I 悔いる, are 避けられない."

"If you could 保証（人） individuality for my amusements, I don't think you would find me haggling over the 条件," said Tydvil decisively.

"Of course," said His Highness, "it would be a mere 形式順守. 許す me to give you another cigarette. A mere 形式順守! I should have to ask you to give me a promissory 公式文書，認める—for any 称する，呼ぶ／期間／用語. The consideration 存在," he 直す／買収する，八百長をするd his luminous 注目する，もくろむs on Jones, "that you assume any individuality you 願望（する）, and call upon me for any service you 願望（する）, during the 通貨 of the 公式文書，認める. The 公式文書，認める to be 無効の if I fail in my service. I think that is generous enough."

"Undoubtedly," 譲歩するd Tydvil. "But," he went on hesitating, "what 量 will be 伴う／関わるd? I am willing to 支払う／賃金 anything in 推論する／理由."

"Oh, don't let us talk of money between friends!" said the other あわてて. "We must put something in, of course. Say, for example—no! Let us go 支援する to the old tradition—your soul it means nothing and makes the thing 合法的な."

Tydvil looked at his 訪問者 intently, and his gaze was met by another of 武装解除するing frankness. "調印するd in 血 and all that sort of thing?" he asked.

"Bosh! 署名／調印する is やめる good enough," （機の）カム the answer. "But," temporarised Jones, "would such an 器具 be binding?"

"As doyen of the 合法的な profession, my dear Mr. Jones, you may 受託する my 保証／確信 that it would be," answered His Highness easily.

"I didn't think the 法律 would 収容する／認める there would be 所有物／資産／財産 in a soul," said Tydvil thoughtfully.

The other blew a long, 罰金 stream of smoke from his pursed lips. "I think," he said 意味ありげに, "that I could very easily 変える anyone who 可決する・採択するd that 見解（をとる）. However," he laughed わずかに, and went on airily, "it is a mere 形式順守 and means nothing."

Jones sat thinking 深く，強烈に. The idea was alluring. It gave him a chance to break from his rigid 環境. Still he hesitated. Could this 存在 be what he professed to be? There was still 疑問 in his mind. He looked up at his 訪問者, who was watching him intently.

"Mr. Jones," he said, "I can easily excuse your 疑問s in the circumstances, and am willing to 服従させる／提出する to a 実験（する）, anything you choose, before 圧力（をかける）ing you to take my 申し込む／申し出."

Jones looked around the room. His 注目する，もくろむ lighted on the three-トン door of the strong-room. He alone held its 重要なs. He turned to his friend. "Would it be possible for you to open that door without moving from your seat?"

His Highness nodded. "I will do more than you ask—watch!" As he spoke, the 広大な／多数の／重要な door swung slowly and noiselessly out on its hinges. As its 幅の広い 辛勝する／優位 turned に向かって him, Jones gave a little cry of astonishment. He saw that, though it had opened, its twelve wrist-厚い bolts remained 発射. They must have been torn through the でっちあげる，人を罪に陥れる, but the でっちあげる，人を罪に陥れる remained 損なわれていない.

"Je-ru-salem!" whistled Tydvil.

"Wait—I 約束d you something more."

As Jones looked 支援する, something ぱたぱたするd through the 空気／公表する and landed on the blotting pad before him. He gasped as he saw it was his 私的な cheque 調書をとる／予約する. That 調書をとる／予約する, he knew, was locked in a smaller 安全な in the strong-room.

Jones looked an enquiry at His Highness, who nodded assent. Then he walked over to the open door and 診察するd the bolts. Entering the strong-room, he 打ち明けるd the smaller 安全な. His cheque 調書をとる／予約する was not there. 納得させるd, he returned to his 議長，司会を務める. At a wave of the thin brown 手渡す, the door の近くにd as 静かに as it had opened.

"You forgot to put away the cheque 調書をとる／予約する," laughed Tydvil.

"容赦," murmured His Highness. Leaning 今後, he 選ぶd up the 調書をとる／予約する and 投げ上げる／ボディチェックするd it に向かって the steel door. It disappeared in 中央の flight. Jones stood up and opened the door with his 重要なs and the combination. In the strong-room he 設立する his cheque 調書をとる／予約する 支援する in its place.

Returning to his 議長，司会を務める once more, he sat with his 手渡すs on the 辛勝する／優位 of his （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する, 星／主役にするing blankly at the blotting pad for a long minute. Then he （機の）カム to swift 決定／判定勝ち（する）. "I'll do it!" he said 突然の.

His 訪問者 nodded, smiling. "I am really delighted to hear it. I 保証する you I take a 広大な／多数の／重要な personal 利益／興味 in you, Mr. Jones, and I feel 確かな you will have no 原因（となる） to 悔いる your 決意. Now, let us arrange the 形式順守s, and I will be in a position to take your 指示／教授／教育s. Have you a promissory 公式文書，認める form?"

With the 空気／公表する of a man who has 燃やすd his boats and enjoyed the 過程, Jones opened a small cash-box, from which he drew a small wad of stamped forms. Bending to select one, he hesitated. "By the way," he asked, "what stamps will be necessary?"

His Highness shook his 長，率いる. "I scarcely follow you. Is a stamp necessary?"

"Decidedly! Under the 行為／法令／行動する," explained Tydvil, "it is necessary to have a 義務 stamp valued at sixpence on each 公式文書，認める up to twenty-five 続けざまに猛撃するs in value, one shilling up to fifty 続けざまに猛撃するs, and an 付加 shilling for each その上の fifty 続けざまに猛撃するs, or part of that 量. I would prefer to have the 公式文書，認める unassailably 合法的な."

The other waved his 手渡す 大部分は. "Why go to unnecessary expense—make it a sixpenny stamp, my dear fellow." Then, 観察するing the 紅潮／摘発する on the 直面する of Tydvil, he continued, "However, decide for yourself. I am afraid I was looking at it from my viewpoint rather than yours."

Jones still hesitated.

"You see, my friend, I am apt to regard a 商品／必需品 as of low value when I can 得る millions of it for nothing—the world market parity for souls. Still, I see your point of 見解（をとる）. Decide for yourself, my dear sir."

Jones chuckled. "I see, a 純粋に 商業の proposition, at 判決，裁定 prices. It is not what I value it at, but what it would bring?"

"正確に," answered his 訪問者 cheerfully.

Tydvil drew a form with a sixpenny stamp on it from the wad, and laughed. "Here goes!" 準備するing to 令状, he said, "Now, this is the first day of August—shall we say at three months?"

The other 屈服するd. "I leave the 詳細（に述べる）s 完全に in your 手渡すs, and with 完全にする 信用／信任." A very handsome testimonial coming from such a ４半期/4分の1.

Tydvil blushed with pride. "Very 井戸／弁護士席! Three months, then. That will make it 予定 on November fourth, 許すing for the formal three days' grace." He wrote for a moment, and then looked up with a puzzled 表現. "To whom shall I make it payable, you see..." he paused awkwardly.

His Highness smiled. "Of course, it would be hardly—井戸／弁護士席, a little unusual to make it payable to the Devil."

Jones nodded. "My idea 正確に／まさに. And since we are likely to see a good 取引，協定 of one another during the next three months, it might be 同様に to arrange for some 従来の form of 演説（する）／住所 at the same time."

His 訪問者 反映するd a moment. "There are so many 指名するs— Satan, The Devil, Lucifer, Ahrimanes, The Tempter, Prince of 不明瞭, of Evil— all very uncomplimentary, and even more 不確かの, and やめる unsuitable for modern use, at any 率. Can you 示唆する anything yourself?"

Tydvil tried, but not hopefully. "The Dickens," he paused and, receiving no answer, went on, "Old Scratch, Old Nick..."

"All most 不快な／攻撃 and familiar," retorted His Highness, somewhat nettled.

"Might I 投機・賭ける to 示唆する," Tydvil returned, "that we could use the last 指名する I について言及するd by paraphrasing it. We could change 'Old Nick' to Nicholas 上級の. I think Mr. Nicholas 上級の would be most suitable."

"Excellent, my friend, excellent!" agreed His Highness. "We will certainly make it Nicholas 上級の."

"How about a 肩書を与える," put in Jones, persuasively. "Say, Sir Nicholas 上級の, K.B.E."

"No," replied his friend. "On the whole I prefer to remain 完全に incog. Put it 負かす／撃墜する to a natural humility."

Jones apologised. He felt there was a rebuke behind the words. Presently he paused again in his 令状ing.

"供給するd, when the 公式文書，認める 落ちるs 予定, you have 実行するd your 味方する of the 契約, do you take 即座の 所有／入手 of the 安全?" he asked a little uneasily.

"Not at all! Not at all!" answered Mr. 上級の あわてて. "The usual 条件 適用する in 十分な. You 保持する a life 利益／興味 in your soul, which I 相続する on your death—that is, when you have no その上の use for it."

"Very generous," said Tydvil, looking relieved. Presently he looked up, and read from the form before him. "時代遅れの August 1st, 1904. 予定, November 4th, 1904. In place of the usual sum in 人物／姿／数字s I have written 'Soul.' Will that 十分である?"

Mr. 上級の nodded 協定.

"Three months after date," continued Jones, "I 約束 to 支払う／賃金 Nicholas 上級の, or order, my Immortal Soul for services to be （判決などを）下すd during the 通貨 of this 公式文書，認める. Payable at my offices in 3973 Flinders 小道／航路, Melbourne. 調印するd, Tydvil Jones."

He 手渡すd the 公式文書，認める across the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する to Mr. 上級の, who read it carefully. Then he turned the 公式文書，認める 直面する 負かす／撃墜する, and, after 令状ing on the 支援する of it, he returned it to Jones for 査察.

This is the 裏書，是認 Jones read. The handwriting was exquisitely neat and （疑いを）晴らす. "If, during the 通貨 of this 公式文書，認める, I fail to 成し遂げる any 仕事 or service of any description which I may be called upon to 成し遂げる by the 製造者 thereof, I agree that the 公式文書，認める shall become automatically 無効の. Nicholas R., et I."

"Very handsome, indeed, Mr. 上級の," said Jones, 手渡すing 支援する the 公式文書，認める, "but I 保証する you, やめる unnecessary."

Mr. 上級の 倍のd the 文書 carefully, and placed it in his wallet. "We are both businessmen, my friend, and it is only 権利 that my 義務 should be 始める，決める out in 令状ing."

Jones 星／主役にするd at him a moment thoughtfully. "I suppose it is 完全に 合法的な. Not that I would think of trying to upset it."

There was a grim smile at the corners of the clean-削減（する） mouth. "Not all the children of my very 非常に／多数の family known as the 合法的な Profession, together, could upset it."

"It would be 利益／興味ing to hear it argued," smiled Tydvil.

"Perhaps," from the still smiling lips. "But, as from the 郡 法廷，裁判所s to the Privy 会議 I am 代表するd on every （法廷の）裁判...!" He flipped his fingers carelessly.

Then his mood changed. "And now, my friend, I am 完全に at your service. 命令（する） me."

"I must think things over a little," replied Tydvil. "You see, this has come so suddenly and 突然に..." He was interrupted by the telephone bell.

"Excuse me one moment." He raised the receiver to his ear and listened a moment. Then he snorted out a curt "Very 井戸／弁護士席!" and slammed it 負かす／撃墜する again.

Then he turned 突然の to Mr. 上級の. "My wife will be here in half an hour. I have no 願望（する） to 会合，会う her just now. Could you arrange some means of altering her 意向?"

"Most certainly. A 楽しみ indeed," replied Mr. 上級の lightly. "I will be most 利益／興味d to 会合，会う the lady, who, I feel sure, is 責任がある your own remarkable 記録，記録的な／記録する—to a 広大な／多数の／重要な extent. But after?"

Jones thought for a moment. "Can you 会合，会う me here about seven- thirty this evening?"

In answer to a nod of acquiescence, he went on, "That will 控訴 me admirably, so, until then, I need not trouble you." He rose and looked at the door. "If I let you out by the door, it may 原因（となる） comment. 行方不明になる Brand is not aware of your presence here."

"No 事柄," said Mr. 上級の, "my goings and comings may be arranged さもなければ."

"There will be no trouble about my wife?"

"Not the slightest! I will arrange to have her fully 占領するd for the 残りの人，物 of the day." He held out his 手渡す, which Tydvil shook 温かく, and as he 解放（する）d it, Mr. 上級の was not. He 消えるd.

For a long time Tydvil sat thinking. Then he took his hat, and leaving the 倉庫／問屋, he turned into Elizabeth Street, there made 確かな 購入（する）s, and returned to his office.

CHAPTER XII

While Tydvil Jones was を受けるing the experiences of the most unsettling morning of his life, Amy was as busy as a nest of hornets planning 報復s. For the first time during their married life, Tydvil had out-fought her. His 反乱 負傷させるd her pride. She was too clever not to recognise that a few more victories such as that of the morning—that 戦う／戦い of Breakfast would shake her 国内の 王位.

How very tiresome men were, thought Amy. But Tydvil's tiresomeness had to be stopped. After careful reflection on the 状況／情勢, she decided that a fight to a finish in his own office, where he could not afford to make a scene, would be all to her advantage. It was this 決定／判定勝ち（する） that impelled her to （犯罪の）一味 Tydvil to 通知する him of her ーするつもりであるd call. She decided against descending on him unannounced. She had 支援するd her challenge with the 警告, that if he were absent when she arrived, she would wait for him in his office all day if necessary.

Her car was already waiting at the door when a mighty リムジン Rolls Royce swung from St. Kilda Road into the 運動. With all the majesty of a 戦艦, it （機の）カム to 錨，総合司会者 just astern of her own car as Amy was in the 行為／法令／行動する of stepping in to it.

Amy stepped 支援する under the colonnaded verandah. The chauffeur of the 向こうずねing monster sprang from his seat and swung open its door almost reverently, and from the door stepped a stranger.

The car had impressed Amy. A リムジン of that make meant no ordinary mortal, and Amy did not care much for ordinary mortals, except as 反対するs of patronage. But the stranger, as he approached her, impressed her more than the car. There was a distinction in his 耐えるing that was worthy of the entwined red R's on the radiator.

He 機動力のある the steps and stood bareheaded before her. "May I enquire," he asked deferentially, "if I am speaking to Mrs. Tydvil Jones?" and there was a delicate flattery in the deference.

She 屈服するd graciously.

He looked a little embarrassed. "I am afraid," he said, ちらりと見ることing at the waiting car, "that I have chosen an ぎこちない moment for my call. Perhaps you will 許す me to return at a more suitable time."

Amy 花冠d her 直面する in her best 見本s of "Dear Amy" smiles. Her 使節団, she 保証するd him, was of little or no importance. Would he kindly come inside. As they entered the 歓迎会 room she turned to him. Her curiosity almost was 明白な as it oozed from her.

He drew a gold 事例／患者 from his vest pocket. "My 指名する," he said, as he 手渡すd her the card, "is Nicholas 上級の, though it is probably やめる unfamiliar to you, if I may 投機・賭ける to say so, it is not altogether unknown in England."

Amy felt she せねばならない know the 指名する of one so distinguished in 外見. She felt almost 有罪の that it 伝えるd nothing to her mind. She shook her 長，率いる. "I must 自白する that I have not heard it." She smiled graciously to 安心させる him that her ignorance was no reflection on him.

"I have come to Australia," explained Mr. 上級の, "with the 反対する of 熟考する／考慮するing your social problems. I 願望（する） to compare them with those of Britain and the 部隊d 明言する／公表するs."

Amy brightened. "Are you 代表するing any particular society or 利益／興味d in any special 支店?" she enquired with rising 利益／興味.

Her 訪問者 shook his 長，率いる. "I am 完全に a 解放する／自由な-lance, but I was 知らせるd both in England and America that Mrs. Tydvil Jones of Melbourne was pre-eminently competent to 行為／法令／行動する as my 助言者 and guide. It is to that you 借りがある, what I am afraid is, a somewhat untimely call."

Warm and glowing satisfaction pervaded Amy's entire system. "I did not know," she replied with smiling modesty, "that my poor little 成果／努力s were known outside the circle of my 即座の associates—an enthusiastic group, Mr. 上級の."

"Ah! Dear lady," he 答える／応じるd gently, "you do yourself far いっそう少なく than 司法（官）. Believe me, the 指名する of Mrs. Tydvil Jones stands high, の中で those who know, on the 名簿（に載せる）／表（にあげる） of the world's philanthropists." The （犯罪の）一味 of 誠実 in his 発言する／表明する was faultless.

The words were as oil on the troubled spirit of Amy. What 弾薬／武器 to use on Tydvil! "Still," she 抗議するd, "I cannot think of anyone in England who knew of my work."

He smiled. "When I decided to come to Australia, I had the honour and 特権 of lunching with the 大司教 of Canterbury. I discussed with him the 反対する of my visit, and it was from him I first learned your 指名する. It appears that a former 大司教 of Melbourne had given him a most glowing account of your work; and"—here he felt in his pocket —"His Grace was 肉親，親類d enough to procure this letter for me." He 手渡すd her a dignified looking missive.

Amy took it and ちらりと見ることd at the 演説（する）／住所 and the mitred flap. "I am delighted you have called, Mr. 上級の, and you can 信用 me to 補助装置 you in every way I can."

"I felt sure of that." He 屈服するd his 感謝. "Indeed, the 大司教 知らせるd me that in making your 知識, I would be 開始 every avenue of social 成果／努力 I wished to 調査する. It is for that 推論する／理由 I have taken the earliest 適切な時期 to call."

Never before in her life had Amy felt so important or so perfectly 満足させるd with herself. She would let Master Tydvil know 正確に／まさに where she stood. It did not occur to her to 疑問 for a moment that the 大司教 of Canterbury was alive to her good 行為s. Although she did not belong to the Anglican church, her 知識 with the clergy was like Sam Weller's knowledge of London, "広範囲にわたる and peculiar."

She 保証するd Mr. 上級の that she had nothing to do that might not be deferred, and readily placed herself at his 処分.

It was then that her fascinating 訪問者 示唆するd the 計画（する） of her lunching with him, that they might 充てる the afternoon to the 査察 of her endeavours. He apologised nicely to her for 招待するing her to Menzies, where he was staying. He 表明するd his own distaste at patronising an hotel, but regretted that he could not どこかよそで 得る accommodation suitable for his needs.

Mr. 上級の 保証するd Amy that he was an ardent 支持する for 禁止, and hoped that before he left Melbourne, his 発言する／表明する would be raised on that 支配する from some public 壇・綱領・公約.

Amy hesitated. Never in her life had she 始める，決める foot in an hotel. Never did she think it possible she would be 有罪の of such an 活動／戦闘. Then she remembered the Rolls Royce. It occurred to her that if a man who had lunched with the 大司教 of Canterbury, and who was a prohibitionist, did not think it wrong to stay at an hotel, surely it would not be wrong for Amy Jones to lunch there with him.

So, in the end, she 解任するd her own car and stepped into that of Mr. 上級の, as proud a woman as ever …を伴ってd that gentleman anywhere— and there had been very, very many before her.

CHAPTER XIII

一方／合間, in his office, Tydvil Jones had fanned his own 計画（する）s. A touch on his bell called 行方不明になる Brand to the presence. "If Mr. Brewer is about the office, will you kindly let him know I 要求する to see him," was the message he 配達するd to his 長官.

Geraldine looked at him uncertainly. He read her unspoken uneasiness. "It is another 事柄, 行方不明になる Brand. I will 尊敬（する）・点 your wishes about this morning's 事件／事情／状勢."

Re-保証するd, Geraldine returned to her desk and sought Billy on the 倉庫／問屋 拡張 lines. She 配達するd her message with a wicked little smile, hanging up すぐに to 妨げる the enquiry he would be sure to make.

A few minutes later, the 犯人 answered the 召喚するs. She heard his approach, but kept her 注目する，もくろむs resolutely on her work. She knew he paused for a moment beside her, and anathematised her heart for its 反抗的な 返答 to his nearness. She heard him enter the room behind her, and her work 苦しむd because she could not keep her thoughts from what was going on behind the の近くにd door.

All the morning Billy had been を待つing the 召喚するs. He 心配するd, and regretted, the prospect of a 要約 解雇／（訴訟の）却下. His only 悔いる for his 行為／行う lay in the thought that his folly had made the 仕事 of winning Geraldine trebly difficult. 存在 解雇（する）d was a comparatively small price to 支払う／賃金 for the glory of 持つ／拘留するing her in his 武器. He had paused for a second to gratify his 注目する，もくろむs with a glimpse of that golden helmet—or was it 巡査? Then he marched grimly to what he believed was his 公式の／役人 scaffold.

Tydvil Jones waved him to a 議長，司会を務める with a smileless 直面する. The 直面する was a 調印する of ill-omen that was balanced by his 申し込む／申し出 of the 議長，司会を務める. 死刑執行, he thought, would be carried out standing. Billy felt he 削減（する） a very poor spectacle. Since the morning the rich colouring of his left 注目する，もくろむ had had time to develop. Its swollen lid drooped until it almost shut out the light. No man could feel dignified with such an 注目する，もくろむ, 特に in the presence of one who had seen how he 達成するd to it.

He began to speak, but Tydvil, recognising his 意向, 削減（する） him short. "Do not wish to 言及する to that 事柄, Brewer, if you please! 行方不明になる Brand has, very magnanimously, I think, interceded on your に代わって." Billy's heart gave a jump.

Then, with a very meaning look at the polychrome 注目する，もくろむ, he went on. "We will regard the 出来事/事件 as also の近くにd."

"That's a 汚い one," thought Billy. But the fact that Geraldine had interceded took the sting from Tyddie's irony. If she had turned aside the wrath of 司法（官） she might...

Here Tydvil 削減（する） into his golden hopes. "I understand, Brewer, that you are （麻薬）常用者d to 賭事ing in fact that you are in the habit of playing a card game known as draw poker."

Billy gasped from the 揺さぶる. "Who," he wondered, "was the 肉親，親類d friend who had 手渡すd that item of news to Tyddie?" Truly, it was his day of atonement. It seemed as though the 法案 for the total of his peccadilloes was 存在 現在のd at once. "Let 'em all come," he murmured to himself hopelessly.

He 認める the 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金, and 追加するd, "At the same time, I have never regarded it as a heinous offence."

His 裁判官 pursed his lips. "Perhaps not, Brewer—that is, compared with some others I know of, but on which I will not dwell." The 発言する／表明する was as 乾燥した，日照りの as a summer's throat. "However, I did not send for you to 非難 you, however much I disapprove of 確かな of your 活動／戦闘s. I wished to know if you would be good enough to teach, me that game?"

Billy thought his ears had been bewitched. Tyddie asking to be taught how to play "draw!"

"He'll be taking me out for a snifter yet," 反映するd the 上級の city 代表者／国会議員 of C. B. & .D. His 表現 明らかにする／漏らすd his amazement to Tydvil more 完全に than words could.

"I can understand your astonishment," said Mr. Jones, "but the fact (Oh! Tydvil!) is, I am making a 熟考する／考慮する of the 賭事ing evil. I find I am handicapped in my 調査s by a need of a practical knowledge of the 支配する. I am, therefore, looking to you for enlightenment."

Billy breathed 深く，強烈に. Two （死）刑の執行猶予（をする）s in ten minutes were rather too much for him, but he pulled himself together. Billy never questioned for a moment that Tydvil's 声明 was anything but the truth. It 証明するd again that a 評判 for a blameless life is a perfect cloak for a lapse therefrom. Billy 急いでd to 主張する his 乗り気 to 強いる, but 示唆するd the necessity for a pack of cards.

Tydvil nodded. "That has not escaped me," he replied. 開始 a drawer in his （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する, he 手渡すd his 最近の 購入（する） across to Billy. "I 推定する those will do."

Billy snapped the twine and, 開始 the box, slid the cards on to the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する and ran his fingers through them with an 専門家's touch. "Of course, you understand that we must play for some form of 火刑／賭けるs?" he queried.

"I 推定するd that it would be so," Tydvil acquiesced sourly, "but I 示唆する we play for something of no value—pins, for instance."

Billy smiled. "They will do for a start, anyhow," he replied cheerfully.

"My 利益／興味 is, of course, 純粋に academic," 主張するd Mr. Jones.

"やめる so," 認める Billy as with deft fingers he shuffled cards so easily as to draw an admiring comment on his dexterity. "単に a 事柄 of practice," Billy said as he dealt each five cards, cleanly and 速く.

Then, 直面するing them up, he gave Tydvil his first lesson in the gentle and unhallowed art of "draw." It is a game in which the elements are easily しっかり掴むd. In spite of its 簡単, however, there is no game 需要・要求するs a more 技術d technique. Nature had richly endowed Billy Brewer with that brazen sang froid which is a poker player's best 資産.

Billy dealt half a dozen 手渡すs 直面する up, and explained the mysteries of pairs, threes, straights, 紅潮／摘発するs and 十分なs, and the chances of 改善するing on the draw. Then, after dividing the contents of Tydvil's pin tray between them, he began a practical demonstration. Tydvil quickly しっかり掴むd the 必須のs, and, before they realised it, the two were 深い in the simple pastime. 選び出す／独身 手渡すd "draw" for pins did not 控訴，上告 to Billy very 堅固に, but to Tydvil, it opened up a new and fascinating avenue of amusement.

In いっそう少なく than half an hour, beginners' luck and the absence of 危険 enabled Tydvil to 完全に relieve Billy of his 在庫／株 of pins.

公式文書，認めるing the smile of satisfaction on Jones's 直面する, Billy 示唆するd that, had the pins 代表するd cash, his 対抗者 would not have been やめる so venturesome.

The imputation touched Tydvil's pride in his new 設立する knowledge. It pricked him into replying. "井戸／弁護士席, I would be 用意が出来ている, for once, to 証明する my competence to play for money—a small 量, say?"

It occurred to Billy, that since his 雇用者 was 支払う／賃金ing him for his time, and would probably 支払う／賃金 more for his daring, the 協定 would be most 満足な.

"Good," he challenged, "we'll make the pins 価値（がある） threepence a dozen." So, with pins to the value of half a 栄冠を与える each, they recommenced.

For an hour nothing 乱すd the silence of the sanctum but the murmur of the two 発言する／表明するs. Outside, 行方不明になる Brand, 否定するd admittance to 報知係 after 報知係, 含むing two departmental 長，率いるs. These, 審理，公聴会 that Tyddie had been in 会議／協議会 with Brewer half the morning, 真面目に discussed what （選挙などの）運動をする the 長，指導者 could be organising. Lunch time （機の）カム, but there was no sound of movement behind the 霜d-glass door.

Inside, Tydvil was 支援 amazing luck with 改善するing technique. Again and again he sent Billy to the pin tray for more 弾薬／武器. 決意 to come out 勝利者 led Brewer into taking 危険s that he could not afford with the astute Tydvil. Finally, after throwing in his 手渡す rather than 危険 "seeing" the 勝利を得た Tydvil, he leaned 支援する and said, "I have no 権利 to ask, but what did you 持つ／拘留する then? I drew a 紅潮／摘発する."

There was a little smile on Tydvil's 直面する as he 自白するd to a pair of threes.

Billy put the cards 負かす／撃墜する. He looked at the pile of pins in 前線 of Tydvil, and said, "Your education is 完全にする. A man who looks like a 十分な 手渡す 持つ／拘留するing a pair of threes needs no その上の 指示／教授／教育. I'll 削減（する） my loss." He dug his 手渡す into his trouser pocket.

For the first time during the 開会／開廷／会期, Tydvil looked at the clock. "Good gracious, Brewer!" he exclaimed. "It is half past one o'clock! Dear me! I'm sure I had no idea of the time." Then, ちらりと見ることing at the silver, he said, "I couldn't think of letting you 支払う／賃金, Brewer. I am much 強いるd for the trouble you have taken."

Billy shook his 長，率いる. "Had I won I would have 推定する／予想するd to be paid," he said decisively. "I consider myself very lucky it was only three pence a dozen."

"It is a most demoralising game. Most demoralising!" said Tydvil 厳粛に. "I 収容する／認める that I became most fascinated with its 可能性s. Nothing could have brought home to me more 明確に how the evil of 賭事ing could take 持つ／拘留する of one. I would rather we considered the 事柄 settled."

Leaning across the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する, Brewer drew the pad with its pile of pins に向かって him. 速く his deft fingers separated the pile into dozens. Presently, Billy looked up. "I make it thirty seven dozen and four. Threepence a dozen lets me 負かす／撃墜する lightly. I 借りがある you nine and fourpence." He sorted out four florins, a shilling and threepence. 追加するing a penny from his vest pocket, he 手渡すd the 略奪する to Tydvil, who 受託するd it reluctantly.

"At any 率," he said, "in 未来 I shall be able to speak of 賭事ing with some experience."

Billy stood up. "I think it lucky for the community that you will make nothing but academic use of your knowledge. I should hate to sit in with you in a game of half-栄冠を与える rises. You have been too good a pupil." He grinned.

"I'm afraid my friends would be terribly shocked if they knew how I have spent the last two hours," Jones said.

"井戸／弁護士席," said Billy from the door, "they are not likely to hear it from me. Would one of them believe you had won nine shillings and fourpence from me in your own office?"

As he passed Geraldine's （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する he looked に向かって her. His one 注目する，もくろむ met her two 直す／買収する，八百長をするd on him in real びっくり仰天 at the havoc she had wrought. In spite of herself, a 狼狽d "Oh!" broke from her lips.

Billy, the unregenerate, smiled cheerfully. "It was coming to me, Geraldine—and it was 井戸／弁護士席 価値（がある） the getting. Isn't it a beauty?"

His utter impenitence froze her sympathy. "In 未来," she said with 鎮圧するing dignity, "I do not wish you to speak to me."

With his 長，率いる on one 味方する Billy 調査するd her with a twinkle in the undamaged 注目する，もくろむ. "I hear and obey, O Queen! But there's no 法律 agin' lookin' at ye, Geraldine, me darlint." He kissed the tips of his fingers to her and went on his way.

As she watched him go the uncertain little smile on her lips grew to a little laugh as he disappeared from sight.

In his room Tydvil gazed at the coins in his 手渡す with a 確かな 量 of pride. Taking his hat he apologised politely to Geraldine for having 拘留するd her. He passed the restaurant where he was in the habit of spending a midday two shillings. Turning into Collins Street, he entered one over the threshold of which he had never yet 始める，決める foot. Here he ordered a lunch that, when he had given the waiter two shillings, left him with fourpence of his winnings. Tydvil Jones felt much better for his lunch.

CHAPTER XIV

It would have astonished Tydvil Jones かなり had he known that his wife, also, had 出発／死d from the 支配するs of her rigorous しつけ. With ぱたぱたするing excitement at what she considered a far more heinous lapse than that of the curate who finished a day out by returning home in a smoking carriage, Amy had …を伴ってd her new and distinguished 知識 to Menzies.

During the time they, waited in the lounge, and afterwards in the 広大な／多数の／重要な dining-room, with its gaily plumaged women and their squires, it gave her a thrill of feline satisfaction to 観察する the admiring 注目する，もくろむs that followed her 護衛する.

But there was one thorn in her bouquet of roses. For the first time in her life, she was conscious that her Spartan 簡単 of dress made her feel there was no other word for it—dowdy. Yesterday she thought it would have given her a sense of pride. Today, 井戸／弁護士席! There was that woman's hat, for instance, that somehow seemed to lend a vividness to a not very attractive 直面する. Amy felt that if she wore such a hat it would take on an extra importance. "After all, why not make the best of one's looks," she 反映するd. "Perhaps Tydvil was 権利, after all."

Apart from that she felt perfectly happy. Mr. 上級の 証明するd a fascinating companion. He was both witty and understanding, and won her 信用／信任 完全に. Indeed, she 設立する herself thinking how pleasant it would be if Tydvil 所有するd such graceful self- 保証／確信 連合させるd with Mr. 上級の's undoubted 知識人 attainments.

Tydvil never listened to Amy with such courteous and 本物の 利益／興味, or deferred so respectfully to her opinions. A far いっそう少なく conceited woman than Amy would have 設立する Mr. 上級の's attention very flattering.

They 交流d low 発言する／表明するd 非難 on two women at a 隣人ing （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する who drank hock with their 昼食. Mr. 上級の gently 嘆き悲しむd the 明言する／公表する of a society in which such a spectacle could be 許容するd.

Amy 保証するd him that not only she, but her husband, 株d 類似の 見解（をとる）s, and she hoped that she could arrange an 早期に 会合 between the two men. "You have so much in ありふれた in your 原則s," 主張するd Amy, that she was sure they would get on 井戸／弁護士席 together.

Mr. 上級の, who was sipping mineral water, 表明するd a 熱烈な hope that a 会合 with Mr. Jones would not be long 延期するd. He also looked 今後 to the day when total 禁止 would make the spectacle of women 消費するing アル中患者 （水以外の）飲料s at any time, much いっそう少なく in public, would be a thing of the past.

It was in their excursion 一連の会議、交渉／完成する her societies afterwards that filled Amy's cup of happiness to 洪水ing. They spent a rapturous half hour at the League for the 鎮圧 of Alcohol. Mr. 上級の listened with 深遠な 利益／興味 to the 長官's 統計（学）. His 注目する，もくろむs took on the 表現 of one listening to 奮起させるd harmonies. Then he capped all by, without 誘発するing, 手渡すing a cheque for twenty-five guineas to the 長官, becoming, その為に, a life member of the League.

At each office at which they called, its 基金s were from five to ten guineas better for the coming of Mr. 上級の.

But he was at his best at the rooms of the Moral Uplift Society. He made innumerable enquiries as to its 目的（とする）s and the methods 雇うd by its officers. When Amy was moved to tell him how Mr. Jones was rather like warm in his 利益／興味 in this work, Mr. 上級の was almost incredulous. He agreed with her that Mr. Jones must have failed to しっかり掴む the importance of the work 存在 done. And when he passed over a pink slip 権力を与えるing his bank to 支払う／賃金 "Moral Uplift Society or 持参人払いの" one hundred 続けざまに猛撃するs, Amy exclaimed with 噴出するing 誠実, "Oh, you must be a saint, Mr. 上級の!"

That gentleman gently, and very modestly, disclaimed any 権利 to such a distinction.

Afterwards, on her way home, Amy, by some earnest mental 計算／見積り, 概算の that their 遠出 must have cost Mr. 上級の something like two hundred and sixty 続けざまに猛撃するs.

Before stepping in to her own car, which she had ordered by telephone to 会合，会う her, Amy had 抽出するd a 約束 from her friend that he would dine with her and 会合，会う her husband. "Tydvil is a tower of strength to me," she 保証するd him.

Standing 明らかにする-長，率いるd at her car door, he thanked her for an 教育の and 奮起させるing afternoon, and told her how much he was looking 今後 to 会合 Mr. Jones, and any others of her co- 労働者s 同様に.

Amy was late in arriving home that afternoon, although she had left Mr. 上級の with ample time at her 処分. The 延期する was 原因（となる）d by nearly an hour spent in trying on hats at one of those retiring little shops where the most becoming headgear could be 購入（する）d—at a price.

Even the message by telephone with which her maid met her, to the 影響 that Mr. Jones was 延期するd at the office and would not be home to dinner, did not upset her genial mood. A 王室の 列／漕ぐ／騒動 with Tydvil after dinner would be packing too much joy into one day.

She dined alone in 独房監禁 明言する／公表する. The maid who waited on her （機の）カム to the kitchen later with a tale passing all comprehension. She 関係のある to her 率直に 疑わしい 同僚s that Amy had kept dinner waiting while she changed her frock and put on a dinner gown, just to 料金d by herself.

"Amy's going gay," chirped the cook, pirouetting about her domain. "What a lark!"

CHAPTER XV

Tydvil Jones passed the afternoon in an 集中的な 集中 on his work. Only by so doing could he get through the long hours before the evening. He gave Geraldine very little time to consider her own worries, for which she was inwardly gratified.

Leaving 指示／教授／教育s that he might be 支援する to work during the evening, Tydvil left his office at five o'clock. His unusual lunch and his excitement 連合させるd to make dinner 考えられない. To fill in the 介入するing time, he walked through the Alexandra Gardens—and, without knowing it, was passed by Amy in her car as he crossed Princes 橋（渡しをする）. Fortunately, Amy also, was too much 占領するd with her own thoughts to be alive to anything mundane.

Then, after spending an hour in the library of the Y.M.C.A., he returned to his office at the 任命するd time. In 同意／服従 with his orders, a few lights had been left 燃やすing on the ground 床に打ち倒す. When he 伸び（る）d his office, he 設立する Mr. 上級の already を待つing him.

That gentleman received his warm thanks for 回避するing the calamity of Amy's 降下／家系 on the office with a smile. "You have no idea what an agreeable afternoon I have spent. Really, I find I have a 広大な／多数の／重要な 取引，協定 to learn from your world today."

Tydvil looked a little surprised. "Can we teach you anything at all?" he asked.

"井戸／弁護士席, of course, the 幅の広い 原則s are always the same," answered Mr. 上級の, "but in technique and finish, some of your methods 約束 an 利益／興味ing 熟考する／考慮する. Oh, by the way, I have had the 楽しみ of Mrs. Jones's society all the afternoon. We lunched at Menzies..."

"What?" The question 公正に／かなり 爆発するd from Tydvil's lips. "Say that again!"

Mr. 上級の looked embarrassed. "I 信用 that in taking Mrs. Jones to Menzies I have not committed an indiscretion."

"My wife had lunch with you at...?"

Mr. 上級の nodded. "You see..." he began to explain.

But what he would have said was 削減（する） short by an 爆発 of mirth from Tydvil, who lay 支援する in his 議長，司会を務める the better to 吸収する the idea. "My dear sir," he said, only 部分的に／不公平に 回復するd, "please 許す my rudeness, but you took me by surprise."

"So long as you are not annoyed," replied his friend.

"Annoyed!" and again Jones gave way to his mirth. "Why, your news enchants me. If I had any 推論する／理由 to 疑問 your bona fides, that alone would 証明する your 事例／患者. Only Your Highness could have 達成するd such a feat."

"To be frank," replied Mr. 上級の, "I was rather flattering myself on the 業績／成果. But 現実に the credit is 予定 to the 大司教 of Canterbury."

"He would be proud if he knew," Tydvil chuckled. "I will not enquire how he （機の）カム into the picture, but I am most 感謝する to him."

"Perhaps I should tell you," Mr. 上級の said, "that since we parted this morning I have been enquiring into your 事件／事情／状勢s, and have ascertained the 推論する／理由 of your disinclination to 会合，会う your wife." Then he 追加するd あわてて, "Believe me, it was not impertinent curiosity that 誘発するd me. I felt that an understanding of the 状況／情勢 would be 相互に helpful."

Tydvil waved away the 陳謝 as unnecessary. "As a 事柄 of fact, I am glad you know all. It will save explanations." Then, after a pause, "Since you know all, you understand?" There was enquiry in his 発言する／表明する.

"Everything!" the other said 真面目に. "And I hope you will believe me when I say you have my 深遠な sympathy."

"Thank you," said Tydvil, more 真面目に. "I heard a ロシアの proverb once, that ran, 'Only their owner knows where his fleas bite him.'"

"There is an Oriental proverb also," 答える／応じるd Mr. 上級の, "that says 'The husbands of talkative wives shall have 広大な／多数の／重要な rewards hereafter,' and that is as true as many other wise 説s. And now," he said, standing up, "about your own 事件／事情／状勢s, Mr. Jones."

"Suppose you 減少（する） the 'Mr.'," said Tydvil 試験的に. "It seems very formal since we are to see so much of one another."

Mr. 上級の smiled a big, friendly smile. "喜んで, 供給するd you 報いる and call me Nicholas."

"Oh!" The idea seemed to Tydvil to 国境 on impertinence.

"But I would like it, really," replied his friend reassuringly. "Do you know, since I met you, and then Mrs. Jones, I feel it would be a 楽しみ to help you to （不足などを）補う for lost time."

"井戸／弁護士席, in that 事例／患者, we'll make it so," and the two shook 手渡すs.

"Now tell me," asked Nicholas, "what form do you 提案する to 可決する・採択する?"

Tydvil thought a moment. "Am I in any way 限られた／立憲的な in my choice?"

Nicholas shook his 長，率いる. "The whole world is yours."

"井戸／弁護士席, I have a young man in my service 指名するd William Brewer. Do you know him?"

上級の drew his ledger card from his pocket and 熟考する／考慮するd it carefully. Then, regarding Jones with raised eyebrows, he emitted a long whistle. "An ideal model for a night out," he said with a light laugh. "Your Mr. Brewer has やめる a 記録，記録的な／記録する, although he seems to have been spoiling it lately, 明らかに because of some sentimental attachment."

He waved his 手渡すs over Mr. Jones, and that gentleman 消えるd and William Brewer stood in his place.

Tydvil started in astonishment. A moment earlier he had been wearing blue serge. Now, his outstretched arm showed grey tweed. With a bewildered look in one 注目する，もくろむ, he turned to the mirror and gasped. There, looking 支援する at him, was Brewer to the last hair. The multicoloured 注目する，もくろむ that so distinguished his 原型 was there to its ultimate shade of blue—a contingency that he had overlooked.

"By Jove!" he exclaimed, "I had forgotten that 注目する，もくろむ. Could you...?"

For answer, Nicholas 圧力（をかける）d his fingers to the swollen 直面する and all trace of swelling and discolouration 消えるd. "How's that?", he asked.

The more Tydvil 診察するd his new individuality, the more 満足させるd he felt. With a grin on Billy's handsome 直面する, he turned to 上級の. "True, 0 friend, I am feeling a new man. Ethically, I'm afraid my 活動／戦闘 is indefensible. I feel like a 偽造."

"Pah!" 上級の said. "倫理学, my dear Tydvil, are no more than a moral loincloth. Get 支援する to Eden and live your life unashamed."

Jones 星／主役にするd at him a moment. "I wonder...?" He paused, a little embarrassed.

"井戸／弁護士席?"

"It was your について言及する of Eden," went on Tydvil. "Was there any truth in that story?"

"About my first 外見 on the 行う／開催する／段階 as a serpent?" queried the other with a smile, "before 倫理学 and loincloths were invented."

Tydvil nodded.

"Just consider the probabilities, my friend," replied 上級の seating himself on the corner of the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する and lighting a cigarette. "Is it likely that any 存在, human or さもなければ, who wished to 勝利，勝つ a woman's 信用／信任, would 試みる／企てる to do so in the form of a snake? A snake, mind you! Why, it would 脅す her into hysterics for a start. The thing's childish."

"It does seem hardly feasible," Tydvil 認める.

"Mind you," continued Nicholas, "there is ground for the story, but not for the published 詳細（に述べる）s. It is just a 見本 of the 不正 done me for ages. The fact was, it was just 女性（の） cussedness; There was Eve, with no housekeeping; no dress to 占領する her mind; with no man to flirt with or woman to gossip with; and, of course, she discovered and committed the only mischief there was to commit. Serpent be hanged!" he finished with a gesture of disgust.

"'Satan finds some mischief still,'" Tydvil 引用するd absently, and then broke off as he realised what he was 説.

"That's another!" said Nicholas 激しく. "I find mischief! Umph! There's no need; they find it themselves and then 非難する it on to me. Confounded 不正! However, let's forget it. You'll need some money if you're going to have a night out."

"Almost forgot!" said Tydvil, going to his 私的な cash box. From this he took three five-続けざまに猛撃する 公式文書，認めるs, and five ones, and placed them in a wallet he 設立する in his pocket. Then he turned suddenly. "Oh, look here! Suppose I wish to return to my own 形態／調整, what do I do?" he asked anxiously.

"I'll be at your instant call," replied 上級の. "No need to worry. If you get into difficulties of any 肉親，親類d, just call. Remember our 社債."

"Excellent!" said Tydvil ちらりと見ることing at the clock, which showed it 手配中の，お尋ね者 but ten minutes to eight. "And now, I'll move off."

"Have you any 計画（する）s?" asked Nicholas.

Jones shook his 長，率いる. "Not a 計画（する）. I ーするつもりである to let events 形態／調整 themselves. I've no 疑問 that a man who looks for amusement in the city will find it."

上級の laughed すぐに. "From the little I have seen of it, I have no 疑問s whatever."

Tydvil paused a moment and then said a little doubtfully, "Do you know, Nicholas, it has just occurred to me that I wouldn't know how to get into mischief."

Rubbing a shapely chin with his forefinger, Nicholas 安心させるd him. "My dear fellow, you will be astonished at the 緩和する with which you will 後継する, even without trying. That should be the least of your worries. 井戸／弁護士席, I'll leave you now. But remember, you've only to call." The next moment Tydvil was alone in his office.

CHAPTER XVI

Tydvil took one last look at Billy's 直面する in the mirror, then, taking his hat, he let himself out of the 倉庫／問屋 into Flinders 小道／航路. Slowly he strolled に向かって the corner of Swanston Street, where he stood for a while. The inward human night traffic was at its flood. The footpaths were thronged with the theatre （人が）群がるs and the swift 行列 of モーター cars and trams sped past him going north. As they passed him, Tydvil caught glimpses of dainty and beautiful women, part of a life of which he knew nothing.

A 炎上ing sky 調印する caught his 注目する，もくろむ, lettering in white against a 黒人／ボイコット cloud background the words, "The Red Haired Girl. His Majesty's Theatre." The words winked and disappeared, and returned in a moment, leering 招待.

Then Tydvil really began to think. He had remembered reading letters in his morning paper 調印するd, "Shocked" and "Not a Puritan." They 示唆するd to him that "The Red Haired Girl" ran true to the tradition of red hair. Tydvil squared his shoulders and decided that he, too, Tydvil Jones, would see "The Red Haired Girl" and be shocked also. He had never been 適切に shocked in his life, and imagined the experience might 証明する 利益／興味ing.

He turned, and as he did so, another idea struck him. He had never tasted alcohol. "Why not?" Oh, there were so many things he had never done! There was a 厚かましさ／高級将校連 plate on a nearby door labelled "Saloon 妨げる／法廷，弁護士業." Tydvil had no idea what a 妨げる／法廷，弁護士業, either saloon or public, looked like. Now was the time to learn.

He took one step に向かって the door when a mighty 手渡す fell on his shoulder and a mighty 発言する／表明する, undoubtedly breathing goodfellowship, 雷鳴d, "Billy! Billy, you old kerfoosalem! How are you?"

"The old kerfoosalem" turned 一連の会議、交渉／完成する to 直面する a large stranger, by no means 株ing the delight of his 迎える／歓迎するing, though he tried hard to give the impression that he did.

"Halo, old chap!' he said with 施行するd heartiness. This, he thought, was 非，不，無-committal.

"Billy, you dear old blighter," exclaimed the other 温かく, "I knew I would butt into you somewhere の中で the 有望な lights. Biggest joke in the world. Thought I saw you crossing Flinders Street just now carrying a dandy 黒人／ボイコット 注目する，もくろむ. Dashed traffic 封鎖するd me, and I 行方不明になるd whoever it was. Dead spit of you. Funny, wasn't it?"

Tydvil 後継するing in making himself grin to 登録（する） amusement. "Very funny!" he said dryly. His mind was whirling with 計画（する）s to shake off this exuberant friend, who, he discovered was, if not やめる intoxicated, 井戸／弁護士席 on the way, and 十分に so to have reached the 行う／開催する／段階 at which 外見 and 条約s were of no account.

"Wouldn't have 行方不明になるd you tonight for the world," 発表するd the unsober one in loud-（衆議院の）議長 トンs. He let go Tydvil's arm and felt in his pocket, "King Rufus led all the way. Here you are." He drew out a roll of 公式文書，認めるs and peeling off five fivers, he 圧力（をかける）d them into Tydvil's unwilling 手渡す.

"Said I'd 支払う／賃金 you 支援する tonight, now, didn' I? Didn' I say, alive or dead, Jerry McCann would 支払う／賃金 you 支援する that twenny-five quid? Eh?" he 主張するd.

"Of course you did, Jerry," Jones 認める, thankful to have discovered a 指名する if not an 身元. "But, look here," he 抗議するd, "don't give it to me now. Keep it till we 会合，会う again."

The other blinked at him. "Don' be a bloomin' fool, Billy," he 勧めるd. "Don' 行為／法令／行動する the goat. Take it. If you don' I'll only get blithered and it will go." He raised his 発言する／表明する so that a passing policeman turned a searching 注目する，もくろむ on the two. "Good ole Billy. Allers did help a pal."

To Tydvil, the 状況／情勢 was impossible. He felt hot 紅潮／摘発するs はうing all over him. He felt he had 辛うじて escaped 会合 the 本物の Billy Brewer. Now, at all costs, he must shake off Billy's beery friend. "Look here, Jerry," he said 堅固に, "I've got an 任命 I must keep. Thanks for the money, but I'll just have to go." He jerked his sleeve from the 手渡す that held it with a curt "Good night!" and walked 速く に向かって Collins Street.

The other stood watching the 退却／保養地ing hat bobbing above the （人が）群がる. His world had 衝突，墜落d on him. He had just paid Billy Brewer a 負債 that was six months 延滞の and Billy, who in normal circumstances would have helped him make a night of it, had walked off and never even asked him to have a drink—and a 妨げる／法廷，弁護士業 door within twenty feet of them.

Jerry watched Billy till he disappeared, then, still wondering, he stepped 支援する off the kerb into the roadway where his 運命／宿命 was 遂行するd by a 激しい リムジン. Tydvil Jones was too far off to hear the cry, or to see the （人が）群がる that gathered as the limp 人物／姿／数字 was 解除するd from the 封鎖するs.

Little dreaming that Jerry had been gathered to the Mercy of Allah, Tydvil turned into Collins Street ーするために 避ける 追跡. It had come home to him with some 軍隊 that in 可決する・採択するing Billy's person, he was 可決する・採択するing with it some no slight 危険s. However, the 危険, whatever it might be, 追加するd spice to the adventure—after all, was he not 捜し出すing adventure?

Tydvil had reached Elizabeth Street and turned に向かって Bourke Street, when again the words "Saloon 妨げる／法廷，弁護士業" 逮捕（する）d his attention. Then, since there was no Jerry McCann to 介入する, without hesitation he passed through the multicoloured glass door and along a ひどく carpeted 回廊（地帯） into a small but brilliantly lighted room at the end.

To Tydvil's 救済 there were no 顧客s at the 反対する that ran along the whole of one 味方する. At the その上の end from where he stood, behind the 反対する, were two girls in 深い converse. One, with a sleek, 黒人／ボイコット 長，率いる, was seated, the other, a blonde of より勝るing blondeness, was standing before her. They were やめる oblivious of Tydvil's presence, so he had ample time to take in the 詳細（に述べる）s at his leisure.

The mirrored 塀で囲むs and the の近くに array of 瓶／封じ込めるs and 削減（する） glass flashed under the electric light. So this was the abode of sin against which he had raised his 発言する／表明する so 真面目に on numberless occasions. As he gazed, the blonde moved わずかに and gave him a better 見解（をとる） of her companion. Jones wondered how one so petite could 所有する such amazing 注目する，もくろむs and such a pink bud for a mouth. Had he but known it, his 賞賛 of the two 統括するing angels at the Carillion 妨げる／法廷，弁護士業 was heartily 是認するd by the 主要な 当局 of the city.

Tydvil inwardly 激怒（する）d at the shyness that kept him glued as he stood 星／主役にするing at the two damsels. It needed all his strength to save him from taking flight. Then, suddenly the two dazzling 注目する，もくろむs of the brunette turned 十分な on him. As they did so their 表現 of 無関心／冷淡 turned into evident surprise and 楽しみ that had a magical 影響 on Tydvil's 神経s. His heart gave two big, bumps, and his bashfulness 消えるd.

The brunette had risen to her feet. "Connie, look!" she exclaimed. "Look at the villain of the piece."

Then she of the 集まりd blonde hair turned on Tydvil two of the softest blue smiling 注目する，もくろむs he had ever seen, or, at any 率, had ever noticed.

"Billy," she said gently as he stood before them (he never knew how he crossed the room), "Billy, you're the quintessence of a disagreeable piggy. Where have you been all these centuries?" The unflattering epithet, 落ちるing from a perfect cupid's 屈服する mouth, seemed almost a caress.

"Dooce of a lot of work," said Tydvil, off-handedly. "前向きに／確かに could not get 一連の会議、交渉／完成する."

The two 交流d ちらりと見ることs, and the smaller shook a white, pink-nailed finger at him. "Dooce of a lot of work!" she mimicked derisively. "Do you think we never hear anything? Dooce of a lot of red-長，率いるd typist! That's your work, Mr. Billy Brewer."

The 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金, 予期しない as it was, made Jones forget for the moment his borrowed individuality. He 不名誉d Billy Brewer by a rich, all-embracing blush. The two 星／主役にするd at the 開始するing colour with amazement, and peals of merry laughter filled the 妨げる／法廷，弁護士業. "Billy, you've blushed! Connie and I will get in our 違反 of 約束 令状s before the 急ぐ 始める，決めるs in. Oh, Billy! You swore you would never love anyone but us."

"Look here!" he 反対するd indignantly, "it's not true..."

"The Lord don't love liars, Billy," said Connie shaking her 長，率いる. Then, turning, she placed a 瓶／封じ込める of whisky and a glass before him. Those were the days when the 顧客 said "When."

Tydvil had scarcely 取引d for that. He was doubtful if Billy Brewer's 団体／死体 carried that gentleman's capacity for 吸収するing whisky without calamitous results, or his own incapacity. He 決定するd to play for safety. "Not that," he said, ちらりと見ることing at the 瓶／封じ込める, "I'll take claret and lemonade." Again the 妨げる／法廷，弁護士業 rang and rippled with laughter.

"Sure you don't mean milk and soda?" giggled Millie. "You are a break-up, Billy." As she spoke, she 注ぐd a generous first mate's snifter into the tumbler and passed it across to him. At the same time Connie placed a 泡ing 瓶／封じ込める of soda water beside it.

"（競技場の）トラック一周 it up like a good boy," Connie laughed, "and forget the red-長，率いる a minute. Jerry McCann was in looking for you a little while ago."

Recognising that the claret and lemonade position was untenable, Tydvil filled the glass with soda, 決定するd to play his part for the honour of Billy Brewer—he 借りがあるd him that much.

"I saw Jerry just now in Swanston Street," he said as he took up his glass. "I should say he had been here," he 追加するd with meaning.

Millie nodded. "He was a bit damp 一連の会議、交渉／完成する the 辛勝する／優位s," she commented, "so Connie wouldn't give him any whisky. You'd have laughed to hear her 'kidding him to be good and go home. Talked sister stuff to him and managed to make him swallow two glasses of Spa water."

"He wasn't too bad when I saw him," said Tydvil, inwardly amazed that the girls he thought would be サイレン／魅惑的なs would go to the trouble to 保護する Jerry from himself. This was a new angle on barmaids.

Connie laughed. "He would have been worse if I hadn't squeezed out two big 涙／ほころびs and pleaded with him. It was the 涙／ほころびs that did it. Look, Billy." She blinked her 激しい 攻撃するd lids quickly and looked into Tydvil's 注目する，もくろむs. As she did, the big blue orbs swam with an 控訴，上告 that might have 軟化するd the heart of the Commissioner of 税金s. A little soft 手渡す fell on the big one of Tydvil that 残り／休憩（する）d on the counted. "Billy," she murmured, "（競技場の）トラック一周 it up for my sake."

Tydvil, under those 控訴，上告ing 注目する，もくろむs, began to feel queer. He, Tydvil Jones, of all men, felt an irresistible 勧める to kiss the owner of those blue 注目する，もくろむs. But Connie, evidently 診断するing the symptoms from experience, withdrew from the danger zone.

"Little kidder, isn't she?" laughed Millie.

"Little devil!" retorted Tydvil, and raising the glass to his lips he sent the C6 0 H + Soda to the ultimate 目的地 of all such mixtures, in two gulps. The spirit caught his throat and made him feel for the moment as though he had swallowed a jazz 禁止（する）d wrapped in barbed wire. He 隠すd is emotions admirably, and 取って代わるd the glass on the 反対する as though the 儀式 were mere 決まりきった仕事.

"Good boy," laughed Connie. "Took his 薬／医学 like a little man. Now he'll have strength enough to 支払う／賃金 over that eleven quid."

Jones gasped. "Eh! Eleven—eh—for a drink! Why I paid you..."

"Don't be silly! Why, you 約束d you would put that 続けざまに猛撃する on King Rufus for me..."

Jones was no fool, and あわてて recognised that with Billy's individuality he had assumed his 義務／負債s, and he must 会合，会う them so as to leave no reflection on Billy's good 指名する. The 処理／取引 evidently 需要・要求するd 即座の 解決／入植地. Without a moment's その上の hesitation he pulled out a wad of 公式文書，認めるs and paid over.

"Lucky wog, Connie! Wish I'd 投資するd, too," 発言／述べるd Millie.

Connie turned aside and 解除するd a tiny suede-事例／患者d foot to the 議長，司会を務める. There was a flirt of skirt, a flashing glimpse of 深い red garter, a snap of elastic, and the 公式文書，認めるs disappeared.

"Huzzy!" said Tydvil, playfully; rather more moved than he had been by the whisky.

The girl's 注目する，もくろむs twinkled with amusement. "Shouldn't have looked, Billy," she said. "I notice you didn't blush that time."

There （機の）カム a sound of 発言する／表明するs from the 回廊（地帯）. Tydvil took fright. "I'm off," he said. "Goodnight, girls." But it was too late. Entered three jovial souls who あられ／賞賛するd him as a brother.

Tydvil thought 速く. "No good, you chaps. One more and I'm off. Got an 任命; 前向きに／確かに! Can't wait, a fact!" He spoke convincingly.

Loud were the 抗議するs. They were looking for a game of "draw." But Jones did not dare 危険 more than two drinks. The one he had already was feeling its way 一連の会議、交渉／完成する happily. He paid for one more and, にもかかわらず their chaff which imputed scandalous 動機s for his desertion, he turned and fled.

CHAPTER XVII

Out in the street again, Tydvil felt a hitherto unknown sense of exhilaration and courage. The world looked brighter. With two whiskies under his vest he squared his shoulders and made his way up Bourke Street with one 反対する in 見解（をとる）, "The Red Haired Girl."

As he went he pondered on the coincidence that mixed Billy, Geraldine Brand, and the show he hoped to see. On his way he was saluted by 指名する several times by unknown men, but he flung them a curt "goodnight," without pausing.

He had turned into 展示 Street. Another twenty yards would have brought him to the door of the theatre, when a light touch fell on his arm, and a soft 発言する／表明する murmured, "Billy! 0, Billy! At last!"

Jones looked 負かす／撃墜する at the owner of the 発言する／表明する, and for the second time that night his heart gave an unaccustomed jump.

She was something like that lovely little Millie he had just left. Though it were hardly possible—prettier! Her 注目する，もくろむs were as big and 有望な, but they held nothing of Millie's reserve. As they looked up into Tydvil's 直面する they were 率直に adoring 注目する，もくろむs. Jones began to think that Billy Brewer's 評判 had been scandalously under-概算の.

He realised that he was on ground that was both 危険な and delicate. Unless he moved with circumspection, he might come a cropper of colossal dimensions. However, thanks to the two snifters of Scotch, he felt equal to any 緊急.

"Hallo, little girl!" he smiled 支援する into her 注目する，もくろむs, "where were you off to?"

Two red petals pouted at him, and there was just a hint of 嵐／襲撃する in the big 注目する，もくろむs. "Billy, you know やめる 井戸／弁護士席 I was just getting home. Don't be silly and pretend. Why didn't you come when I wrote?"

"Wrote!" 抗議するd Tydvil, playing for time and enlightenment. "Honest, I never got the letter."

"Now, Billy," she 固執するd suspiciously, "I wrote twice."

"I'll 断言する on my honour, I never got any letter," he 主張するd virtuously.

"井戸／弁護士席, I 地位，任命するd them..." she began.

"Look here!" he interrupted, "what's the use of 口論する人ing. I was just going to the show. Come in with me."

She shook her 長，率いる. "What's the use? I've seen it twice already, and I want to talk to you. Take me somewhere to dinner, Billykins!" she 説得するd.

Tydvil did some more swift thinking. True, he had sought adventure. Again, why not? "All 権利," he 産する／生じるd. "Where'll we go?"

She について言及するd the 指名する of a restaurant the fame of which had reached even the virtuous ears of Tydvil-Jones-before-the-落ちる. The new Tydvil agreed without hesitation.

The driver of a hansom, wise in his years and his calling, had his 注目する，もくろむs on the pair as they talked. He sent out a swift "Keb, sir?" Tydvil nodded, and the cab drew to the kerb. She put her 手渡す on his arm, about to step into the cab, when Jones happened to ちらりと見ること over his shoulder. He had 苦しむd a succession of shocks that night. But when he looked into the 敵意を持った 炎ing 注目する，もくろむs of Geraldine Brand, who was passing not six feet away with two other girls, his 神経 almost failed him.

For a second, he forgot he was Billy Brewer. It 'was Tydvil Jones, who, in such a 妥協ing 状況／情勢, wilted under the relentless judgment of those 注目する，もくろむs. It was only for a second though. His 手渡す went to his hat, but Geraldine, with her 長，率いる high, turned haughtily away. Tydvil whistled softly to himself.

His companion, who had 行方不明になるd not a 詳細（に述べる） of the 遭遇（する）, entered the cab without a word. Jones 指名するd his 目的地 to the driver and took his place beside her. The moment he was seated she turned on him. "Now, Billy, who was that red-長，率いるd she cat?"

"What do you mean?" asked Tydvil with an 空気／公表する of engaging innocence.

The woman beside him bit her lip. When she spoke he felt that 涙／ほころびs were very 近づく the surface. "Oh, Billy, I used to think you cared, and that you were something better than the 残り／休憩（する）! Who is she?" The last words were a 需要・要求する not to be 否定するd.

Almost like Amy, 反映するd Jones. Then he said, "The girl who passed just now was only one of the typists from the office."

She was silent a moment, and then said with 深い 有罪の判決, "Billy, I think you are the most 残虐な, callous, hard-hearted devil that ever lived."

"Just because a girl looked at me," he said in an 負傷させるd トン. "I couldn't help her looking at me."

She laughed すぐに. "That wildcat didn't look at you as though she would like to scratch you, for nothing." She paused, and then went on. "I wonder how many others there are 同様に. I 前向きに／確かに, know five now. There are Alma, Joyce, Clara Butler, Vivian Granger, that red-長，率いるd fury—and—I might as 井戸／弁護士席 追加する my own 指名する, Hilda Cranston, a fool, and at your service."

The 指名する gave Tydvil a 揺さぶる, for he knew there was a Cranston on the 支払う／賃金-roll of Craddock, 燃やすs and Despard—and he wondered. But he had small time for wondering. He was busy making Billy Brewer's peace with an angry woman, though he had his 疑惑s that Billy would not thank him for the service. By the time they reached their 目的地, he had 後継するd in 設立するing a 一時休戦.

Here a new problem 現在のd itself. He managed to 安全な・保証する a 静かな and unobtrusive （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する in a corner of the （人が）群がるd room. When she peeled off her gloves and passed them over to him to put in his pocket, he noticed that the fourth finger of her left 手渡す was encircled by a plain thin gold 禁止（する）d.

Hilda took the menu card Tydvil 手渡すd to her and ちらりと見ることd at him over its 辛勝する／優位. "Let's do the ordering, Billy," she asked. Anxious to do anything that might conciliate her, he acquiesced. All the more 喜んで because he was himself uncertain what would be the 訂正する thing to 申し込む／申し出 his partner in the circumstances.

"Can I make it willing, dear?" That "dear" was an emblem of peace. "How's the exchequer, boy?"

"Go to the 限界," Tydvil agreed, 安全な・保証する in a 井戸／弁護士席-filled wallet. "The exchequer is not only healthy, it's 強健な. I 支援するd King Rufus today." He felt almost proud of the way the 指名する of a horse, the 存在 of which he had been ignorant of an hour earlier, slipped off his tongue.

"How glorious!" Her 注目する，もくろむs sparkled. "We'll have a big 瓶／封じ込める of 泡s, too."

The waiter was standing beside her, and Jones watched in no little amazement her 保証するd and self-所有するd 空気／公表する as she enumerated her 必要物／必要条件s. There was only a little hesitation when she （機の）カム to the ワイン. "Which, Billy?" she said, ちらりと見ることing over at him.

He laughed. The 指名するs were Greek to him. "You said you were giving the order, and I'll take you at your word."

She 指名するd the ワイン and the man enquired, very respectfully, "Vintage, sir?" Tydvil had no idea what the word 暗示するd, but nodded, and the man went on his way.

The next two hours of Tydvil Jones' life remained afterwards as a blurred impression of soft music, white 武器 and shoulders, shaded lights, strange and delectable food and stranger and more delectable drinks. He did not know what was in the cocktail with which that repast 開始するd, but it tasted like liquid happiness. When he swallowed it, it obliterated all care of past or 未来 from his mind. Tydvil lived in the 現在の only. A glowing 現在の of a heady illusive perfume that drifted across the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する to him, and of 注目する，もくろむs that told things of which Tydvil Jones had never dreamed.

He took his fair 株 of the ワイン that sparkled, and 設立する it good. After the first glass he 設立する himself 説 things that could only have 得るd their brilliance from "beaded 泡s winking at the brim" of the long-stemmed glass beside him.

"Billy," she said at the last, "you've been delightful tonight. I'll 許す you even that red-長，率いるd cat, but you'll have to see me home."

Tydvil Jones, the once Tydvil Jones, faintly, whispered 警告を与える. Two 強健な Scotch whiskies, a sidecar, a glass of sherry, three glasses of vintage ワイン and a benedictine all shouted, "Why not?" and all 元気づけるd together when Tydvil Jones threw his life's training and all discretion to the 勝利，勝つd, and told her he would see her to the end of the world and beyond, 供給するd she brought her dimples with her.

In Collins Street as they stood on the footpath, she said, "Don't take a taxi, Billykins, get a hansom, taxis are too quick," and as she 命令（する）d, so it was done. There was one anxious moment, however, when the cab drew up. To where was he to tell the man to 運動? But Tydvil 設立する himself as 十分な of 装置s as he was of high spirits. "Don't you think we had better not 運動 to the house?" he asked.

"Perhaps not, dear," she 譲歩するd. "No use attracting attention. Tell him to put us 負かす／撃墜する at the corner of Fitzroy and Acland Streets."

Jones gave the man his sailing orders and took his seat. It was not until they had crossed Princes 橋（渡しをする） that she spoke again. "There's not much need to worry, though. He's in Sydney."

Tydvil gave an interrogative, "Oh?"

"I thought you would have known he had his holidays. That's why I wrote."

At that moment two and two 追加するd themselves together in Tydvil's mind. Cranston, the 長，率いる of the Manchester Department, was on his 年次の leave. He recollected that Cranston, whom he liked least of his staff, had について言及するd he was going to Sydney. When in the friendly obscurity a soft arm stole 一連の会議、交渉／完成する his neck, it suddenly occurred to Tydvil that Cranston must have 扱う／治療するd this little woman abominably; aye, and neglected her, too. How else would she so crave love and sympathy. He felt it almost a 義務 to 慰安 her.

Let us not 持つ／拘留する a 簡潔な／要約する for Tydvil Jones, but let us be just, and let him, who says he would have resisted where Tydvil fell short of his 早期に 基準s, remember the 運命／宿命 of Ananias. The hansom rolled along St. Kilda Road, and as it rolled, Tydvil started in 追跡 of those dimples. But in spite of strict attention to the 商売／仕事 in 手渡す, he had not 逮捕（する）d one by the time the cab stopped. Unnoticed, he had passed his home where he had fully ーするつもりであるd to escape.

He could scarcely believe that the five miles had not been done at a 速度(を上げる） of twenty miles an hour, so 簡潔な／要約する had been the 旅行. He 補助装置d Hilda to alight. Absently he gave the cabby the 公式文書，認める that was uppermost in his wallet, and told him to keep the change—which 量d to four 続けざまに猛撃するs twelve shillings and sixpence. Tydvil's troubles!

Taking her arm and 縮めるing his step to hers, they turned into Acland Street and presently, turned again 負かす／撃墜する one of the 味方する streets 主要な to the esplanade. At the gate Hilda paused. Jones opened it and stepped into the little garden. "Goodnight, little girl," he said, "I'll have to get home. It is nearly eleven."

She put her 手渡す on his shoulder and looked up at him. "Oh, Billykins, just half an hour. Come in with me. There's not a soul in the house."

Again we can 持つ／拘留する no 簡潔な／要約する for Tydvil, and can make no 譲歩 to his 証拠不十分. His behaviour was deserving of the severest 非難. Still, perhaps Amy and Hilda were not altogether blameless. Mr. Nicholas 上級の might apportion the 非難する 公正に／かなり.

Hilda opened the door with a latchkey, and switched on a light in the passage. She led Tydvil to a small room half way, 負かす／撃墜する it. There was a large, ひどく-shaded kerosene lamp on the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する, which she lit, and then switched off the electric light. Turning to him, she said, "Wait a little, Billy, I shan't be long," and he 設立する himself alone.

It was a dainty and cosy apartment, and Tydvil sank into an armchair with a feeling of 激しい 井戸／弁護士席-存在 and 慰安. The silence was only broken by the busy ticking of a travelling clock. Minutes passed. Then he heard a door open 負かす／撃墜する the passage. Then a "swish, swish," which made his heart go faster.

She stood in the doorway smiling at him. It must have been a 雷 change, for, in place of the walking frock, she was wearing a long, soft, neckless, sleeveless 式服 that ふさわしい and fitted her to perfection. How it 保持するd the status quo in 反抗 of the 法律s of gravity was a mystery to Tydvil. She kissed the tips of fingers to him, and with her 手渡す 動議d him not to rise.

There was a little cupboard in the corner, and to this she went. From it （機の）カム a cheerful clinking, and when she turned she bore two glasses and a small 失敗させる／負かすd 瓶／封じ込める which she placed on the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する. "Billy," she said, "one more little one won't do us any 害（を与える）. I've been keeping this for you."

The 初めの Tydvil had かなりの 疑問s on her 楽観主義. The 現在の emancipated Jones agreed heartily. He had never seen, he thought, a more charming picture than she made in her new 式服. Tydvil put the thought into words as he watched her deftly unwire the 瓶／封じ込める. She 前向きに／確かに 辞退するd to 許す him to 補助装置. With a （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する napkin to 行為／法令／行動する as silencer and splashboard, the cork （機の）カム out with a friendly "pop." Then she sent the ワイン creaming into two glasses without losing a precious 減少（する）. One she 手渡すd to him, and, taking the other, she perched herself on the arm of his 議長，司会を務める.

"So you like my frock," she said as she leaned over him.

He placed his glass on the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する and looked up at her. "What there is of it is perfect," he said, "but I think I like what there isn't of it better."

She took a sip from her glass and held it to his lips. "That's for 支払う／賃金ing pretty compliments..."

Of what happened next, Tydvil was never やめる sure. There was a sudden 衝突，墜落 of glass and rending of curtains, and across the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する he saw three men 直面するing him, and the leader and most 目だつ was Mr. Samuel Cranston, who, によれば his own story, should have been six hundred miles away in Sydney—but who evidently was not.

Hilda emitted a startled cry, but Tydvil was, for the moment, too 打ち勝つ by the 大災害 to move.

The 表現 of Samuel Cranston was 敵意を持った in the extreme. He glared ferociously as, with two 手渡すs clenched on the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する, he leaned 今後 to 配達する himself of speech. Behind him, two unpleasant looking men, evidently 私立探偵s, stood in support. There was a （犯罪の）一味 of 勝利 in the 激怒（する） that shook Cranston's 発言する／表明する. "Got you!" he snarled. "Got you at last, Mr. so-and-so Brewer! And you'll 支払う／賃金 for it!"

Two thoughts flashed through Tydvil's mind. One was that the 状況／情勢 現在のd more grounds for 活動／戦闘 than argument. There was 簡単に nothing to be said. The other was that every circumstance of the 事例／患者 需要・要求するd swift and, if possible, 熟達した 退却／保養地. It meant a 退却／保養地, too, encumbered by his baggage, though he, himself, did not regard Hilda in 正確に／まさに that light.

He sprang to his feet. The whole scene was a 事柄 of seconds from the moment of the 爆発. Hilda, he 公式文書，認めるd with satisfaction, had slipped through the door. As Tydvil moved, the two 探偵，刑事s started 一連の会議、交渉／完成する the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する with bellicose 意図, and Cranston, 掴むing the empty 瓶／封じ込める, 投げつけるd it at his 長，率いる. Jones ducked with a celerity that surprised even himself, and the 瓶／封じ込める 粉々にするd a picture on the 塀で囲む behind him. An instant later a glass buzzed past his ear.

Attacked in 前線, and with both 側面に位置するs menaced, as in all master minds, thought and 活動／戦闘 were coincident with Tydvil. He reached 今後 and, 選ぶing up the lamp, sent it 飛行機で行くing at the infuriated Cranston. There was a 衝突，墜落 and a 炎 of 炎上 as he turned and reached the door a hairsbreadth ahead of the nearest man. 速く he pulled it to behind him. He muttered his 救済 when he 設立する a 重要な on the outside, and the bolt 発射 as he turned it. From the sounds within, the inhabitants of the room were evidently busy （警官の）巡回区域，受持ち区域ing out the 炎上s.

Hilda ran before him and opened the 前線 door. "Don't mind me, Billy," she gasped. "He's 脅すd of me. I can manage him easily and am やめる 安全な. Go quickly!"

Tydvil paused a moment to listen to the clamour behind the locked door. "Sure you will be all 権利? Better come with me!"

"Madness, Billy," she answered. "I know best. Go!" He stooped and kissed her on either cheek, and she laughed lightly as he turned and fled, 長，率いるing に向かって Acland Street.

Tydvil made the pace 公正に／かなり smart, but kept something in reserve in 事例／患者 of 追跡, though he felt sure that the trio would be 延期するd long enough to give him a good start. In this, however, he 証明するd a bad 裁判官. He was within fifty yards of Acland Street when excited noises behind him 警告するd him the 追跡（する） was on.

Concealment was out of the question. Both moon and street lights were against him. There was a shout of "There he goes!" and, with the enemy on his 跡をつける, he began to sprint, still feeling 確信して of escape. But his 信用／信任 received a shock when, as he had almost reached the corner, two men turned out of Acland Street and （機の）カム に向かって him.

As they （機の）カム into 見解（をとる） a cry （機の）カム from his pursuers of, "Stop どろぼう! Stop him!" and at the cry the newcomers 用意が出来ている to 妨げる／法廷，弁護士業 his 進歩.

Tydvil's thoughts worked even more 速く than his 脚s. In the 簡潔な／要約する seconds before the 差し迫った 衝突／不一致, he 手段d his chances. The new 軍隊s were 明らかに both young, and their open coats 陳列する，発揮するd evening dress. Their 態度s bespoke 決意. Shock 策略 were the only hope, and he 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金d straight at them. Seeing this they の近くにd. As their 手渡すs 発射 に向かって him, he 切り開く／タクシー／不正アクセスd one savagely on the 向こうずね—a 原始の and 野蛮な attack, but effectual. Then he snatched off his hat and 投げつけるd it in the 直面する of the other, and followed it 速く with his 握りこぶし.

The momentary dislocation of their line gave him an 適切な時期 to burst through, and before they could turn on him he was 一連の会議、交渉／完成する the corner and pelting に向かって Fitzroy Street. He knew from the 天然のまま and personal 発言／述べるs that reached him, that though he had 伸び（る）d another start, he had earned the uncompromising 敵意 of two more pursuers. There was no mistaking the zeal that 勧めるd the footsteps that were pattering 速く behind him. Worse still, two other 人物／姿／数字s detached themselves from the 影をつくる／尾行するs on the opposite 味方する of the street and joined the 追跡（する）, 明らかに on general 原則s.

Tydvil's heart began to fail. Not only were the newcomers 伸び（る）ing, but a ちらりと見ること over his shoulder showed him that they had been overtaken by Cranston and his unlovely 衛星s. Now, the pack, grown to seven, was 続けざまに猛撃するing along behind him, giving tongue as they ran.

Knowing the locality 井戸／弁護士席, it was a 農園 on the other 味方する of Fitzroy Street, that Tydvil made his 客観的な. When he reached the corner from which his hoped for 聖域, （機の）カム into 見解（をとる）, the chase was not much more than one hundred feet behind him.

Here, the lights on the corner which 明らかにする／漏らすd him plainly to his pursuers, showed Jones something that 冷気／寒がらせるd his heart. The corner of the street had been torn up for some 地方自治体の work, and the piled earth was 盗品故買者d with 障害物s.

Standing by them was what appeared to the 飛行機で行くing man as the most gigantic policeman he had ever laid 注目する，もくろむs on. Moreover, the approaching 暴動 had evidently put him on the 警報.

As Tydvil reached the 辛勝する／優位 of the 上昇傾向d earth 一連の会議、交渉／完成する which he must race for the chance of safety that was now in 見解（をとる）, the policeman roared a 命令（する） to 停止（させる）, and made at him. Necessity was the mother of Jones 同様に as of 発明 in his hour of 危険，危なくする. Safety or 廃虚 was a 事柄 of seconds. He dropped to his 膝s, and as he did so his 手渡す 設立する something 慰安ing: something cubical and 激しい. As the approaching 人物／姿／数字 towered over him, Tydvil's 手渡す 発射 今後. There was the sound of an anguished grunt, and the 法律 incarnate crumpled up and 衝突，墜落d almost on 最高の，を越す of him.

At the same instant the chase 激怒（する）d 一連の会議、交渉／完成する the corner. Tydvil started up and fled like a scalded cat across the street to the 影をつくる／尾行する of the trees of the 農園, with the howling 乗組員 almost on his heels. Leaving the path, he dashed の中で the shrubs and sprawled 十分な length over a surprised couple who were whispering 甘い nothings in the privacy of the shrubbery. The man 掴むd his foot with an exclamation, 高度に 妥当でない at any time, but unpardonable in the presence of a lady.

Tydvil kicked 猛烈に and wrenched his foot 解放する／自由な. The girl 叫び声をあげるd, and the two men struggled to their feet. The sound of 衝突，墜落ing の中で the shrubs told Jones that the 叫び声をあげる had brought the 追跡 on his 跡をつける again. Tydvil drove a purposeful 膝 to his 対抗者's waistcoat, and the man went to the grass like a スピードを出す／記録につける. Again a 叫び声をあげる from the girl brought an answering cry from the 追跡（する）. In another moment they would be on him. In his desperation Tydvil remembered. "Nicholas, help! Help me!" he gasped.

The words were still on his lips when Jones felt himself wrenched from his feet and swung into the 空気／公表する. There was for a second, a sensation of breathless flight and he 設立する himself sitting somewhere, high above the earth, and, he felt 保証するd, in safety. Where he was he neither knew nor cared. 製図／抽選 労働ing breaths, he sat with his 直面する in his 手渡すs, listening to excited 発言する／表明するs in the distance. Presently he 回復するd himself わずかに, but still panting from his flight he sat up and looked 一連の会議、交渉／完成する.

Had it not been that any 避難 was better than 逮捕（する）, Tydvil would have been rather 脅すd at the 状況／情勢 in which he 設立する himself. The first ちらりと見ること showed him that he was sitting on the parapet, some fifty feet from the ground, of a long 範囲 of terraces overlooking Hobsons Bay. His feet were 残り／休憩（する）ing on a ledge about two feet wide that formed the cornice of the building. Beside him was a large, ball-形態／調整d 固く結び付ける structure that formed one of the architectural adornments. On the other 味方する sat, regarding him with a smiling countenance, Mr. Nicholas 上級の.

The moon that had betrayed the 逃亡者／はかないもの, had disappeared under a friendly cloud, but Mr. 上級の's countenance was plainly 明白な. Jones took in his surroundings for a moment before speaking. Then, still gasping, he said, "の近くに shave! Thank goodness you were at 手渡す. I thought I was gone."

Nicholas laughed. "Goodness had very little to do with any part of it, I'm afraid. But it was a の近くに shave, as you say. Why didn't you call sooner?"

"Forgot!" said Mr. Jones すぐに. Then he 追加するd, anxiously, "I suppose we are やめる 安全な here?"

"やめる," replied Mr. 上級の. "Any port in a 嵐／襲撃する, you know, my friend. Of course, I do not wish in any way to 干渉する in your amusements, but you seem, for a beginner, to have had a 公正に／かなり lively night out. That （人が）群がる seemed as angry as a nest of hornets."

Jones paused to listen to the calls that still rose from the 農園 in the 近づく foreground. Then he gave his friend a swift 輪郭（を描く） of his adventures.

"Not too bad!" commented Nicholas appreciatively. "Not bad at all—強姦, 放火（罪） and 殺人, but I've known a fourteenth century 大司教 to do better before breakfast."

"Oh, you know," 抗議するd Tydvil indignantly, "that's hardly a fair 声明, at all!"

"But, don't you see, Tydvil, in these 事例／患者s it is the 原則 that counts? The 意向, rather than its fulfilment."

"But I cannot 収容する／認める it," argued Jones a little 温かく.

"I was certainly injudicious, but the 解雇する／砲火／射撃 原因（となる）d by the lamp must have been 消滅させるd without trouble. And the policeman..." He paused a little doubtfully.

"The least of your lapses," said Nicholas. "You say you only threw a lump of clay at him. That would not have 原因（となる）d any but a 一時的な inconvenience."

Tydvil （疑いを）晴らすd his throat. "Hum—yes," he said slowly. "But, unfortunately, that lump of clay had been baked. In fact, it was half a brick that checked his 前進する."

Nicholas 上級の chuckled. "Really, I must congratulate you. You have met serious 緊急s with 誘発する and effectual methods. Don't worry about the policeman. 危険s of the 肉親，親類d are inseparable from his calling." Here he paused, for the tumult and the shouting that had died away were 再開するd with 新たにするd vigour. There was a 殺到 below, and the uproar broke out again, 明らかに 直接／まっすぐに below their perch. Looking apprehensively at Nicholas, Tydvil's arm encircled the 固める／コンクリート ball beside him.

Leaning 今後, Nicholas listened intently. "They seem to have 設立する someone. Wait! I won't be long." He disappeared as he spoke.

The last （裁判所の）禁止（強制）命令 was unnecessary. Tydvil had not the slightest 意向 of moving. He clung affectionately, to the 固める／コンクリート, and 星／主役にするd out across the dark waters of the Bay, to where the Gellibrand light winked a knowing and wicked red 注目する，もくろむ at him.

Five minutes later, Mr. 上級の was beside him again. He was laughing heartily, though 静かに.

Tydvil turned an enquiring 注目する，もくろむ on him.

"Upon my word," said Nicholas, "had I planned it myself, I could not have done better. Your late pursuers have 設立する the real William Brewer who was passing with two friends."

No words （機の）カム from Tydvil. He was beyond speech, but his 直面する was a 公式文書，認める of anguished 尋問.

"I left him trying to explain himself, and no one will believe him. He has been 逮捕（する）d for using abusive language to the policeman. That policeman is very angry," 追加するd Nicholas as an afterthought.

CHAPTER XVIII

Tydvil felt that, at this juncture, the 救助（する） of Billy Brewer was the 最高位の consideration, and said so. Mr. 上級の, however, 勧めるd 警告を与える. "I can take him from that policeman without any trouble," he said, "but remember, he is known. That will mean his re-逮捕（する） on another 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金."

"But I must do something," Tydvil pleaded. "It is all my fault, and he is innocent."

"Don't worry," Mr. 上級の re-保証するd him. "I will 保釈（金） him out tonight and appear for him in 法廷，裁判所 tomorrow. You can come along and give 証拠 if you like."

"That," said Tydvil, "would be very 満足な, but for the fact that you and I have not yet met one another."

"Uh," concurred Nicholas.

"The 事例／患者 might reach the papers," Tydvil explained, "and my wife might wonder—she's pretty good at wondering."

"井戸／弁護士席," Nicholas said thoughtfully, "we must have an impressive looking counsel—let me see—we'll call him Mr. Olden, K.C. I will contrive to look 合法的な and will arrange it so that the 法廷，裁判所 受託するs me at 額面価格."

"Good." Tydvil's 信用／信任 returned. "But I'm afraid that in 未来 I must assume a character of my own 創造. Duplicates are likely to be troublesome."

"You must 収容する／認める, though," laughed Mr. 上級の, "that you are indebted to Brewer for an excellent night's entertainment."

"All the more 推論する／理由 why I should not let him 苦しむ for it," retorted Tydvil. "You see, he'll have to do the explaining to Geraldine Brand and that very insinuating Hilda—I'm afraid he will find it rather difficult, too," he 追加するd thoughtfully. Then, with a shiver, for a 冷静な／正味の 勝利，勝つd was blowing in from the Bay, "I wish I could have another drink."

上級の すぐに produced a silver flask into the cup of which he 注ぐd a 自由主義の dose. Swallowed at one gulp, the alluring fluid seemed to drench Tydvil's system with courage, 楽観主義 and happiness. He felt that タバコ was the one thing left to 完全にする his satisfaction with life.

In answer to his request Mr. 上級の, the 強いるing, 手渡すd him a cigar. Forgetting his unusual 状況／情勢 on the housetops, and careless of consequences, Tydvil struck a match that illuminated the two 人物／姿／数字s on the parapet.

From the street below （機の）カム an excited 発言する／表明する, "Hi, look!" quickly followed by another, rather more excited, "What are you men doing up there?"

Earlier in the night, the 証拠 of his 発見 in a 妥協ing 状況／情勢 would have terrified Tydvil Jones. Now he only felt annoyance at the challenge to his liberty of 活動／戦闘 as a 国民. Cupping his 手渡すs to his mouth he 答える／応じるd. "I'm the Queen of Sheba with King Solomon, and we're taking the 空気／公表する—you mud-長，率いるd flat-fish!"

"I 疑問 if they'll 受託する your explanation," 発言／述べるd Mr. 上級の judicially.

Evidently he was 権利. One of the 発言する／表明するs shouted, "Police! Police!"

Mr. 上級の's （水以外の）飲料 must have been 公正に／かなり potent, for it was doubtless that and not Tydvil Jones that replied to the call with a 一連の 侮辱s, 野蛮な in their splendour, that could be heard for hundreds of yards. In a few moments it peopled the 静かな of Beaconsfield Parade with enquiring 居住（者）s.

"I think," 発言／述べるd Mr. 上級の as the clamour below grew louder, "that we would be wiser to leave."

"Perhaps you're 権利," 譲歩するd Tydvil, "those people don't seem to like us."

"Where to?" asked Nicholas.

"I think I'll call it a night—take me home, Nicholas," replied Tydvil.

A second later Tydvil 設立する himself in the 運動 before his house on St. Kilda Road. He was ignorant of the fact, that for nearly two hours afterwards, police and 国民 helpers 群れているd over the roofs of terraces on Beaconsfield Parade, searching diligently for two mysterious malefactors.

約束ing to 会合，会う him at the 法廷，裁判所 next morning at ten o'clock, Nicholas left Tydvil to his own 装置s. He marched light-heartedly to his own door. His mood was one of genial satisfaction and peace and good will. His 憤慨 against even Amy had 消えるd. He felt for his latch 重要な, but his pocket was empty. A moment later he 続けざまに猛撃するd the door vigorously, with the bronze knocker.

Amy had 解任するd the maids for the night and was を待つing Tydvil's arrival. She, too, for her own 目的s, had decided not to re-open 敵意s for the moment. The （一定の）期間 of that charming Mr. 上級の was still strong upon her. Rather surprised at a 報知係 at nearly midnight, she 急いでd to answer the 召喚するs at the 前線 door.

She was still more surprised when she 設立する standing on the mat, 非，不，無 other than that handsome young Mr. Brewer from the 倉庫／問屋. Whisky, cocktails, シャンペン酒, liqueurs and then Mr. 上級の's 出資／貢献 to the mixture, had conspired to make him 完全に oblivious to his altered 身元.

Amy gazed at the 人物／姿／数字, for once in her life—short of words. Tydvil 受託するd her silence as an olive 支店. That was why, a moment later, Amy Jones 設立する herself in the 武器 of Mr. Brewer, who fervently kissed the 上昇傾向d 直面する.

Amy struggled loose and gasped. "You せねばならない be ashamed of yourself!"

Tydvil, still innocent of the enormity of his offence, smiled. "Don't be angry with me, dear! Why should we quarrel?"

"Mr. Brewer! How—oh, how could you!"

Enlightenment 衝突，墜落d into Tydvil's mind. The 紅潮／摘発するd 直面する 表明するd more astonishment than 怒り／怒る. His mind 登録（する）d the fact automatically, but for the moment he knew he must carry on.

"I—I couldn't help it!" he stammered apologetically.

"I'm astonished, Mr. Brewer! Apart from anything else, what would Mr. Jones think? He might be home at any moment."

"I left him working at the office." Tydvil suddenly recognised that he had 登録（する）d a water-tight アリバイ.

"But," Amy 主張するd, "how could you do such a thing as come here like this."

"I was walking home, and felt ill—I did not think really. I think it must have been a heart attack—I..."

She looked at him intently. She did not recognise that the cigar in his 手渡す hardly bore out the 声明. "Would you like me to （犯罪の）一味 for a doctor?" she asked.

Tydvil began to 支援する out. "No, please, no," he said. "Please 許す me—I feel better—I must go."

But Amy would not hear of it. "Wait, you must let me get you a little 興奮剤—I 主張する."

Tydvil 降伏するd. He saw his way out. Amy led the way to the 歓迎会 room. "Now just sit 負かす／撃墜する, Mr. Brewer. I won't be a moment," and she bustled away.

The instant she disappeared, Tydvil whispered an 緊急の "Nicholas! Nicholas!" In a moment Mr. 上級の stood before him.

"Get me out! Quick! Out into the street." Curtains parted, a window opened and の近くにd behind them. And Tydvil 設立する himself in St. Kilda Road.

"Whew!" he gasped breathlessly. Then, "Why on earth didn't you remind me I hadn't changed over?"

Mr. 上級の raised his brows. "My part, my dear fellow is not （a）忠告の／（n）警報. You must remember. Still, there is no 害（を与える） done, is there?"

After a moment's reflection, Tydvil 認める that things might be worse. The change from Billy to his rightful self was 影響d in a moment.

"Sure you're all 権利, now?" asked Nicholas. "絶対," replied Mr. Jones emphatically, turning to his gate.

Again he walked 速く up the 運動, and let himself in with his latch 重要な to 会合，会う Amy in the wide hall carrying a tray on which was a glass and a jug and the 瓶／封じ込める of whisky that was kept in the 薬／医学 cupboard for 緊急s.

Amy's 直面する 表明するd びっくり仰天 rather than welcome. Tydvil pretended not to notice her uneasiness. "Good gracious! Amy, what are you doing with that?" he asked.

"I felt ill! I was waiting up for you! I..."

"By Jove, you do look pale! Come into the sitting-room and I will give you some of that." He made as though to take the tray from her 手渡すs.

"No, no, Tydvil" Amy 抗議するd anxiously. "You must be tired. Go up to your room. I will be やめる all 権利."

But Tydvil 主張するd. He took the tray from her and, entering the room, placed it on a （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する and turned に向かって her. Amy was standing in the doorway looking 一連の会議、交渉／完成する the room in utter bewilderment.

選ぶing up the 瓶／封じ込める and the tumbler, Tydvil paused and 匂いをかぐd. "That's strange!" Another 匂いをかぐ. "Do you know, Amy," 匂いをかぐ, "this room smells as though of cigar smoke." He looked at her enquiringly.

"Nonsense, Tydvil!" she said, 前進するing into the room. "You must be dreaming. I cannot smell anything unusual."

He 注ぐd some whisky into the glass and, 追加するing water, 手渡すd it to her. "Of course I must be wrong," he 認める, "but I really thought for a moment that there was an odour of タバコ. Stupid, wasn't it? Now drink that at once."

Amy obeyed. For the first time in her life she felt she needed a 興奮剤. "Now," he said, taking a glass from her, "you get along to bed. I'll put these things away and put out the lights."

She felt no inclination to argue. The 状況／情勢 was beyond her. There was as much of 救済 as of bewilderment in her mind.

As for Tydvil, he went about his tidying up cheerfully. But when he reached his bedroom, he seated himself on the 味方する of his bed and lapsed into long but silent laughter.

CHAPTER XIX

Next morning saw the 現象 of Amy 存在 first at the breakfast （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する. She had decided on a 一時休戦, but her 決定／判定勝ち（する） was almost 粉々にするd when, looking over her paper, the paragraph that Tydvil had dictated to Geraldine met her 注目する，もくろむs. Amy, not only boiled with wrath, she almost 爆発するd. Fortunately, she had five minutes in which to 回復する before a composed and impenitent husband wished her a polite "good morning" as he took his place.

Although Tydvil was not aware of the blessing, nature had gifted him with one of those rare but priceless 長，率いるs that do not 課す a 激烈な penance for a night out. He was feeling as fit as he looked, and helped himself generously to 取調べ／厳しく尋問するd 腎臓s and bacon.

Amy watched him sulkily, and then said sourly, "I think, my dear Tydvil, you might have 差し控えるd from 侮辱ing me 公然と."

Waiting to swallow his first mouthful, Tydvil made no pretence of 誤解. The paper beside her told its tale. He shrugged his shoulders as he spiked another piece of 腎臓 with his fork. "You asked for it!" was all he said.

She was puzzled at his manner. This new Tydvil 要求するd 熟考する／考慮する. Evidently 警告を与える in 扱うing him was 需要・要求するd. Amy went on, "However, I do not 提案する to discuss the 事柄 now..."

"That's good!" interrupted Tydvil.

"But we will go into it at another time," Amy 結論するd without noticing his interjection.

"井戸／弁護士席, if you like 列／漕ぐ／騒動s so much as that, don't let me stop you," he answered.

Amy 拒絶する／低下するd the challenge. "I have some rather important news for you," she 発表するd.

"Shoot!" Tydvil was evidently far more 利益／興味d in the 腎臓s than Amy's news, and his 無関心／冷淡 annoyed her.

"What is the meaning of 'shoot'?" she 需要・要求するd.

"It's a shorter word than proceed, and means the same thing. 'Shoot,'" he 追加するd, "is a synonym for 'get it off your chest.'"

"One is vulgar, and the other is coarse, and both are 不快な／攻撃," retorted Amy. "You know I detest slang."

"やめる so," said the imperturbable Tydvil.

"Then perhaps," she （機の）カム 支援する very, acidly, "you will condescend to speak English to me."

Still 深く，強烈に engaged with his plate, Tydvil said, very politely, "Very 井戸／弁護士席, my dear, I repeat, it will give me unfeigned 楽しみ to hear your news."

Amy 受託するd the words at their 額面価格. "I had a visit yesterday from a most distinguished gentleman, a Mr. Nicholas 上級の, who is in Australia enquiring into our social work and 条件s."

"Ur!" （機の）カム the 非，不，無-commital comment from the 腎臓s. "I spent the whole afternoon with him, 検査／視察するing our 会・原則s."

"Ur!"

"He was most intensely 利益／興味d."

"After subscriptions, I suppose," commented Tydvil.

"There you are 完全に wrong. Indeed, he subscribed to ours with most princely, generosity. It may 利益／興味 you to know that he gave a cheque for one hundred 続けざまに猛撃するs for the Moral Uplift Society."

"襲う，襲って強奪する!" murmured Tydvil.

"What did you say, Tydvil?" she 需要・要求するd. "I said 'good,' my dear."

She looked at his suspiciously a moment. "You cannot think why he called on me." Amy purred.

"I was wondering," Tydvil 認める.

"井戸／弁護士席, he had heard of my work from the 大司教 of Canterbury, and he had a letter of introduction to me from dear 大司教 Pottinger." There was exaltation in her 発言する／表明する.

Tydvil did not 答える／応じる to the 招待 for congratulations. Instead, he reminded her that he had put himself to the inconvenience of waiting for her in his office all the morning, and that she had not come. He submitted his 発言／述べる as a 正当と認められる grievance.

"I know," answered Amy, "but I really could not come, Mr. 上級の took me to lunch."

"Where?"

Amy paused, and then said hesitantly, "井戸／弁護士席, Tydvil, Mr. 上級の is staying at Menzies, and we went there."

Tydvil Jones put his knife and fork gently on his plate and said in 苦痛d amazement, "Amy, have you forgotten that you are one of the 副／悪徳行為-大統領，／社長s of the League for the 鎮圧 of Alcohol."

"That makes no difference whatever, Tydvil. If Mr. 上級の can stay there, and he is a friend of the 大司教 of Canterbury, I don't think anyone could take exception to my lunching with him."

"I am astonished, Amy! Astonished!" commented her husband with virtuous 非難.

"There was really nothing at all objectionable," she 抗議するd. Then, hurriedly, to stop その上の argument, "I am asking Mr. 上級の to dinner, Tydvil. He is most anxious to 会合，会う you."

Mr. Jones ちらりと見ることd at the clock and stood up. "I cannot help feeling surprised and grieved at your indiscretion, Amy. Of course, I will 会合，会う Mr. 上級の. I feel やめる 正当化するd in 熟知させるing him with my 不賛成. Have my car sent 一連の会議、交渉／完成する," he directed the maid.

Somehow, Amy felt that Tydvil had 軍隊d her into a corner from which she could 抗議する neither against the strictures on Mr. 上級の nor his ordering the car.

Pausing at the door as he left the room, Tydvil 発表するd that he would be working late at the office again, and Amy made no comment.

That morning, when, の直前に ten o'clock, Mr. William Brewer 現在のd himself at the St. Kilda 法廷，裁判所 to answer a 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 of 強襲，強姦 on a police officer and 侮辱ing behaviour, he was the least happy and most bewildered man in the 主要都市の area. He 設立する that he had an 予期しない capacity for a その上の 不景気 of spirits when, a minute or two later, no いっそう少なく a person than Tydvil Jones appeared and took his place in 前線 of the （法廷の）裁判. He was …を伴ってd by a tall and very distinguished looking companion of 合法的な 面.

"That has torn it," Billy 反映するd, though Tydvil 明らかに took no notice of Mr. Brewer's presence.

Tydvil himself was 利益／興味d to 公式文書，認める that "の中で those 現在の" were Mr. Cranston and his two unpleasant looking friends, the large policeman whom he had 扱う／治療するd so 敏速に and effectually the night before, and four young men who were, he supposed, the 残り／休憩（する） of the 追跡（する）ing pack.

The police 治安判事 who 統括するd on the （法廷の）裁判, 性質の／したい気がして of three drunks in five minutes, and one minor 強襲，強姦 事例／患者 in いっそう少なく than ten. Then the 事例／患者 of William Brewer—侮辱ing behaviour and 強襲，強姦ing a constable—was called.

すぐに Mr. Olden rose to his feet and 発表するd that he appeared for the 被告. Then he slipped across to the astonished William who had taken his place in the ドッキングする／減らす／ドックに入れる, and whispered he was not to worry, but not to give 証拠 on his own に代わって on any account.

Used as he was to hard 断言するing and the 複雑化 of police 法廷，裁判所 証拠, Mr. J. J. Arty, M.P., remembered the 事例／患者 of William Brewer in after life as the most remarkable in a long experience.

All the morning the 合法的な 戦う／戦い 激怒（する）d 一連の会議、交渉／完成する the 被告's 黒人／ボイコット 注目する，もくろむ. Mr. Olden nailed the 証言，証人／目撃するs for the 起訴 負かす／撃墜する to that 注目する，もくろむ. The large constable swore 前向きに／確かに that, 黒人／ボイコット or no 黒人／ボイコット 注目する，もくろむ, it was the 被告 who had 投げつけるd half a brick at his 乱暴／暴力を加えるd person. He was 温かく supported by Mr. Cranston and his two unpleasant friends, who all told a tale of infuriated intoxication, murderous 強襲，強姦 with a kerosene lamp, and outrageous language, but all agreed that the 被告 had no 黒人／ボイコット 注目する，もくろむ. They had all 証言，証人／目撃するd the 強襲，強姦 on the constable in the 死刑執行 of his 義務. The four young men were weak in 詳細（に述べる） but strong in their belief.

One the contrary, two indignant friends of Billy, and the wife of one of them, swore just as 前向きに／確かに that the 被告 had spent the evening playing cards at their home and that the 黒人／ボイコット 注目する，もくろむ was 適切に 熟した when he had arrived at their home.

Mr. Arty began to lose patience and 発言／述べるd that he had listened to more 偽証 that morning than he was accustomed to hear in six months of police 法廷，裁判所 practice, and that was a 広大な／多数の／重要な 取引，協定. Then Mr. Olden called Mr. Tydvil Jones, who entered the 証言，証人／目撃する box and 屈服するd politely to Mr. Arty, to whom he was very 井戸／弁護士席 known.

Sworn, Mr. Jones 退位させる／宣誓証言するd that he was 完全に at a loss to understand the 証拠 he had heard from either 味方する. The 被告 was in his 雇う. On the previous evening Brewer had worked 支援する with him at his office until somewhere 近づく eleven p.m. He was not sure of the exact time Mr. Brewer left him, but he could not かもしれない have been embroiled with the police or Cranston, neither was it possible he could have played cards with his friends—as 申し立てられた／疑わしい.

He was also 肯定的な that the 黒人／ボイコット 注目する，もくろむ, 一連の会議、交渉／完成する which the 事例／患者 centred, was 得るd by the 被告 on the previous morning while he was 補助装置ing his (Mr. Tydvil Jones') 長官 with her work. He had been 現在の when the 事故 occurred. He felt sure that Brewer would not have been able to reach St. Kilda by the time the 強襲，強姦 was 申し立てられた／疑わしい to have taken place.

Mr. Arty questioned Mr. Jones closely, and received instant and frank replies to all the questions which he put to the 証言，証人／目撃する.

Mr. Arty then sat 支援する in his char and told all the 証言，証人／目撃するs except Mr. Tydvil Jones, whose high standing and 井戸／弁護士席 known 正直さ placed him above 疑惑, that for some 推論する／理由 best known to themselves they had come into 法廷，裁判所 and sworn to what he regarded as a "fabric of unmitigated falsehood." He could form no idea of the 推論する／理由 for the 証拠 they had given, but there was evidently something behind the 事例／患者 that had not been 公表する／暴露するd.

He 結論するd by telling the 証言，証人／目撃するs that if he could （不足などを）補う his mind which were the liars, he would 喜んで commit them for 偽証. Then he 発射する／解雇するd William Brewer as the 犠牲者 of a manifest 共謀.

Ten of the 証言，証人／目撃するs and Billy Brewer left the 法廷，裁判所 in bemazed indignation. Pausing to tell Brewer to see him in his office as soon as he arrived at the 倉庫／問屋, he 再結合させるd Mr. Olden and the two, entering Tydvil's car, drove off citywards.

For the first five minutes Tydvil was silent and very thoughtful. His reverie was interrupted by Nicholas. "That, my dear Tydvil," he said with a smile, "is where you draw your （株主への）配当s on your blameless past."

"Hump!" Tydvil growled. "You were 権利 when you said how 平易な it was to get into mischief. Still, I had to give that 証拠."

"I don't know that it was imperative," commented Mr. 上級の, "but you made a 広大な／多数の／重要な 職業 of it."

"It was necessary," replied Tydvil. "You see, I told my wife last night Brewer had been working 支援する with me." He 輪郭（を描く）d his 遭遇（する） with Amy and 追加するd, "So, you see, I had to 支援する in the 証言，証人／目撃する box what I had told her."

"Yes, I see," commented Nicholas. "But it just 証明するs that a man with a first class 評判 can get away with 事実上 anything. Every one of those ten 証言，証人／目撃するs told the truth as he saw it. But the whole 集まり of their 証拠 was blown out by your wholly fictitious 声明s."

Arranging to 会合，会う in his office that evening, the two parted when Tydvil dropped Nicholas on Princes 橋（渡しをする）.

Twenty minutes after Tydvil had arrived at his office, Brewer knocked and was 認める. Billy, angry and bewildered, was glad that Geraldine was not at her （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する when he passed it.

His 歓迎会 by Tydvil was somewhat 冷淡な, but not 敵意を持った. Said Tydvil, "I will not enquire into the unfortunate circumstances which led you into the unpleasant position in which I 設立する you this morning. I 受託するd unreservedly the 保証／確信 of my friend, Mr. Olden, that you were guiltless, and was very glad to be able to do so. I am afraid I 可決する・採択するd a most reprehensible course in giving the 証拠 I did..."

Billy made as though to speak.

"No, Brewer, there is no need to thank me. It would have been a miscarriage of 司法（官） had the （法廷の）裁判 believed the 証拠 against you. We'll say no more about it." Tydvil smiled and held out his 手渡す.

Billy took it 温かく and stuttered his 感謝. As he turned to go, Tydvil stopped him. "Oh, by the way, Brewer, this 商売／仕事 of this morning almost made me forget. Do you know a man 指名するd Jerry McCann?"

Startled, and wondering what more was in 蓄える／店, Billy 認める the acquaintanceship.

"井戸／弁護士席," replied Tydvil, "last night about ten o'clock, when I was working here, I heard a 大打撃を与えるing on the 前線 door of the 倉庫／問屋. I opened it, and there was a man on the doorstep who gave the 指名する of Jerry McCann..."

"Impossible!" gasped Billy.

"Not at all," continued Tydvil. "He was, I am afraid, somewhat under the 影響（力） of アルコール飲料..."

"But..." Billy tried to break in.

"Wait, wait!" Tydvil silenced him. "He 手配中の，お尋ね者 to see you. He was a little troublesome, so I humoured him. He said he 借りがあるd you some money and he had 約束d to 支払う／賃金 you last night—dead or alive—that was the exact 称する，呼ぶ／期間／用語 he used. So I agreed to take 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 of the money for you. Here it is," and Tydvil held out the twenty-five 続けざまに猛撃するs.

While he was speaking, Billy 星／主役にするd at Tyddie with something like awe on his 直面する. He looked at the money, scarcely daring to touch it. "Are you sure it was ten o'clock, sir?" he almost whispered.

"やめる," 答える／応じるd Jones. "I remember the time and the words most distinctly. Why?"

"Jerry McCann was killed by a モーター car just before eight o'clock, in Swanston Street. All the papers have it this morning."

Tydvil Jones had no need to 行為／法令／行動する the astonishment and shock that he felt from the 告示, though they arose from 原因（となる）s other than Billy Brewer supposed. "Impossible! I..." He stopped and 星／主役にするd, too, at the money in his 手渡す.

"Amazing!" muttered Billy. "He 現実に said, 'dead or alive'?"

"Beyond a 疑問," said Tydvil.

"Do you think...?" Billy paused, 星／主役にするing at Jones.

He shook his 長，率いる. "I don't know what to think, Brewer," he said. "Best take this and say nothing about it. He 借りがあるd it to you, I suppose?"

Billy nodded, taking the 公式文書，認めるs. "Yes, and that is what he said to me last week—'Dead or alive'!"

Slowly, and with bent 長，率いる, Billy walked 負かす／撃墜する the 倉庫／問屋 に向かって the main 入り口. He felt a drink was 必須の to his sanity. As he reached a 抱擁する stack of Manchester goods at the foot of the staircase, he almost ran into Amy in his abstraction. Starting, he raised his hat respectfully. But Amy paused and shook a gloved finger at him playfully. "Oh, Mr. Brewer!" she smiled. "I'm afraid you are very, very naughty. You やめる 脅すd me last night." She passed on, still smiling.

Unseen by either, 行方不明になる Geraldine Brand, who was coming 負かす／撃墜する the steps, had seen and heard the 遭遇（する）. Billy, wondering if he had heard aright, or if he were mad, stood with his lips apart, not seeing Geraldine until that young woman made him aware of her haughty presence by 説, "So! It is not only Hilda Cranston, but Mrs. Jones!"

Billy （機の）カム to earth from the clouds that enveloped him, "What were you 説, Geraldine?" He strove to pull himself together.

"I heard what Mrs. Jones said about your 脅すing her last night. I suppose you'll say I didn't!"

He waved his 手渡すs feebly. I don't know what she was talking about..."

"And," she went on with steam-roller 軽蔑（する）, "I suppose you were not talking to Hilda Cranston outside His Majesty's Theatre last night just after eight o'clock."

"Geraldine!" he 抗議するd. "I 断言する I 港／避難所't spoken to Hilda Cranston for nearly three months. I told you I had 削減（する） out that sort of thing."

"I prefer," she 発射 at him, "to believe the 証拠 of my own 注目する，もくろむs. I saw you—you...!" Words failed Geraldine, and she swept past him.

But Billy's cup was not yet 十分な, though it 洪水d ten minutes later in the Carillion 妨げる／法廷，弁護士業 when he 申し込む／申し出d the blonde Connie eleven 続けざまに猛撃するs in 公式文書，認めるs.

"Don't 行為／法令／行動する the goat, Billy!" she laughed, 押し進めるing the money aside.

"But King Rufus won!" he 主張するd.

"Look here, Billy!" the girl said 本気で. "裁判官ing from that lovely 注目する，もくろむ you have, you must have had a fair 負担 on last night, but you were やめる sober when you paid over that money to me; you couldn't have forgotten it."

"I was here last night, and paid you?"

She nodded.

"And without this 注目する，もくろむ?" He 示すd the dark purple decoration.

Again she nodded. "Here, やめる fooling and put this 負かす／撃墜する your neck." She 押し進めるd a whisky and soda across to him. "You must need a reviver."

Billy shook his 長，率いる and 押し進めるd it 支援する again. "Not me, Connie! Not me!" he muttered. "I'm on the water-waggon for the 残り／休憩（する） of my life." He turned and almost tottered into Elizabeth Street. Life was too much for him, he felt.

CHAPTER XX

But Billy Brewer was not the only, one to whom the day brought problems. When Geraldine Brand's were 現在のd to her, they （機の）カム from her evening paper which she read on the way home. No king had died. No 殺人 had been committed. No political 危機 had occurred. Space was plentiful, and news had been dull until the story sent in by a 地区 特派員 from the St. Kilda 法廷，裁判所 had gladdened a news editor's heart. It went on to the 前線 page, 長，率いるd "黒人／ボイコット 注目する，もくろむ Comedy," and the story, with an almost verbatim 報告（する）／憶測 of the 証拠, lost nothing in the telling.

Geraldine read that damning story of the 申し立てられた／疑わしい activities of one, William Brewer, on the previous night, with ever-増加するing indignation. But her indignation was levelled not at the 犯人, so much as at his detractors. She was a wise, competent and level-長，率いるd young woman. She read and re-read the 証拠, and more 特に the 証拠 which touched on the decoration she had bestowed on Billy, until she almost committed it to memory. And Geraldine thought and thought all that evening. Long after she had retired for the night, she lay awake trying to make sense of what she had read and that which she knew, herself, to be true. But 非，不，無 of it made sense.

It was only when she was reading the story, that there flashed into her mind inexplicable truth that she had overlooked in her 怒り／怒る against Billy on the previous evening. The Billy who had been talking to Hilda Cranston outside of His Majesty's Theatre had not a 黒人／ボイコット 注目する，もくろむ! Of that she was now 確かな . Yet, both she, and 明らかに that Cranston woman, had 受託するd him unreservedly as Billy. So, によれば his 証拠, had Cranston, who, as Geraldine virtuously 反映するd, deserved that sort of wife.

It was difficult enough to 受託する the suggestion that that Billy was not her Billy—she had unaccountably, 設立する herself thinking of him as her Billy, and liked the idea immensely. But there was something else, known only to herself. The 証拠 of Mr. Tydvil Jones was almost more astounding than the problem of two Billies.

She, Geraldine Brand, was 用意が出来ている to 断言する and take 誓い that, にもかかわらず his sworn 証拠 in the St. Kilda 法廷，裁判所 that day, Tydvil Jones had not worked 支援する at the office on the previous night. Therefore, it followed 論理（学）上 that the Tyddie she believed to 階級 の中で the most virtuous of men had gone into the 証言，証人／目撃する box and had sworn deliberately to some most tremendous fibs—whoppers! Somehow she liked him better for the knowledge, 特に so as the fibs had （疑いを）晴らすd—more or いっそう少なく—Billy's character.

Of one thing she felt sure, and only one. Billy, where ever he may have been that night, was innocent of wrong doing. She 推論する／理由d that somehow Tyddie was sure of Billy's innocence. Had he not been, he would most certainly have 解雇（する）d him. It seemed inconsistent that Tyddie would commit 偽証 himself and 遂行する／発効させる Billy for a lesser offence, but she felt she was 権利.

But then, how did Amy come into the picture? Geraldine had seen her shake her finger at Billy and had heard every syllable of that わずかに gay けん責（する），戒告. She remembered Billy's—her Billy's—utter astonishment and びっくり仰天 at the time. Evidently, she 結論するd, Amy had been barking up the wrong Billy and did not know it. The activities of the 誤った Billy must have been as prodigious as they were 理解できない. They certainly 反映するd 逆に on his taste in feminine friends.

Then there was that perplexing and 極悪の perjurer, her 雇用者. What had he been up to?' Here, Geraldine's usually （疑いを）晴らす, incisive mind 辞退するd to 推論する／理由. Had it been any other man, Geraldine would have jumped to the only reasonable 結論, that he had been running wild.

Geraldine knew as much of Tydvil's 商売／仕事 as he knew himself, and she was 肯定的な that there was nothing that could have kept him 支援する at the office on the previous evening—not 商売／仕事, anyway. Could Tyddie...? No, impossible! Her mind 辞退するd to put such a thought into form. Geraldine stopped the vigorous 小衝突ing of her hair and 星／主役にするd at herself for a long time in the mirror, but she did not see herself. Her abstraction made her 行方不明になる a charming picture.

Much later that night, before she slept, Geraldine made two 決意／決議s. One was, that Billy Brewer needed a woman, preferably, much preferably, herself, to look after him and keep him out of mischief. The other was, that in the very 近づく 未来 she would be very much いっそう少なく 敵意を持った in her manner to Billy, and その上の, that having won his 信用／信任 he would be called upon to answer a lot of questions—やめる a lot of questions. But her last and 支配的な thought was one that would have 補償するd Billy for all his 裁判，公判s had he but known of it.

Amy, also, had read of the "黒人／ボイコット 注目する，もくろむ Comedy." The 予期しない 外見 of Mr. Brewer and his still more 予期しない 見えなくなる, had 原因（となる）d her a 広大な／多数の／重要な 取引，協定 of very mixed emotion. That kiss! Amy was not やめる sure whether she was more angry with herself or Mr. Brewer. Yes, Mr. Brewer, who had no 黒人／ボイコット 注目する，もくろむ. She read Tydvil's 証言 to the 影響 that his Mr. Brewer did have a 黒人／ボイコット 注目する，もくろむ. Yet her Mr. Brewer, whose 注目する，もくろむs were both normal and both bold, had told her he had been working 支援する in the office with Tydvil.

Knowing least of anyone of the events of the previous night, Amy could only decide that it was all very, peculiar. It was more peculiar that Tydvil had not について言及するd the 事柄 at breakfast that morning. She felt an 緊急の need for enlightenment, but felt more 緊急に still that such 調査 as she 乗る，着手するd on through Tydvil would 要求する much circumspection and 外交.

一方／合間, the 共同の 原因（となる）s of all these perplexities were comfortably in 会議／協議会 in the office of Tydvil Jones. Tydvil had indulged in a very good dinner, it would have been better, he thought, if he had had the courage to order a small 瓶／封じ込める of ワイン—but he was still Tydvil Jones. But the cigar he was now smoking 補償するd to some extent for the omission.

Nicholas had listened in amused silence to Tydvil's account of the final episodes, in his own home, of the previous night's excursion. Said he, when the tale was told, "Does it occur to you, Tydvil, that Brewer's 黒人／ボイコット 注目する，もくろむ has become the pivotal point for some difficult explanations?"

無視（する）ing the question for the moment, Tydvil, from the depths of his 議長，司会を務める, chuckled happily. "It was a most successful night for a beginner." Then, thoughtfully, "I'm afraid, Nicholas, I shall have to abandon 可決する・採択するing a known individuality for a 創造 of my own."

Said Nicholas dryly, "If Brewer were fully 知らせるd on the 事柄, I should say he would be の中で the first to applaud your 決定／判定勝ち（する）."

"Yes," 認める Tydvil, "it never occurred to me that I would put him into such a 穴を開ける. By all the 法律s of decency, I am bound to help him out."

"He is going to need help, too," 答える／応じるd Nicholas. "The husband of your lively young friend of last night spent this afternoon arranging for a 離婚 with Brewer as the 与える／捧げるing factor."

Tydvil sat 築く. "広大な／多数の／重要な Scot!" he groaned. "I never thought of that, either; what on earth can we do?"

Nicholas shrugged his shoulders. "The least of your troubles, I think. If a 裁判官 in 離婚 can make anything out of the same 証拠 as was given at St. Kilda this morning, he will be a very astute man. No," he went on, "your 即座の problem comes from a different source."

Tydvil 星／主役にするd an 尋問.

"I've been keeping an 注目する，もくろむ on that 長官 of yours. You should know better than I that that girl is no fool."

"Hump, and what then?" Tydvil asked curiously. "Have you seen the evening papers?"

Tydvil shook his 長，率いる.

"井戸／弁護士席," Nicholas smiled, "there is a 十分な and 公正に／かなり 正確な account of the 法廷，裁判所 訴訟／進行 in them."

"Still, I don't see..." Tydvil began.

"Two things," Mr. 上級の interrupted. "First, she has just discovered she is really in love with Brewer. Second, she has read the papers and at this moment she is trying to reconcile your 証拠 with the fact known to her that you most certainly did not work 支援する in the office last night."

"宗教上の Moses!" Tydvil interjected. "Of course, she would know that from my （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する."

"And," continued Nicholas, "she is this moment trying to work out a 解答 of the 黒人／ボイコット 注目する，もくろむ problem—and so is your wife!"

Tydvil ran his 手渡す through his hair. "Two of 'em!" Then amusement got the better of his 苦悩, and he laughed heartily.

"正確に／まさに," nodded Mr. 上級の. "Two of 'em! And that is why I said just now that Brewer's 注目する，もくろむ was a pivotal point for some explanation."

"Anyway," Tydvil said, "they can't do much more than wonder, and they can wonder as much as they like."

"Um," Nicholas replied. "They're wondering all 権利. In the circumstances, your wife is a bit handicapped because her explanation would be rather more difficult than yours."

Here Tydvil again sat 築く, 星／主役にするing in 前線 of him. Then his 注目する，もくろむs brightened and a smile of happiness spread over his 直面する.

Watching him intently, Nicholas lay 支援する and laughed softly. "Tydvil," he said, "I'm no moralist, but would that be wise?"

"What do you mean?" asked Tydvil, surprised at the question.

"I read your thought. 許す the 侵入占拠, it was only a natural curiosity."

"井戸／弁護士席," answered Tydvil defensively, "Amy 借りがあるs me a good 取引，協定, and..."

"I see," 上級の grinned. "If anyone is going to 疎遠にする your wife's affections, you would rather do it yourself—and know 正確に／まさに what is going on."

"Ethically..." began Tydvil.

Again Nicholas laughed heartily, waving his 手渡す. "No, no, please, no, Tydvil! No 倫理学!"

"All 権利," Tydvil 譲歩するd, "no 倫理学. But if I bring a new 利益／興味 into Amy's life, it might keep her out of mischief."

"Oh, please yourself!" Nicholas said. "I 収容する／認める the idea 控訴，上告s to me as something new for both of you. A good 取引，協定 depends on what you mean by 'mischief.'"

"Look here!" 需要・要求するd Tydvil virtuously. "If a man cannot make love to his own wife, whose wife can he make love to?"

"Better, I suppose, than becoming 伴う／関わるd with Mr. Cranston's," 上級の 認める. "However, have it your own way."

"My 計画（する）'s 価値（がある） considering. It has the virtue of novelty," said Tydvil.

"井戸／弁護士席, if you can reconcile it with any form of virtue, don't let me 干渉する. But, remember this," Nicholas 追加するd, "that will not 配置する／処分する／したい気持ちにさせる of your 長官."

"If Brewer were not such a good chap, I might 配置する／処分する／したい気持ちにさせる of her in the same way,' Tydvil 示唆するd.

"やめる a good idea!" laughed Nicholas. "Considering your しつけ, Tydvil, your capacity for very 初めの sin amazes even me."

"Ah, 井戸／弁護士席," Tydvil said, a little 残念に, "Brewer deserves better 治療. I 借りがある it to him, anyway. I'm afraid that Geraldine Brand is beginning to think that I am not やめる the pattern of virtue she imagined me to be."

"正確に／まさに!" Nicholas agreed. "That is a very, unusual young woman, Tydvil. She has brains, and knows how to use them. And if you don't watch your step, my friend—井戸／弁護士席, 'ware red hair."

"Still, I don't see that she could do much," 競うd Tydvil.

"Don't under-率 her," 警告するd Nicholas. "That girl has got 持つ／拘留する of one fact—that you were not telling the truth in the 証言，証人／目撃する box—and several suppositions. Now, give a red- 長，率いるd girl, who is in love and defending her lover, that much to work on and you, or I, may be astonished at the things she can do. Believe me, Tydvil, I speak from a long experience. A brunette on the warpath is bad enough—but the red-長，率いるs! My boy, a 解雇（する） 十分な of wild cats would be more tractable."

Tydvil looked thoughtful. "Suppose," he asked, "we gave her Billy Brewer 解放する／自由な of encumbrance, so to speak?"

"Professionally," replied Mr. 上級の, "it would be against my 利益／興味s. Brewer is ひどく mortgaged to me. If that girl gets 持つ／拘留する of him, he'll 支払う／賃金 off the mortgage in the first year he's married. You can't （警官の）巡回区域，受持ち区域 red-長，率いるs either as 改革者s or the 逆転する when they 始める，決める about it. Still, in the circumstances, I would be willing to waive my （人命などを）奪う，主張する."

"They say marriages are made in heaven," 発言／述べるd Tydvil reflectively.

Mr. 上級の grinned derisively. "That one was started by a bachelor. If Brewer marries your Geraldine Brand, and does not behave himself afterwards, you'll find it difficult to 説得する him that his marriage was made in heaven."

"井戸／弁護士席," said Tydvil, "that's his 危険."

"Oh! Talking of Heaven, that reminds me that I am to have the 楽しみ of dining at your home tomorrow evening—to 会合，会う Mr. Jones and a few of our 主要な social 労働者s."

"You have my deepest sympathy," Tydvil replied, lighting another cigar.

"Really, I am looking 今後 to it," Nicholas 保証するd him.

"井戸／弁護士席, don't let me discourage you, but I happen to have seen the 名簿（に載せる）／表（にあげる） of guests, and an innate sense of 歓待 makes me feel rather 有罪の."

"You need not worry, for I feel sure it will be an enjoyable evening."

Tydvil smiled through the smoke. "If I hear you say that afterwards, I shall feel 大いに relieved."

"And now, what about your own 事件／事情／状勢s?" asked Nicholas.

"I've been thinking it over," Tydvil replied, "and recognise that we cannot 危険 a known individuality. Can you turn me out as something new?"

"No difficulty whatever," Nicholas 保証するd him. "Just what would you like to be?"

"Oh, say something 公正に／かなり good looking and 強健な. Plenty of self-保証／確信. Not 正確に／まさに 完全に a 冒険的な man, but a good all-一連の会議、交渉／完成する type. Oh, and able to use my 手渡すs if necessary!"

"Attractive to women," Nicholas 示唆するd.

Tydvil hesitated a moment. "井戸／弁護士席, yes, but within reasonable 限界s. I suppose that is one highroad to adventure."

"One of the best," Mr. 上級の 譲歩するd. "Status? I can put you into the 主要都市の or the 大陸の Club if you like."

Tydvil shook his 長，率いる. "No, I think not," he said. "I'm afraid they would cramp my style—make it something 繁栄する, but not too 目だつ."

Mr. 上級の stood up and looked Tydvil over with 思索的な 注目する，もくろむs for a few moments. Then, after a wave of his 手渡すs, "Now look at yourself..."

Tydvil rose to his feet and approached the mirror. Looking 支援する at him was an attractive stranger, about two インチs taller than Tydvil Jones, and broader. Under the sleek, 黒人／ボイコット hair was a shapely, square-chinned 直面する. The grey 注目する，もくろむs above a わずかに aquiline nose, had a merry twinkle, and the rather large, but 井戸／弁護士席-形態／調整d mouth, had a smile an either corner. Tydvil felt やめる pleased with himself.

The smile broke into a laugh as he turned to Nicholas. "Ideal!" he thanked his friend. "The remodelled Tydvil Jones is proud of himself..."

"Better give him a remodelled 指名する," Nicholas 示唆するd.

Tydvil 選ぶd up the telephone directory from his （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する and opened it at 無作為の. Running his finger 負かす／撃墜する the page, he looked up. "More than a page of Williams," he said. "A nice 非，不，無- committal 指名する. We'll make it—let me think—Bertie—Bernard—no--say, Basil. Yes, 許す me to introduce myself—Basil Williams."

Mr. 上級の took the outstretched 手渡す. "I 信用, Mr. Williams, you will have a pleasant evening."

"Too 権利 I will!" grinned Basil Williams. Then his smile disappeared. "Oh, dash it all, I forgot!"

Nicholas raised an enquiring eyebrow.

"Amy," explained Tydvil. "She （機の）カム in this morning to tell me about our dinner tomorrow night, and I 約束d I should be at home this evening. I wouldn't put it past her coming to look for me if I didn't show up."

Then his 直面する brightened. "Nicholas, could you 行為／法令／行動する as a 副 Tydvil Jones. It's rather 堅い on you—but..."

"My dear fellow, my 社債 apart, it will be a 楽しみ." Mr. 上級の spoke 心から.

"井戸／弁護士席, all I can say it," said Basil Williams with 深い feeling, "that your conceptions of 楽しみ are peculiar. Amy has something on her mind—that Brewer 事件／事情／状勢 I 推定する／予想する—anyhow, I 保証する you that you will know all about it before the night is over."

"How is this?" asked Nicholas, and as he spoke a replica of Tydvil Jones stood where Mr. 上級の had stood.

Tydvil 検査／視察するd his 副, carefully, and 認める he was perfect. "A word of advice and help," he said. "When she makes the going too hot for me, I always make for my own bedroom and lock the door. You may need 聖域 before the night is over."

Nicholas—Tydvil smiled a superior smile. "My friend. In 可決する・採択するing your 身元 I 保持する the 力／強力にするs of endurance belonging to my office. Your solicitude is pleasant, but やめる unnecessary."

"Maybe," Basil Williams replied. "But I know Amy, and you don't." Then, remembering, "About my change 支援する to Tydvil?"

"Leave it 完全に, to me. Just call when you need me, and I will arrange everything."

"井戸／弁護士席, I think that is all," Tydvil said, helping himself to the contents of his cash box.

Nicholas bade him good luck and good fun, and disappeared about his 商売／仕事 in 手渡す. Basil Williams, taking a hat from its peg, sallied out into the city, light of heart and 十分な of hope.

CHAPTER XXI

When Nicholas let himself into the Jones mansion on St. Kilda Road with the 援助 of Tydvil's latch 重要な, Amy, who had kept dinner 支援する for three-４半期/4分の1s of an hour, was just leaving the dining-room. As she saw him enter, she ちらりと見ることd at the dial of the Spanish mahogany grandfather clock that stood in the wide hall. Its 手渡すs showed that the time was twenty-five minutes to nine o'clock.

She opened 解雇する／砲火／射撃 as the sights （機の）カム on. "This is a nice time to come home, Tydvil, I must say! 特に as you 約束d me faithfully you would be 支援する to dinner."

Nicholas had placed his coat and hat on a high, carved 議長，司会を務める— a 復古／返還 piece. "Are you doing that to 刺激する me deliberately, Tydvil?" she asked acidly. "Ellen, 除去する those things!" She pointed to the 乱暴／暴力を加えるd 議長，司会を務める, and glared at the maid who was passing. So had Oliver Cromwell spoken when he ordered the 除去 of the Mace from the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する of the ありふれたs.

"Now," as she followed her supposed husband into the room 名目上 reserved for his own use, "perhaps you can explain" Her 発言する／表明する was that which she kept for 国内の use only.

Mr. 上級の, as Jones, spoke conciliatingly. "You know I have been busy—very busy. I left work I should have done, and （機の）カム as soon as I かもしれない, could."

"明らかに, my dear Tydvil, you consider your work far more important than your wife. Her 利益／興味s are not 価値（がある） your consideration. Here I am, all day, 労働ing for your 慰安, and this is all the thanks I get."

"Amy," said Mr. 上級の a little tartly, "I do not 干渉する with your 国内の 手はず／準備. You must leave me to 裁判官 the necessities of my office work."

And that—to use an expressive colloquialism—tore it 完全に.

"You—you don't 干渉する with my 国内の 手はず／準備?" She almost gasped at the enormity. "You keep dinner waiting, spoil my meal, and upset the whole house 決まりきった仕事—and you say you don't..." She paused for breath. "I was going to say I was astonished. I am not! It is just what I might have 推定する／予想するd from your scandalous 行為／行う lately. You 断言する at me before my servants, 侮辱 me 公然と in the newspapers. Perhaps you'll strike me next."

Had Mr. 上級の not been a gentleman by birth and instinct, the suggestion might have come into 影響 at that moment. Mr. 上級の felt that Amy might be a much better woman and wife for a good sock on the jaw. He recognised, however, that, his instincts apart, he could not commit Tydvil to corrective 治療 of Amy. He began to feel a 広大な／多数の／重要な 尊敬（する）・点 and a greater sympathy for his friend.

However, Amy had not paused for one second. "Talk about your 存在 裁判官 of the necessities of your office! You, with your 指名する spread all over the paper in 関係 with some disgusting brawl in the street last night. It seems to me that office of yours houses some queer people. Nice thing for me! What will our friends think? That man Brewer and his 黒人／ボイコット 注目する，もくろむ and disgraceful associates! Will you be good enough to tell me why you did not について言及する that 反乱ing 商売／仕事 at breakfast this morning, instead of leaving me to find out from the newspapers?"

Nicholas paused to gather his thoughts before replying. "Ump!" Amy snorted. "Sulking again, or are you ashamed to speak? You should be!"

Hoping amiability might still the tempest, Nicholas said gently, "My dear, I am sorry I could not について言及する the 事柄 this morning, because I heard nothing of Brewer's difficulties until I reached the office."

"You knew it when I saw you at the office afterwards," she retorted. "Yes, and that is another thing. That dinner tomorrow night! What will Mr. 上級の think of us? And I was so anxious to create a good impression. You had no 権利 to go to that 法廷，裁判所 and 伴う／関わる yourself in such a loathsome 事件／事情／状勢—that Cranston woman should be flogged; but you 急ぐ in, without thinking of me, and become associated with such a creature."

"But," Mr. 上級の put in 猛烈に, "knowing Brewer was innocent, because he was with me all the evening, I had to go."

"Had to go! Is this Brewer man more important than your wife's peace of mind? If he gets himself into brawls he should get himself out of them. I suppose you sympathise with men of that type. Mr. Tydvil Jones and mixed up with a ギャング（団） of the most disreputable people in the city—a ギャング（団） that the 治安判事 said were the worst and most unprincipled liars he had ever 遭遇（する）d."

Mr. 上級の began to feel that self-抑制 was almost an heroic virtue with Amy as a 国内の companion.

"Yes," she went on, unrelenting, "and I feel there is something behind that 事件／事情／状勢. Did that man 現実に have the 黒人／ボイコット 注目する，もくろむ when he was working with you?"

Mr. 上級の rose to the occasion, and most emphatically 主張するd that he had. "Besides," he 追加するd, "Mr. Arty was in the best position to 裁判官 from the 証拠, and he 受託するd my 証拠 as conclusive."

"I notice," Amy （機の）カム 支援する acidly, "that seven people swore that he had not. Perhaps Mr. Arty does not know you 同様に as I do."

Nicholas tried a stopper. "Anyone would think from what you say, that you knew he had not a 黒人／ボイコット 注目する，もくろむ," and he looked straight into Amy's as he spoke.

Amy 支援する-pedalled 速く. "There is no need to be 不快な／攻撃, Tydvil, dear," she said. "Since the 支配する is so distasteful to me, I will say no more about it. What I really wished to discuss with you is that really, abominable letter of yours to the papers."

"What of it?" 需要・要求するd Mr. 上級の, a trifle truculently.

"You will be good enough, Tydvil dear, not to 可決する・採択する that very vulgar トン に向かって me. I am not one of your police 法廷，裁判所 associates. Kindly remember that, though from your behaviour since yesterday morning, you make me think you would feel more at home with people of that 肉親，親類d than in a decent, Christian home. I think, Tydvil dear, that it is time we settled this question about the Moral Uplift Society—definitely."

Mr. 上級の took his cue from Tydvil's settled 政策. "The 事柄 is settled," he 発表するd uncompromisingly.

"A 事柄 in which you have chosen to brand me 公然と as having told a falsehood, is not settled so 簡単に," Amy bit 支援する.

"井戸／弁護士席, didn't you?" It was not a tactful retort, and Mr. 上級の had 原因（となる） to 悔いる it.

"I 収容する／認める I was foolish enough to 信用 in my husband's honour to support me in the public work to which I have 充てるd my life. I believed in your decency, and your charity and your public spirit—and you betrayed my 信用 and 信用／信任. You have held me up to ridicule. There is only one way out, Tydvil, dear,"—and there was frozen vitriol in that "Tydvil, dear"—"to rehabilitate me in my own self-尊敬（する）・点 and in the 注目する，もくろむs of my friends. You must 支払う／賃金 that thousand 続けざまに猛撃するs I 約束d in your 指名する."

"I'll see you in Jericho first!" was Mr. 上級の's warm 返答. He stood up, remembering Tydvil's advice to make for 聖域, he thought the time had arrived at which to put it into practice.

But Amy （警官の）巡回区域，受持ち区域 him to it. Experience had 改善するd her 戦略. Instead of his locking the door of Tydvil's bedroom, Amy was inside—a dead-heat—and 安全な・保証するd the 重要な before he could reach for it. Mr. 上級の 設立する himself locked up with Amy's 発言する／表明する and without any 可能性 of escape in his guise as Tydvil Jones.

Amy 占領するd the only 議長，司会を務める. Mr. 上級の sat on the 辛勝する／優位 of the bed, a 状況／情勢 that did not 追加する to his dignity. Amy talked.

For nearly two hours that soul-scouring flood of eloquence swept over him. He felt as though his 神経s and spirit were 存在 scarified with a nutmeg grater. Slowly, the proud spirit of Mr. 上級の wilted. He who 支配するd his own Empire unchallenged felt himself incompetent to 対処する with this relentless flood of bitter, biting verbiage. Every 試みる／企てる at 報復 became more feeble and more hopeless. Amy felt 一連の会議、交渉／完成する deftly for the weak places in his armour, and emplanted 毒（薬）d darts. She passed the years of her married life with Tydvil Jones in review—it was a 野外劇／豪華な行列 of her own sufferings gallantly hidden, and of Tydvil's contemptible shortcomings. She pleaded and 新たな展開d on his raw 神経s alternately. In those hours Mr. 上級の learned something in the gentle art of 科学の 拷問 that had hitherto been beyond his imaginings. With a mind centred almost 完全に on his own torments, Mr. 上級の marvelled ばく然と how Tydvil could have stuck it out for years.

At last the 緊張する broke even Mr. 上級の's アイロンをかける will. Once more they stood in Tydvil's den. Mr. 上級の tore a cheque he had filled in for one thousand 続けざまに猛撃するs from the 調書をとる／予約する and 手渡すd it to her.

Amy 倍のd it carefully. "I cannot thank you for this, Tydvil," she said coldly. "It was nothing but your 義務 to give it to me. I can only hope you can feel 悔いる for your own behaviour. I cannot hope that you will 悔いる the 苦痛 you have 原因（となる）d me. This discussion we have had has upset me terribly. A man such as you cannot understand how heartbreaking it is for a woman who has to 嘆願d, as I have had to 嘆願d, for simple 司法（官）. I feel I must go to bed—not that I will sleep, my 涙／ほころびs will keep me awake. Goodnight, Tydvil dear."

Mr. 上級の looked after her, a sore stricken man. Presently he stood up and returned with 屈服するd 長，率いる to Tydvil's bedroom, を待つing his 召喚するs. There, again on the 辛勝する／優位 of the bed, he sat with his 直面する in his 手渡すs. His thoughts were bitter because he felt he had betrayed a friend. How could he 直面する Tydvil with the story of his 敗北・負かす?

When at length the call of Basil Williams for Mr. 上級の's 援助（する） （機の）カム, it （機の）カム with a 公式文書，認める of desperate 緊急 that spurred Mr. 上級の into flashing 活動／戦闘. He had divested himself of his likeness to Tydvil and disappeared in a fraction of a second. By his own means, in another fraction of a second he was in 展示 Street, looking 負かす／撃墜する unseen on as willing a street 暴動 in which any 探検者 after joyous adventure could wish to 参加する.

Nicholas's swift 調査する showed him some sixty 国民s, nearly half of whom were women, who were engaged in ardent but 明らかに aimless 戦闘. Those not entwined with their fellows were mixing it 熱望して with some half a dozen policemen, who were scattered through the （人が）群がる, and who were trying, with some success, to use their batons on everyone not wearing uniform. だいたい in the middle of the event, which spread from kerb to kerb and 洪水d on the footpaths, was a knot of six policemen who were more busy than any of the other members of the 軍隊. The language that arose from the spectacle was worthy of the occasion.

As Nicholas took in the 状況／情勢, two of the の近くに knot of police were 発射 from the bunch by some unseen 軍隊. Where they fell they lay. The 転換 showed Mr. 上級の that the 核 of the excitement was 非，不，無 other than Mr. Basil Williams. Although the remaining four members of the 軍隊 afterwards discussed long and 真面目に what happened next, they were never able to arrive at any 限定された 結論. At one moment the four were endeavouring to slip the bracelets on fourteen 石／投石する of human wild cat, and the next he had gone from their 中央 as though he had evaporated. Were it not for torn uniforms, abraded 肌s and sundry bruises, they might have 説得するd themselves that they had imagined the fight.

All that was 有形の of their 加害者 was a hat. One of them 押し進めるd it under his tunic and the 残り／休憩（する） turned to を取り引きする the other combatants. It was not until fourteen of the 暴徒s had been 調書をとる／予約するd at Russell Street that the hat was remembered. The sergeant in 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 診察するd the grey felt hat outside and then inside. "Cripes!" he cried in astonishment. "This lid belongs to Tydvil Jones the Flinders 小道／航路 wowser!" It says much for Tydvil's public 評判 that the 発見, gave rise to no other comment than an 交流 of ribald jokes on the 可能性 of his 存在 関心d in the 訴訟／進行s in 展示 Street. 疑惑 of his 参加 there was 非，不，無.

The sergeant in 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 listened to the discussion on the escaped 囚人 with 公式の／役人 wrath. "Six of you," he growled, "and you let him make a get-away. Cripes, what's this? A police 軍隊 or a blinkin' 搭乗 house for maiden ladies? Any of you seen him before?"

There was no reply, and he went on, "I suppose it is too much to hope that any, genius の中で you would know him again."

Six feet three インチs of indignant muscle in uniform, who, with one foot on a 議長，司会を務める was tenderly 診察するing a blue and swollen 向こうずね, looked over his shoulder and said, "I'd 選ぶ that blighter out of an army 軍団, and if I come across him again, I'll..."

"Yes, I know," broke in the sergeant savagely, "you'd chew him up and spit out the bones. 井戸／弁護士席, this lid's been pinched from Jones," he 投げ上げる／ボディチェックするd the hat across the room, "take it 負かす／撃墜する to his 倉庫／問屋 in the morning and enquire if he knows anyone answering the description." Then, looking coldly over the others, he went on. "If you're not all too 疲れた／うんざりした you might get on the 職業 again. Oh, one moment! Don't forget to 砕く your noses."

The group went their way, making insubordinate but 深く心に感じた comments on the manners and customs of sergeants.

一方／合間, Tydvil Jones, 偽名，通称 Basil Williams, was in his own proper person seated in the 議長，司会を務める in his bedroom 申し込む／申し出ing profuse thanks to Mr. 上級の in a subdued 発言する／表明する lest he attracted attention from the outside. He was very glad to become Tydvil Jones again, because Basil Williams had been very much the worse for wear, and not remarkably sober.

Then he pulled himself up, noticing for the first time the dejected 空気／公表する of his friend. Nicholas was again seated on the 辛勝する／優位 of the bed, melancholy in every line of his 提起する／ポーズをとる.

"By Jove! Nicholas," he enquired anxiously, "what's happened? You look done in."

Nicholas straightened himself. "Tydvil," he answered miserably, "I'm too ashamed almost to 直面する you. I have fallen 負かす／撃墜する on my 職業."

Enlightenment （機の）カム to Tydvil. "Amy?" he asked. Nicholas nodded. "She talked..."

"Ah! Buck up, Nicholas, and forget it. I'm terribly sorry. It wasn't fair to ask you to carry on with a 職業 like that."

But Mr. 上級の was not consoled. "You 港／避難所't heard the worst," he went on.

"What was it? The 法廷，裁判所 事件／事情／状勢?" asked Tydvil curiously.

"Oh, I bluffed her off that," replied Nicholas. "It was really the Moral Uplift Society and your letter to the papers that 原因（となる）d it. She's—er—井戸／弁護士席, annoyed—and I—I..." The 自白 would not come.

"宗教上の Wars! Nicholas, did she get that cheque?" Tydvil whispered in 狼狽.

Nicholas nodded. "Oh, Tydvil, I am ashamed, but..."

"Couldn't you have done a bunk up here as I told you?" he asked.

"That is what 原因（となる）d the trouble," explained Mr. 上級の. "She got in, too, and （警官の）巡回区域，受持ち区域 me to the 重要な."

"You were locked in with her?" Tydvil's 狼狽 changed to 深く心に感じた pity.

"For two hours nearly," 認める Nicholas, "and she talked..."

"She would," agreed Tydvil, with 深い understanding. "Nicholas, I apologise with all my heart. It was not fair to you to let you run such a 危険."

"But I failed. I betrayed your 信用, my friend." Nicholas took his wallet from his pocket, and 製図／抽選 out the promissory 公式文書，認める, 申し込む／申し出d it to Tydvil.

Tydvil waved it away, smiling. "Dash it all, Nicholas! Ours is a gentleman's 協定. Do you take me for a usurer? The fault was 地雷 完全に. You should he the one to complain."

"By Jove, Tydvil, you're a sportsman! But you must let me reimburse you for the cheque..."

"I don't deserve it, but if it's on your 良心 you may do so." Then he laughed wryly. "Amy will gloat, I'm afraid."

"It puts you in such a 穴を開ける over that letter," Nicholas sympathised.

"Yes," 認める Tydvil, "she's got me there, but..." He broke off suddenly. "Listen, Nicholas! Do you think you could arrange an 偶発の 会合 between Amy and me, as Billy Brewer, in a way that would make her feel 感謝する to Brewer—that's me?"

The 直面する of Mr. 上級の grew brighter. "Yesterday," he replied, "I would have 抗議するd that the idea was not 冒険的な. Now," and he smiled a sour smile, "I feel that your 計画（する） 伴う／関わるs いっそう少なく than retributive 司法（官）. I'll take care, too, that there are no 複雑化s with Brewer."

"Good!" replied Tydvil with 悪意のある 強調. "And then we shall see what we shall see. Let me know when you're ready, but not until Brewer's 注目する，もくろむ is normal."

"Talking of 注目する，もくろむs," said Nicholas, "I noticed one of those policemen you were engaged with, had a beauty."

Tydvil chuckled reminiscently. "Phew! That was swift going while it lasted..."

"You seem to have やめる a flair for mixing it with the 法律— what led up to that picnic you were having?" 上級の asked curiously.

It appeared that Tydvil had met a charming young woman 指名するd Elsie. He was rather 不明確な／無期限の as to how or where the 知識 was made, and Nicholas, recognising his 当惑, forbore to 圧力（をかける） for 詳細（に述べる）s. Anyway, Elsie 示唆するd that there was plenty of fun to be had at a night club she knew of in Little Collins Street, just off 展示 Street.

"It was やめる a pleasant place," Tydvil explained, "with a Bohemian atmosphere. We had supper, at least, Elsie had supper, but I joined her in the ワイン."

"I should say you did," commented Nicholas.

Tydvil nodded a 嘆願 of 有罪の. "You see, Elsie knew nearly everyone in the place. She seemed very popular. She introduced me to a lot of people..." He paused.

"And the night grew wet," Nicholas 示唆するd.

"Not at first," Tydvil explained. "の中で them was a man I knew, Archie Graham, of Graham and 石／投石する—they have a place in the 小道／航路. He joined us with a large blonde 指名するd Minnie. When I told him I was Basil Williams and （機の）カム from Castlemaine, he said he knew my father."

Nicholas, who was 協議するing his master card, looked up. "If it is I he means, I'll say he does know me. But not 同様に as I know him."

"井戸／弁護士席," continued Tydvil, "we had a few 瓶／封じ込めるs of シャンペン酒, and Graham said there was nothing in it, and called for burgundy. And then two or three of Graham's friends joined us—there was an orchestra—and Elsie and Minnie tried to teach me to dance."

"Seems innocent enough so far," commented Nicholas.

"Yes," 認める Tydvil, "it was not until we turned over the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議するs and made a steeplechase course, that it began to get really lively."

"有望な idea," smiled Nicholas.

"It was a lot brighter when Graham 提案するd fox 追跡（する）ing with Elsie and Minnie as foxes. The men had to go over the jumps, but the foxes could go 一連の会議、交渉／完成する them. Then most of the men joined in, and all the girls 手配中の，お尋ね者 to be foxes, too." Tydvil paused reflectively. "I think that the trouble began about then."

"You certainly had the 構成要素 for it," smiled Nicholas.

"You see," Tydvil explained, "（疑いを）晴らすing the jumps was not so 平易な as you'd think because of the シャンペン酒 and burgundy, and we were a bit （人が）群がるd. I was going strong after my fox, Elsie, when some fellow got ahead of me and caught her. I （機の）カム up and explained that the game was for hunters and not for hounds..." He paused a moment, and went on, "You know, I thought at the time that sounded funny. He didn't seem to like it, and tried to 攻撃する，衝突する me."

"井戸／弁護士席?" queried Nicholas.

"That started it all," Tydvil explained. "He was standing in 前線 of a 障害物, and when I slugged him he went over backward, and then his fox, a dashed little Jezebel, took a swipe at me with a 瓶／封じ込める. So Elsie tried to strangle her, and then everybody, seemed to join in at once. All I know is, I was trying to get Elsie away when someone threw a handful of spaghetti in my 直面する, and I pulled a 脚 off one of the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議するs and went after him."

"By Jove! Tydvil," laughed Nicholas, "considering your 欠如（する） of experience, you 陳列する，発揮するd excellent technique in an 緊急."

"Not at all," disclaimed Tydvil modestly. "It was just instinct. That spaghetti roused my worst feeling, and I 手配中の，お尋ね者 to do something 価値（がある） while to the man who threw it. He reached the door about two jumps ahead of me, and then someone switched off the lights. A lot of good that did," he laughed, "because they all （機の）カム out into the street and carried on."

"And then?" Nicholas asked.

"To tell you the honest truth, I don't know much about it. I was trying to knock out the spaghetti man when the police arrived, and I had to leave my man to …に出席する to them. They had about got me done up. I was on my 支援する and just managed to let out with both 脚s and get two of them, when you arrived."

"井戸／弁護士席," （機の）カム Mr. 上級の's 判決, "all I can say is, that for a man of your 限られた／立憲的な training, your success has been phenomenal."

"You are proud of your pupil?" Tydvil laughed.

"Pupil, indeed!" Nicholas replied. "You don't want any teaching; your capacity for finding trouble is native genius. But I think you had better get to bed."

Tydvil stood up. "I think you're 権利. Oh, by, the way. I have an 任命 to 会合，会う Archie Graham at his place for a game of poker in a night or two."

"井戸／弁護士席, try not to bring in the police 軍隊 again," was Mr. 上級の's friendly advice.

"See you tomorrow—no, tonight at dinner," said Tydvil ちらりと見ることing at the clock.

Mr. 上級の left him to his 井戸／弁護士席-earned 残り／休憩（する）.

CHAPTER XXII

Geraldine Brand sat in her place at the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する of Tydvil Jones, just as she had sat two mornings earlier, swishing the blade of a paper knife through the envelopes of the morning mail. But her mind was not on her work. Geraldine was listening, and was beginning to 恐れる she would listen in vain. She had almost lost hope when she heard an uncertain step approaching the door of the office. It was a step she could have 選ぶd out from an army, にもかかわらず its hesitation. If Billy Brewer could have seen the light in Geraldine's 注目する，もくろむs as she raised her 長，率いる at the sound, he would not have 延期するd his 入り口.

When he did 召喚する up courage to cross the threshold; her 長，率いる was bent intently over her work. His 注目する，もくろむs were so 吸収するd in the general beauty of the girlscape, that they 行方不明になるd the important 詳細（に述べる） that the shapely, 有能な 手渡すs were a little unsteady in their movements. It was remarkable that the two so usually self- 保証するd and self-所有するd young people were at the moment feeling just a little 脅すd. To both, the experience of feeling 脅すd was novel and unsettling.

Although she had given no 調印する of knowledge of his presence, Billy knew she was aware of it. He waited a moment in trepidation, but when the 推定する／予想するd order of eviction did not come, he took courage. He moved 静かに 一連の会議、交渉／完成する the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する and seated himself in Tydvil's 議長，司会を務める. As he did so her 攻撃するs flicked 上向きs for a fraction of a second, and then went on with her work. To Billy, the 歓迎会 was not encouraging, but then he did not know that Geraldine, at the moment, was almost afraid to let him see her 注目する，もくろむs.

Mr. William Brewer was not looking his best, or feeling his best. Although much of the swelling had left his 注目する，もくろむ, its colour was still rich and variegated. Moreover, he had had a sleepless night trying to solve the mystery of the calamities that had befallen him, but it was an instance in which night had brought neither counsel nor なぐさみ.

At the moment he never in his life had felt the need for sympathy and understanding more acutely. Instinct had drawn him to Geraldine against the better judgment of his 推論する／理由.

Then the sight of her and her silence gave him daring. "Gerald—I mean," he 削減（する） the word short, "I mean, 行方不明になる Brand."

Geraldine's heart was 詠唱するing "Te Deums," but all she said was a 非，不，無-committal and interrogative, "井戸／弁護士席?"

"I 手配中の，お尋ね者 to ask you something."

Again, "井戸／弁護士席?"

"Did you..." Billy's words つまずくd. "Have you read last night's paper? I mean that stuff about me."

"I did," murmured the bent 長，率いる, "and this morning's papers also."

Billy 紅潮／摘発するd uncomfortably. He had become "news," and the morning papers had "done him proud." One of them had 設立する room for a shocked sub-leader on the prevalence of 偽証 in the 法廷，裁判所s of 司法（官）. However, Billy was 決定するd to have his say.

"I want to tell you this, and please believe me, it is true, I never was 近づく Hilda Cranston that night. On my word of honour." The memory of his wrongs 溺死するd his hesitation. "You think you saw me speaking to her. I 断言する I was not. I 港／避難所't seen her for months. And I 港／避難所't the vaguest idea what Mrs. Jones was talking about. Please believe me, Geraldine."

Geraldine laid 負かす／撃墜する the paper knife and, for the first time, looked Billy in the 直面する. At the moment she did not care what he could read in it. The 悲惨 in his 発言する／表明する 傷つける. Then, as calmly as her 発言する／表明する would 許す, she said, "I know now that it was all some dreadful mix up. And I want to apologise for what I said—I am sorry, really—Billy." That "Billy" slipped out before she could stop it.

In the one active 注目する，もくろむ of Billy Brewer, rose a sudden light. He half stood up, but a peremptory gesture of her 手渡す sent him 支援する to the seat. "But," he exclaimed breathlessly, "you called me Billy!"

Geraldine's 試みる／企てる to compose her 直面する into lines of severity was not altogether successful. "That slip was no 推論する／理由 for you to be silly." But she knew she had lost her 支配する.

"Call me Billy again," he 需要・要求するd.

"I'll call you something that will astonish you in a moment if you're not serious. Don't you see we have to talk this thing over?"

"But..."

"No, stop!" she half pleaded. "You must tell me everything, can't you see how important it is? Please—Billy!"

Billy 辞職するd himself to her 発言する／表明する. There was a 公式文書，認める in it that made him feel a little dizzy. "All 権利, I'll be a good boy, mamma. What do you want to know?"

"Everything," she 主張するd.

"It's all so crazy," he said a little doubtfully. "That I'm afraid you'll think I'm the world's Olympic liar."

She laughed. "Not this time, Billy. Come—everything!"

"井戸／弁護士席, here goes!" he said. "But, remember I 警告するd you it's 絶対 barmy." And Billy 広げるd his story as it appeared to him.

Geraldine listened intently. She was one of the rare women who could 差し控える from interruption. It was only when he had 述べるd Tydvil's surprising 外見 in 法廷，裁判所 that she said emphatically, "And that 証拠 was flat 偽証."

"You knew that?" Billy asked in wonder.

"Of course I did. I knew 同様に as you did he was not working 支援する. I can always tell from his （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する. This man Mr. Olden, who is he?"

"Don't know him from a 妨げる／法廷，弁護士業 of soap. A most impressive looking bird. But Tyddie..."

"No—don't stop," she 主張するd.

She heard the Jerry McCann episode with a little wrinkle in the smooth forehead. "You're perfectly sure he said ten o'clock?" she asked.

"絶対," Billy 主張するd. "And the amazing part of it is that Jerry knew his 評判 as a wowser too 井戸／弁護士席 to go 近づく him, dead or alive."

When Billy had の近くにd his narrative with an account of the eleven 続けざまに猛撃するs that someone had paid on his に代わって, he continued with a sigh. "All I can make of it is that I must have a 二塁打. What do you think?"

"二塁打!" Geraldine 匂いをかぐd. "It would take a treble to account for all that. Billy, there is only, one thing about it I am sure of, and that is that Mr. Tydvil Jones is the most unmitigated fibber on earth—and that is understating it."

"But," 抗議するd Billy, "he only did it to get me out of a mess."

"Um-m!" murmured 行方不明になる Brand. "That doesn't account for that Jerry McCann whopper." Then she smiled at him. "Tell me, Billy, you せねばならない know, why do men tell their biggest fibs?"

"堅固に 無視（する）ing the 暗示するd 名誉き損," said Billy, "I should say it is because they have something to hide."

"Yes..."

At that moment a knock at the open door 削減（する） her short. Both 星／主役にするd に向かって it. でっちあげる，人を罪に陥れるd in the doorway, and 占領するing most of its space, was a policeman.

"Mr. Tydvil Jones?" enquired the apparition that made Billy wonder if some fresh calamity were about to 追いつく him.

Geraldine stood up. "This is his office, but he has not come in yet. Is there anything wrong? I am his 長官."

Constable O'Connor 前進するd two steps into the room. His 公式の／役人 発言する／表明する lost its 辛勝する／優位 as he met the frank 注目する，もくろむs of the tall damsel who spoke. "I've been sent 負かす／撃墜する from Russell Street about this hat, 行方不明になる." He held out a grey felt to her.

Taking it, Geraldine turned it over. "Why!" she exclaimed, "this is Mr. Jones's hat! Where did you get it?"

"展示 Street, last night. Eleven forty-five p.m. Believed to be stolen." He spoke as though from the 証言，証人／目撃する box.

"But how...?" Her 発言する／表明する 追跡するd off as she looked from the hat to Billy, who was now on his feet.

"There was a big brawl, 行方不明になる. You might have seen about it in the papers. We 逮捕（する）d fourteen of them. The man who was wearing the hat seemed to be ringleader—he escaped. We thought Mr. Jones might be able to identify him."

"Do you know what he was like?" asked Billy, taking the hat from Geraldine.

"About six feet or a little more. Dark 控訴, 黒人／ボイコット hair, 幅の広い shoulders, rather 目だつ nose. When I saw him first he was trying to out another man with a 脚 of a （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する. Fought like a 耐える cat. Got away from six of us. Just 消えるd!"

Seeing the astonishment in Billy's 注目する，もくろむs, he went on. "Just as I said, sir. Just 消えるd. We thought you might have seen someone like him hanging 一連の会議、交渉／完成する the place."

The 注目する，もくろむs of Geraldine and Billy met in bewilderment over the grey felt. "Have you?" she asked.

Billy was 平等に mystified, and said so.

"We'd be glad to get him," the constable said with some feeling.

"井戸／弁護士席," said Geraldine, "if you like to leave it here I'll enquire from Mr. Jones as soon as he comes in." Constable O'Connor left with the 保証／確信 that if Mr. Jones could throw any light on the 事柄 he would communicate with Russell Street at once.

When the uniform had disappeared, Geraldine placed the hat on the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する, and the two 星／主役にするd at it as though at some strange portent.

Said Geraldine, "Queer? That hat was hanging on its peg when I left the office last night."

"井戸／弁護士席, that's queer," was all Mr. Brewer could find to say.

"Must have been pinched," 投機・賭けるd Billy. Then, after a moment, "It doesn't seem to make sense."

"It makes as much sense as the Jerry McCann 商売／仕事 and all the 残り／休憩（する） of it. I wish the thing could speak," she said, taking up the hat again.

"But surely you don't think...?" Billy did not like to put the amazing question into words.

"That Tyddie has taken to 暴動ing and 強襲，強姦ing the police?" Geraldine had not such 罰金 scruples. "The other Billy Brewer did," she 追加するd.

"It's mad—mad!" 主張するd Billy.

"So's the whole 商売／仕事," averred 行方不明になる Brand, "but I'm perfectly 確かな , without any 証拠 but his preposterous stories, that he could explain everything."

"And what then?"

She 投げ上げる／ボディチェックするd the hat 支援する on to the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する. "I don't know. But," and her 発言する／表明する took on a 公式文書，認める of 決意, "I'm going to find out."

"But Tyddie—impossible!"

"Why impossible?" she 需要・要求するd. "He's a man, isn't he? Where was he the night before last? He was not here."

"But Geraldine," he 説得するd, "why should you get yourself mixed up in it?"

"If it comes to that," she answered, not looking up, "why should you be 非難するd for something you didn't do?"

Billy was standing beside her. "Geraldine—do you really care if I am 不公平に 非難するd?" he almost whispered.

Then Geraldine Brand, very incautiously, looked up. He gave her no time to reply. She did not know how it happened, but the next moment she 設立する herself in his 武器, feeling やめる at home and deliriously happy.

When, perhaps thirty seconds later, Mr. Tydvil Jones entered his office, he stopped 突然の. The spectacle that 迎える／歓迎するd his 注目する，もくろむs was that of his 上級の city 代表者／国会議員 standing with one arm 一連の会議、交渉／完成する the waist of 行方不明になる Geraldine Brand, and the other about her shoulders. 行方不明になる Geraldine Brand's very 目だつ 長，率いる was 残り／休憩（する）ing on the shoulder of Mr. William Brewer and both her 武器 were 一連の会議、交渉／完成する his neck. The two were evidently utterly insensible to any outside impressions.

Tydvil felt わずかに embarrassed, but, after all, it was his office. After giving them what he considered ample time to come out of their trance, he said, a little apologetically, "容赦 me, if I am intruding."

The only 影響 of his 発言する／表明する was that the group relaxed わずかに. One of Billy's 武器 fell from her shoulder, and one of Geraldine's （機の）カム from his neck. Her 長，率いる remained in situ, though she turned it わずかに to look at him.

There was that in her 注目する，もくろむs which made Tydvil Jones envy William Brewer. That they had settled their differences gave him a feeling of satisfaction. Billy, deserved some 補償（金）, and he felt that this was ample. A wide smile broke on his 直面する. Said he, "Guard with your left, Brewer, or you'll have a pair of them."

The only 返答 of the unabashed Geraldine was to turn her lips deliberately to Brewer's.

Mr. Jones threw 支援する his 長，率いる and laughed heartily at the gesture of 反抗. "You 勝利，勝つ, 行方不明になる Brand. Congratulations, Brewer!" He held out his 手渡す.

Billy's spare 手渡す took it and shook it 温かく.

"What are you going to do about it?" asked Geraldine uncompromisingly.

"I?" laughed Tydvil. "Nothing! I should say that Billy has done everything necessary."

It was the first time either of them had known Tydvil so far unbend as to use the Christian 指名する of one of his staff. It made them both realise that all was 井戸／弁護士席.

"But still," Tydvil went on, unfastening his overcoat, "if you could かもしれない unwrap yourselves, we might think about the mail. I only 申し込む／申し出 it as a suggestion." He wriggled himself out of the coat.

Geraldine's 武器 relaxed slowly, and she smiled. "Thank you, Mr. Jones." Then, after a pause, she 追加するd, "But it would have been nicer if you had come in a little later."

Geraldine's 出資／貢献 to the conversation rather startled Billy, who did not やめる know whether he stood 権利 味方する up or inverted. Tyddie did not usually take kindly to airy persiflage.

But Tydvil looked from one to the other in evident amusement. "Don't take any notice of what she says, Brewer. You know, when people are coming from under an anaesthetic they often talk queerly."

She patted her somewhat disordered 巡査 舵輪／支配, now perfectly self-所有するd. "I don't like you to call him an anaesthetic," she smiled at Tydvil. "I find him a 興奮剤."

"Oh," he held up his 手渡すs, "have it your own way! I am not going to argue." Then, in mock 怒り／怒る, "Are you, or are you not, going to begin work this morning."

Here Billy 設立する his 発言する／表明する for the first time. He felt some sort of 陳謝 or explanation was 予定 to Tydvil. "I would like to say, sir..."

Tydvil 削減（する） him short with a laugh. "Save it, Brewer, you duffer! Let us get on with our work now, and come 支援する and take her to lunch. If you don't, I will."

Billy caught Geraldine's 注目する，もくろむ and obeyed without その上の 試みる／企てる at explanations. Geraldine's thoughts had been working at something like three thousand 革命s a minute. As the door の近くにd behind him, she turned to Tydvil who was putting his coat on a hanger. "Can you tell me anything of how your hat was stolen, Mr. Jones?" she asked. "A policeman brought it 支援する this morning and made enquiries."

Although Tydvil's 直面する was やめる composed as he turned 一連の会議、交渉／完成する, Geraldine had not 行方不明になるd the start he had given at her words. "Dear me, so that is what became of it!" He 星／主役にするd curiously at the hat, and there was uneasiness in his 発言する／表明する. It was too casual, and Geraldine recognised the fact.

"Where was it 設立する?" he asked.

Geraldine gave a 劇の and 高度に coloured account of a dreadful man who was 試みる／企てるing to 殺人 another with a club, and who had wrought fearful havoc の中で the police. "Isn't it awful, Mr. Jones," she 追加するd, "he must have been in here."

"Oh, no!" he smiled, "not here. I was having dinner at the Carlton, and it was taken by someone." Tydvil was やめる pleased with his fertility of imagination. "I hope they 逮捕（する）d the man," he 追加するd.

"No," replied Geraldine. "The brute escaped. The policeman said he just 消えるd, but that's absurd. However, they have a good description. They say he is a horrid, dark man, with a big nose and 幅の広い shoulders."

Mr. Jones shook his 長，率いる. "Dreadful," he said. "Drink, no 疑問!" But somehow Geraldine sensed, with that sense that the Creator has given to women to 許す her to bowl out iniquitous man, that the impeccable Tydvil Jones was fibbing like all his sex, and was just わずかに over-事実上の／代理 a part.

"The policeman asked me to （犯罪の）一味 up Russell Street when you （機の）カム in, if you could help at all. They're very anxious to get that ruffian."

"Urn," said Tydvil. "Better explain that it was taken from the Carlton, and 表明する my 悔いる that I cannot 補助装置 them."

He had taken his seat, and as he spoke he ちらりと見ることd across the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する at the mail. About one ４半期/4分の1 of the letters were still unopened. He pointed an 告発する／非難するing finger at them. "Oh, 行方不明になる Brand! 行方不明になる Brand!"

Geraldine 紅潮／摘発するd guiltily. For the first time since she had been his 長官 she had failed him. She began to stammer an 陳謝. But he only laughed. "有罪の with extenuating circumstances. Now you listen to me, young woman. You tell that William Brewer of yours to keep out of this room—at least until the mail is sorted. He's a 破壊的な element."

"He's nothing of the 肉親，親類d," she answered 温かく.

"If I say he is, he is!" Tydvil 主張するd. "He's worse than that. He's a pestilent 長官 stealer. That's what I think of him. But it's no use doing anything now since the 損失 is done."

That morning when she returned to her desk in the outer office, Geraldine 設立する a pencil scribbled 公式文書，認める on her （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する. Shorn of the florid 開始 lines, which Geraldine thought were the best part of it, it ran: "Look at page three, The Age, I've 示すd the column. W." Turning to the place, Geraldine read with 吸収するd 利益／興味 half a column of lurid narrative of 確かな happenings in 展示 Street on the previous night. When she had finished she decided that if Tydvil were even remotely associated with them, it would not be surprising if he were unwilling to 許す the fact to become public.

Still later in the day, she was given new, but not altogether 予期しない, food for thought. Tony, the night-watchman of the 倉庫／問屋, （機の）カム to 手渡す in his 週刊誌 報告（する）／憶測, which always passed through Geraldine's 手渡すs. Tony was one of her very 非常に／多数の admirers. She knew all about his family, and their 病気s. She was running her 注目する，もくろむ over the 報告（する）／憶測 when he volunteered, "知事's been 支援する late this week, 行方不明になる Brand."

"Oh!" she said, without looking up. "Of course, you'd notice him."

"I'd be able to 選ぶ the 知事 by his walk from a thousand. Spotted him last night as soon as he turned out of Swanston Street."

Geraldine pricked up her ears. Still looking at the 報告（する）／憶測 card, she said, "Yes, I wonder he didn't get his death of 冷淡な, without his hat."

"Without his hat!" Tony's surprise was unmistakable and 本物の. "Him without his hat! Someone must have been pullin' your 脚, 行方不明になる Brand. I seen him as he passed as の近くに as I am to you. It was just ten past eight, and he was wearin' a grey felt."

She smiled up at him. "I must have misunderstood, Tony. Of course it wouldn't be likely, would it?"

"Not him, 行方不明になる. The 知事 ain't that sort," Tony agreed.

When Tony had 出発／死d, 行方不明になる Brand was 深い in thought as Tydvil passed from his office into the 倉庫／問屋. Her 注目する，もくろむs followed him as he went. "Tyddie," she 演説（する）／住所d the straight 支援する in her thoughts. "I'm beginning to think you're a worse fibber and a better man than I ever dreamed you could be." Deciding that it was more 構成要素 for herself and Billy to discuss, she turned to her work.

CHAPTER XXIII

When, 事実上の／代理 under his wife's most explicit 指示／教授／教育s, Tydvil had dressed 早期に that evening, he 設立する Amy was earlier, and was を待つing his arrival in the 製図／抽選-room. As he caught sight of her, Tydvil's 注目する，もくろむs opened 広範囲にわたって. Never since he had known her had Amy worn anything but some shade of grey. Amy appeared to think it was the chosen colour of the virtuous— something that 示すd her as one apart from the world, the flesh, and the devil. Now, she was wearing mauve—mauve relieved by violet. Moreover, it was 削減（する） at the neck やめる two インチs lower than anything that Tydvil had even seen on her. But, even so, the strictest critic could not have classed the 発覚 as daring. 広大な／多数の／重要な as was Tydvil's surprise, it would have been greater had he known that a harried dressmaker had kept four girls at work all night so that it would be finished in time for that night's dinner.

Tydvil mentally 認める that he had never seen her look more presentable. The frock had been 収集するd by an artist. The compliment he paid her was not very 井戸／弁護士席 received. Amy said that she was sorry she had bought it. It made her look rather more 目だつ than she cared to be. It was a 譲歩 to fashion that she should not have made. Having put Tydvil in his place, she looked him over 批判的に, straightened a tie that did not need straightening, and 示唆するd it was about time he procured another dinner jacket. A man in his position should be 井戸／弁護士席 dressed. For her part, her dress was never more than a 第２位 consideration. "I always say, that if a woman 尊敬（する）・点s herself, others 尊敬（する）・点 her. Dress does not 事柄." Tydvil 反映するd that it was やめる true that she always said that. He had heard her say it two or three times a week for ten years or more.

"Who are you putting at my end?" he asked when the 査察 was over. To him, his 隣人s at the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する were a 事柄 of importance.

"You will take in Mrs. Blomb." Tydvil gritted his teeth. Mrs. Blomb had very large teeth, a scraggy neck, a 評判 as a 壇・綱領・公約 （衆議院の）議長, and she 噴出するd. "On the other 味方する you will have Mr. Arthur Muskat." This 告示 原因（となる）d Tydvil some difficulty in 抑えるing a word that would have startled Amy. It was one he had heard in the 厚い of the previous night's finale in 展示 Street, and its 軍隊 was only 越えるd by its extreme vulgarity. Muskat was his second best aversion, and the 長官 of the Moral Uplift Society. He was large of 直面する and 団体／死体, spoke in grunts, ate 大部分は, and made unpleasant sounds during mastication.

He detested only one man more, and that was Arthur's brother Edwin, who was a fanatical 禁止 支持する. Edwin and Arthur were much alike, only Edwin 追加するd to the other's 欠如（する） of attractiveness a smugness and a 提起する／ポーズをとる of righteousness that always gave rise in Tydvil to a longing to 強襲，強姦 him. So that when Amy said, "I am putting Mr. Edwin Muskat opposite Mr. 上級の, because they are both so 充てるd to the one 広大な／多数の／重要な 原因（となる）," Tydvil 設立する himself both 同情的な on 上級の's に代わって and at the same time grimly amused. He became still more amused when he heard that, beside having his hostess to talk to, Mr. 上級の would make the 知識 of Mrs. Caton Ridgegay. She was a lady whom Mr. Ripley would have 拒絶するd as impossible and unbelievable, both in 面 and for a capacity for 支えるd speech composed of 風の強い inanities.

"And now, Tydvil," went on Amy, impressively, "I wish you to show the very greatest consideration to Mr. 上級の. He is not only a man of remarkable attainments and distinction, but he has most 建設的な 計画（する）s for a 禁止 （選挙などの）運動をする. I need hardly remind you that at Home a man with such friends as the 大司教 of Canterbury must be a personage of かなりの importance. I feel sure you cannot but 利益 by cultivating his 知識 and friendship."

"Very 井戸／弁護士席," Tydvil agreed. "I have no 疑問 he is all that you say." His feeling of 不景気 regarding his prospects for the evening ordeal 増加するd in intensity as it drew nearer. Mentally he reviewed the other guests.

There was the Rev. George Claire, who had the gift of making every topic on which he conversed intolerably boring; his wife, Augusta, whom twenty years of married life with the Rev. George had bereft of speech and 推論する／理由, if she ever 所有するd any, and Mrs. Claire's sister, 行方不明になる Eva Merrywood. Apart from Nicholas, of their eight guests the only one who 申し込む／申し出d any prospects but exasperation was 行方不明になる Merrywood. She was a 決定するd 女性（の） whose hobby, was slums. Her theory was that the only way to awaken the public 良心 was to tell the unvarnished truth about slums. This she did, and did it 率直に. Her uncensored gleanings, 述べるd in plain language with blank unconcern, had staggered many a pious 集会. Tydvil was wondering if he could, by some happy chance, draw her out.

いつかs he felt that Amy could read his thoughts, for at that moment she broke in on him. "I wish you 特に, to watch Eva Merrywood, Tydvil dear. I would not have 招待するd her, but I 手配中の，お尋ね者 the vicar and Augusta, and could not very 井戸／弁護士席 leave her out."

"Do you 推定する／予想する me to gag her?" asked Tydvil truculently.

"That is both absurd and vulgar, Tydvil," Amy snapped. "Eva means 井戸／弁護士席, but you know how indiscreet she can be. Just try to change the conversation if necessary. Dear Eva is so very earnest that I am afraid Mr. 上級の might not understand."

"Ump!" Tydvil 安心させるd her. "Anyone who can fail to understand 行方不明になる Merry 支持を得ようと努めるd's stories would need to be pretty dull. Your Mr. 上級の would be lucky if he could misunderstand them."

"いつかs, Tydvil dear, I think you try to 刺激する me purposely. I have been trying to forget your 行為／行う during the past few days..."

"Mrs. Blomb," 発表するd a maid from the door.

For the first time since he had met her, Tydvil welcomed the presence of Mrs. Blomb. He returned her 迎える／歓迎するing politely and stood aside watching her take in Amy's 衣装 in gulps. She しっかり掴むd a 手渡す of Amy in each of her own, and exclaimed in her 壇・綱領・公約 発言する／表明する, "Amy!—dear! How truly charming. やめる Parisian, really!" Turning her 直面する to Tydvil, "You must be proud of our dear Amy, Mr. Jones, now, 自白する!"

Tydvil modestly 認める the 告発 and was relieved from その上の 違反 of his 良心 by the arrival of the two Muskats. He was 井戸／弁護士席 out of the frying pan into the middle of the 解雇する／砲火／射撃, because Arthur Muskat deftly cornered him and, in a series of throaty and nasal sounds, 注ぐd out his 感謝 to Tydvil for his truly Christian beneficence in the 原因（となる） of the Moral Uplift Society. "My Dear Sir," he rumbled, "I 信用 you will take most 厳しい steps against the scoundrel who (1)偽造する／(2)徐々に進むd those 侮辱ing letters to the papers."

Tydvil 試みる／企てるd to 抗議する, but he may 同様に have tried to …に反対する his strength to a road roller.

"Your disinclination to punish the affront is in keeping with your own high 基準s of Christian forbearance. But is it wise, my dear Mr. Jones? No, pray do not 否定する it! Our dear Mrs. Jones has told me everything. How the moment you saw those letters you 決定するd to give them the 嘘（をつく） direct with your gracious gift. It was a splendid gesture, splendid!"

The 発覚 of Amy's 戦術の move sent a 殺到する of 怒り／怒る through Tydvil.

"Ah! There is no need to blush, Mr. Jones," grunted Arthur Muskat. "In my own poor 成果／努力s in the 原因（となる） of Moral Uplift I 心から 信用 that the 原因（となる） is worthy of the source of the gift."

"In that, I feel you are 権利." Tydvil spoke with 深遠な 有罪の判決. It was the first time for many months that he had felt in 完全にする 協定 with the 長官 of the society.

"Now," continued Mr. Muskat, "I have been given the 特権 of letting you into a little secret. It was, indeed, your dear wife to whom I am indebted for it. We have arranged for you to be 現在の at a 会合 of the members at which we may, be able to 表明する our 感謝. Inadequately, I am afraid, my dear sir, but we will do our best."

During Mr. Muskat's outpourings the 残りの人，物 of the guests had arrived, the last of who was Mr. 上級の. It was the 動かす 原因（となる）d by his 入り口 that enabled Tydvil to escape from his tormentor, and to 抑える an 爆発 that might have astonished the 長官 of the Moral Uplift Society.

As he and Muskat moved to the group surrounding Amy, she was 現在のing her friends to the guest of honour. The wrath of Tydvil was almost forgotten as he saw the perfect 緩和する with which Nicholas received the 尊敬の印s with which the very proud and somewhat flustered Amy 行為／行うd the 儀式. He hung 支援する to give the others 優先.

"And," 噴出するd Amy finally, placing an affectionate 手渡す on Tydvil's shoulder, "this is my husband!" There was no need for Tydvil to feign his 楽しみ at the 会合. For him it had been a 事例／患者 of "Blucher or night." Only the strength of Nicholas as a 増強 saved the day for him. Mr. 上級の evinced a 楽しみ equal to his own as they shook 手渡すs. "Ah!" exclaimed Mr. 上級の, "I almost feel I have already met you, Mr. Jones. In the short time I have been in Melbourne I have come across 証拠 of your good 作品 everywhere."

Tydvil 受託するd the compliment blandly. "And I have already heard so much of you, Mr. 上級の. You have one very 信頼できる admirer that I know of." He inclined his 長，率いる に向かって the smiling Amy. His 注目する，もくろむs twinkled as he 追加するd, "I feel I have met a kindred spirit."

It was then that Arthur Muskat, oozing unction, broke in, "There is something that you will all be pleased, but not surprised, to hear..."

A desperate 試みる／企てる to 突き破る off the 発覚 by Tydvil failed dismally. He felt that at this juncture it would be rubbing salt into Nicholas' 負傷させるd feelings.

"That 悪名高い letter in the papers regarding the Moral Uplift Society 証明するs to be a 偽造. I feel that 非，不，無 of us could believe for a moment that Mr. Jones wrote it. But..." and Mr. Muskat beamed 大部分は on the circle, "he has given it a 反抗的な and 純粋に Christian 否定 by 手渡すing us a cheque for one thousand 続けざまに猛撃するs." He rolled out the 人物／姿／数字s triumphantly.

In the 爆発 of 賞賛 that followed the 告示, Tydvil alone noticed the 紅潮／摘発する on Nicholas's 直面する. There seemed to be something in that tag, "Tell the truth and shame the Devil." Then inspiration （機の）カム.

"One moment!" he interposed. "Just before you arrived, my wife and I had reached an 協定 that to 否定する that letter 公然と would be 単に 製図／抽選 attention to it. She of eels as 熱心に as I do that my little 出資／貢献 must be kept secret. Don't you, Amy?" he asked with malicious meaning.

Under the gaze of all 注目する，もくろむs Amy had no 選択 but to agree, but only Tydvil, who knew her so 井戸／弁護士席, was aware of the 酸性の behind her smile.

"That," said Mr. 上級の, "is what I should call spiking the guns of the enemy. An idea worthy of you, Mr. Jones." Only Tydvil was able to read the ちらりと見ること of amusement in his 注目する，もくろむs.

"A 譲歩 to evil, I am afraid," was Mr. Edwin Muskat's 出資／貢献.

"I cannot agree with Edwin," the vicar spoke judicially. "I regard Tydvil's course as both Christian and dignified."

But the 良心 of Edwin Muskat was not appeased. 偽造 was a sin against society, and one that 需要・要求するd 天罰.

The argument that 続いて起こるd gave Tydvil the chance he was looking for. He drew Nicholas aside for a moment. "Listen, Nicholas," he whispered, "I can't stick this out. You must liven things up."

Nicholas' 注目する，もくろむs danced over the group and met Tydvil's again. "But our hostess, Tydvil?" He shook his 長，率いる. "Is it fair?"

"Dash the hostess," retorted Tydvil, shedding both chivalry and 忠義 to his spouse. "Doesn't the host deserve some pity?"

"井戸／弁護士席, I'll do my best," Nicholas chuckled.

"Do your worst..." Tydvil 主張するd emphatically. "Tydvil dear," broke in Amy, who had approached unnoticed, "you must not monopolise Mr. 上級の."

"Your husband is enlisting my 援助 in a 原因（となる） very dear to his heart—and 地雷," Nicholas 追加するd, smiling at her.

Amy nodded brightly. "He and Mr. Edwin Muskat are both 熱中している人s in your own 原因（となる） of 禁止. You will excuse Tydvil for his zeal."

"I am afraid," laughed Mr. 上級の, "that I am as bad as he is. Do you know, Mrs. Jones, even after so 簡潔な／要約する an 知識 I feel I know your husband almost 同様に as you do. We seem to have so much in ありふれた."

"I 恐れる you are flattering Tydvil," Amy 抗議するd gaily. "You see, he has not had your advantages of travel, Mr. 上級の."

"Ah! My dear lady," Nicholas 答える／応じるd, "it is not a question of travel. Men like your husband are a 製品 of 環境."

"Believe me," said Tydvil 心から, "I 借りがある everything to my wife, Mr. 上級の."

"That, I do not 疑問 for a moment," 譲歩するd Mr. 上級の gallantly.

At this moment Amy's 注目する，もくろむ was caught by that of the maid at the door. "Come, Mr. 上級の," she said. "Dinner is waiting, and you must not flatter me so. Tydvil dear, you will take Mrs. Blomb."

Amy's dinners were famous の中で her friends. In 非，不，無 of them was the 主要な／長／主犯 of temperance in （水以外の）飲料s 延長するd to food. Amy's cook was an artist. As they settled into their places, Mr. Arthur Muskat 広げるd his （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する napkin as though he were 成し遂げるing a 儀式. Mrs. Blomb raised her 注目する，もくろむs from her plate and confided in Tydvil that she was afraid she was greedy because dear Amy's devilled oysters had become almost an obsession with her. Even the 発言する／表明する of the vicar, who, at a nod from Amy, had recited grace, seemed richer with a 公式文書，認める of 予期.

But, for the first time in his life, Tydvil regarded the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する with real distaste. He had come to feel that the iced barley- water and fruit cup that …を伴ってd the meal were a poor 代用品，人 for something with more kick and inspiration in it. He thought of his dinner with Hilda Cranston with 悔いる for its gaiety, and he almost groaned over the memory of the burgundy of the previous night.

Mrs. Blomb, however, gave him scant time to 悔いる anything but her 存在. She had been speaking at a 会合 of the Women's 自由主義の Union that afternoon, and Tydvil heard first of the 嫌悪すべき apathy and 無関心／冷淡 to 広大な／多数の／重要な political 問題／発行するs 展示（する）d by the 大多数 of the sex, and then she began to inundate him with a generous 再開する of her 演説（する）／住所. On the other 味方する, Mr. Arthur Muskat was so profoundly 吸収するd in beche-de- mere soup that the last trump would not have stirred him. Though, Tydvil, through the momentary pauses in Mrs. Blomb's monologue, could distinctly hear his 評価 of it—the soup, not the monologue.

Years of experience of Amy's habits of speech had endowed Tydvil with the priceless gift of 明らかな courteous attention while his mind was 始める，決める 解放する／自由な to follow its own 浮浪者 装置s. He could follow Mrs. Blomb's arguments on the necessity for the 改革（する） of 仲裁 法律制定, for which he did not care one hoot in Hades, and 減少（する） an intelligent comment into its proper place, while at the same time he was に引き続いて intently the features of the social circus.

Amy was not looking pleased, because Mrs. Ridgegay had 削減（する） into her conversation with Mr. 上級の with an 明らかに interminable account of a niece, 老年の seven, who read and took an intelligent 利益／興味 in Browning, or was it Wordsworth. She always got Browning and Wordsworth mixed up, she 自白するd. But she felt sure that Mr. 上級の 株d her love of poetry because it was so uplifting. Of course, he, Mr. 上級の, would not know that her niece was the daughter of her sister, Emily; Mr. 上級の should really 会合，会う Emily because she was so 利益／興味d in dogs.

As he しっかり掴むd these fragments of Mrs. Ridgegay's conversation, Tydvil gathered from the 表現 on Nicholas' 直面する that his 願望（する） to 会合，会う Emily was 非，不，無-existent. Amy looked as though failing the 楽しみ of strangling Mrs. Caton Ridgegay, nothing would give her greater satisfaction than to vent her displeasure on the sister. It was （疑いを）晴らす at the moment that Amy 簡単に hated the whole Ridgegay family.

Neither did Amy, seem at all 利益／興味d in the vicar's 見解（をとる）s on the 支配する of 容赦するing 偽造. It was just then that Tydvil caught his wife's 注目する，もくろむ, that directed him 緊急に to Eva Merrywood. Mrs. Blomb's 発言する／表明する 一面に覆う／毛布d that of Eva, but the 表現 of 乱暴／暴力を加えるd modesty on the 直面する of Edwin Musket beside her told its own tale, if it did not tell Eva's. But Tydvil 裁判官d from Edwin's blushes that it must have been one of her best. He was sorry he had 行方不明になるd it, and had no sympathy for Edwin. Deliberately, and with malice a forethought, he calmly 無視（する）d Amy's S.O.S. Who was he that he should discourage the good 作品 of Eva Merrywood?

Almost すぐに Mrs. Blomb （人命などを）奪う，主張するd his entire attention with a sudden exclamation of joy. She was 持つ／拘留するing a 部分的に／不公平に emptied goblet of fruit cup in her 手渡す. As he turned, she said, "Oh, Mr. Jones, our dear Amy has given us a delightful surprise! A new fruit cup! Oh, most delicious! I must get the recipe from her. How does she think of these wonderful things?"

Tydvil, who had heard nothing of any new excursions by Amy into the concoction of temperance （水以外の）飲料s, 解除するd his glass to his lips. The first sip 停止（させる）d him. He took a second and ちらりと見ることd up the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する. As he did so he caught a flicker of light in Nicholas' 注目する，もくろむ, and understood. Then he swallowed several appreciative mouthsfull. He was too new in his knowledge of alcohol to recognise the source of that rich aroma of soft alluring flavour that blended so 井戸／弁護士席 with the fruit, but it 夜明けd on him that, whatever it was, Nicholas had been more than generous.

Mrs. Blomb's enthusiasm had, for the moment, silenced the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する. One and all were 試験的に supping from their glasses. One and all re-echoed the 賞賛する of Mrs. Blomb. Edwin Muskat and the vicar were drinking barley-water. But the vicar, after half emptying his glass, 取って代わるd it on the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する and 発言／述べるd, that, though he was, 式のs, unable to drink 甘い （水以外の）飲料s because of his digestion, he had never tasted barley-water that was so "慰安ing," if he might use the 称する，呼ぶ／期間／用語. Again Tydvil's 注目する，もくろむ sought that of Nicholas, from whom he received a 確認するing but almost imperceptible flicker of his eyelashes.

Amy sipped bird-like from her goblet and smilingly 受託するd the 賞賛 of her guests. Although she 'Was really at a loss to account for the attractive flavour, she said, "I'm delighted you like it. It is just a little idea of my own."

"Please, Amy, tell us?" pleaded Mrs. Caton Ridgegay, for the moment forgetting her niece. As she spoke, Tydvil noticed with a fearful joy that Arthur Muskat had nodded to the maid to refill his goblet.

Amy shook her 長，率いる at both Mrs. Ridgegay and Mrs. Blomb. "No, my dears," she smiled, "you must let me keep my little secrets."

For the moment the conversation was 再開するd. 警告するd, Tydvil dealt circumspectly with what he 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑うd was something more potent than his 簡潔な／要約する experience of 瓶／封じ込めるd joy 生産者s had 遭遇（する）d. He recognised its 影響s in the rising 発言する／表明するs. Mrs. Blomb warmed to her denunciation of the 仲裁 行為／法令／行動する. She held all Tydvil's attention that he could spare from the others.

"You have met Mr. Garside, have you not?" she asked Tydvil, 指名するing the 連邦の 弁護士／代理人／検事-General.

Tydvil disclaimed the honour.

"井戸／弁護士席, believe it or not, that man's a pig," Mrs. Blomb 断言するd. "I've talked to him about 条項 four till I was sick..."

"Till he was sick, you mean," （機の）カム surprisingly from Arthur Muskat as he paused in his 操作／手術s on a 削減（する） from a saddle of lamb.

Mrs. Blomb gazed at him thoughtfully a moment as though she had not heard aright. Then she laughed loudly and patted Tydvil's arm. "Listen to him. He thinks I said Mr. Garside was sick."

"No, I didn't." Muskat put 負かす／撃墜する his knife and fork and replied argumentatively. "What I meant was you must both have been sick. You'd make anyone sick," he grunted.

"I think that is very rude of you, Mr. Muskat," 抗議するd Mrs. Blomb loudly.

完全に 無視（する）ing the 抗議する, Arthur Muskat hiccoughed violently, and 再開するd his knife and fork. So far as he was 関心d, Mrs. Blomb had 中止するd to 存在する.

Tydvil, struggling with an 勧める to laugh, noticed the working of an agitated Adam's apple in Mrs. Blomb's stringy throat. Lowering his 発言する／表明する, he said soothingly, "I don't think he understood what you were 説." Then, to distract her attention, he went on, "You were 説 you did not like Garside."

"You're 権利, Tydvil, I don't—Oo—I called you Tydvil." She laughed loudly again, and slapped his shoulder. "I tell you this, when Julia Blomb says a man's a pig, he is a pig. Do you understand what I mean?"

"Did you call me a pig?" Again Arthur Muskat rumbled into the conversation. His 直面する was 紅潮／摘発するd and he 注目する，もくろむd her malevolently.

"I did not," she returned with spirit. "But since you ask, I do think you're a pig, Arthur Muskat."

Her 壇・綱領・公約 発言する／表明する rose high over the now lively noise from the other end of the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する and momentarily stilled it. Then, very distinctly in the silence, （機の）カム the 発言する／表明する of Mrs. Claire. Her 直面する was 紅潮／摘発するd and her 注目する，もくろむs were 有望な. 演説（する）／住所ing her husband, she said, "George, you preach the worst sermons and talk the worst nonsense I ever heard."

There was a general gasp of surprise and Mrs. Ridgegay giggled hysterically.

Then Mrs. Claire 観察するd, 明らかに unaware of the sensation she had 原因（となる）d, "I've been wanning tell you that for years, an' now I've tol' you!" She turned away and lapsed into silence.

It was not until later when he learned from Nicholas that that gentleman had, by his own peculiar methods, introduced a 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 of fifty per cent. benedictine into the fruit cup, and a 類似の 割合 of proof gin into the barley-water, that Tydvil fully, understood the unusual demeanour of Amy's guests. Under the genial 影響（力） of the fruit cup, inhibitions, that had congested the brain of Mrs. Claire over twenty years of married life, melted like ice.

Even had he understood the psychological 原因（となる） of his wife's untimely candour, the shock to the vicar's amour-propre would not have been mitigated to any 広大な／多数の／重要な extent. His 直面する, already 紅潮／摘発するd, became suffused. He endeavoured, however, to pass it off as a not too successful 成果／努力 at humour on the part of his partner. His laugh was rather hollow as, 演説（する）／住所ing the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する 一般に, he said, "A man is fortunate who can find a frank and sincere critic in his home. It is, I feel, a salutary moral tonic."

Mrs. Ridgegay, who had continued to giggle, 後継するd in emitting, "井戸／弁護士席, if it is a tonic, vicar, you should of eel much better after that dose."

But, indeed, the 表現 on the vicar's 直面する was such that it 示すd if his wife's 意向 had been benevolent, she had 定める／命ずるd the wrong mixture. He, however, muttered that fortunately it was his nature to 受託する all 批評 meekly.

Here, reminiscence awoke in 行方不明になる Merrywood. 表明するing 悔いる that all men were not endowed with the vicar's saintly philosophy, which was a 製品 of education and 環境, she 関係のある how, only on the previous day, she had 補助装置d in dressing the 傷害s of a wharf labourer's wife. She 明示するd their nature and locality so explicitly that Mrs. Blomb exclaimed a scandalised "Oh! Eva!" and Amy 紅潮／摘発するd crimson. Whereat, 行方不明になる Merrywood 主張するd that it was 誤った shame not to 扱う／治療する these 事件／事情／状勢s from a detached sociological 面. The woman had done no more than call her husband a so-and-so loafing son of a such- and-such, which 行方不明になる Merrywood felt sure he was.

奮起させるd perhaps by the fruit cup, Eva had 引用するd the 負傷させるd lady verbatim, in both adjective and noun, to an audience that gasped.

Mrs. Ridgegay, やめる unable to adjust her mind to the 親族 value of words, 抗議するd in a shocked 発言する／表明する, that Mrs. Claire had said nothing like that to the vicar.

But Eva would have 非，不，無 of her. She 主張するd that, 裁判官d from their 各々の 環境s, the two 批評s were comparative 同等（の）s.

Then, as Eva was 明らかに about to 大きくする on the topic and 恐れるing the worst, Edwin Muskat broke in. "Did you read that account of an appalling fracas in the city last night, Tydvil?"

Welcoming the 転換, Amy, who by this time was wondering what had happened to her party, seconded his endeavours by 説 that she was afraid Mr. 上級の would receive a shocking impression of the city from such terrible episodes.

"But," Edwin put in, "we can 保証する Mr. 上級の that the very unsavoury episode at St. Kilda, followed by the deplorable 証拠s of iniquity of last night can not be taken as altogether normal. I 控訴，上告 to you, Tydvil."

答える／応じるd Tydvil piously, "I can 保証する you, Mr. 上級の, that in all my experience I have never seen anything like them."

"No 疑問 they all were 原因（となる）d by drink," Amy 示唆するd.

"Spaghetti," put in Tydvil absently. Though he had been careful of the fruit cup, he was feeling its 影響（力）.

"Tydvil dear," Amy admonished 負かす／撃墜する the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する, "do you think it is wise to 扱う／治療する these things lightly?"

Arthur Muskat turned his small 注目する，もくろむs on Tydvil. "I think, Jones, the ruffians who were 伴う／関わるd in that dreadful 事件／事情／状勢 will have some difficulty in 証明するing to the （法廷の）裁判 that spaghetti was the 原因（となる） of it." He 強調d his 観察 with a hiccough that seemed to disconcert him, as much as it surprised the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する.

"On the contrary, Mr. Muskat," Nicholas replied, "Mr. Jones's suggestion has grounds in fact. I, myself, have seen serious and most 苦しめるing 影響s from a plateful of spaghetti after alcohol."

"What I say, is..." began Arthur argumentatively, but was 削減（する） short with another resounding, "Wur-roop!"

This was too much for Mrs. Blomb, who was 掴むd with almost hysterical laughter. "Oh!" she gasped, pointing a shaking finger at the 激しい, perplexed 直面する. "He's been—he's been—eating spaghetti, too!"

Arthur Muskat's 直面する grew purple. "You shut up, you old 女／おっせかい屋!"

"Muskat! Muskat, I really must 抗議する!" exclaimed Tydvil, placing a 抑制するing 手渡す on Arthur's arm. But his heart sang with unregenerate joy. He had often 手配中の，お尋ね者 to tell Mrs. Blomb she was an old 女／おっせかい屋 himself.

But Arthur would not be pacified. The fruit cup was in 十分な 命令（する）. "I'll not stand it, Jones! I'll not—wurroop! She's been 選ぶing on me all the time. She called me a—wur- roop—pig."

"I'm ashamed of you, Arthur!" （機の）カム a brotherly rebuke from Edwin.

Arthur turned on him ひどく. "Go and 捕らえる、獲得する your dashed 長，率いる, and mind your own dashed 商売／仕事," he shouted.

Rather more than half a large goblet of proof gin had loosed some of Edwin's inhibitions. He （機の）カム 支援する with a pugnacious chin stuck out. "You talk to me again like that, Arthur, and I'll 激突する you one on the jaw!"

The only one の中で the company who was not staggered by the 突発／発生 of 敵意s was Mrs. Claire, who, having drained a second glass of fruit cup, sat with her 直面する in her 手渡すs, and her 手渡すs in a plate 十分な of asparagus, in happy oblivion.

Amy, her 直面する red and white by turns uttered a despairing, "Oh, Tydvil! Stop them!"

"It's all Julia's fault!" was Mrs. Ridgegay's 出資／貢献.

Julia Blomb took up the challenge with enthusiasm. "If you think I'm going to let that fat idiot call me a 女／おっせかい屋, you're mistaken. I said Arthur Muskat was a pig—and he is." Here she pointed a derisive finger across the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する, and babbled, "Pig— pig—pig!"

"My dear Mrs. Blomb..." began the vicar in a 深い clerical 発言する／表明する of 抗議する.

"I'm not your dear Mrs. Blomb," she retorted with spirit. Then she 追加するd as an afterthought, "That's one thing I have been spared."

Before the vicar could speak again, Eva Merrywood's 発言する／表明する 削減（する） in. "I'm sorry to have to say it, Julia, but your speech is more like Fitzroy than St. Kilda Road."

"And yours is more like a muck heap than anything else, and I'm not sorry to say it." Mrs. Blomb's 発言する／表明する had a （犯罪の）一味 of 戦う／戦い.

At this juncture, Tydvil alone noticed that Amy had scowled the two maids out of the room. Then she turned bewildered but 控訴，上告ing 注目する，もくろむs on Nicholas. In a moment he 答える／応じるd by rising. But in the 簡潔な／要約する interval the 発言する／表明するs 一連の会議、交渉／完成する the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する were blended in vociferous 騒動. The vicar was trying vainly to 強くたたく the 集会 to order. The two brothers were glaring at one another, 交流ing unbrotherly amenities. Mrs. Blomb's 壇・綱領・公約 experience gave her a かなりの advantage over Mrs. Caton Ridgegay, 溺死するing her ineffectual retorts with vigorous, and not 誇張するd, reflections on Mrs. Ridgegay's 欠如（する） of 知能 and inane conversation. Eva Merrywood was 説 things to Mrs. Blomb that it was just 同様に that that lady was too busy at the moment to assimilate. With the 社債s of 条約 relaxed, the 相互の 交流s were sincere, but 原始の in verbiage and 完全に 欠如（する）ing in subtlety.

Then the （疑いを）晴らす 発言する／表明する of Nicholas 削減（する） into the 暴動. He did not raise it, but his, "My friends! My friends!" stilled the 暴動 as water drenches a. 解雇する／砲火／射撃. The last distinguishable word was "nitwit," from Mr. Edwin Muskat to his purple-直面するd brother.

"My friends!" continued Nicholas calmly to the 直面するs turned に向かって him. "I am afraid we have all become a little over- wrought. I feel," his 発言する／表明する grew very persuasive, "that you will 許す me, a stranger の中で you, for reminding you, that perhaps we have forgotten for the moment the feelings of our 肉親，親類d hostess." He smiled に向かって Amy's 紅潮／摘発するd 直面する. "Let us all, without exception, assume the others have 表明するd 悔いる for what might have been said in an unguarded moment." He paused, and his 深い luminous 注目する，もくろむs passed from one to the other. "Will we not?"

Julia Blomb drew a 深い breath, and it looked for the moment as though she would not 受託する any, 予備交渉s for a 集団の／共同の peace. Then she caught the 注目する，もくろむ of Nicholas on her. There was something in the ちらりと見ること he turned on her that sent a very 冷淡な shiver from the base of her skull to the furthest extremity of her spine.

あわてて she looked across to Arthur Muskat. "Oh, Arthur, let's forget it all, I was silly!" There was a general murmur of 受託, as the smiling Nicholas 再開するd his seat.

"You know," he took the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する in as he spoke, "I was just 説 to our dear Mrs. Jones, how 罰金 it was to think..." He paused again. "I am afraid, Vicar, that Mrs. Claire..."

In the excitement, that silent 人物／姿／数字 had been forgotten. In an instant Amy and the vicar were on their feet.

Anxiously they raised her 長，率いる. Mrs. Claire, roused from her doze, regarded the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する with sombre 注目する，もくろむs and said thickly, "小包 o' fools!" and her 長，率いる sunk 今後 again.

Amy and the vicar together raised her from her 議長，司会を務める. "I can't think..." Amy began.

"I've known that for years, Amy," said the surprising Mrs. Claire, gazing owlishly at the 議会.

"Oh, my dear, my dear!" bleated Amy. "What has happened to you?"

"'Runk—blinkin' 'runk," murmured Mrs. Claire drowsily.

"Gwendoline!" The vicar shook her shoulder, 非，不，無 too tenderly. "How can you say such a thing?"

"Dunno!" his spouse replied, 新たな展開ing her 長，率いる to look at him. "'原因（となる） I'm darn 近づく speechless." Her 長，率いる sunk 今後 again, and she 追加するd, "You ol' buzzard!"

"Perhaps she had better 嘘（をつく） 負かす／撃墜する, Vicar," Amy 示唆するd. Mrs. Blomb and Mrs. Ridgeway rose as though to 補助装置. But Amy waved them 支援する. "Don't bother, please, the Vicar and I will manage."

Between them they turned the afflicted guest に向かって the door. Before she passed through, she turned again. "All rotten but Tydvil," was her Pathan 発射.

There was an uncomfortable silence. In the absence of Amy, Tydvil felt that the mantle had fallen on his shoulders and had no scruples about transferring it to those of Nicholas.

"You were 説, Mr. 上級の," he sent an S.O.S. to Nicholas, "that you were 利益／興味d in something?"

"Ah, yes! It was that I was 説 to Mrs. Jones how 罰金 it was to be one of a 集会 of such enthusiastic and disinterested 労働者s for noble 原因（となる）s. But いつかs I think we take life too 本気で."

Eva Merrywood, with her 武器 倍のd on the 辛勝する／優位 of the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する, leaned に向かって him. "D'you know,"—her speech was not やめる （疑いを）晴らす—"I think you're 権利. Lil bit o' fun いつかs—like dancing. 港／避難所't danced for years."

"Dancing! 行方不明になる Merrywood!" Arthur Muskat looked like a shocked Silenus.

"Why not, Mr. Muskat?" asked Nicholas gently. "In the proper spirit, I think dancing may be a most admirable medium for social 緩和."

"My dear sir!—Wur-oop! 容赦!" as the fruit cup 介入するd, "I have always learned that dancing is mos' rep- reprehensible, Sir—most unchristian."

"Bunnies, Arthur! How do you know?" 需要・要求するd Eva. "Did you ever dance?"

"Mos' certainly not!" replied Arthur with extreme gravity.

It was Mrs. Blomb who took up the discussion. "Then how the..." She checked herself deftly. "I mean, how do you know?"

Before Arthur could reply, Nicholas again 介入するd. "I いつかs think, Mr. Muskat, that the only, way we can really 知らせる ourselves on these social problems is by actual 実験." He looked meaningly at Tydvil. "Have you ever danced, Mr. Jones?"

"I'm afraid," 認める Tydvil, "that, like Arthur, my 見解（をとる）s are not based on experience."

Then Mrs. Ridgegay awoke to the 傾向 of the discussion. "Why not try then, just to see."

"Yes, yes, let's all dance!" exclaimed Eva Merrywood 押し進めるing 支援する her 議長，司会を務める. "Come on, Edwin, I'll show you." She しっかり掴むd Edwin Muskat's arm as much as to 安定した herself as to 勧める him to join her.

"Go on, Edwin," 誘発するd Tydvil. "What about it?" he turned to Mrs. Blomb.

Eva had pulled the unwilling Edwin to feet that were not conspicuously 安定した, and put her long, thin' '武器 around him. Edwin 産する／生じるd passively. Fortunately there was ample room for manoeuvres, and it was needed. Tydvil almost choked as the 決定するd Eva and the 気が進まない Edwin began a wobbly oscillation on their 部隊d axis, of which she was the directing 軍隊.

Mrs. Blomb turned in her 議長，司会を務める, took one ちらりと見ること at the amazing spectacle, and with a squeal of laughter reached for Tydvil. "Come on, Tydvil, we'll show them how," she gasped.

"But I don't know how," 抗議するd Tydvil. "Aren't there steps or something, and shouldn't we have music?"

"Oh, hang music! Wait, I'll show the waltz steps. Learned them at school." She 支援するd away. It was in the days when 脚s were "四肢s." 脚s were seldom について言及するd, and more seldom seen. But Julia Blomb took a 二塁打 暗礁 in the mainsail, 陳列する，発揮するing a white embroidered underskirt, six インチs of red flannel petticoat (the badge of virtue) and a かなりの length of 麻薬を吸う 茎・取り除く undercarriage 終結させるing in large feet.

"Now watch," she said, 宙に浮くing with her 権利 foot pointed.

There was no need for the （裁判所の）禁止（強制）命令 to watch. Eva and Edwin had come to a 行き詰まり by 大砲ing against the 塀で囲む, against which they leaned for safety. A 立ち往生させる of Eva's hair had worked loose on one 味方する, giving her a rakish and bacchanalian 面, and she still clung to Edwin. Arthur rose like a walrus, clutched for the 支援する of his 議長，司会を務める, 行方不明になるd, and （機の）カム 負かす／撃墜する "as 落ちるs on 開始する Avernus a 雷鳴 stricken oak."

It was at this moment, as Mrs. Ridgegay squealed, "Go it Julia," that Amy re-entered the dining-room.

"Oooh! Julia Blomb!" Then as her 注目する，もくろむs swept 一連の会議、交渉／完成する the room, "Eva! Are you mad?"

"Just showing Tydvil how to waltz," 発表するd Mrs. Blomb, losing her balance and 回復するing it by a 奇蹟.

"She's a scarlet woman! I saw it; scarlet!" grunted Arthur Muskat from the 床に打ち倒す.

"In my house! Dancing...?" Words again failed Amy.

Then her gaze turned to Nicholas, who stood 調査するing the scene with an 表現 of 苦痛d 当惑. "What will Mr. 上級の think?"

Mr. 上級の left his place and 前進するd に向かって the stricken Amy. "My dear lady, this is most 苦しめるing," he said.

"But what is it?" gasped Amy. "Oh, what is it? The Vicar says his 脚s are paralysed. Go to him, Tydvil."

"I am afraid, Mrs. Jones, that it is some form of food 毒（薬）ing," said Nicholas soothingly. "Perhaps the oysters. I have heard of this, but have never before seen the 影響s."

As he spoke, Eva and Edwin Muskat 沈下するd slowly 負かす／撃墜する the 塀で囲む until they （機の）カム to 残り／休憩（する） together on the 床に打ち倒す. Then, with a quick move, Nicholas caught Julia Blomb and placed her in the 議長，司会を務める from which Tydvil had risen. Julia showed a decided 傾向 to 下落する.

"Oh, we must have a doctor!" exclaimed Amy, with her 手渡す to her 長，率いる. "I'm afraid I have it, too! My 長，率いる's reeling!" So was her 団体／死体, but Tydvil 救助（する）d it manfully. Gently he lowered her to the 床に打ち倒す where Amy gurgled and passed out.

Tydvil looked 一連の会議、交渉／完成する the room. Mrs. Caton Ridgegay had disappeared—under the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する.

He looked up at Nicholas, who regarded him with a sardonic smile. "You?" he queried.

Tydvil grinned. "I'm all 権利. Just a bit damp 一連の会議、交渉／完成する the 辛勝する／優位s." Then, as he 調査するd the 戦場, "Jove! Nicholas, you did them proud. I wouldn't care to 危険 another go at that fruit cup, though."

"You could," Nicholas smiled. "Try it."

Taking a jug and goblet from the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する, Tydvil sipped the mixture 慎重に. Then his 注目する，もくろむs met those of Nicholas with astonishment. "Why, it's all 権利!" he exclaimed.

Nicholas nodded. "正確に／まさに, so, you see, it must have been the oysters."

"Of course, the oysters. That's what paralysed the vicar's 脚s, too."

The two looked 一連の会議、交渉／完成する them in silence for a moment, then Nicholas spoke, his 手渡すs 深い in his pockets. "You know, Tydvil, I suppose there are a good many people who would think we have not played the game, but,"—he looked distastefully at the 傾向がある Arthur—"while I have sympathy for most human failings, I have never been able to 打ち勝つ my repugnance against self-righteousness."

Tydvil nodded his understanding. "I've lived の中で it all my life—I know." Then he 追加するd, "Perhaps this will do them good."

Nicholas shook his 長，率いる. "Not unless they know the truth—and I'm afraid that would be difficult..."

"Then it must be the oysters." Then he chuckled. "There'll be some pretty sore 長，率いるs in the morning. The question is, what are we to do with them?"

"I have my car," Nicholas said, "and might take some of them if I knew where to 減少（する） them."

"Over the parapet of Princes 橋（渡しをする） would be a good place," laughed Tydvil.

"Is that an （裁判所の）禁止（強制）命令 or just a pious wish?" asked Nicholas hopefully.

Tydvil shook his 長，率いる 残念に. "I'm afraid it will have to remain a pious wish. It might 原因（となる） too much comment the other way."

"井戸／弁護士席?"

"Best thing is to keep them all here for the night, there is plenty of spare room in the house. I'll get the maids in to look after the women—wonder what they'll think? We'll have to give them a 手渡す to carry them upstairs. Then we can 直す／買収する，八百長をする up the men ourselves."

"What about the morning?" Nicholas 示唆するd.

"Pah! They will have forgotten most of it. Anyway, they'll 受託する my explanation. Seems to me we're playing it pretty low 負かす／撃墜する on the oysters."

Tydvil left to 召喚する an already perplexed and whispering 世帯 staff, who 決起大会／結集させるd loyally to Tydvil's tale of sudden illness. To one and all Tydvil had been a friend in need. Beds were あわてて, 用意が出来ている and the stricken guests were one by one laid to 残り／休憩（する）. It took the 部隊d 成果／努力s of Tydvil, Nicholas and four maids before Mrs. Ridgegay was lowered on to a bed and left to the ministrations of the maids.

In the 製図／抽選-room they 設立する the Vicar, whose paralysis had become general, lying on the hearth rug. Mrs. Claire lay on a couch. Nicholas looked 負かす／撃墜する at her. He turned to Tydvil. "The only one of them that is 価値（がある） a hoot!" he said. Then he bent over and 一打／打撃d her forehead with his long, slender fingers, 説 as he did so, "I'll see to it that she, at any 率, will wake up without a 頭痛."

It was more than an hour before a maid 報告（する）／憶測d that the 無効のs were all accounted for. The men had been いっそう少なく carefully 性質の／したい気がして of. Tydvil and Nicholas were seated in Tydvil's den. There was a flicker of surprise in the girl's 注目する，もくろむs as she saw the cigar that Tydvil was enjoying. "Wait!" Tydvil spoke as she turned to leave. "Emily," he said 本気で, "I know you and the others will realise how 苦しめるd I am, and Mrs. Jones will be over this 事件／事情／状勢."

"Yes, sir, of course, sir."

"Mr. 上級の, who has had 医療の experience, is sure that their illness has been 原因（となる）d by the oysters, and that they will all be やめる 井戸／弁護士席 in the morning."

"Yes sir! We hope so, sir."

"Still, I know you will not talk about it," Tydvil went on, taking eight one-続けざまに猛撃する 公式文書，認めるs from his pocket. "Take one of these yourself and give the 残り／休憩（する） to the others with my thanks."

The girl murmured her thanks and 出発／死d to find her 同僚s discussing the amazing happening. Because, as the cook, indignant at the 告発 of the oysters, said, "If I didn't know it was impossible, I'd say the lot of them were dashed 井戸／弁護士席 shickered."

"Do you know, Nicholas," said Tydvil, as he helped his friend into his overcoat, "I had no idea until the last few nights that the way of transgression could be so strenuous."

"Don't you find it 価値（がある） the 成果／努力?" asked Nicholas.

Tydvil smiled reminiscently. "If only for the 長，率いるs that Edwin and Arthur Muskat will have in the morning, the price is ridiculously, 不十分な."

CHAPTER XXIV

It was Tydvil's 運命／宿命, however, not to 証言，証人／目撃する the morning awakening of his guests. Though he, himself, awoke much later than usual, from his personal 査察 of the men, and from the 報告（する）／憶測s of the maids on the others, 非，不，無 of them seemed inclined to awake, much いっそう少なく to get up. So Tydvil breakfasted alone, telling the maid who …に出席するd him that he 疑問d if any of the 訪問者s would care to breakfast; but recommended that the cook should 準備する large 量s of coffee—黒人／ボイコット.

But it was after ten o'clock when he reached his office, a 出発 from normal that 行方不明になる Brand 追加するd to her other 証拠 of Tydvil's 最近の peculiar behaviour. She and Billy Brewer had taken advantage of Tydvil's 延期するd 外見 to discuss many things, though much was 純粋に personal; because on the third finger of Geraldine's left 手渡す there now flashed and sparkled a 石／投石する that almost rivalled the light in Geraldine's 注目する，もくろむs.

"But darling," Billy 抗議するd when Geraldine had repeated Tony's account of Tydvil's movements, "Tony must be haywire."

"Look here, Billy," she 競うd, "You and I and everyone else look on Tyddie as the best boy in the class, who always knows his lessons, keeps his 手渡すs clean and who was never a naughty boy in his life."

Billy grinned. "Portrait of a pious softgoods warehouseman by his 長官. But that's about it. We all do."

"But it's not natural for a man to be as perfect as he appears to be."

"For that 事柄, no one would believe there was such a creature as the platypus—but there is," was Billy's comment.

"井戸／弁護士席, I 疑問 if Tyddie is as innocent as he seems."

"Oh, ネズミs, Gerry!" laughed Billy. "You せねばならない know better than anyone. Surely he has not been trying to put anything nefarious over you."

"Like to see him try!" said Geraldine, straightening up. "But really, Billy, so far as that goes I don't 存在する. I don't believe he could tell you the colour of my 注目する，もくろむs."

"Pooh, that's nothing! I can't either, and the good Lord knows I've 熟考する／考慮するd them closely enough these last few months. But anyway, if a man could be with you twenty times a day for years and still doesn't know you 存在する—that 証明するs he's either nutty or 異常な."

"I don't care what you say, Billy," Geraldine stuck to her guns. "He's changed. Plenty of men have been 証明するd pious 詐欺s."

"But, best beloved," Billy argued, "you don't mean to tell me you think that Tyddie has suddenly taken to heaving bricks at 警官，（賞などを）獲得するs, or has gone berserk, painted the town red and then tried to clean it up with a club. It don't make sense."

"Oh, I know! It does seem crazy; but why has he become such an appalling fibber?"

"Aren't we all?" Billy philosophised. "Didn't one of the Old Testament chaps say 'All men are liars'?"

"Speak for yourself, Billy boy! Anyway, Tyddie seems to be out to break 記録，記録的な／記録するs."

"Making up for lost time, perhaps! Still, that one about his hat 存在 pinched at the Carlton seems a bit 厚い. That is, if Tony is 権利."

"You can take it from me, Billy," Geraldine 主張するd, "Tony may not he 知識人, but he is 絶対 honest, and in his 職業 he 行方不明になるs nothing."

"井戸／弁護士席, even if he is 権利, I don't see that it 証明するs that Tyddie has suddenly gone off the 深い end to qualify for the laurels of village reprobate."

"Maybe, but it does 証明する he has been up to some pretty 法外な mischief. A man like Tyddie does not step into the 証言，証人／目撃する box and commit flat 偽証 unless there is something to make it 価値（がある） while."

"Urn," mused Billy, "don't think it's a fellow feeling, but if he has gone a bit off the rails, I like him the better for it."

"I'm as bad as you are, Billy," 認める Geraldine. "He's been いっそう少なく saintly and more human these last few days."

"Gerry, dear," Billy became very serious, "there's something I have to tell you. It may 傷つける."

She held out her 手渡す to him. "I'll help! What is it, Billy?"

"Cranston's 問題／発行するd a 令状 against his wife, and 指名するd me co- re."

"I always did hate that man," Geraldine said with 深い 有罪の判決.

"I'm going to defend it, d'you mind?" He looked 負かす／撃墜する at her.

"Billy, dear, if I must marry a sinner, and I know you 港／避難所't been 正確に／まさに a saint, I'd sooner marry one who gets through with his sinning before marriage."

"You 信用 me, Gerry?"

"There's the proof, boy!" She held up the third finger of her left 手渡す.

Billy bent 今後 and swept her up in his 武器 and the 残りの人，物 of their conversation became irrelevant, disconnected, and, to tell the truth, just a little mushy. But that was their 商売／仕事 and 非，不，無 of ours.

Whether Tydvil's 良心 was 黒人／ボイコット, grey or spotted, he gave no 調印するs of that during the morning. To all who 遭遇（する）d him, and 特に to Geraldine, he was more genial than usual. To 行方不明になる Brand, it seemed as though he 取り組むd his work almost gaily. His 注目する，もくろむs caught the sparkle of the 石／投石する on her finger the moment he took his 議長，司会を務める.

"So!" he said, "that tonic, no, I think 興奮剤 was the 称する，呼ぶ／期間／用語 you used—that 興奮剤 of yours has lost no time in 主張するing his pre-emptive 権利. Do you believe in long 約束／交戦s, 行方不明になる Brand?"

行方不明になる Brand 認める demurely that she had heard they were unwise. The colour that rose to the creamy 肌 at the admission delighted Tydvil's artistic 注目する，もくろむ.

"For competent 長官s I think the ideal length of an 約束／交戦 is ten years," 示唆するd Tydvil.

Still keeping her 注目する，もくろむs 負かす／撃墜する a very dainty nose, 行方不明になる Brand agreed, but 追加するd, "At the same time, Mr. Jones, as a member of the 倉庫／問屋 staff, I suppose you will 許す ninety-five or ninety-seven and a half per cent 割引 in time."

"That's not 商売／仕事, 行方不明になる Brand," Tydvil chuckled. "That's nothing but sheer banditry."

"I've always thought I'd like to be a 強盗," replied Geraldine.

"Do you know what I think?" asked Tydvil.

Geraldine raised her 注目する，もくろむs. He was leaning 支援する in his 議長，司会を務める regarding her quizzically, with his 長，率いる on one 味方する.

"I think," Tydvil went on, "that Geraldine Brand is a shameless young baggage."

The girl laughed happily.

"But," he continued, "when the time comes the gift of Craddock, 燃やすs and Despard to the bride will be her trousseau and her entire 必要物／必要条件s in 世帯 linen."

He 削減（する） short her thanks with a laugh. "I can see that he has been here again this morning."

Geraldine looked 一連の会議、交渉／完成する for some trace of Billy's presence.

But Tydvil, still laughing, said, "Elementary, my dear Watson! Go and look at your hair in the glass."

With 炎上ing cheeks, Geraldine hurried to the mirror to 修理 the disorder wrought by Billy, and Tydvil, watching her over his shoulder, 観察するd: "本人自身で, I like it that way, but should you go out into the 倉庫／問屋 with it like that, someone might 得る an 完全に erroneous impression of me."

"Ump!" replied Geraldine Brand, with a new 設立する audacity, as she busied herself with her hair. "I wonder!"

But Geraldine would not have wondered had she been able to follow the workings of the mind of Tydvil Jones. As the days passed she, more than anyone else, even in the police 軍隊, was 占領するd with the doings of one Basil Williams, a mysterious roysterer who became 悪名高い for extravagant amusements and extravagant audacity. Basil Williams sprang into fame two nights later when, at eleven-thirty, he, with two companions who had dined as amply as he had, was moved to serenade the east end of Collins Street 一般に.

Remonstrance from a constable on 義務 led to his referring in approbrious 条件 to the constable in particular and the police 一般に. When the constable 設立する he was too strenuous a 職業 to 扱う singly, he called for 援助. One of the 増強s was 上級の Constable O'Connor, who welcomed the 適切な時期 to 新たにする an already warm 知識. It took five 運動競技の members of the 軍隊 to 影響 the 外見 of Basil Williams at the Watch-house in Russell Street.

Here the 捕虜 認める that his 指名する was Basil Williams. He also gave 指名するs to the Sergeant on 義務 that that officer did not consider complimentary. Finally, after a strenuous ten minutes, he was 宿泊するd in a 独房 with seven 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金s against his 指名する in the 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 調書をとる／予約する—all of them serious.

That was at five minutes to midnight. Half an hour later when the 独房 was opened for the admission of another guest, it was learned with 狼狽 that Basil Williams had 消えるd. All that was left to explain his absence was a 公式文書，認める, couched in facetious but opprobrious 条件, asking if the sergeant thought that he, Basil Williams, were a canary to be caged in such a manner. There was no 指示，表示する物 that the lock on the 独房 door had been tampered with. The amour propre of the police was not soothed when they learned that the 演説（する）／住所 given by Basil Williams was that of Mrs. Julia Blomb, the 井戸／弁護士席 known feminist, and a 主要な 人物／姿／数字 in women's political circles. Mrs. Blomb was not pleased when she was 誘発するd at four-thirty a.m. by a policeman who 需要・要求するd the 団体／死体 of one Basil Williams. It appears that she took no 苦痛s to 隠す her displeasure from her 訪問者s.

The man who regretted most the absence of Mr. Williams from his 独房 was the sergeant in 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 of the watch-house. More so when 上級の Constable O'Connor reminded him in friendly 条件 of his 発言／述べるs when the former captors of the outrageous 囚人 had explained he had 消えるd from their gaze, also. Never did lover sigh for a maid as that sergeant sighed for one more glimpse of Basil Williams.

All the more so, when he remembered some of the epithets the dishevelled 捕虜 had 投げつけるd at him in the presence of subordinates, who only 保持するd a becoming sobriety of 表現 by the 演習 of desperate self-強制. If you call an efficient and conscientious sergeant of police a drunk-robbing, beer-soaked buzzard; a silver-（土地などの）細長い一片d and pop-注目する，もくろむd son of the public executioner; if you 主張する that his 外見 is more nauseating than a bucketful of emetic, you may 達成する many things, but 人気 will not be の中で them.

All these phrases had Basil Williams 演説（する）／住所d to the sergeant, and many more even いっそう少なく truthful and far more reprehensible.

As Mr. 上級の 発言／述べるd to Basil Williams at the first convenient 適切な時期, it was surprising where he learned such 表現s.

But Mr. Williams proudly （人命などを）奪う，主張するd that he had not learned them at all. He made them up as he went on. He thought it was a gift.

一方／合間, the more serious 団体／死体s of the city of Melbourne were enchanted by the advent of a new and dazzling light の中で them—Mr. Nicholas 上級の. His generosity was as 広大な／多数の／重要な as his 人気. Amy soaked herself happily in the effulgence that shone from him. Mr. 上級の's striking individuality, his brilliant conversation, his undoubted 知識人 attainments, won him 即座の 承認 の中で the very nicest people. It was a speech he 配達するd at an anti-賭事ing 集会, however, that made Mr. 上級の a public 人物／姿／数字.

There was a 法案 before the 法律を制定する 議会 to 延長する the 範囲 of racing throughout the 明言する／公表する. The Churches were in 武器, and a 会合 was called at the town hall to 抗議する against the iniquitous 手段. It was to be 統括するd over by a 地方の bishop. Him, Amy 招待するd to dinner—an intimate dinner at which devilled oysters were not served—to 会合，会う Mr. 上級の. The bishop was so struck with his earnestness and lucid 推論する／理由ing on the evils of 賭事ing that before coffee had made its 外見, he had wrung a modestly 気が進まない 約束 from Mr. 上級の to speak at the 会合. The 特権 of introducing his friend was graciously 譲歩するd to Tydvil by his Lordship.

To the new Tydvil the 特権 was one that gave him peculiar satisfaction, and it could only have been ひったくるd from him by 圧倒的な 軍隊. To the （人が）群がるd hall Tydvil 発表するd that he had 喜んで waived his 意向 to 演説（する）／住所 the 集会 in favour of a friend whom he was proud to introduce. He did not feel he was overstating the 事例／患者 when he 主張するd that Mr. Nicholas 上級の, from his wide experience and personal 調査s, was more familiar with the evils of 賭事ing than any man on earth. That 見解（をとる） was not only his own; it was 株d by their 権利 Reverend Chairman.

The smile that Mr. 上級の turned on his sponsor was born of the knowledge that, on the previous night, Tydvil had won fifty- four 続けざまに猛撃するs from Archie 石／投石する and two of his friends at "draw," and その上の, that most of it was in Tydvil's wallet while he was speaking.

Next morning the eloquent 控訴，上告 made by Mr. Nicholas 上級の was printed verbatim in all newspapers. For twenty-five minutes he held the 集会 enthralled by the 魔法 of his 静かな persuasive eloquence. He spoke without 花火s or fulmination. With a merciless logic he tore the 法案 to pieces. With exquisite 技術 he vivisected the 動機s of the 政府 and 陳列する，発揮するd them, raw, from the 壇・綱領・公約. In swift, 熟達した 宣告，判決s, he portrayed the consequences that would accrue from the 法案 becoming 法律. When he was finished it took three stiff whiskies to settle the 神経s of an 著名な member of the 委員会 of the Racing Club, who had dropped into the 会合 for half an hour's entertainment.

But the 法案 was dead.

Said Tydvil, as he and Nicholas walked homeward after the 会合, "But dash it all, Nicholas, what did you do it for? Why, you almost 変えるd me!"

"政策, my friend, 政策!" laughed Nicholas lightly. "Man is 自然に and ineradicably an adventurous animal. Civilisation cramps his means of satisfaction of his hunger for adventure. Its only escape 弁 is 賭事ing. Sit on that safety 弁 and he will 爆発する. He is bad enough when he is 許すd to 賭事, but when 軍隊 of any, 肉親，親類d is used to 妨げる him, my 収穫 is redoubled."

"井戸／弁護士席," commented Tydvil, "don't carry your 改革（する）ing zeal too far, because another speech like that and you'll の近くに every racecourse in the 明言する／公表する. It's like 殺人，大当り the auriferous goose."

"You can insure the life of that bird with perfect 信用／信任," grinned Nicholas.

"I'm glad to hear it," 答える／応じるd Tydvil, "because I have not yet seen a Melbourne Cup, and I don't want to 行方不明になる the next."

But Nicholas had become a personage 夜通し. About the only doors in the 明言する／公表する that were not open to him were those of the Racing Club and the Amateur Turf Club. But, as Nicholas told Tydvil, he was sure of all the numbers of both of those 会・原則s for the propagation of experience and of horse, so his 除外s from their circles did not 事柄.

CHAPTER XXV

There had been only one 影をつくる／尾行する on Amy's happiness—the strange 災害 that had befallen her dinner to Nicholas. But her new friend had erased the deeper トンs of that 影をつくる／尾行する during a call he had made on her on the に引き続いて afternoon. He explained to an Amy, whose 長，率いる was throbbing with what, had she only known it, was a perfect example of hangover, that he was so anxious about her health and that of her friends he felt it his 義務 to enquire.

Amy explained that the worst of it was, that neither she nor her friends could remember very much of what had happened. Was it true, she asked, as Julia Blomb had 主張するd, that Eva Merrywood had danced in an unseemly fashion with Edwin Muskat? Both Eva and Mrs. Ridgegay 否定するd it strenuously. But she, Amy, seemed to remember something of the 肉親，親類d.

Mr. 上級の 保証するd her 真面目に that nothing of the 肉親，親類d had occurred. No 疑問 the insidious nature of the 毒（薬）, which was undoubtedly derived from the oysters, was 責任がある hallucinations. 類似の instances were fully authenticated.

Amy was 極端に relieved by his 保証／確信, and she was sure the Vicar would be, too. Poor Vicar! He was terribly troubled by some 発言／述べるs that poor dear Mrs. Claire had made—or rather which he imagined she had made. What she could not understand, however, was how he (Mr. 上級の) had so fortunately escaped from the trouble. Mr. Jones, also, had been marvellously 保存するd.

Mr. 上級の could only 示唆する that they 所有するd some natural 憲法の 免疫 from the 毒（薬）.

But it was two days before Amy shook off the 影響s of her party. She was a little annoyed, though, that both Julia Blomb and Eva Merrywood seemed to 持つ／拘留する her somehow 責任がある the appalling 頭痛s from which they 苦しむd. A little inconsiderate and unkind, since she felt that their 長，率いるs, for throbbing anguish, could not have compared with her own.

However, the success of Mr. 上級の as her guest, and her 勝利 over Tydvil in the 事柄 of the cheque, consoled Amy for the minor 災害 of the party. Only one thing that troubled her was the recollection of the visit of that attractive but really impertinent Mr. Brewer—the Mr. Brewer who should have had a 黒人／ボイコット 注目する，もくろむ but did not. That 注目する，もくろむ puzzled Amy. She was 納得させるd that her Mr. Brewer was the office Mr. Brewer. If that were so, and she had but little 疑問 it was—"Then—then—why had Tydvil said...?" Here her thoughts paused. How could she 取り組む Tydvil on the grounds of wilful falsehood calculated to deceive his wife, without 公表する／暴露するing the unceremonious visit of Mr. Brewer? Amy felt she had a grievance against someone, probably Tydvil, that she was not やめる in a position to 空気／公表する.

Somehow the memory of Mr. Brewer's visit dwelt in her mind. It kept recurring at intervals. Then, one afternoon about ten days afterwards, she felt an unaccountable 勧める to take a long walk. That was most unusual, because as a 支配する Amy was not 傾向がある to 演習. For a time she hesitated. Then there （機の）カム the longing for a stroll under the trees along Alexandra Avenue. There seemed a strange fascination in walking 静かに and alone through the sunlight and shade of the wide elms and 計画（する）s.

She dressed carefully and by a sudden impulse she put on that new hat—it had cost five guineas—that she had bought on the memorable afternoon of her 会合 with Mr. 上級の. Standing before her mirror its chastening 影響（力） on the usual severity of her frocking gave her a warm feeling of satisfaction. Ordering her car she directed the chauffeur to 運動 into town, but as she approached Alexandra Avenue, she changed her mind. She 命令（する）d Carter to stop. Alighting, she said that she thought a walk would do her good. He might return home. She would, if she 要求するd it, take a taxi 支援する.

Carter, whose love and 尊敬（する）・点 for Amy might have been 代表するd by minus 調印するs, wondered, in very unseemly thoughts, what the dashed 女／おっせかい屋-wowser was up to. 登録（する）ing an impious hope that she would 溺死する herself in the river, he drove away.

Amy turned away and walked slowly along the avenue に向かって the Botanic Gardens. She had not been there for years, and 決定するd to make them her 客観的な. With her 捕らえる、獲得する held loosely under her arm, she strolled along the tan path, wondering ばく然と why she had not recognised the 楽しみ of 歩行者 演習 earlier.

Suddenly her reverie was 粉々にするd by 暴力／激しさ.

A man who had approached her from the opposite direction, suddenly lurched against her with his shoulder. As he did so, he grabbed at the handbag beneath her arm. Almost off her balance, Amy was unable to 保護する her 所有物／資産／財産 except by 叫び声をあげるing. This she did in a manner that would have done credit to a locomotive.

Turning as she squealed, she saw the flight of the どろぼう 逮捕（する）d by a tall 運動競技の 人物／姿／数字. There was a 簡潔な／要約する scuffle, from which 現れるd a clean and nicely placed uppercut to the jaw of her 加害者, who lapsed supine into instant oblivion. The tall 人物／姿／数字 stooped and retrieved Amy's 所有物／資産／財産, which not 価値（がある） anything like the punch in the jaw that was the 捕らえる、獲得する-ひったくり's 単独の reward for his 企業. Its contents were a tube of peppermints and a handkerchief.

The tall 人物／姿／数字 stood beside his 捕虜 を待つing the now silent Amy's approach. The 承認 was 相互の and astonished.

"Mr. Brewer!" exclaimed Amy.

"Why! It is Mrs. Jones!" gasped Mr. Brewer.

"Oh! I don't know how to thank you, Mr. Brewer." Amy was really somewhat upset by the suddenness of the attack.

"Of course, I'm only too delighted to be of any service, Mrs. Jones," William replied. "It was providential that I happened to see this scoundrel attack you." He looked 負かす／撃墜する at the 上昇傾向d 直面する of the malefactor, which was showing 調印するs of a return to the realisation of earthly things. "I'll wait here and try to get a 解除する from someone, and take this brute to the watch-house."

Amy ちらりと見ることd 負かす／撃墜する at the unpleasant spectacle. Inwardly she thought gaol was too good for him, but she was Amy, and magnanimity was her long 控訴 at the moment. "Poor creature!" she sighed. "Perhaps he has a mother! Please give him his liberty, Mr. Brewer."

William bent over and jerked the deadbeat to his feet by the scruff of his neck. "I'm afraid your heart is too 肉親，親類d, Mrs. Jones," he 抗議するd, "but, of course, your wishes are 法律 to me." There was a gallant deference in his 発言する／表明する. "Still, I think some 罰 is 示すd. Will you kindly look the other way for a moment."

"Oh! Please, Mr. Brewer, don't 傷つける him, too much," murmured Amy, inwardly wishing that Mr. Brewer would not take her 嘆願 for mercy too 本気で.

As she turned away, Billy thrust a one 続けざまに猛撃する 公式文書，認める into the 手渡す of the 犯人. Then, with a scowling 直面する, he swung the bewildered man 一連の会議、交渉／完成する, and 治めるd a hearty kick where it would do him the most moral good and the least physical 害（を与える）. It was a very astonished 捕らえる、獲得する-ひったくり who moved with unwonted 速度(を上げる） に向かって Princes 橋（渡しをする）, wondering at an inconsistency which could reward and punish so liberally.

Billy turned to Amy, 厳粛に solicitous about the shock she had received. He begged that she would 許す him to see her to the kiosk in the gardens and give her a cup of tea.

After a little hesitation, Amy 許すd herself to be 説得するd. She felt a warm glow at the flattery in his respectful but earnest consideration for her 井戸／弁護士席 存在. As they passed through the gate into the gardens, she said, "You know, Mr. Brewer, I am really afraid that I should not have 許すd you to 説得する me. Your behaviour was so very unceremonious on our last 遭遇（する）."

Mr. Brewer hung his 長，率いる and murmured a humble 陳謝 for his unpardonable presumption, and begged her forgiveness.

"I don't think I should 許す you." Her smile belied her words. "I cannot think what 誘発するd you."

大いに daring, Mr. Brewer said, "Please, Mrs. Jones, don't 軍隊 me to tell you. I know I せねばならない be ashamed of myself, but I couldn't help it, you looked so..." His pause 招待するd her curiosity.

"So what? Mr. Brewer," Amy 主張するd gently.

"Lovely," breathed the wicked Mr. Brewer.

"Mr. Brewer...!" Amy's heart danced as it certainly should not have danced. "You must never, never say anything like that to me again." She tried hard, but the shocked rebuke she ーするつもりであるd to 伝える somehow fell short or 行方不明になるd its 示す.

"I 約束 I will try not to," 譲歩するd the graceless but graceful Mr. Brewer.

Amy 受託するd the 妥協.

At the kiosk Mr. Brewer fussed assiduously over Mrs. Jones's tea and 慰安. When they were settled, Mr. Brewer's cheery talk made Amy feel they were almost old friends. They fed the sparrows with their crumbs and then dropped into friendly discourse on "ships and shoes and 調印（する）ing wax." And when Mr. Brewer 保証するd Mrs. Jones that he almost felt 感謝する to the 捕らえる、獲得する-ひったくり for the 楽しみ of their 会合, she 許すd the 賞賛 in his 発言する／表明する and 注目する，もくろむs to pass without rebuke.

Indeed, time passed so 速く, that Amy was astonished to find that it was half past five and they had been together for nearly three happy, hours. 'As she arose, Mr. Brewer 表明するd a deftly modulated 悔いる that such afternoons could not be repeated.

"Would it not be possible...?" He stopped as though embarrassed.

"Would what be possible?" She smiled 激励. "To have tea here again," dared Mr. Brewer.

Amy really hesitated this time. But she hesitated. Mr. Brewer 勧めるd with respectful warmth.

Amy murmured, "井戸／弁護士席, only once more. Once, mind—Mr. Brewer."

"Next Wednesday" Mr. Brewer pleaded.

"No. Thursday." Amy felt she should not make things too 平易な for Mr. Brewer.

Forbidding him to …を伴って her, Amy made for the river gate.

Now there is little in this rather dull 遭遇（する）, in itself, to make it 価値（がある） 記録，記録的な／記録するing. But there were two circumstances that made the 会合 memorable.

The first, and most important, was that while Mr. Brewer and Amy were enjoying their tea at the Kiosk in the Botanic Gardens, Mr. Billy Brewer was also going about the 商売／仕事 of Craddock, 燃やすs and Despard in the city. Moreover, at the time Mrs. Jones and Mr. Brewer were leavetaking, Billy Brewer was perched on the corner of Geraldine Brand's 令状ing （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する 交流ing lively and airy persiflage with his fiancee, while を待つing the arrival of Tydvil Jones, who, Geraldine 保証するd him, had been absent all the afternoon. Explain them as you may, but the circumstances were as 関係のある.

The second circumstance that 示すd the 会合 of Amy and Mr. Brewer was that at dinner that night, Amy said nothing to Tydvil about the 捕らえる、獲得する-ひったくり and いっそう少なく about her 会合 with Mr. Brewer. Indeed, without 現実に committing herself to an untruth, Amy led Tydvil to believe that she had spent the afternoon at the office of the Moral Uplift Society.

It was rather remarkable, too, that Tydvil 受託するd her 暗示するd movements without question; but Amy would have been staggered had she been endowed with the gift of reading his thoughts. These were uncomplimentary, amused, and ribald.

Fortunately, too, for Amy's peace of mind, she was spared the knowledge of the discussion of her afternoon's 遭遇（する） between Nicholas 上級の and the 悪名高い Basil Williams. With his hat at a rakish angle and a cigar in the corner of his mouth, Basil Williams sat on the 辛勝する／優位 of Tydvil's 令状ing （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する, swinging his 脚s as he spoke.

"It worked perfectly, Nicholas," he said. "You timed everything to the moment. But, why didn't you tell me you had planned the 捕らえる、獲得する-snatching episode?"

"Better to have it spontaneous," Nicholas chuckled. "Your gallant 介入 would have carried 有罪の判決 to any woman's heart."

"Really," Basil Williams smiled with inward satisfaction, "I felt やめる proud of that upper 削減（する）. But it was pretty rough on the 捕らえる、獲得する-ひったくり you selected for this 職業."

"I agree heartily," replied Nicholas, rubbing his jaw softly. "I deserved the 続けざまに猛撃する 公式文書，認める you gave me, but you might have spared me the parting benediction. You kick like a war horse."

"You?" exclaimed Basil Williams in a startled enquiry. Mr. 上級の nodded his affirmation. "Personal 監督 is 必須の in delicate 計画（する）s such as yours."

"Oh! By Jove! I'm sorry," Basil said contritely. "I never dreamed..."

Nicholas waved aside the 陳謝 airily. "Don't worry. I'm inclined to think you'll get even a greater kick out of, the 事件／事情／状勢 than I did."

"You know," Basil Williams 発言／述べるd thoughtfully, "it's a queer thing that a man can be married to a woman for years and know so little about her."

"Umph!" chuckled Nicholas, "a 承認 of the fact is the beginning of 知恵 in a married man." Then he went on in a reminiscent トン, "Listen, my friend. Since the day I met Eve, I have met and known millions and millions of women. Women have sent me millions of men, and I have heard their stories. Millions of women have come to me of their own （許可，名誉などを）与える, and I have heard their stories..." he paused a moment, and 追加するd, "and I have never believed one of them. I have 熟考する／考慮するd women intensively, I have 熟考する／考慮するd them derisively, and I have 熟考する／考慮するd them 本気で. But Tydvil, believe me, I know I am no nearer to an understanding of them than when I began."

"And so?" Tydvil queried, as he paused.

"I'm a bachelor." Nicholas shook his 長，率いる slowly. "Aye, my friend, that is the 単独の 穀物 of 知恵 I have 獲得するd from my 熟考する／考慮するs. Of knowledge, they brought me nothing."

"Then!" exclaimed Tydvil—Basil Williams "if you can't understand 'em, how the heck can we be 推定する／予想するd to know anything about 'em."

Nicholas shrugged his shoulders. "One of the Divine mysteries. The 調書をとる／予約する is 調印（する）d to me and 地雷 and man."

For a while they smoked in silence, then Tydvil asked 試験的に, "Do you think they understand themselves?"

Nicholas laughed すぐに. "完全に—as 完全に as they understand men. And a major feature of their incomprehensibility is their brazen 提起する／ポーズをとる of not understanding themselves. I'll tell you something I have never 認める to anyone else. Since men walked on earth no man has been able to fool me for a minute. But, Tydvil, it makes me blush all over to remember how often women have deceived me—me! Mind you, I have learned from sore experience never to 信用 one of them for a moment. I am always on my guard. But over and over again some insinuating white skinful of guile has snatched a man, who was 絶対 地雷, 権利 out of my very 手渡すs. Pha!"

"I understand your feelings," said Tydvil sympathetically.

"Ah, 井戸／弁護士席," Nicholas sighed. "I suppose it evens itself. I have the 統計（学） and find that, year in and year out, they send me as many men as they cheat me of. I せねばならない think myself lucky it's no worse."

There was another silence that was broken by a laugh from Nicholas. "That reminds me," he said, "I had a very 圧力（をかける）ing 申し込む／申し出 of two policemen from your friend Julia Blomb the other morning. Your doing," he 追加するd.

"How?" 需要・要求するd Tydvil.

"You gave her 演説（する）／住所 as that of Basil Williams to the police. They got her out of bed before daylight, searching for you. She 負傷させる up a five minutes' oration by consigning the two 犠牲者s in particular to me, together with the entire 軍隊 一般に, from boots to helmet."

"Wish I'd been there," smiled Tydvil happily.

"Since then," Nicholas continued, "she has written to the 長，指導者 長官—that woman has a stirring literary style, and a gift for 悪口雑言—and he passed his tribulation along to the Commissioner of Police, with annotations and caustic decorations."

"There's 感謝," grinned Tydvil. "I 投票（する）d for that man last 選挙."

"I am only telling you this," went on Nicholas, "to remind you that Basil Williams is not very popular with the police 軍隊 at the moment."

"And that, after all the publicity I am getting for them," said Tydvil in an 負傷させるd トン. "Did you notice those letters in the papers this morning about my escape from 保護／拘留, and police inefficiency?"

Nicholas nodded. "It may 利益／興味 you to know that the Commissioner has also passed on the ukase, even more emphatically than the 長，指導者 長官, that Basil Williams must be 再度捕まえるd."

"Poor chaps! They didn't need bawling out on my account. I'll bet every one of them, from the Sergeant at the watchhouse 負かす／撃墜する, is more anxious to get 持つ／拘留する of me than the 長，指導者 長官 or the Commissioner."

"正確に!" Nicholas nodded. "At the 現在の time there are fifty large and angry men 激怒（する）ing through the streets and night 訴える手段／行楽地s, all with the one thought in their minds. The sermon the Commissioner preached to a special parade has 傷つける their feelings."

"That makes it rather ぎこちない," said Tydvil reflectively. "I was 約束ing myself a 扱う／治療する for this evening."

"Now what?" There was amused 利益／興味 in the 尋問.

"井戸／弁護士席, you see," Tydvil explained, "it's the night of the 月毎の 会合 of the 委員会 of the Society for the 鎮圧 of Alcohol, and I was thinking..." He hesitated.

"Go on," 誘発するd Nicholas. "Let's have it!"

"井戸／弁護士席, I was thinking how pleasant it would be to 会合，会う Edwin Muskat in the street after the 会合 and punch his nose—just once." Tydvil 急いでd to 追加する.

"Puerile, but pardonable," Nicholas smiled.

"I know it's puerile," Tydvil pleaded. "But remember, Nicholas, I never had a chance before of 存在 a boy, and besides, that nose is begging to be punched."

"Looked at in the light of a pious 義務, the 事業／計画（する） is excusable," Nicholas 譲歩するd. "I 持つ／拘留する no 簡潔な／要約する for that nose, believe me. It only occurs to me that with all those plain- 着せる／賦与するs and 制服を着た men at short call, Edwin Muskat's might not be the only nose to be 難破させるd this 罰金 night. Think it over."

"No!" Tydvil's 発言する／表明する took on a （犯罪の）一味 of 決意. "Hear me, Nicholas!" He declaimed:

Breathes there a man with soul so dead, Who never to himself
hath said, I'll punch that nose till it runs red. 

"Two of those lines are by a 愛国的な poet 指名するd Scott. The last and, and I think, the best, is my own."

"The 感情s are admirable," Nicholas agreed. "But I 示唆する you 可決する・採択する another individuality for your 巡礼の旅."

"Never!" exclaimed Tydvil defiantly. "I am proud of Basil Williams, and I will fight under no other or lesser 旗，新聞一面トップの大見出し／大々的に報道する."

Nicholas looked up at Basil Williams from his armchair reflectively. "Do you know, Tydvil," he said, "for a man of your cloistered しつけ, your capacity and appetite for lawlessness are most refreshing. From your past 記録，記録的な／記録する I did not think you had it in you. And I am not easily surprised."

"Cloistered しつけ is 権利," 匂いをかぐd Tydvil. "Jove! Nicholas, can you realise what it means to me to 削減（する） loose? From the day I was born till the day we met, I have been 支配するd by a 先制政治 of Don'ts—Women's Don'ts at that. You're 権利! It is puerile to go out and sock Muskat on the nose. But if I had had a normal boyhood I would have been able to 激突する him on the jaw when we were both kids, and we both would have made better men for it. Now I have to get it out of my system as a man. Lawless is 権利!" Then he went on, "Believe it or not, but if a 警官，（賞などを）獲得する or two should show up, I'll feel better for having a turn up with them."

"It looks as though I am in for a busy night," was Nicholas's comment.

"One thing," Tydvil 抗議するd as he slipped off his perch on the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する. "I don't want you to 乾燥した，日照りの nurse me this time. You needn't trouble to keep my friends off the 跡をつける. I'm willing to take the 危険s."

"The 危険s will be there, my friend," 警告するd Nicholas. "The sergeant has 申し込む／申し出d a reward of five dozen of beer for the man who brings you in. He's in a vindictive mood."

"Let 'em all come," Tydvil replied. "You see, Nicholas, swatting Edwin Muskat's nose, per se, will 供給する more satisfaction than excitement. Dodging the 警官，（賞などを）獲得するs, if any, will 追加する the 必須の ginger."

"Good!" laughed Nicholas. "I will 可決する・採択する a 政策 of strict 中立."

"I want to see if I cannot pull through without help," said Tydvil as he turned to the door. "I won't call on you unless I am in extremis. The 会合 should be nearly over by now."

Although Basil Williams was 決定するd, he was by no means 無謀な. From the 入り口 to the 倉庫／問屋 he made a careful 偵察 of Flinders 小道／航路 before he stepped on to the footpath. Then he turned west に向かって Queen Street keeping 井戸／弁護士席 in the 影をつくる／尾行する, but carefully 避けるing any 外見 of stealth. He knew that, though the search would be おもに 限定するd to the east 味方する of Elizabeth Street, Basil Williams was not 安全な anywhere in the 主要都市の Area that night. Still, the almost 砂漠d 商売／仕事 味方する of the city 申し込む／申し出d the best 保護. Its devotion to high 財政／金融 and high buildings 供給するd no attraction for roysterers.

Twice, before he reached Queen Street, he blessed the system that put the police in shiny helmets from which the street lights gleamed, and made them a beacon for evil doers to 避ける. Each time he had 十分な notice in which to pull himself together and pass the danger 位置／汚点／見つけ出す with serene and unhurried stride that 武装解除するd 疑惑.

Turning into Queen Street, he crossed Collins Street, where he slackened his pace and carefully 観察するd a building on the opposite 味方する of the street 近づく Little Collins, Street. In three windows on the third 床に打ち倒す, lights were 燃やすing. Basil Williams stepped into the 影をつくる／尾行する of a convenient doorway, and waited. During the ten minutes he waited, 推測するing on the 所有権 of two cars parked across the road, not more than three people passed his 避難所. Then a policeman on his （警官の）巡回区域，受持ち区域 went by in 手段d dignity に向かって, Bourke Street. Basil Williams breathed a blessing on him as he crossed Little Collins Street, as the lights he was watching on the third 床に打ち倒す opposite 消えるd.

Two minutes later from the door of the building opposite a group of people stepped into Queen Street. As they did Basil Williams moved from his lair and crossed the wide thoroughfare. The group, which consisted of five men and two women, the (n)役員／(a)執行力のある 委員会 of the Society for the 鎮圧 of Alcohol, paused to say their 別れの（言葉，会）s before separating. One of the women was Mrs. Tydvil Jones, whom Basil Williams did not 推定する／予想する to see there because of the absence of her car. More so, as at breakfast that morning, she had 表明するd her 意向 of not …に出席するing the 会合. He was unaware that her 同僚, Mrs. Farley, had 選ぶd her up at the last moment, as the 会合 脅すd to lapse for want of a 定足数.

Her presence 追加するd to the joy in the heart of Basil Williams as he approached the group. A swift ちらりと見ること in either direction showed him that Queen Street was empty of all but himself and the 委員会, except for a man standing on the corner of Bourke Street, about one hundred yards away. Every member of the 委員会 was an old and unvalued friend. The more he saw of them the いっそう少なく he valued their 知識, until his esteem for them had almost reached 消えるing point.

The chattering group became silent as a large stranger joined it. Basil Williams raised his hat courteously and enquired, "May I ask if one of you gentlemen is Mr. Edwin Muskat?"

"That is my 指名する," replied the 長官 for the Society for the 鎮圧 of Alcohol, with an oily smile.

"I have been keeping something for you for a long, long time, Mr. Muskat," said the stranger with deceptive gentleness, "and this is my first 適切な時期 to 手渡す it over."

"Indeed!" replied the now 深く，強烈に 利益／興味d Edwin. "That is very pleasant of you, sir. I will be glad to receive your gift."

"I 心から 信用 and hope you 利益 from it." The 発言する／表明する of the stranger was still very gentle. "Here it is."

Wham!!!

Basil Williams had 孤立した half a pace as he spoke. The distance and direction of his 目的（とする） were calculated with loving fidelity. It was more than fifteen minutes before Edwin Muskat returned to a knowledge of things mundane. When he did the throbbing anguish of a 荒廃させるd proboscis made him wish, very heartily, that he could lapse into unconsciousness again.

But during that fifteen minutes things had been happening things that Edwin Muskat would have 嘆き悲しむd 深く，強烈に, but things which one いっそう少なく regenerate than he would have enjoyed immensely.

For a few 簡潔な／要約する seconds Mr. Muskat's six 同僚s 星／主役にするd uncomprehending at the 崩壊（する）d form on the pavement. For the moment they were, although on their feet, as stunned as Edwin Muskat. It was Mrs. Farley who first 回復するd from the trance. Through her dizzy brain arose to the surface the thought that the occasion 需要・要求するd 叫び声をあげるing. So she 叫び声をあげるd. Mrs. Farley had a good 叫び声をあげるing 発言する／表明する, and the sounds she emitted, 限定するd in the high-塀で囲むd canyon of the empty street, were of a good 500 parrot 力／強力にする.

Amy's 出資／貢献 was, "Oh! You—you—horrid brute!"

What was of more 利益／興味 to Basil Williams, however, was the "Infernal scoundrel!" from one member of the 委員会 as he flung himself on the 加害者 with 意図 to do grievous bodily 害（を与える）. Spurred on by his example, the other three 船d in, fortunately getting very much in one another's way.

Four very unathletic men, unpractised in street brawling would, in ordinary circumstances, have been small 半端物s against Basil Williams. But he had 公式文書，認めるd that the 人物／姿／数字 at the corner of Bourke Street was 耐えるing 負かす／撃墜する on the scene at 速度(を上げる） that 示唆するd both 青年, strength and endurance. It was for this 推論する／理由, and somewhat against his better feelings, that he was 強いるd to 取引，協定 速く, and in a 高度に unorthodox manner with the four old and unvalued friends of Tydvil Jones. He 増強するd his 攻撃するing 権利 and left 握りこぶしs with 膝 活動／戦闘 that would have 確実にするd his disqualification for life from any, ボクシング stadium. In as many seconds he had skittled his four 対抗者s across the pavement. Then he turned and 出発／死d—in haste.

There was good 原因（となる） for his haste.

Mrs. Farley's 声の 成果／努力s continued unabated and had drawn several more 人物／姿／数字s from Bourke Street, 同様に as two from Collins Street. Basil Williams's 疑惑 that the man on the corner was a plain-着せる／賦与するs constable was only too 井戸／弁護士席 grounded. Already he had covered half the distance and was a 明らかにする fifty yards behind when Basil's flight began, while his one-跡をつける mind made him 無視（する） 全く the shrieking woman and the sprawled group on the footpath to concentrate on the 追跡.

Basil Williams thought as 速く as he moved. As he met the two men running に向かって him from Collins Street he pulled up and panted. "Man 殺人d—hurry—I'm running for the police." He ducked on, and the two night 空き巣ねらいs 増加するd their pace in a lively curiosity to be の中で the first to 検査／視察する the 死体.

Luck he did not deserve saw Basil Williams 安全に across Collins Street, but here it 砂漠d him. Two 制服を着た men, attracted by Mrs. Farley's high C's, and who glimpsed the 飛行機で行くing 人物／姿／数字 from Collins Street, sprang into 活動／戦闘. They 一連の会議、交渉／完成するd the corner into Queen Street only a few yards ahead of the plain- 着せる／賦与するs man, and little more than twenty yards behind Basil Williams. One shouted a peremptory 命令（する） to 停止（させる）—a 命令（する） which the 逃亡者／はかないもの was in no mood to obey. Basil thought he was moving on 最高の，を越す gear at the moment, but he almost redoubled his pace when he heard behind him the vicious 報告（する）／憶測 of a revolver and instantaneously beside him, the more vicious pin-n-g of a 弾丸 striking the pavement.

His long 協会 with Flinders 小道／航路 had given Tydvil Jones an intimate knowledge of the いっそう少なく known 地理学 of the locality. All its 味方する 小道／航路s, dead ends, and bolt 穴を開けるs were （疑いを）晴らす in his mind; and 井戸／弁護士席 they served Basil Williams in his hour of tribulation. にもかかわらず, he swore fluently and wholeheartedly when he recognised that the knowledge of his pursuers was equal to his own.

By desperate and devious windings he finally reached Elizabeth Street, crossing in a flash under the nose of a tram, and 推定する／予想するing every moment to hear another 発射 from behind him, where he knew his pursuers now numbered eight or ten. The 危険 he had taken with the tram gave him a few yards extra 利ざや. He darted up Flinders 小道／航路 in the hope of reaching the 倉庫／問屋.

Then fell calamity.

Not more than twenty feet from the corner he 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金d 公正に／かなり into 上級の Constable O'Connor. The 承認 was 相互の. Basil Williams had a 分裂（する） second in which to draw up and 遂行する／発効させる a 戦術の 計画（する）. He slugged mightily with his left and kicked 同時に with a hearty 権利 foot. The two （機の）カム 負かす／撃墜する in a heap on the 狭くする footpath. 上級の Constable O'Connor reached out a purposeful 手渡す for the wriggling Basil Williams, who 敏速に bit it vigorously.

The constable spat out a three-word character sketch of Basil Williams that could not be printed even in these 自由主義の days.

Basil was on his feet before the last word was uttered, and, 目的（とする）ing a hearty kick at the ribs of the half risen O'Connor, sped on his way. But the game was nearly up, and so were O'Connor and the 残り／休憩（する） of the hard-bitten 乗組員 of pursuers. Basil Williams felt his 脚s were losing their spring while those of O'Connor at least were fresh, and were also spurred on with not unrighteous wrath.

As he swung into the Centreway with the 主要な hound not twenty feet behind him he gasped out an 控訴，上告 to Nicholas. As he did so he tripped and fell. The next instant his pursuers were 一連の会議、交渉／完成する the corner and on him.

Lying 直面する 負かす／撃墜する as he had fallen, he heard the chase stop beside him.

Then （機の）カム a 発言する／表明する—an astonished 発言する／表明する: "Cripes! This isn't the bloke we were after."

Enlightenment and 感謝 flashed into Tydvil's mind.

Not unkindly 手渡すs turned him 直面する up. He kept his 注目する，もくろむs の近くにd and assumed an 表現 that he hoped would 登録（する） 苦痛.

Then （機の）カム another and solicitous 発言する／表明する: "By Jove! It's Mr. Tydvil Jones. That swine must have knocked him out."

A strong arm went under his shoulder and raised him up. Tydvil's dazed 注目する，もくろむs looked up into the 直面する of 上級の Constable O'Connor.

"What happened, sir?" asked O'Connor.

Tydvil's pause before answering was deftly 長引かせるd. Then he gasped weakly, "I was just returning to my office when a tall man turned the corner. He struck me in the chest—I..."

Anxious 発言する／表明するs 削減（する） him short. "Which way did he go?"

"Straight on I think," replied Tydvil, still weakly, "at least, I suppose so."

The group of men looked from Tydvil along に向かって Collins Street. The Centreway was manifestly empty but for the group 一連の会議、交渉／完成する Tydvil, who was making shaken 試みる／企てるs to get on his feet. Three or four ran along to the 味方する 小道／航路 and 報告（する）／憶測d it empty.

"Got clean away!" snorted one of the 制服を着た men. "Wonder who he was?"

上級の Constable O'Connor, who had helped Tydvil to his feet, glared 一連の会議、交渉／完成する the group. "In 事例／患者 you'd like to know, it was that so-and-so, Basil Williams—and," he 追加するd, "he's done us again."

He turned again to Tydvil. "Do you think, sir, you could recognise that man again?"

Tydvil shook his 長，率いる doubtfully. "You see, constable," he said, "it was all so dreadfully sudden. I scarcely caught a glimpse of him. All I remember is that he was taller than I, and that he was wearing a dark 二塁打-breasted 控訴. Probably blue serge."

Tydvil, himself, was wearing a 選び出す／独身-breasted grey worsted, for which he inwardly and piously thanked his luck.

上級の Constable O'Connor, who was engaged in tying a handkerchief 一連の会議、交渉／完成する a bleeding 負傷させる on the 辛勝する／優位 of his palm, 表明するd sympathy for the shaking Mr. Jones had received, and 約束d that in the 近づく 未来 he would settle all 優れた accounts with Basil Williams. His 申し込む／申し出 to 補助装置 Mr. Jones as far as his office was 受託するd gratefully and courteously.

Beyond what the plain-着せる／賦与するs man could tell, that there had been the ジュース of a brawl in Queen Street, the 原因（となる） and extent of which he was unaware, 非，不，無 of the 追求するing group could 知らせる Mr. Jones of the earlier activities of the now 悪名高い Basil Williams.

Parting from O'Connor at the 倉庫／問屋, Tydvil rang for a taxi in which he reached home, he was glad to learn, before Amy. For 推論する／理由s 特に his own, Tydvil went to bed すぐに.

Next morning he 延期するd his breakfast while he searched two morning papers. Both gave lurid, but 変化させるd and not altogether 正確な accounts of the dastardly 強襲，強姦 on Mr. Edwin Muskat by a man who was undoubtedly, Basil Williams. Amy's 指名する was 目だつ の中で those 現在の. Neither paper referred to his own 事故.

By the time Amy arrived at the breakfast （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する, almost bursting with the story of her night's adventure, Tydvil was 用意が出来ている to 阻止する her narrative in the bud. He received her formal "Good morning, Tydvil dear," with an icy 星／主役にする. Then, in shocked surprise, he told her that her 指名する was blazoned in the papers in 関係 with some very disreputable brawl in which Edwin Muskat was 関心d, also.

"Of course, Amy, I acquit you of personal 非難する," he said coldly, "but I do think, considering our standing in the community, that you have been indiscreet, and that such a deplorable 協会 could have been 避けるd."

Amy almost choked under the attack. "Don't you understand, Tydvil, that the 強襲，強姦 on Edwin Muskat was 臆病な／卑劣な and utterly unprovoked," she 抗議するd.

"Amy," he asked in a 苦痛d 発言する／表明する, "do you mean to tell me that a perfect stranger walked up to Edwin Muskat and struck him violently in the 直面する, and without 誘発?"

"That's just what happened, Tydvil," she snapped.

Tydvil's lips assumed a 厳しい judicial line as he looked coldly at his wife. "Of course, Amy, I must 受託する your explanation. I hope other people will be as generous to you."

"But..." He waved aside her その上の explanation with an airy gesture.

"I am very much afraid, my dear, you will find that most people will assume that Edwin Muskat, or someone on the scene, must have given some 原因（となる） for offence. Men do not commit such 強襲，強姦s as the whim of a moment." He stood up and walked to the door. "I would rather not discuss the 事柄 その上の," he said, turning 一連の会議、交渉／完成する, "but you may rely upon me to support your 見解／翻訳／版 of the fracas loyally."

He 出発／死d as one who has sacrificed the 原則s of a lifetime to save the honour of his house. Amy 星／主役にするd after him, hot under the 不正 of his aspersions and innuendoes, but feeling helpless to 報復する. By some unaccountable means, Tydvil had 奪うd her of her prerogative of rebuke. She recognised also, that, for the second time, he had 敗北・負かすd her in a breakfast-戦う／戦い.

CHAPTER XXVI

That morning Geraldine Brand entered the portals of C. B. & D. a very pre-占領するd young woman. She had left her home somewhat troubled that the 事例／患者 of Cranston v. Cranston, Brewer Co-回答者／被告, had been 名簿（に載せる）／表（にあげる）d for 審理，公聴会 sooner than she or Billy had 心配するd. Though she was 関心d more with the possible unpleasant publicity than with the 結果 of the 事例／患者.

Billy, however, was driven 完全に into the background of her thoughts when, in the train on her 旅行 to the city, she read an account of Basil Williams's activities of the previous evening. Her's was a morning paper that Tydvil had not seen. In 新規加入 to the story of the dastardly 強襲，強姦 on Mr. Edwin Muskat, whose nose was, fortunately, not broken, but very painfully 負傷させるd; her paper also told of a 臆病な／卑劣な attack on Mr. Tydvil Jones, the 井戸／弁護士席 known merchant and philanthropist.

Geraldine's 長，率いる was buzzing with mixed surmises and preposterous ideas as she walked through the 倉庫／問屋. She was too 吸収するd to notice her surroundings until, passing through the railed enclosure, she 設立する the door of the office of the 井戸／弁護士席 known merchant and philanthropist の近くにd. This was unusual, because by her orders to the office cleaners it, and the windows, were always left open until her arrival.

She opened the door, took one step across the threshold and stood motionless, 匂いをかぐing fastidiously at a の近くに atmosphere that was saturated with the odour of stale cigar smoke. As she 匂いをかぐd, her 注目する，もくろむs took in every 詳細（に述べる） of untidiness that denoted the room had been untouched by the cleaner. The char-lady, she learned later in the day, was 苦しむing from influenza.

速く she crossed the 床に打ち倒す, let up the blind and raised the 激しい window; not until she had 除去するd her hat and tidied her hair did she make a closer and methodical 調査する of the room. Never did Sherlock Holmes 診察する cigar ash, that liberally ぱらぱら雨d the carpet, so scrupulously as did Geraldine Brand. The carpet also 産する／生じるd two gorgeous cigar 禁止（する）d, and the waste-paper basket two more. For some moments she 診察するd from a respectful distance one cigar butt in the grate and three in the fender. These, presently, she placed with 気が進まない fingers into an envelope which she 調印（する）d, and then, still more reluctantly, placed in her handbag.

Two tumblers beside the water 瓶／封じ込める on the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する next attracted her attention. Geraldine raised them to her nose and 匂いをかぐd each one. Then she said aloud, "井戸／弁護士席! I'm blessed!" Since the drains of fluid in the tumblers smelt 堅固に of whisky it was only 論理（学）の to assume that the tumblers had been filled and had been emptied. There was no 証拠 to 示唆する they had been emptied on the 床に打ち倒す.

Then for nearly fifteen minutes Geraldine worked vigorously to obliterate all traces of 訴訟／進行 foreign to the known abstemious habits of Mr. Tydvil Jones. By the time she had finished and busied herself with her mail, the room and the atmosphere were 回復するd to their normal ascetic 潔白.

But Geraldine's mind, as her 手渡すs worked 速く over the correspondence of C. B. & D., was anything but normal. She had 安全な・保証するd what she believed to be presumptive 証拠 that the impeccable Tydvil Jones not only smoked, but drank. Therefore, 明白に, Tyddie was a 詐欺. But these were minor 事柄s. Her mental perturbation was 反映するd in the viciousness with which she 削除するd the envelopes as she tried to arrive at the 身元 of Tyddie's drinking and smoking companion. He may have smoked four cigars, but, even he, was ありそうもない to have used two tumblers for his potations.

But the major problem was the inexplicable 関係 between Tyddie and the movements of Basil Williams. It might have been coincidence that 誘発するd Basil Williams to take Tyddie's hat from the Carlton—if he did take it, which Geraldine very much 疑問d. But, thought Geraldine, what 肉親，親類d of coincidence was it that led Basil Williams, after 強襲，強姦ing Edwin Muskat in Queen Street, to commit another 強襲，強姦 on Tydvil Jones の近くに to his own 倉庫／問屋? Summed up, that would make two 高度に improbable coincidences. In trying to fit together the pieces of the puzzle, Geraldine was inclining to the 見解（をとる） that Basil Williams was Tyddie's 非公式の guest.

What then?

After all, Tyddie's morals were not her 事件／事情／状勢, she 反映するd. Still, if Williams were Tyddie's secret partner in sin, why should he knock Tyddie out? As a 人物／姿／数字 of rectitude, Tyddie was tottering on his pedestal. But Geraldine decided that her 発見s were part of her 職業 as his 長官, and therefore sacrosanct, even from Billy. No! Decidedly, she could not tell Billy either of her 発見s or her 結論s—not yet, at any 率.

So, when that 著名な warehouseman and 井戸／弁護士席 known philanthropist, Tydvil Jones, 微風d into his office with a cheerful "Good morning, 行方不明になる Brand," that 怪しげな young woman, while 答える／応じるing politely, 検査／視察するd her 雇用者 with very 批判的な 注目する，もくろむs. Certainly, she thought, Tyddie did not look like a reprobate, but there was something about him that made him different from the Tyddie of but a few weeks gone.

She 星／主役にするd reflectively at the straight 支援する as he hung up his hat, and through her 攻撃するs she took him in as he seated himself on the opposite 味方する of the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する. Then sudden enlightenment （機の）カム to her. The new Tyddie radiated that same something of 信用／信任 and experience that was part of Billy Brewer's charm. So had Billy, looked when she knew he had been in mischief, and had enjoyed it. She recognised the symptoms with that infallible certainty of intuition with which Providence has endowed woman for the better ordering of man.

As Tydvil settled himself, she looked up and said with 墓／厳粛／彫る／重大な 関心, "Oh! Mr. Jones, I do hope you are 非，不，無 the worse for that disagreeable experience of last night."

Tydvil, who, knowing two papers had overlooked his 株 in the Basil Williams episode, 隠すd his surprise admirably. But not admirably enough to escape the 安定した grey 注目する，もくろむs across the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する. 速く recognising her knowledge and its probable source, he replied, "It was really nothing to make a fuss about, 行方不明になる Brand. The papers have 誇張するd a trifling 出来事/事件. A man, who was probably intoxicated, ran into me and knocked me 負かす／撃墜する. I think the poor creature was unaware that he struck me."

"Fibber!" breathed Geraldine silently to her blotting pad. Then, aloud, "But is it not strange that it was that awful man Williams who 強襲，強姦d you?"

"Williams?" The 熟考する／考慮するd incomprehension was too 井戸／弁護士席 done.

"Yes, Williams. The same man who took your hat from the Carlton that night. The brute that the police are 追跡（する）ing for." The innocent looking 注目する，もくろむs were 十分な of sympathy that she did not feel.

"Really? Was it the same man? I had almost forgotten him." Tydvil's 発言する／表明する 表明するd 穏やかな 利益／興味 only.

"Liar!" retorted Geraldine in her heart. But there was no trace of her unbelief in her 発言する／表明する as she went on. "It seemed to me such a strange coincidence that on two occasions your 指名する, of all people's, should be associated, even remotely, with that of such an awful creature."

Tydvil took the letters she passed across to him, and as he 広げるd the first, he shook his 長，率いる and smiled gently. "Ah! My dear 行方不明になる Brand, we do not know enough about that poor fellow to 裁判官 him あわてて." The old sanctimonious Tydvil was speaking. "Perhaps if we knew the truth we would find he was more sinned against than sinning. Let us be charitable."

"Hypocrite!" hissed Geraldine to her inner self. Then, with a 投げ上げる／ボディチェックする of the 向こうずねing 長，率いる, she （機の）カム 支援する, "井戸／弁護士席, in that 事例／患者, all I can say is, that if half what the papers say about him is true, he must be frightfully sinned against."

Tydvil looked at her reflectively, and 発言／述べるd, "In considering such 事例／患者s, 行方不明になる Brand, I always say to myself, 'There, but for the Grace of God, goes Tydvil Jones!'" He bent over his letter with a pencil in his 手渡す.

For days past Geraldine had been 製造業の a 爆弾 for Tyddie's 単独の 利益. Now she landed it on the bent 長，率いる, where it 爆発するd. "I feel 堅固に, Mr. Jones, because I can't help thinking that, somehow, this man Williams was 責任がある the スキャンダル in St. Kilda for which Mr. Brewer was 非難するd."

Tydvil's 長，率いる never moved, but the pencil dropped from his 権利 手渡す and rolled off the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する to the 床に打ち倒す. For a second the fingers of the left 手渡す の近くにd on the letter he was 持つ／拘留するing with a 圧力 that almost tore one corner of it away. Had Geraldine's gaze not been so 激しい she might have thought that he was too 意図 on his letter to hear her. But Geraldine saw and Geraldine knew, and her heart sang carols.

There was a long pause before Mr. Jones bent to retrieve his lost pencil. When he sat up again, his 直面する was わずかに 紅潮／摘発するd, as though from the exertion of stooping. He said, looking innocently across at her, "I beg your 容赦, 行方不明になる Brand, but I'm afraid I was not listening to what you said."

行方不明になる Brand repeated her words slowly and distinctly, and 追加するd, "And, of course, you and I know that Mr. Brewer could not have been 伴う／関わるd in that disgraceful 事件／事情／状勢."

Tydvil's 注目する，もくろむs were disarmingly frank. He smiled with kindly indulgence. "Of course we know it. I'm afraid you worry too much about that rather unfortunate 事件／事情／状勢." He laughed lightly, and went on, "It is natural that our Mr. Billy ぼんやり現れるs so large just now with you—but a little out of 割合."

The paternal and almost condescending トン of his 発言する／表明する so exasperated Geraldine, that her 手渡すs itched to fling everything movable on the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する at the complacent 長，率いる.

"I may be 権利," she 固執するd. "In any 事例／患者, I think it would be foul of one man to let another 苦しむ for his misdeeds. That Williams man is just the sort to do it, I think."

"It would be very shocking," commented Mr. Jones unctuously. Then he 終結させるd the discussion by 令状ing a few words on the letter on his blotting pad and busying himself with the next.

That morning as Geraldine left his room, Tydvil watched the disappearing 人物／姿／数字 with 思索的な 注目する，もくろむs. He was wondering very profoundly, and somewhat profanely, by what 過程 of feminine devilry her mind had come to associate Williams with the St. Kilda 事件／事情／状勢. There was, too, in his thoughts, an unselfish envy, of Billy for the 会社／堅い and pugnacious 忠義 of Geraldine's love.

At her own desk, the 支配する of his 憶測s was thinking things about her 雇用者 that would have startled Tydvil. She was so 深い in thought that she did not notice that someone was standing beside her until a soft but 控訴，上告ing little cough drew her attention. Geraldine looked up to see regarding her, with luminous 注目する，もくろむs alight with amusement, the most handsome and distinguished looking man she had ever seen.

Her swift return from abstraction and the 予期しない presence of the stranger drew from Geraldine a startled little "Oh!"

The smile spread from his 注目する，もくろむs to his lips. "I am sorry. I'm afraid I surprised you." There was courteous 関心 in the 発言する／表明する.

"I—I..." Geraldine floundered and blushed. She would have been far more embarrassed had she known that the smiling stranger had read her thoughts on Tydvil as distinctly as though they had been spoken.

"Could I see Mr. Jones, please?" The 静かな 発言する／表明する put her at her 緩和する again.

"Have you an 任命?" asked Geraldine.

"No," he shook his 長，率いる. "But I think Mr. Jones will see me. My 指名する is Nicholas 上級の."

That 指名する, which had become known far and wide, brought another embarrassed "Oh!" from Geraldine. She fumbled for her 拡張 phone and gasped "Mr. Nicholas 上級の," then, still flustered, "Yes, of course, Mr. 上級の, Mr. Jones will see you at once."

Mr. 上級の 屈服するd his thanks to Geraldine as kings 屈服する to their feminine peers, and passed into Tydvil's room. As the door の近くにd behind him she drew a 深い breath, and murmured in an awe- stricken 発言する／表明する, "Jerusalem! What a man! What a MAN!"

In Tydvil's sanctum, their greetings 交流d, Nicholas sat opposite his friend, whom he regarded with such evident amusement that Tydvil asked to 株 the jest.

"I 疑問," replied Nicholas, "if you will find it as entertaining as I do." He nodded his 長，率いる in the direction of the outer office, and went on, "I was smiling about that redheaded Cerberus of yours. You will remember, Tydvil, that I 警告するd you she was dangerous."

Tydvil nodded thoughtfully. "She has me a bit worried, Nicholas."

"She will have you much more worried unless you are careful," Mr. 上級の replied thoughtfully.

Tydvil recounted his morning's conversation with Geraldine and her unsettling suggestion of Basil Williams's 関係 with the Brewer スキャンダル. "Now how on earth," he asked in an aggrieved 発言する／表明する, "could she have come at that idea?"

"My dear Tydvil," 上級の grinned, "you impinge on 事柄s beyond our ken. I have never been able to fathom the workings of a woman's mind. Indeed, I 疑問 if Providence has been any more successful than I." He paused, and went on, "Would you like to know just what she was turning over under that red thatch as I （機の）カム in?"

"I'd best know as much as possible," Tydvil muttered.

"井戸／弁護士席," 報告（する）／憶測d Nicholas, "I was beside her for several minutes before I made her aware of my presence. During that time she was busy 説得するing herself that it was not crazy to imagine Basil Williams and Tydvil Jones 存在 one and the same person, but she was also recognising the sheer impossibility of enunciating such a thing, let alone of 証明するing it."

"Hell's bells!" ejaculated the astonished Tydvil.

"Aye!" Nicholas laughed, "and they'll （犯罪の）一味 a peal for Tydvil Jones if that damsel can manage it."

"She's a witch," growled Tydvil.

"No! No, my friend!" Nicholas was still chuckling. "Just a woman—a clever woman. You see how her mind has sliced clean through all 起こりそうにない事s and 削減（する） straight into the truth, where a man's would have worked 一連の会議、交渉／完成する and never come 近づく it."

"And to think," Tydvil 星／主役にするd blankly at the 塀で囲む over Nicholas's 長，率いる, "that young baggage sat where you are sitting. She looked at me with those innocent grey, 注目する，もくろむs. She took all my 口述—and all the time she was thinking that—that!" His 握りこぶし （機の）カム 負かす／撃墜する hard on the 辛勝する／優位 of his （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する. "'Pon my word! Nicholas, it's enough to destroy one's 約束 in women."

"When you've had as much to do with them as I have," Nicholas smiled, "you will be far いっそう少なく credulous and far more 用心深い."

"By Jove!" Tydvil's 発言する／表明する was anxious. "She'll tell Brewer."

"You don't know that girl, Tydvil," Nicholas 安心させるd him. "Neither her 良心 nor her 必須の 忠義 will 許す her to discuss your 事件／事情／状勢s with him."

"What am I to do?" Tydvil 控訴，上告d.

"Sit tight," Nicholas advised. "Let her guess what she likes. She is too clever to put her 疑惑s into words—unless...!" He paused.

"Unless what?"

"At an ありそうもない juncture where she needs to defend Brewer—and I can guard against that," Nicholas said.

"いつかs I think the world would be better without them," Tydvil 反映するd.

"Perhaps," 譲歩するd Nicholas, "but very, very dull."

"Oh! That reminds me—it was what I 手配中の，お尋ね者 to see you about. I would like you to keep a の近くに watch on Brewer this afternoon," Tydvil said.

Nicholas raised an interrogative brow.

"One William Brewer," Tydvil grinned, "has an 任命 in the Botanic Gardens at three o'clock this afternoon, and he does not wish to 危険 any 侵入占拠 of the other."

Nicholas nodded. "And how goes the romance? If the question is permitted."

"We call each other Amy and William."

"Not so bad," Nicholas nodded with 利益／興味.

"And I have raised her 手渡す to my lips without rebuke," Tydvil 追加するd.

"Better still."

"井戸／弁護士席," Tydvil spoke judicially, "I 屈服する to your riper experience, but I should have put it 'Not so good' and, 'Worse still'."

"One thousand 続けざまに猛撃するs for the Moral Uplift Society," 誘発するd Mr. 上級の.

"Yes,"—Tydvil's 発言する／表明する grew hard—"One thousand 続けざまに猛撃するs!"

"And that 演説（する）／住所 of thanks the society gave you." Nicholas turned the knife in the 負傷させる.

Tydvil's jaw 始める，決める harder. "See here, Nicholas! I don't want to be greedy. Would you like to 行為／法令／行動する as locum tenens for me this afternoon?"

Nicholas's 注目する，もくろむs danced. "Get thee behind me, Tydvil!" he replied with mock severity. "No, the 計画（する） is all your own and all that goes with it."

"It's a queer experience," Tydvil said thoughtfully, "to find Amy pleasant and やめる charming in her manner. I have heard that she has a 失望させるd life because of a husband who does not understand her. She tells me she needs sympathy and 心にいだくing to 表明する herself fully. It appears that Mr. Jones is out of harmony with her higher life."

"Umph!" commented Nicholas. "My own 限られた／立憲的な but 十分な experience 示唆するs that she does not need extraneous 援助（する）s to help her to 表明する herself fully."

"Same thing occurred to me," agreed Tydvil. "If I've only heard her on second gear, I hope I'm not about when she is going flat out."

"It all seems very familiar to me," Nicholas said reminiscently. "Let me see! That bit about the need of sympathy and 心にいだくing was not new when Venus fed it to 火星—poor chap! I was at Olympus for a week-end when that スキャンダル broke. Thought it pretty poor sportsmanship of Vulcan making the 事件／事情／状勢 public. We went along to a cocktail party with Bacchus afterwards. Juno was there and 非難するd 火星 for everything."

"Seems to me they are not very 初めの then," Tydvil said.

"No need—not the slightest. They know jolly 井戸／弁護士席 that a man will believe anything they tell him. Men ask for it—and they get it." Nicholas spoke a little resentfully.

There was a pause that was broken by Tydvil. "Tell me, Nicholas, are you worried about anything?"

"Nothing that can be helped, I'm afraid," Nicholas 認める.

"Anything I can do?" Tydvil asked solicitously. Nicholas shook his 長，率いる. "Nothing—the truth is that things are in a far worse mess here than I 心配するd."

"元気づける up!" Tydvil smiled. "They've been bad before, and mended."

"Never like this," Nicholas answered ruefully. "And the worst of it is it is my own fault for 欠如（する） of foresight. Serves me 権利 for listening to Judas Iscariot."

"May I hear..." Tydvil hesitated.

"Of course." Nicholas smiled. "No 推論する／理由 why you should not. It began いっそう少なく than a century ago only. Our 移民／移住 department noticed a 拒絶する／低下する in 人物／姿／数字s. They 報告（する）／憶測d it was 予定 to 際立った mitigation of the old 宗教的な animosities, and the growth of 感情 against war—both serious factors from our point of 見解（をとる）."

"They would be," commented Tydvil.

"井戸／弁護士席, I 任命するd a 王室の （売買）手数料，委託（する）／委員会／権限 to enquire. But you know what 王室の （売買）手数料，委託（する）／委員会／権限s are. They sent in a 報告（する）／憶測 of one hundred and thirty-five thousand 容積／容量s. The only value it had was a 罰 to 王室の Commissioners from earth. I made them read it. But Judas Iscariot, who was chairman, sent in a 少数，小数派 報告（する）／憶測 on one sheet of foolscap. I read it, and that is where I made the 失敗."

"I shouldn't think one sheet of foolscap could 申し込む／申し出 more than one hundred and thirty-five thousand 容積／容量s 報告（する）／憶測," commented Tydvil.

"You don't know Judas Iscariot," answered Nicholas grimly. "Mind you, it was a magnificent piece of 建設的な hellishness. I 収容する／認める that. It was such a 完全に damnable idea, that I 受託するd it without 重さを計るing the consequence to ourselves. It backfired."

"It must have been a 汚い piece of work," Tydvil said sympathetically.

"It was," Nicholas continued. "He planned nothing いっそう少なく than a second 広大な／多数の／重要な betrayal. In his preamble he 強調d the necessity for a doctrine that would not only turn race against race and nation against nation, but one which would also create internecine 争い and inflame fratricidal 憎悪."

"A pretty doctrine," commented Tydvil dryly.

"There was more in it than that. The creed had to be, 明らかに, simple to gull fools and superficially 有益な to blind wiser men. 目的（とする）d at the 破壊 of 宗教, it had to 勝利，勝つ the support of churchmen—or some of them. But it had to be strong enough to 難破させる civilisation in a tempest of 流血／虐殺."

"Pleasant mind your friend Judas must have." Tydvil was profoundly 利益／興味d.

"Yes," Nicholas 認める, "and he built better than he knew. In half a dozen lines below the preamble, he 始める，決める out the doctrine of 共産主義. And I—may I be 容赦d for it—let him do it."

"So that is how it began." Tydvil was awestricken.

"That is how it began," Nicholas echoed. "Judas （人命などを）奪う，主張するd that it needed his personal attention for propagation, so I let him loose on earth. He took the 指名する—let me see—the 指名する..." He drew his master card from his pocket. "Yes, that's it—the 指名する he took was Karl Marx."

"What! Karl Marx was..." gasped Tydvil.

Nicholas nodded. "Judas Iscariot 非，不，無 other. As we 推定する／予想するd, the creed spread like a 病気. Look at the 明言する／公表する of the world today because of it. And this is only the beginning."

"But," Tydvil was puzzled, "isn't that what Judas and you planned."

"True," Nicholas sighed, "but we did not 予知する the 影響s on our own Empire. For years now eighty per cent of our new 全住民 has been 共産主義者s, and they are keeping my dominions in a 明言する／公表する of 騒動. We are never 正確に／まさに 平和的な, but our gentlemen have always 観察するd 確かな decencies. These fellows don't recognise any, and are 需要・要求するing a 共和国 not that they have any chance of getting it."

Tydvil laughed.

"Nothing to laugh at," said Nicholas a little sourly.

"許す me," Tydvil said contritely, "I was 単に thinking there was something of poetic 司法（官） in the reaction."

"Nothing poetic in it, believe me," growled Nicholas. "You see, we have a very 大部分は 保守的な 全住民—the fox 追跡（する）ing and old port type; to say nothing of a very populous 植民地 of 王族s. You cannot 推定する／予想する gentlemen to 許容する these fellows. They don't either," he 追加するd.

"Ructions?" asked Tydvil, still amused.

"There are, and believe me, civil war in Hell is no joke." Nicholas spoke as one with a 本物の grievance.

"Hard luck." Tydvil felt that his friend deserved sympathy;

"The trouble is, too, that my people are inclined to 非難する me, and I have to recognise they have 原因（となる） for their loss of 信用／信任." Nicholas spoke glumly. "Would you believe it! Just before I left home some new arrival organised a sit-負かす／撃墜する strike."

"Characteristic," Tydvil 観察するd.

Nicholas nodded. "But I soon settled that. I sent a five million volt 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 through every 解雇する／砲火／射撃-妨げる／法廷，弁護士業 in Hell, and there will never be another sit-負かす／撃墜する strike at any 率—for obvious 推論する／理由s."

"There does not seem to be any 治療（薬） for your trouble," Tydvil said thoughtfully.

"There is," replied Nicholas decisively, "and I am going to 施行する it the moment I return home. You see, Tydvil, a 共産主義者 is not 価値（がある） damning even, and I am not going to have them cluttering up Hell and creating a nuisance. Not only that, but they are going to 苦しむ the 罰 they deserve—and so is Judas Iscariot. He has it coming to him."

"Is this going to be poetic 司法（官）?" Tydvil asked, laughing.

"It is," Nicholas 答える／応じるd. "I am creating a new Dominion to which every 共産主義者 will be 輸送（する）d. In it the 共産主義者s will live with all their 共産主義者 doctrines rigidly 施行するd— and if that will not be a merry Hell, my 指名する is not Nicholas 上級の."

"And Judas Iscariot?" asked Tydvil curiously.

"He will be my Viceroy and will 治める the doctrines he created. Don't think I am vindictive, my friend. It is my 義務 to 治める impartial 司法（官） in my realms, and the fact that Judas is an old and valued friend is no 推論する／理由 for mitigation of his 罰. Eternity with 共産主義 is the worst I can think of."

It was Tydvil who broke the silence in which Nicholas sat brooding. "Look, Nicholas," he enquired hesitantly, "would there be any 反対 to my repeating what you have told me?"

Nicholas （機の）カム out of his reverie. "No—非，不，無," he said after a moment's thought. "But it will be too late to do any good. That infernal doctrine of Iscariot's has too strong a 持つ／拘留する. But tell the story if you like."

"Tell me," asked Tydvil, "are Parlour Pinks 含むd with the 共産主義者s?"

An 表現 of disgust （機の）カム into Nicholas's 注目する，もくろむs. He waved his 手渡す curtly. "I'm not 利益／興味d," he said すぐに. "A Parlour Pink is a lower creature than a 共産主義者."

CHAPTER XXVII

Tydvil had 伸び（る）d his heart's 願望（する） with Edwin Muskat's nose, but he had to recognise that his adventure had not 改善するd the standing of Basil Williams in the community. In 報告（する）／憶測ing the story the morning papers 全員一致で 需要・要求するd the 鎮圧 of the now 悪名高い roysterer. Their 批評 of the police for another 失敗 to lay their 手渡すs on him stirred Russell Street to its depths. Several scalp 追跡（する）ing members of the 対立 ragged the 長，指導者 長官 in the 法律を制定する 議会 on the way in which his department was mismanaged. Next morning he had a heart to heart talk with the Commissioner of Police. The Commissioner left the 大臣の presence with thoughts as red as his の近くに shaven cheeks.

That heart to heart talk, as it filtered 負かす／撃墜する to the lower 階級s of the 主要都市の Police 軍隊, lost nothing of its scathing satire. Each subordinate as he received it from his 即座の 長，指導者 追加するd to and embroidered it as an 出口 for his own bruised amour propre. By the time it reached the 階級 and とじ込み／提出する, both 制服を着た and plain-着せる／賦与するd, it had assumed the 割合s of a ハリケーン of vituperative malediction.

Boiled 負かす／撃墜する, however, it 量d to only three words: "Get Basil Williams!"

All this was 報告（する）／憶測d faithfully to Tydvil by an amused Nicholas, who pointed out that he thought that there was not 十分な room in the 連邦／共和国 of Australia for both the Commissioner and Basil Williams. "You know, Tydvil," he 追加するd, "giving good advice is not my forte, though I indulge in it more often than churchmen would 許す. Still, I do think you would be wise to 可決する・採択する some いっそう少なく 目だつ individuality. I'll 収容する／認める, of course, that Basil Williams becomes an 増加するing source of high 企業, but you will always be liable to have your amusements curtailed by a brawl. Besides, there is always the 危険 of a 弾丸."

A stubborn 表現 （機の）カム into Tydvil's 注目する，もくろむs. "Dash it all, Nicholas," he exclaimed, "why should I be driven off the streets? I like Basil Williams. He has some jolly good friends, too. I'd lose them all as anyone else."

A slow smile spread from Nicholas's clean-削減（する） lips. "Cherchez la femme," he murmured.

"Nothing of the 肉親，親類d, you wicked old ruffian," Tydvil laughed. "Except for his relation with the police, Basil Williams is eminently respectable."

"You may not be aware of it, Tydvil, but that festive young woman 指名するd Elsie, who introduced you to the night life of the city, would be very sorry, to hear that 主張."

Tydvil looked up はっきりと. "Nonsense!" he said. "She's やめる a nice girl."

"Much more so than some of her more 従来の sisters," Nicholas agreed. "But at the 現在の moment the police are using her as bait for you, my boy."

Tydvil 表明するd an opinion about the police ーに関して／ーの点でs that he would not have dreamed of using a few weeks earlier. They were 熟した, fruity and concise. He was sitting at his （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する and, cupping his 直面する in his 手渡すs, he 星／主役にするd at the 塀で囲む opposite, his brow wrinkled in concentrated thought.

Nicholas from his armchair sat watching him. Presently the smile he wore broke into a hearty laugh. "Magnificent, Tydvil! Magnificent! You're a credit to me."

The words brought Tydvil 築く. "You...?" He broke off, 星／主役にするing at Nicholas.

"Understand? Yes!" Nicholas was still laughing. "I was wondering if you could find a way out."

"Did I really think of that myself, Nicholas," he asked, "without your 誘発するing?"

"Word of honour, yes," Nicholas replied. "I'm proud of you, Tydvil."

"But can it be done?" Mr. Jones asked anxiously.

"It can be, and will be," Nicholas 保証するd him. "How many will you want?"

"I think a dozen would be enough," said Tydvil after a moment's thought.

"Twenty if you like," Nicholas 約束d.

"Keep them in reserve. If I need more than a dozen I'll call for them."

"Are you going to be in it yourself?" enquired Nicholas.

Tydvil nodded. "The first I think. It should be perfectly 安全な. You can send the others along at about three-minute intervals."

"Good," Nicholas replied, "depend on me."

Tydvil ちらりと見ることd at the clock on his desk. "Nine fifteen," he said. "I'll make straight for the Casino Club. Is Elsie there?" he paused to ask.

"推定する／予想するing you."

"権利!" Tydvil 答える／応じるd briskly as he stood up. "Keep them away from me till I get there. They can 選ぶ me up at the Casino."

Two minutes later, Basil Williams, with his hat at its usual insolent angle, was striding along Swanston Street. He had the 耐えるing of a man who was going places to do things.

At nine forty-five all was 静かな at the Russell Street Police 駅／配置する. A few minutes earlier 視察官 Kane had dropped in. 視察官 Kane was a sore man. He knew Basil Williams only by 指名する, but there was no man in the city whom he disliked more. 視察官 Kane had thirty years of blameless service behind him, and Basil Williams had clouded its brightness. His 感情s に向かって Basil Williams at the moment were 前向きに／確かに ferocious, but as he discussed that dissolute ruffian with the 上級の constable on 義務 his 発言する／表明する and 耐えるing were coldly 公式の／役人.

The watch-house at Russell Street can hardly be 述べるd as cosy. Those of my readers who have been 逮捕（する）d will remember that after staggering up the steps into a cheerless vestibule, they turned 負かす／撃墜する a 回廊（地帯） to the left, to arrive before the 反対する of an office at its end. If it was not their first 外見 they, of course, received a more or いっそう少なく cordial 歓迎会 from behind the 反対する, where a 直面する was never forgotten.

The furnishing of the 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 room is neither lavish nor tasteful. Besides the 反対する there is one large plain 取引，協定 （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する, and one 冷淡な 議長，司会を務める. On the 塀で囲む opposite the door is a clock. On the 反対する is a telephone, a type-writer, and the 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 調書をとる／予約する. The 塀で囲む on the 権利 as you 直面する the 反対する is hidden by 棚上げにするs that 持つ／拘留する a large library of photograph albums. The department makes a hobby of 保存するing the portraits of all its 訪問者s. They are kindly folk. Fortunately, one is not 拘留するd there long before 存在 行為／行うd to the more homely 慰安 of the 独房s.

The visit of 視察官 Kane was by no means usual. Of the two 上級のs on 義務, one was wondering what the heck he was snooping 一連の会議、交渉／完成する for, and the other was wishing to heck he would （疑いを）晴らす out. He sat on the corner of the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する whence he had an 連続する 見解（をとる） 負かす／撃墜する the 回廊（地帯） of approach. His 面 was sombre and his speech matched his 面.

"You both should be proud, as I am," Kane was 説 to an inwardly ガス／煙ing audience of two, "to belong to an organisation which 許すs a ありふれた drunk and disorderly to walk out of his 独房, to paint the town red, and to make monkeys of the whole 軍隊."

"I was not on 義務 when he escaped," 抗議するd one exasperated subordinate.

The 発言する／表明する went on without 注意するing the interruption. "And the newspapers! How they flatter us! How they enjoy Mr. Basil Williams! I don't know whether we are more 深く，強烈に indebted to them or they to us."

There （機の）カム the sound of scuffling feet and angry 発言する／表明するs from the unseen vestibule. As the sound was normal 非，不，無 of the three took any notice of it.

"But perhaps we both should regard your Mr. Basil Williams as our benefactor. Should you ever see him again..."

The moody monologue was broken by a startled exclamation from one of the receiving officers.

"宗教上の smoke! It's him!"

As he spoke there was propelled into the room, before a large plain-着せる／賦与するs man, a writhing, dishevelled and 抗議するing 人物／姿／数字. At the sight of him the 注目する，もくろむs of the 上級の constable lit with a savage welcome.

"Basil Williams!" he almost shouted. Then, to the プロペラ, "Where did you 選ぶ him up?"

"負かす／撃墜する at the Casino Club with that red-長，率いるd tabby, Elsie Wilson—knew he'd come 支援する there," 答える／応じるd the 後見人 of the 捕虜 triumphantly.

"I 主張する on knowing the meaning of this 乱暴／暴力を加える?" 需要・要求するd the 逮捕（する）. "I 抗議する..."

"削減（する） that fooling out, Williams," snapped the 上級の constable. Then, over his shoulder to Kane, he 追加するd, "This is Williams, sir."

"How dare you say my 指名する's Williams," barked the indignant 捕虜. "My 指名する is 示す Harding."

視察官 Kane rose from his seat on the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する and, leaning on the 反対する, 検査／視察するd the 囚人 with 冷淡な satisfaction. "So, you're not Mr. Williams, you're Mr. 示す Harding."

"Yes!" 主張するd the 囚人 furiously, "and who the (censored) are you?—you bladder-長，率いるd bun-直面するd son of a gun!"

Kane 無視（する）d the personality and the question, and turned to the 上級の. "やめる sure?"

"I could 選ぶ him out, and 断言する to him from ten thousand," 主張するd the 上級の.

"So could I, sir," 主張するd his 同僚. "Why, he's wearing the same 着せる／賦与するs!"

"I tell you my 指名する's Harding!" shouted the 捕虜. "I 抗議する. I 需要・要求する to see a lawyer. You 厚い 長，率いるs! How dare you 逮捕（する） me, you 失敗ing ギャング（団） of 二塁打-ended 粗野な人間s?"

"Such language, sir," put in the 上級の. "Last time he was here he said I was the last of a long line of bachelors."

"Indeed!" commented 視察官 Kane, with 利益／興味. "I wonder how he 設立する that out. Still," he turned to the 囚人, "I think it only fair to advise you that the （法廷の）裁判 will not take a lenient 見解（をとる） of your reflections on either my 家系, which, I 保証する you, are baseless, or on that of the 上級の constable on which I have no （警察などへの）密告，告訴（状）."

"Oh, shut your 長，率いる and tell me why I am 逮捕（する）d!"

Kane leaned over the 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 調書をとる／予約する. "井戸／弁護士席," he smiled, "Mr. Williams, for a start there are 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金s here of drunk and disorderly, 強襲，強姦ing six constables, 損失ing three uniforms, bad language, 侮辱ing behaviour, absconding from 保護／拘留, destroying 政府 所有物／資産／財産." He turned over a page or two. "Here is another drunk and disorderly, 侮辱ing behaviour..."

"You're talking 絶対の rot!" interrupted the 捕虜. "I tell you I only landed here from Adelaide this morning. I've never been in Melbourne before in my life."

"Dear me!" 答える／応じるd Kane tartly. "No 疑問 the （法廷の）裁判 will be 利益／興味d to hear that tomo—."

The word was snapped off on his lips, and 視察官 Kane stood glaring at the doorway. There, でっちあげる，人を罪に陥れるd, as a picture, stood a large 制服を着た man 持つ／拘留するing in check, with some difficulty, an exact replica of Mr. 示す Harding.

Taking the 星／主役にするing silence of the group at the 反対する for delight too 深い for words, the constable 発表するd proudly, "I've got him! 上級の, I've got him! 選ぶd him up in Swanston Street."

As he spoke his 捕虜 broke from his しっかり掴む and 大打撃を与えるing an angry 握りこぶし on the 反対する, 需要・要求するd an explanation for "a preposterous and unheard of 乱暴／暴力を加える."

For a moment no one spoke. The three men behind the 反対する 星／主役にするd from one 囚人 to the other. As they did, the newcomer made a 早い 調査する of Mr. Harding and blurted out an astonished, "Who the 炎s are you, sir?"

Mr. Harding returned the 星／主役にする with a slow "井戸／弁護士席—I'm— blowed!"

Kane 設立する his 発言する／表明する. "There seems, 上級の, to be some element of 疑問." Then, to the new-comer, with frozen politeness, "May I 投機・賭ける to enquire if your 指名する is Basil Williams?"

"No, sir! It is not!" 雷鳴d the man.

"I was afraid so," muttered Kane.

"I, sir, am Norman 血の塊／突き刺す, of Invercargill, New Zealand—and," he shook a finger in 視察官 Kane's 直面する, "perhaps you, sir, you will be good enough to tell me why the blue 炎s I've been dragged by that walking lump of putty"—he pointed to the constable—"to your infernal police 駅／配置する. Tell me that!" His open palm 粉砕するd 負かす／撃墜する on the 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 調書をとる／予約する.

"Perhaps you can enlighten the gentleman," said Kane, glaring at the 上級の beside him.

"I—I..." What the 上級の might have said was interrupted by a loud, 命令（する）ing 発言する／表明する from the 回廊（地帯）.

"Keep your filthy 手渡すs off me, sir! How dare you touch me! By Gad, sir! I'll have you broke for this!" The 制服を着た man by the door was thrust 無作法に aside as a third 版 of Basil Williams strode into the room, followed by 上級の Constable O'Connor.

Number three 激怒（する）d up to the 反対する: "Who's in 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 of this lunatic 亡命?" he 需要・要求するd.

"Of course, you're not Basil Williams, either?" 視察官 Kane felt that his sunny disposition was becoming overclouded.

"Basil—Damme, sir! What do you mean?" Then, as O'Connor laid a 拘留するing 手渡す on his arm he swung 一連の会議、交渉／完成する on him. "Take your 手渡す off me! How dare you touch me! Damme! Stand to attention when you speak to me 'Shun!'"

The savage （犯罪の）一味 of 命令（する） in the 発言する／表明する brought O'Connor to an involuntary obedience.

"No," murmured Kane to himself, "I 恐れる this is not Basil Williams."

"Now, sir! Who 命令（する）s here?" He 発射 the words at Kane's 長，率いる.

Kane looked from the 火山 to his two 前任者s and waved his 手渡す in introduction.

For the first time number three ちらりと見ることd at his companions in 捕らわれた. "What the dooce is the meaning of this—this, er— beastly masquerade—this is a 陰謀（を企てる）! A 陰謀（を企てる）! I say!" Then, even more furiously, to Kane, "Do you know who I am?"

"If you are not Basil Williams," Kane 答える／応じるd, "I will be pleased to hear it."

"My 指名する, sir, is Oliver." His fingers dived into his vest pocket and drew 前へ／外へ a gold card-事例／患者. "Cyril Courtney Oliver— Sir Cyril Oliver, late 陸軍大佐 of His Majesty's Eighteenth Dragoons." He thrust a card at Kane as though 現在のing an (a)自動的な／(n)自動拳銃 ピストル.

"Don't believe him, sir," O'Connor intruded excitedly, "he's nuts. I know he's Williams. I 設立する him at the Casino Club talking to that Wilson dame. She called him Basil."

"By Gad, sir!" shouted the infuriated Oliver. "You're mad! You're not fit to wear a uniform, sir!"

"Ah! Can it!" growled O'Connor. "You can't fool me—why, you 炎上ing cannibal, there's the 示す where you bit me the other night..."

Before his 囚人 could retort, he moved aside and O'Connor caught his first （疑いを）晴らす 見解（をとる） of the two other 囚人s. As he did so he stopped speaking, his jaw stuck on a dead centre. He glared at Messrs. Harding and 血の塊／突き刺す and then transferred the glare to Sir Cyril Oliver. There was an evident 試みる／企てる on his part to put his thoughts into words, but the only sound he emitted was something akin to that made by the plug 穴を開ける of a lavatory 水盤／入り江 as it empties itself.

Said 視察官 Kane, very gently and 根気よく, "Are you 用意が出来ている to 断言する your man is Williams, O'Connor?"

"I—I..." began O'Connor 猛烈に.

"正確に! O'Connor," Kane's smile was neither happy nor amiable.

"But, sir!" O'Connor 設立する his 発言する／表明する. "There's something crook about this. One of them's Williams."

"井戸／弁護士席, since you know more of Mr. Williams than anyone, perhaps you will 選ぶ him out. I may be 悲観的な," Kane paused to wipe his forehead with his handkerchief, "but it is a 事柄 on which I would not care to dogmatise."

At this juncture the three 捕虜s, 圧力（をかける）ing に向かって Kane, raised their 発言する／表明するs in vigorous and vituperative 抗議する on the 侮辱／冷遇 of their position. The three 逮捕（する）ing constables joined the group, from which rose an acrimonious clamour, which was augmented by the earnest endeavours of the 上級の constable to silence them.

非，不，無 noticed for a moment that the 暴動 was smothering a smaller 突発／発生 at the door. It was the plain-着せる／賦与するs man who 発表するd its advent by a shout of, "Cripes! Here's another ruddy Basil Williams!"

And there was.

The new-corner was not taking the 状況／情勢 kindly, for his 前進する to the 反対する, where the spectacle had stilled the tumult, was 原因（となる）d by his captor 勧めるing him 今後 with one 手渡す しっかり掴むing his collar and the other the seat of his pants. He brought up against the 反対する with "a dull, sickening thud."

His 直面する was crimson with fury as he yelped. "Bunch of wise guys, eh! I want the 部隊d 明言する／公表するs 領事! I'll show you guys you can't 鉄道／強行採決する an American 国民."

視察官 Kane raised a 抑制するing 手渡す and interposed soothingly, "You are not by any means the Duke of Norfolk?"

"やめる kidding, flatfoot!" snorted the 最新の model of Basil Williams.

"Nor Basil Williams?" Kane's 発言する／表明する was composed, but a little frayed at the 辛勝する／優位s.

"Look yeah! Which of youse guys is the big noise here, or are you all haywire?"

"Perhaps," Kane 示唆するd, "an 査察 of your three friends will explain the 状況／情勢."

The 国民 of "God's Own Country" goggled at the other three 捕虜s, and shouted: "でっちあげる，人を罪に陥れる up! I want the American 領事!"

No one heard Mr. 示す Harding murmur, "Three in a bunch, Nicholas."

All were too 意図 on Sir Cyril Oliver, who evidently resented 存在 classed as the new-comer's friend, for he 爆発するd in a 炎ing string of profanity that more than 持続するd the 伝統的な 評判 of dragoons for language.

"Hi!" shouted the 上級の constable. "You can't talk like that here."

"By Gad, sir! Can't I?" snorted Oliver. "—- —- —- —- ——."

The 成果／努力 wrung an unwilling gasp of 賞賛 even from the 上級の constable, who imagined until that moment that he had nothing more to learn in graphic malediction.

But 義務 is 義務. "I'll 調書をとる／予約する you for that—陸軍大佐 or no 陸軍大佐," he 宣言するd grabbing his pen. Then, over his shoulder to his subordinate, "Answer that phone."

視察官 Kane was feeling at the moment that his cup was too 十分な to 持つ／拘留する another 減少（する） of anguish. But the 告示 that the Commissioner was enquiring if Basil Williams had been caught made him feel that he had been （打撃，刑罰などを）与えるd with an 不公平な 株 of tribulation. As he took the receiver, the argument between 公式の／役人s and 捕虜s broke out with 新たにするd strength.

Three times did he try to make the irascible 発言する／表明する from wires understand that four men, 同一の with Williams, had been brought in. Then, while he was （一定の）期間ing the word f-o-u-r to an uncomprehending 長，指導者, he suddenly looked に向かって the door and gasped, "No. I mean seven." The 発言する／表明する enquired with 氷点の sarcasm if he were やめる sure he had not overlooked a few more Basil Williamses. It went on to 保証する 視察官 Kane that only one Basil Williams was 要求するd—the 権利 one. He 高く評価する／（相場などが）上がるd the zeal that had collected seven, but—it went on—疑問d if either the （法廷の）裁判 or the 圧力（をかける） would be so favourably impressed by the 産業 of the police. The 発言する／表明する would 受託する it as a 親切 if 視察官 Kane would 報告（する）／憶測 in 予定 course if Basil Williams should be 逮捕（する）d, an 業績／成就 which seemed at the moment 高度に improbable.

Gently, 取って代わるing the receiver, Kane looked at it with a malevolence it did not deserve. Softly he repeated what he could remember of Sir Cyril Oliver's final 爆発, then, feeling a little relieved, he turned on the 暴動 that 激怒（する）d across the 反対する. "Silence!" His 発言する／表明する 衝突，墜落d in on the uproar to which three newcomers were 追加するing their 割当.

"Take those men into the inner 回廊（地帯） and shut the door," he ordered. "You wait, O'Connor!" he 追加するd.

Seven 抗議するing 捕虜s and six constables とじ込み／提出するd out of the 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 room into the 暗い／優うつな, 明らかにする 回廊（地帯） that led to the 独房s.

Kane watched them until the door の近くにd. Then, 手渡すs 深い in his trouser pockets, he paced to and fro with his 長，率いる bent in thought. Neither the 上級の constable in 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 nor his 同僚 cared to break into that reverie. The silence was broken by another shuffle of steps from the outer world. Kane paced on unheeding. Then a 有望な 発言する／表明する broke into his thoughts. "The beer's 地雷, 上級の! I've got him! I've got him!" From the pitying 注目する，もくろむs of the two men behind the 反対する that juicy young constable met the basilisk glare from the pale countenance of 視察官 Kane.

"Beer—beer—" the 発言する／表明する grated at him, "you'll get—beer!" There was a pause between each word as though it were wrenched out. Then, "Take that man into the 回廊（地帯）,"—the trembling finger pointed—"and stay there with him."

He stood while the staggered constable 除去するd his obnoxious presence and more obnoxious 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金. Then he turned to O'Connor.

"O'Connor,"—the 視察官 had himself under 支配（する）／統制する—"you saw Williams on the night of the first 暴動. You 逮捕（する）d him the time he escaped from 保護／拘留. You saw him the other night when he escaped 逮捕（する）. Is that not so?"

"Yes, sir!" replied O'Connor.

"Do you honestly think you could 選ぶ him out of that ギャング（団） of humming birds?" Through the の近くにd door the murmur of 発言する／表明するs 示すd that the 捕虜s were still 抗議するing.

"I thought, sir," answered the stolid and bewildered O'Connor, "that I could 断言する to him anywhere, but now..." He paused.

"I understand." Kane nodded with pursed lips. "What about you?" He turned to the 上級の and his subordinates.

"No hope, sir," said one. "Same here," replied the other.

"If you ask me, sir," O'Connor 投機・賭けるd, "that Williams bloke's put something across us."

For once the sharp 辛勝する／優位 of adversity had taken the sting from Kane's temper. He looked at O'Connor thoughtfully. "I'm crazy enough to agree with you, O'Connor, but..." He paused, and almost wailed. "Dammit all, how could he? Eight of them..."

"Nine!" said the 上級の, who was looking 負かす／撃墜する the 回廊（地帯）. "There's another coming."

The four watched the 入り口 of a new 候補者 in silence; as a plain-着せる／賦与するs man led him to the 反対する. 完全に 無視（する）ing the pride of his captor and the wrath of the 捕虜, the four 公式の／役人s 診察するd the man with 注目する，もくろむs trained to 行方不明になる nothing.

"The dead spit of him, sir!" O'Connor spoke, "and the dead spit of every one of the others."

Kane ordered the astonished couple to join the menagerie in the 回廊（地帯）.

"Do you men recognise what this means?" asked Kane as they disappeared.

"Williams had diddled us," said the 上級の.

"That's one way of putting it," Kane agreed. "But how? It's preposterous!"

"Can't make me believe it's coincidence," the 上級の growled. "Nice fools we look."

"And—look here, sir," O'Connor broke in. "You can bet your life that swine Williams knows it, and he's one of them."

"Hopeless!" muttered Kane. "There isn't a 治安判事 in the world who would 罪人／有罪を宣告する."

"It's a put-up 職業, all 権利," the 上級の muttered. "証明する it!" snorted Kane. "I suppose you did not finger-print Williams."

"Never do it until the morning, sir," the 上級の replied.

"Then we're scuppered!" Kane's 発言する／表明する almost broke. "And see what a 穴を開ける we are in. We can never dare to try to 逮捕（する） him again that is, unless he commits another offence and we get him 現行犯で."

The others nodded a bitter acknowledgment of the truth. "What's to be done, sir?" asked the 上級の.

"Nothing, it's a washout! Lord send the 圧力（をかける） don't get 持つ／拘留する of the story. Kane walked from behind the 反対する and followed by O'Connor, passed into the inner 回廊（地帯） to be 迎える／歓迎するd by a 嵐／襲撃する of 乱用 and 需要・要求するs for 即座の 解放（する）.

"Line those men up!" Kane ordered.

Nine Basil Williamses shuffled into line and 直面するd him defiantly.

Kane and O'Connor walked slowly 負かす／撃墜する the line in the hope of a possible 手がかり（を与える）, but there was 非，不，無.

He stood before them at last. "One of you," he said, "I am 納得させるd, is Basil Williams. It is with 深遠な 悔いる that we cannot 前向きに／確かに identify him. To the other eight, I 申し込む／申し出 陳謝s for a mistaken 身元, which any honest (he 強調d the word) man will 容赦. You may all go, as there can be no その上の 推論する／理由 for 拘留するing you. Though I am 納得させるd that some of you at least are associated with Basil Williams. Go!" he hooted, as they paused as if to argue.

Kane watched them till they とじ込み／提出するd 負かす／撃墜する the 入り口 回廊（地帯） into freedom. Then he 演説（する）／住所d the waiting constables: "Don't bring in another Basil Williams unless you 現実に catch him committing an offence. 警告する all other men you see." Then he, too, 出発／死d.

That evening, before midnight, three more 見本s of Basil Williams were brought into the watch-house. They were all 拒絶するd as though 疫病／悩ます-stricken by the 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 officer— 特に the one, Sir Cyril Oliver, who was 逮捕（する）d for the second time that night. The 上級の constable in 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 苦しむd the 整然とした room dressing 負かす／撃墜する he received from the 陸軍大佐 in a seething silence.

One Basil Williams spent what was left of the night at the Casino Club, enjoying the society of a lively and 率直に adoring partner whom he 演説（する）／住所d as Elsie.

As Basil Williams said much later that night, in his bedroom, to Nicholas 上級の, he had been given "the freedom of the city." He went on to relate that during the evening O'Connor had returned to the Casino and had glared balefully at Basil Williams, but without 試みる／企てるing to 妨げる his movements. "I think," Tydvil 観察するd, "O'Connor would have given a month's 支払う／賃金 to bite me. He looked like it, anyway."

CHAPTER XXVIII

For a few weeks Tydvil's days and nights passed in uneventful happiness. August had passed into late September. Although he by no means neglected his empire in C. B. & D., there were afternoons during which he did not appear at the office. The 広げるing circle of friends made by Basil Williams were making some 需要・要求するs on the daylight hours 同様に as those of 不明瞭. He was aware, but made no 調印する of his 認識／意識性, that Basil Williams was under の近くに 観察 by unobtrusive men. In police ４半期/4分の1s he was a 支配する of 時折の heated argument, because, on comparing 公式文書，認めるs, different officers （人命などを）奪う，主張するd to have watched him in diverse activities in diverse places. 視察官 Kane himself had read a 詳細（に述べる）d 報告（する）／憶測 on a merry picnic Basil Williams had adorned one Saturday at Beaumauris. At the time the picnic was in 進歩 he had been introduced to Sir Cyril Oliver by their 相互の friend Archie 石／投石する on the Moonee Ponds racecourse. Sir Cyril had been in a genial mood and 自由に forgave Kane for the inconvenience of his 逮捕（する）.

Kane had also 無益な 協議s with 上級の Constable O'Connor on the 支配する of the place of abode of Basil Williams. Every 試みる／企てる that had been made to trace him, or anyone 似ているing him, to his lair, had been a dismal 失敗. Williams or his （テニスなどの）ダブルス seemed to have an uncanny 力／強力にする of 消えるing into thin 空気／公表する if he turned a corner or entered a building. Unfortunately, also, no Basil had committed any 行為／法令／行動する that could be construed into a 違反 of the 法律.

"But, dash it all!" Kane spoke fretfully after the 報告（する）／憶測 of still another 失敗, "he must live or sleep somewhere."

O'Connor looked glum. "ツバメ 断言するs he never lost sight of him for a moment from the time he got into a train at Sandringham. He left the 駅／配置する by the Elizabeth Street 入り口, crossed Flinders Street and walked slowly until he turned into Degraves Street. ツバメ was not one hundred feet behind him, but when he reached Degraves Street the brute had disappeared—not a 調印する of him."

"Must have dodged into a shop. It's not one hundred yards long, anyway!"

"Too late for that. They were all の近くにd," O'Connor 保証するd him.

"But was there no one in the street?" 需要・要求するd Kane. "'ツバメ 断言するs that the only soul in it was that wowser chap, Tydvil Jones, walking に向かって him."

"Rot!" grunted Kane. "ツバメ's a dashed idiot. Did he question Jones?"

O'Connor nodded. "Jones said he hadn't seen anyone pass him."

Kane 星／主役にするd at his subordinate. "井戸／弁護士席, one of them was a liar," was his uncompromising retort. Then, はっきりと, "Didn't you tell me Williams was wearing Jones's hat on the night of the first brawl?"

"Oh! Jones explained that. The hat was stolen from the dining room at the Carlton," O'Connor replied.

"Dashed queer," Kane murmured thoughtfully, "that Jones was the only man in the Centreway the night you let Williams bite you and get away."

The 上級の constable reddened at the memory and the taunt. "Jones wouldn't say 'Boo!' to a goose. His missus 許すs him a （頭が）ひょいと動く a week pocket money, and washes his 直面する and 手渡すs before she puts him to bed every night. Besides, there's three インチs difference in 高さ and build."

"What I mean is," Kane waved an impatient 手渡す, "that Jones might know more than we think he does." But he 追加するd, "Though what that ginger-beer-swigging pip-squeak would be doing with Williams is more than I know." He ちらりと見ることd at a paper before him. "I see some Williams has thrown three hot parties this week—and two on the same night at different places."

"That's just it, sir," O'Connor said glumly, "and neither of them may have been Williams."

Kane waved him from the room with a gesture of mingled despair and disgust. As O'Connor reached the door, however, he called him 支援する. "Put a couple of men on to watch Jones for a week or two," he ordered. Then, seeing the 表現 on the 上級の's 直面する, he 追加するd, "And tell them to be dashed careful they're not noticed."

But Tydvil's 影をつくる／尾行するs drew a blank. おもに because when Nicholas 警告するd him of his 信奉者s, Tydvil was, to use his own 表現, dashed careful there was nothing to notice.

But while Basil Williams was living a sinfully gay and happy life, Tydvil Jones had a 事柄 in 手渡す that was rather more 複雑にするd than troublesome. Billy Brewer had asked for an audience with his 長，指導者, and had somewhat nervously 知らせるd him that Cranston had 特記する／引用するd him as co-回答者／被告 in a 事例／患者 that he, Brewer, ーするつもりであるd to defend.

Tydvil's 井戸／弁護士席 行為／法令／行動するd 狼狽d surprise on a 支配する on which he was fully 知らせるd, 追加するd to 逮捕. The 長，指導者 was inexpressibly shocked at the tidings. He pointed out to Brewer that he was 直面するing the 必然的な results of his 無謀な past. "It is a personal 事柄, Brewer, on which perhaps, I have no 権利 to dwell! But I cannot help thinking that such a 苦しめるing 事件／事情／状勢 must be 極端に distasteful to 行方不明になる Brand."

Billy 認める that Geraldine felt the publicity would be 極端に distasteful, but that she was in 協定 with him that he should defend the 事例／患者.

"You will perhaps recognise, Brewer," Tydvil said stiffly, "that while I think you may be taking the 権利 course, I find myself in a somewhat difficult position. You will remember that in the police 法廷，裁判所 訴訟／進行s I defended you effectually, but very unwisely, by giving 証拠 that was not based—er—on fact."

"I was very 感謝する, sir!" Billy 譲歩するd. "But I don't think I will need your 証拠. I have another 証言，証人／目撃する in Geraldine, who saw Cranston's wife that night."

"井戸／弁護士席," said Tydvil at length. "Of course, you have a 権利 and a 義務 to （疑いを）晴らす yourself from Cranston's 主張s. But should the 法廷，裁判所 find against you, I am afraid I shall have to 再考する our 協会. You will, I think, see for yourself, that such a スキャンダル associated with C. B. & D. would be almost impossible for me to overlook."

Billy 屈服するd to the 決定／判定勝ち（する）. He had 推定する／予想するd that much, at least, and thought himself lucky that Tyddie did not 支配する him out on the 単独の ground of 存在 指名するd co-re.

一方／合間, Tydvil sent for Cranston and 外交上 示唆するd that he should 身を引く his 嘆願（書） on the grounds of reasonable 疑問. But he 設立する his man maliciously 決定するd on vengeance on his wife arid Billy Brewer. Tydvil, the 長，率いる of C. B. & D., was 強いるd to recognise Cranston's 権利 as a husband. Tydvil, the sinner, knowing his own 株 in the 事件／事情／状勢, felt an unrighteous longing to punch the sneering vindictive 直面する across his desk. He knew, or felt he knew, that Hilda Cranston was as much sinned against as sinning, and that Cranston was actuated by 冷淡な-血d malevolence rather than by righteous wrath.

Finally, having learned that Hilda Cranston had left her husband and 得るd 雇用, he told the more or いっそう少なく 負傷させるd man that he ーするつもりであるd to 解任する Brewer should Cranston 得る his 法令. "On the contrary," he 追加するd, "should the 法廷，裁判所 decide against you, you must look for another position. I have not been aware, until now, of the 原因（となる） of the 摩擦 in the 倉庫／問屋 between yourself and Brewer. I cannot have the place disorganised through your 私的な quarrels."

But a day or two later Tydvil had more 原因（となる） for 関心 than he dreamed. Always generously 関心d with the 福利事業 of his 従業員s, Tydvil noticed one morning that Geraldine was 苦しむing from a slight 冷淡な. When they had finished with the mail, he said, "And now, the moment you have finished typing those letters, put on your hat and go home."

"But...!" Geraldine began to 抗議する.

"No 'Buts'," laughed Tydvil. "Brewer might get that 冷淡な and that would be a nuisance. You might get worse and be laid up, and that would be a still worse nuisance. I might get it from you, and that would be a 大災害. Tell 行方不明になる Marsden to take your work—and give her a dictionary. Her （一定の）期間ing is fearsome."

Later that morning as Geraldine was tugging her hat on to the 訂正する angle, Tydvil looked up. "Keep in the 日光, 行方不明になる Brand," he advised, "and don't let me see you again until you've 中止するd 存在 a walking menace."

Geraldine bade 別れの（言葉，会） to Billy in a 避難所d corner of the 倉庫／問屋, where Billy recklessly 反抗するd the 危険s of 感染, にもかかわらず her laughing 抗議するs, and 出発／死d. Next day she felt better. It was a day that would make anyone feel better—pure unclouded 日光 with the first hint of Spring.

She rang Billy at the office and 命令（する）d that he should spend the evening with her. She also heard of his 意向s for a busy day and other small, but to both, 事柄s of prime personal importance, such as that she had not sneezed once, he had no trace of a 冷淡な, she hated 行方不明の their morning 迎える／歓迎するing in Tyddie's office, he was feeling 哀れな to see that Marsden kid in her 王位, and that the flowers he had sent her were glorious and that she was wearing one at the moment of speaking.

The morning passed slowly. After lunch Geraldine 反映するd that it would be nearly eight hours before she could see Billy again and that each hour had sixty slug-like minutes. How to kill those slugs? Geraldine stood in her garden and 調査するd the blue sky. Then her feet danced her into her bedroom, where she chose a soft green hat that-高めるd the gold of her own 有望な helmet, because Billy liked that hat. Then she sought and 設立する a magazine and sallied 前へ／外へ. At her gate she paused and 反映するd again. Then her 直面する lit up and, humming softly to herself, she made her way to the nearest tram line.

Fifteen minutes later a tram deposited one tall, lovely, grey- 注目する，もくろむd, demure and red-長，率いるd damsel, wearing a very becoming green hat, at a corner 近づく an 入り口 gate to the Botanic Gardens.

Unhurriedly, Geraldine strolled slowly に向かって the Gardens. One long golden afternoon was hers to waste. Luxuriously she 匂いをかぐd the soft 空気／公表する. Appreciatively her 注目する，もくろむs gathered in the 調印するs of coming spring, followed the wonderful wide sweep of lawns, and sparkled more brightly than the sun on the still lake waters.

At the lake's 辛勝する／優位, she held converse with a sooty 黒人／ボイコット swan, unaware that of the two she was the more graceful. For a while she sat dreaming, her magazine unopened in her （競技場の）トラック一周. Then a thought of tea intruded itself into her mind. Still slowly she idled her way along winding paths until she reached the kiosk under its wide 避難所s of green.

There were not a dozen people at the scattered （米）棚上げする／（英）提議するs overlooking the lake. Geraldine drank her tea and ate scones with a healthy appetite, ぐずぐず残る after she had finished, gazing at the 煙霧 of the city above the tree 最高の，を越すs in the distance. Somewhere under that 煙霧 was Billy, going on his lawful occasions. He seemed nearer for the knowledge.

Her gaze lowered to the 運動 that led from the river gates. Anyone watching her would have seen the dreaming look in her 注目する，もくろむs change 速く to wide 星／主役にする of bewilderment, that changed as 速く to excitement. Strolling along the wide path に向かって the kiosk, and 深く，強烈に immersed in themselves, （機の）カム William Brewer and Mrs. Tydvil Jones.

There was no 不決断 in Geraldine's movements. 速く she stood up and, watching the 前進するing couple, she stepped behind the 避難所 of a shrub. Then, 審査するd by it, she walked slowly backward, dodging carefully, keeping her prey under 観察 as she reached a clump of bushes far enough away to cover her 退却／保養地 if necessary, but の近くに enough to 観察する all she 願望（する）d to 観察する.

Unaware of the wide, grey 注目する，もくろむs that watched their every movement from beneath their long, curved 攻撃するs, Billy Brewer and Amy appropriated a （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する for themselves and settled 負かす／撃墜する—Billy most 明白に solicitous in his gentle attentions to his surprising partner.

Every movement they made she followed with 激しい 利益／興味. She was の近くに enough, almost, to read the 表現s on the two 直面するs. A 得点する／非難する／２０ of emotions flashed into Geraldine's 注目する，もくろむs, but の中で them there was no trace of 怒り／怒る. Bewildered curiosity predominated. It says much for Geraldine's perfect and unquestioning 忠義 to Billy, that not for one second did she believe the 証拠 of her startled senses. There, before her 注目する，もくろむs, was Billy Brewer flirting outrageously with Mrs. Tydvil Jones—極悪の devotion in his 注目する，もくろむs. Yes, beyond 疑問, it was Billy, but—that sense that women 所有する that is beyond the ken of man, 保証するd her heart and soul it was not her Billy. Just so, was she sure that his partner was Amy Jones.

Only Geraldine herself knew the happy 返答 of her heart to Billy's presence. But from the moment of her first glimpse of him her heart 軽蔑（する）d the impostor. Had it been her Billy, she knew that the 安定した, unhurried pulse would have been 激怒（する）ing with 怒り／怒る and jealousy, and 誘発するing her to shred the raiment of Amy Jones far and wide across the green lawns.

Slowly, as the 暴動 in her mind 沈下するd, there 現れるd the fact that her crazy guess at there 存在 two Billy Brewers was true. 支援する to her mind flashed the scene in the 倉庫／問屋 on the morning when her Billy had been so gaily 迎える／歓迎するd by Amy—the 推論する／理由 for which he had since so strenuously 否定するd all knowledge. So, thought Geraldine, Amy had been barking up the wrong Billy that morning...

Womanlike, all her 軽蔑（する） turned on the peccant Amy, who was so 明白に lapping up the devotion of the man opposite her. "To think," Geraldine 反映するd, "that poor Tyddie believes in that hypocritical she-devil." Another problem （機の）カム into her mind. "Did Amy believe that her partner was Billy Brewer—or...?" Geraldine could follow that line of thought no その上の. にもかかわらず the mystery that had lately surrounded his life and morals, she had a very 深い liking for Tyddie, to whom she had been indebted for much thoughtful 親切—her 現在の afternoon's holiday, for example. She liked him so much that the thought of Amy's 甚だしい／１２ダース disloyalty to a man, who was far too good for her, excited contempt for, and righteous wrath against, his betrayer.

It would have given her 激しい satisfaction to walk across to their （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する and tell Amy 正確に／まさに what she thought of her behaviour. But her commonsense forbade. Tyddie's 長官 had no 権利 whatever to 衝突，墜落 into his 国内の 事件／事情／状勢s, however scandalous they might be. Besides, she had a more 緊急の 義務 of love に向かって her own Billy. As she watched she 決定するd to find out if possible the real 身元 of his scandalous 二塁打. Her heart 常習的な as she considered his disgraceful manoeuvres with Amy. "That," she thought, "was undoubtedly the man she had seen with Hilda Cranston 近づく His Majesty's Theatre that night. That, too, was the man who had 伴う／関わるd Billy in all his unmerited tribulations." There grew up in her a 猛烈な／残忍な 決意 to make the duplicate of Billy Brewer wish he had never been born.

The hour and a half before the two showed 調印するs of separating, passed without notice by the excited girl. After they had had tea they had wandered, and Geraldine blessed the luxuriant growth of the gardens that 供給するd such ample cover for her 秘かに調査するing, for which she felt no compunction.

It was nearly five o'clock before they separated 近づく the 橋（渡しをする） over the lake. Geraldine watched the leavetaking, that they supposed to be unobserved, with an exclamation of virtuous 怒り／怒る. Then Amy turned に向かって the south 入り口. Watching her go, the 誤った Billy crossed the 橋（渡しをする） leisurely and made for the north-west gate. 井戸／弁護士席 under cover, Geraldine followed him, 決定するd to 直面する him before he left the gardens. While the 誤った Billy idled, she manoeuvred 速く ahead across lawns, till she 設立する 避難所 on a seat behind a flower bed 近づく the path he must take. Here, unseen, she watched his coming. As he 前進するd に向かって her, she saw him ちらりと見ることing 一連の会議、交渉／完成する the 砂漠d paths and lawns. Evidently he was ascertaining if there was anyone in sight. His 特許 uneasiness puzzled her.

Some twenty feet from where she sat 隠すd, a 広大な／多数の／重要な elm flung out its wide 網状組織 of leafless 支店s from a two-feet 厚い bole. に向かって this the 人物／姿／数字 she was watching so intently, 前進するd. He passed behind the bole, hidden for the fraction of a second—but there appeared on the other 味方する, not the 誤った Billy Brewer, but Tydvil Jones!

Geraldine had been on the point of rising to her feet to step from her hiding place to 直面する the impostor. The shock of astonishment she received was almost physical in its 衝撃. It was with a desperate 成果／努力 she checked the cry that would have betrayed her presence. Crouching low, through the leaves she saw Tydvil pass within ten feet of her hiding place. The laggard pace of the 誤った Billy had changed to the swift, jaunty step she knew so 井戸／弁護士席. Petrified, she saw him pass. Petrified, she watched the 退却／保養地ing 支援する until it 一連の会議、交渉／完成するd a curve one hundred yards away, and was hidden behind the foliage. Even then she did not move more than her 長，率いる as she turned to 診察する the scene of the 変形 to make sure her 注目する，もくろむs had not 不名誉d themselves. No! A mouse could not have hidden itself just at the 位置／汚点／見つけ出す, much いっそう少なく the 本体，大部分／ばら積みの of the 誤った Billy.

Presently Geraldine stood up. She walked on to the path, walked 一連の会議、交渉／完成する the tree, 診察するd it from every possible angle, muttered to herself, "Geraldine Brand, you are going barmy," then she returned to her seat. She felt her 脚s were 主張するing on a sit-負かす／撃墜する strike. The 状況／情勢 was too much for them. When she tried to think, she 設立する her 長，率いる not much more tractable than her 脚s.

Had anyone been 近づく enough to see Geraldine as she leaned 支援する in her seat, he or she might have been excused for thinking that she had bats in her attic. For she sat there alternately 星／主役にするing ahead, wide-注目する，もくろむd, and then, 明らかに, counting and recounting her fingers. Then there were not two Billies—there were—but one was Tydvil Jones—or Tydvil Jones was Billy Brewer. But supposing Tydvil Jones was Billy Brewer, why did he 会合，会う clandestinely, and flirt with, his own wife? Geraldine had a 公正に／かなり 包括的な knowledge of life, if her actual experience was somewhat 限られた／立憲的な. She felt perfectly sure, however, that married men did not 会合，会う their wives furtively to flirt outrageously with them. Tydvil had a 評判 for 存在 a mutt, but even he was not mutt enough to flirt...Her thoughts checked with a 衝突，墜落 that almost 崩壊するd their gears. Or was he? No, not a mutt! Slowly she turned that thought over in her mind. She listened to it. She 匂いをかぐd at it. She tasted that thought.

She, who had been for so long closer to Tyddie than any other 存在, had guessed that Amy had made his life pretty 堅い going. Not that hint or 調印する of it ever dropped from Tyddie. Suppose— suppose—Tyddie had—deliberately 罠にかける Amy—Geraldine's 始める，決める 直面する relaxed, and a gurgling laugh escaped her. Would it be possible? He, Tyddie—if that other Billy had been Tyddie...He was, if she had not 完全に lost her 推論する／理由—perhaps she had...It was obvious that Tyddie would not flirt with Amy for the 楽しみ of it—therefore—that darned, wicked, unscrupulous little ruffian had tied dear Amy in a knot from which a Houdini could not escape.

Geraldine did not love Amy. She had 苦しむd Amy's insufferable patronage too often on that 改革者's visits to the office not to detest the very sight of that superficial, smiling, exasperating 直面する. Often in her heart she had felt 深遠な sympathy for the bedevilled Tydvil. Geraldine was neither malicious nor vindictive, but as she turned over the preposterous idea that had come into her mind, she felt that if her crazy guess were 訂正する, she could 許す the 犯人 everything— even the wrong done to her Billy.

The fading light and the 冷静な／正味のing 空気／公表する 解任するd her to actualities. Hurriedly she rose to her feet and made for the Domain. As she walked another idea （機の）カム to tantalise her. If Tyddie were the 誤った Billy, then 平等に, so might he be the 悪名高い Basil Williams. The whole thing was crazy. No man could transform himself she 保証するd herself. But she had seen it done. If these things happened, what mischief had Tyddie been up to? A 冷淡な shiver passed through her. Her own clean, 論理（学）の mind 拒絶するd the thought of anything outside of natural 法律s.

In her heart she knew that her senses had not betrayed her over the queer 変形 she had 証言，証人／目撃するd. Her wholesome nature had always 拒絶するd the 可能性 of things supernatural in daily life. She 軽蔑（する）d small superstitions. But she felt that what had occurred could only be associated with something that was repugnant to every fibre of her 存在. The thought that Tydvil Jones was 伴う／関わるd with anything of the 肉親，親類d （機の）カム as a 肯定的な shock.

速く her mind reviewed the past few weeks. She could definitely place the change in Tydvil from that morning of his 予期しない 外見 on her 遭遇（する） with Billy. Everything 時代遅れの from that day. His lies in the St. Kilda 法廷，裁判所 next morning. Billy's amazing tribulation. The 外見 of Basil Williams, and Tyddie's その上の falsehoods about his hat—"Oh, everything!" she 結論するd to herself.

That night on his arrival at her home, Billy 設立する Geraldine boiling with 抑えるd excitement. There was something exquisitely tender and 保護の in her 迎える／歓迎するing of him that made Billy almost dizzy with happiness. However, when she 解放（する）d herself reluctantly from his 武器, she led him to a couch and seated him at one end of it. Turning, she gathered three large cushions which she piled in the middle of it, and seated herself at the other end.

Billy, watching her 準備s with amused 利益／興味, 需要・要求するd with a laugh, "Why the 要塞, darlint?"

"Billy," she 答える／応じるd, "there is going to be a long and serious pow-wow, and neither of us can be serious closer than we are now."

"Hang it, Gerry," said Billy, 注目する，もくろむing the 障壁 distastefully, "if it is to be that serious, you should have 任命する／導入するd a telephone so as I could not see you."

She laughed happily. "Boy, I don't want the 障壁 there any more than you do, but we must talk. It's terribly important."

The earnestness in her 発言する／表明する 満足させるd him. "井戸／弁護士席, I'll 約束 to be as serious as any man can be while he's looking at you. But, please, mamma, get it over quickly. Those cushions are 窒息させるing me."

"First, Billy," she asked, "I want you to tell me everything you did and everywhere you went between two o'clock and five this afternoon?" Then, in answer to the 尋問 注目する，もくろむs, "It's not a third degree, and I am not 存在 catty."

Smiling and without hesitation, Billy gave an account of himself. Twice only Geraldine interrupted, to 直す／買収する，八百長をする the time of a movement on an interview, as Billy recited the 決まりきった仕事 of his afternoon's work.

Geraldine nodded her understanding, and, as he 結論するd, again asked, "And every one of those men you saw and spoke to could 断言する to it if necessary?"

"Of course," agreed Billy, "but what on earth's the 事柄? Not more trouble, I hope?"

"There is more trouble—plenty of it. But not for you, Billy, thank goodness."

She paused, and went on 厳粛に, "Boy, tell me if you think I am やめる sane, because what I am going to tell you will sound 絶対 crazy—so crazy as to be 普通は impossible. No!"— she put out an imperative 手渡す—"you must stay where you are."

"All 権利," he said resignedly, settling 支援する in his corner. "But I am not going to 許す even you, Geraldine Brand, to make 侮辱ing suggestions about yourself."

"井戸／弁護士席, I only hope you'll feel that way when I have finished, because, boy, you are about to receive some shocks."

"Shoot! I can stand them."

"Good! Here's the first shock." Her 注目する，もくろむs danced. "At three o'clock this afternoon Mr. William Brewer and Mrs. Tydvil Jones took afternoon tea together at the kiosk in the Botanical Gardens..."

"宗教上の wars!" Billy was on his feet.

She waved him 支援する. "It was your 二塁打, Billy—the one who has 原因（となる）d all the trouble."

Billy sank 支援する, gazing at her blankly.

"I never 疑問d for a second, Billy, believe me. I felt in my bones, as soon as I saw them, it could not be you—but the likeness was amazing."

"Go on," he said weakly. "I—you said shocks, Gerry—plural— don't say there are more."

"Afraid so, boy—much worse." Geraldine nodded. Slowly, and carefully choosing her words, she 広げるd the story of her afternoon's adventure. Billy, 演習ing an amazing self- 抑制, listened silently till she told of the 外見 of Tyddie.

"But," he 抗議するd, "dearest, that's crazy—crazy!"

"絶対," she agreed, "but, boy, it happened 正確に／まさに as I told you."

There was a long silence. It was broken by Billy. "What you mean is, that this bird who is the living image of me,-is also Tyddie in another 肌?"

Geraldine nodded emphatically. "やめる mad, I know, but that is just what I mean."

"And," he went on, "this 二塁打-barrelled Casanova was also toying 一連の会議、交渉／完成する with the Seventh Commandment with Mrs. Tyddie?"

Geraldine pursed her mouth. "I'm no スキャンダル-monger, boy, but from the way she kissed him goodbye, I 疑問 that his attentions and 意向s are platonic."

"苦しむing serpents!" growled Billy furiously. "I'll—I'll 告訴する Tyddie for 犯罪の 名誉き損—I wouldn't be 設立する dead with her."

For the first time that evening Geraldine laughed heartily. "You'd never make a 陪審／陪審員団 believe any man made love to Amy."

"But don't you see, Gerry," Billy was very sober, "it is just that that makes the whole thing more crazy still. Husbands don't go 一連の会議、交渉／完成する committing unnatural sorcery—for that's what it is—to 疎遠にする the affections of their wives, 特に wives like Amy—it's not done!"

"It might be in some circumstances." Geraldine's 発言する／表明する was 十分な of meaning. "Put yourself in Tyddie's place."

"God forbid!" answered Billy piously. "But I can't imagine any circumstances that would 誘発する me to make love to Amy."

"Suppose you were married to her..."

"井戸／弁護士席?"

"And suppose you 手配中の，お尋ね者 to get square for years of nagging."

Slow comprehension 夜明けd in Billy's 注目する，もくろむs. "Gerry," he chuckled, "you've a disgusting Machiavellian mind. That's a horrid thought, but—it fits—it fits!"

"Yes," Geraldine nodded, "it fits. But, Billy, where does it lead us?"

"井戸／弁護士席, we can't go 一連の会議、交渉／完成する 説 that Tyddie can switch himself into any 形態／調整 he likes. That's （疑いを）晴らす. We'd be run into a mental home faster than a bat out of Hades."

"You see, Billy," she argued, "how, if we assume he can do it, it explains everything. He must have been you that night without the 黒人／ボイコット 注目する，もくろむ when I saw him with Hilda Cranston."

He nodded. "You know, dearest, I'd been dodging her for months and taking no notice of her letters."

"Billy,"—Geraldine smiled—"that murky past of yours seems to have come home to roost on Tyddie."

"Peccavi, culpa mea. I'm penitent, and I deserve all I get, but I'd hate to see you 苦しむ for it."

"Forget it all, boy. I won't remember it." She held out her 手渡す.

There was an appropriate interlude.

Then Billy said, "I suppose what happened was, that she nailed Tyddie in mistake for me."

"That would account for the whole wretched mix-up," Geraldine pointed out.

"And," Billy spoke with 深い indignation, "for the ghost of Jerry McCann, and Tyddie's altruistic 偽証 next morning—the 二塁打-辛勝する／優位d little 二塁打-crosser!"

"And," Geraldine said with 激しい 有罪の判決, "for that Basil Williams man also!"

"Oh, nuts! Gerry, darlint," 抗議するd Billy. "You're letting it run away with you. Tyddie wouldn't get tight and paint the town red. He never had a snifter in his life."

"You don't know half," she 主張するd. Rising, she went to a drawer. "Look at those," she said, 手渡すing him an envelope.

Billy 診察するd the cigar butts and 禁止（する）d it 含む／封じ込めるd with a connoisseur's 注目する，もくろむ. "Crikey! Gerry, those cost three and six apiece," he said, looking up. "How come?"

Geraldine 関係のある the finding of cigars and the whisky perfumed tumblers.

He heard her out. "井戸／弁護士席," he said with 深遠な feeling, "I 手渡す it to Tyddie for 存在 the 二塁打-crossingest, and most unmitigated 二塁打-shuffler, and the finest and most uncompromising liar south of the 赤道."

"Fair enough as a character sketch," agreed Geraldine.

Then Billy laughed long and heartily. "I don't care, Gerry," he gasped, "but I like him all the better for it. Dash it all, what a time he's been having!"

"I know it's disgraceful,"—Geraldine had joined in the laugh--"but that's the way I feel about it, too."

"But how can he do it? How can he do it? There's no 魔法 these days."

"Do you know, Billy," Geraldine's 発言する／表明する was very 墓／厳粛／彫る／重大な, "I can't help feeling Tyddie has mixed himself up with something dreadful. What I saw this afternoon was not only not natural, it was..." She paused.

"Pretty 堅い stuff," Billy nodded.

"There's only one word," Geraldine whispered, "Unholy!"

"It'll get him into one unholy mess, if he's not careful," Billy said.

"I shouldn't be surprised if he has done that already," she replied. "People don't 干渉する things like that and get off scot 解放する／自由な."

"The question is," Billy returned to their own 事件／事情／状勢, "what are we to do?"

"We can do 絶対 nothing," Geraldine 主張するd. "Think, Billy, what would people say if I told that I had seen your 二塁打 変えるd into Tyddie?"

"They'd probably say you'd gone potty, and believe it, too," Billy 認める. "Anyway, I can't see myself 説 from the 証言，証人／目撃する box that the man who has been cutting capers with Hilda Cranston was Tyddie in disguise as me."

"That's the madly exasperating part of it," Geraldine's 発言する／表明する had an 辛勝する／優位 on it. "That demon Tyddie can laugh at us. He's 絶対 unassailable." She paused. "Unless..."

Billy sat up. "What's in that devious brain of yours, best beloved? I'm with you if you want to put a swift one across Tyddie."

Geraldine held out her 手渡す to the light so that the diamond on its finger flashed 支援する in colour. "It's a 前向きに／確かに catty idea."

"I'll bite," Billy laughed. "Who's going to be the mouse?"

"Mice, darling." Geraldine chuckled, her 注目する，もくろむs に引き続いて the flashing light from the 石／投石する. "Tyddie and Amy are elected as the mice."

"And how?"

"井戸／弁護士席, I think Amy believes that she has mortgaged her heart to Mr. William Brewer—the Jezebel!"

"Jezebel's good—go on."

"Now, suppose I let her know 静かに and やめる casually that I, Geraldine Brand, am engaged to marry Mr. William Brewer. Can you conceive, first, how she would feel, herself? And secondly, what she would say to that dastardly deceiver Brewer the next time they met?"

"Just because I can conceive faintly what she would say to William Brewer, I 拒絶する your 計画（する） with as much 軽蔑（する） as haste."

"But, why, Billy? I think it is a lovely idea."

"Gerry, my angel, you're a perfect fiancee, but a 前向きに／確かに rotten conspirator."

"But, boy, wouldn't that smart and festive Tyddie get all that is coming to him?"

"Perhaps, and perhaps not," Billy 主張するd. "Suppose that 甘い thing you have just, very 適切に, defined as a Jezebel, were, in the paroxysms of her joy at the news, to come 追跡（する）ing for Mr. William Brewer at the 倉庫／問屋. Beloved child, the chances are she would 詠唱する her paean of 賞賛する to the first Brewer she caught—who would be me."

"Ooh! I never thought of that."

"That's where my superior male brain comes in." Billy grinned. "I love Tyddie as a fellow sinner, but jigger my 注目する，もくろむs if I care about 事実上の／代理 as a 雷 conductor for him for that thunderbolt."

"Perhaps you're 権利," Geraldine 認める reluctantly. "What a pity! You know, Billy, it would be a pure delight for me to scratch pieces out of Amy, because the creature imagines she's making love to you."

"It's a laudable ambition, sweetheart, but forget it."

"井戸／弁護士席," said Geraldine decisively, "Tyddie's not getting off altogether. Tomorrow morning I'm going to tell him what I saw and 需要・要求する an explanation."

"Gerry!" Billy's 発言する／表明する was really startled.

"He can only 解雇（する） me, and I don't care if he does. But I don't think he will do that much. He's too clever."

"But, dearest...!"

Geraldine swept the three cushions from the couch to the 床に打ち倒す, and the 審議 の近くにd.

That night Tydvil Jones listened in silence to the news of 戦う／戦い 伝えるd to him in 正確な 詳細（に述べる） by Nicholas.

"Jove, Nicholas!" he said when the tale was 完全にするd, "you were 権利 about that girl."

Nicholas nodded. "She'll make things difficult for you, I'm afraid."

"And to think that she put her finger at once on my 事件／事情／状勢 with Amy—do you know, I admire her. The pluck of her!"

"Aye, she's a 罰金 type. Pity," went on Nicholas 残念に, "that she is not on my 味方する. On my 味方する, Tydvil, it is women like Geraldine Brand who 難破させる empires; on the other 味方する they 搾取する me out of men like William Brewer." Then he 追加するd, "What do you 提案する to do?"

Tydvil stretched his 脚s straight before him and laughed 静かに. "Enjoy the fight, Nicholas."

"Have a care that she does not 株 too much in the enjoyment," 警告を与えるd Nicholas.

CHAPTER XXIX

Next morning Billy made a last moment 控訴，上告 to Geraldine to 再考する her 決定／判定勝ち（する） to take the 不快な／攻撃. But he 設立する himself 直面するd with a 静める and inflexible damsel, who 保証するd him that she was craving for 戦う／戦い and that nothing else would 満足させる her. She 拒絶する／低下するd emphatically his 申し込む／申し出 to fight beside her. The only 譲歩 she would make was that if she were cornered she would call on him for 増強s.

"I'm afraid you'll think I'm greedy, Billy, but I can't 株 this even with you," she said. "Tyddie has been fibbing to me for weeks. He's let you in for a whole heap of trouble, and he is going to answer to ME for it." There was a glorious light of 戦う／戦い in her 注目する，もくろむs.

Billy 降伏するd reluctantly.

Scarcely had Geraldine finished 準備するing the mail when Tydvil's quick step in the 倉庫／問屋 発表するd his advent. He entered his office with a hearty, "Good morning, 行方不明になる Brand. やめる 井戸／弁護士席 again I hope!"

Geraldine replied demurely as usual. "Thank you, Mr. Jones."

Then, as he hung up his coat, "It's really a 楽しみ to have you 支援する. Our little 行方不明になる Marsden is willing—but—she is not 行方不明になる Brand. I'm afraid," he took his place at the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する opposite her, "that if I could arrange a quarrel between you and our Mr. Brewer, I should be tempted to do it. The thought of losing you haunts my days". His engaging smile as he spoke was friendly and flattering.

Geraldine returned the smile. "That would be placing too high a value on my services, Mr. Jones. Even if you could 原因（となる） us to quarrel, I know you are too 肉親，親類d-hearted to give 苦痛 to either of us." She looked straight into his 直面する as she spoke.

"You're やめる 権利, 行方不明になる Brand. やめる 権利!" He opened the first letter. "A charming romance such as yours is too 罰金 to spoil but I will 行方不明になる you terribly."

The two worked on with their usual systematic efficiency that scarcely needed words between them. Tydvil dictated letter after letter in swift, flowing 宣告，判決s that Geraldine caught and stowed away faultlessly in her 公式文書，認める 調書をとる／予約する.

"That, I think, is the lot!" he said finally, sitting 支援する and running his 注目する，もくろむ over the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する.

Geraldine was about to 解雇する／砲火／射撃 an 開始 井戸／弁護士席-rehearsed 発射 when, as though aware of her 目的, Tydvil 削減（する） in with: "And now, 行方不明になる Brand, I think we can discuss my 私的な 事件／事情／状勢s on which you are so much 関心d." His smile was やめる friendly.

Although Geraldine was astonished she was by no means disconcerted. Without hesitation she answered. "Thank you, sir, the suggestion coming from you makes what I was going to say much more 平易な."

"井戸／弁護士席, now we can talk comfortably. Say just what you wish," he 招待するd.

"I was going to do that in any 事例／患者," retorted the smiling Geraldine coolly.

"That was what I 心配するd, 行方不明になる Brand," Tydvil （機の）カム 支援する easily, "so I thought I would make the necessity of 審理，公聴会 what you have to say something like an engaging virtue."

"You seem to be an adept at disguising anything as a virtue, however remote it may, be from one," she flashed 支援する.

He met the thrust with a 静かな chuckle of evident enjoyment. "First 血 to you! Though, you know, it is hardly the 肉親，親類d of thing a good 長官 should say to her 雇用者."

"にもかかわらず," （機の）カム the uncompromising retort, "that is only the beginning of what a good 長官 is going to say to her 雇用者."

"Our little interview is not going to be dull then," he was やめる unabashed. "But, pray, don't let me interrupt you. Go on."

"I will!" Geraldine replied with spirit. "Yesterday afternoon, in the Botanic Gardens, I saw a man who looked like Mr. Brewer, but who was really you, kissing Mrs. Jones."

"井戸／弁護士席, really, dear lady," 抗議するd Tydvil, "though I 収容する／認める that in a public place it may not have been in the best taste, after all, it is not a 枢機けい／主要な sin for a man to kiss his own wife."

"If it were not a 枢機けい／主要な sin, it was something rotten to kiss her when she thought it was another man—特に from my point of 見解（をとる）, when that other man was my fiance."

"But, Geraldine—may I say Geraldine, since our discussion is so intimate?"

"You may not! Geraldine is for my friends."

"My 陳謝s, 行方不明になる Brand. What I was 説 was that it appears to me that your 見解（をとる）s of the 倫理学 of the 事例／患者 are somewhat distorted. I knew I was kissing my wife. In 司法（官） you should 収容する／認める that any obloquy was hers."

"You or she may kiss anyone you please," retorted Geraldine tartly. "What I 反対する to is the wickedness of your 伴う／関わるing Mr. Brewer in your own 私的な and personal スキャンダルs."

"A 害のない proxy in this instance, I 保証する you."

"害のない proxy indeed!" Her 発言する／表明する shook with indignation. "Suppose Mrs. Jones learned of my 約束／交戦 to him?"

"Oh! 行方不明になる Brand, please be fair. Why, you even 示唆するd that you should tell her yourself, only Brewer recognised, as I do, that it would be injudicious."

His words left her, for the moment, breathless. They made it （疑いを）晴らす that by some means he knew of everything that had passed between herself and Billy. "From what you say," she said acidly, "you appear to have 追加するd 秘かに調査するing to your other activities."

"An unpleasant word very—and one that almost impels me to 示唆する that your own activities yesterday were not very remote from a 類似の practice." He was smiling derisively.

Geraldine felt that the fight was not going on the lines she 心配するd. But she kept 冷静な／正味の. "Perhaps you will 否定する that I saw you transformed from the likeness of Mr. Brewer to yourself."

"行方不明になる Brand, I do not 否定する for a moment there was such a 変形. But has it not occurred to you that it may 削減（する） either way. Since the 変形 did occur, how do you know that it was not Brewer using my likeness to 隠す his indiscretions from you? And throw the 非難する on me."

"Of all the..." began Geraldine.

She was interrupted by a chuckle of amusement from Tydvil. "Wait! I only 示唆するd an 代案／選択肢 you overlooked. I could not resist the 誘惑. No, I 自白する, 自由に, and without reserve, 言葉の or mental, that it was I you saw in the Gardens with my wife, and that it was I whom you saw passing while you were hiding behind the flower bed on the hill 近づく the north-west gate."

Geraldine 星／主役にするd with blank amazement at the smiling 直面する across the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する. "You 収容する／認める that you used a 二重の individuality?"

He nodded his affirmation. "正確に／まさに that."

"Of all the 冷淡な-血d, callous 神経! Of all the brazen impudence I ever heard in my life! I think you （警官の）巡回区域，受持ち区域 everything." Geraldine brought out each word to its 最大の value.

"井戸／弁護士席," said Tydvil as though 重さを計るing her vigorous comment in his mind, "I feel that that is not an overstatement of the 事例／患者." His look 伝えるd the impression that she had complimented him and he was proud of it.

"Of course," she said cuttingly, "you think I am flattering you."

"One moment!" he interrupted. "I want to ask you one question. Only one. Will you answer it truthfully?"

"I'll answer it truthfully or not at all," she replied guardedly.

"Did not you and Billy Brewer agree last night that you liked me more for my misdeeds than my virtue?" There was an 完全に engaging schoolboy grin on his 直面する.

Taken aback at the extent of his knowledge, Geraldine 認める the 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金.

"Then," said Tyddie, laughing 静かに, "what the heck are you making all the fuss over?"

For a moment Geraldine tried to 保持する her gravity, but his laugh was too 感染性の.

"But aren't you ashamed of yourself?" she 需要・要求するd when she 回復するd herself.

"Not a bit—not an 原子. I've enjoyed every minute of my life of sin." He 再結合させるd, and if 外見s went for anything, he meant what he said.

"But," she asked, "do you recognise the trouble you have 原因（となる）d Billy?"

Tydvil cupped his chin in his 手渡す. "Geraldine,"—he spoke very 心から—"I will ask you to believe me when I say that I really am sorry for that. It was done unintentionally and without malice aforethought. It just happened."

She overlooked the "Geraldine."

"Your 悔いる does not help him much," she said dryly.

"Still, I made all the 修正するs I could." His 注目する，もくろむs were laughing at her across the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する. "Does not a most 極悪の 偽証 by Tydvil Jones 示唆する that it comes from an humble and contrite heart?"

"And to think," Geraldine's 発言する／表明する was 深い with mingled amazement and 怒り／怒る, "that that fool of a 治安判事 said you were the only one who spoke the truth."

"But what a 尊敬の印 to Tydvil Jones, Geraldine."

"I—I believe you're proud of it!" She was feeling almost helpless in the 直面する of his brazen impenitence.

He nodded, chuckling. "My dear girl, I am. It was my first 成果／努力 at 建設的な lying. Every other 証言，証人／目撃する spoke the truth, but the 評判 of Tydvil Jones 勝利d. That is where I 得るd my （株主への）配当s on a blameless life."

Geraldine could only sit and 星／主役にする.

"Yes," he went on, "and even our usually astute William Brewer 受託するd the supernatural 外見 of Jerry McCann to 返す a 貸付金, just on my 評判 for veracity and probity. I suppose he told you about that."

"He did," she snapped, "and I disillusioned him. I knew you were not working 支援する that night, and," she went on, her indignation rising again, "you dared to 脅す him with 解雇／（訴訟の）却下 if Cranston 勝利，勝つs his 事例／患者."

Tydvil laughed, unabashed. "That was all eyewash. I was 強いるd to take high moral stand, but I had no 意向 of carrying out the 約束."

"You dare!" There was a 警告 in her トン.

"My dear," he said 静かに, "it is my regard for your Billy that 保護するs him—to say nothing of my regard for you, にもかかわらず your uncompromising 敵意," he 追加するd.

"And to think," her 発言する／表明する was 冷淡な, "I have been fool enough to look up to you all these years, as the most honourable man I ever met!"

"And a most awful mutt, too? 自白する it, Geraldine," he 主張するd.

She reddened under his 安定した, 尋問 gaze. There was too much truth in his suggestion to leave her comfortable, or to 許す a frank answer.

"Come!" he 固執するd. "Did not you, and all the staff for the 事柄 of that, regard me as a pious ninny and an office joke?"

"You know, 井戸／弁護士席," she tried to 避ける the question, "that we all like and 尊敬（する）・点 you."

"Geraldine, I 主張する that you answer my question. I am 存在 honest with you now. I want honesty in return. Did you or did you not look on me as a silly ass?"

There was a pause. "井戸／弁護士席, we thought you were peculiar," she 認める hesitantly.

He slapped the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する. "Woman, answer my question and don't shuffle!"

She saw his 怒り／怒る was assumed and laughed. "Oh, very 井戸／弁護士席! If you must have it, I thought that, apart from 商売／仕事 事柄s, you were 前向きに／確かに nutty."

"Ah!" he said triumphantly, "at last, the truth. On a small 規模, you're a more practised fibber than I am."

"You flatter me, Mr. Jones," she 屈服するd. "Still, I don't think the fact is any explanation for your 最近の behaviour."

"That's just where you're jolly 井戸／弁護士席 mistaken. Can't you follow the 原因（となる） and the consequence?"

"I may be dull, but I certainly cannot," she answered.

"井戸／弁護士席 let me tell you, Geraldine Brand, that you and Master Billy Brewer are responsible, 個々に and collectively, for all the sins I have committed in the past two months—and I'm 感謝する to you."

There was no mistaking the astonishment in her 注目する，もくろむs "Billy and I!" she gasped.

"Because I never realised how, to use your very descriptive word, 'nutty' I was until I saw Billy kissing you that morning I entered this room so malapropos."

Geraldine 紅潮／摘発するd divinely at the memory.

"You see," Tydvil went on reflectively, "I had never seen anything like that before, and..."

"Oh, please!" she 抗議するd.

"Wait, let me finish," he went on, "and suddenly I was alive to the truth that I had never kissed a girl, wouldn't be game to kiss a girl, and had 行方不明になるd a lot of fun."

"But..."

He 削減（する） her short with a wave of his 手渡す. "Moreover, I felt I would 喜んで 受託する Billy's 黒人／ボイコット 注目する，もくろむ in 交流 for the fruits of his 企業."

"Mr. Jones!" Geraldine was struggling between 当惑 and mirth.

"And," went on the shameless Tydvil, "after he had left the room I recognised for the first time what a lovely girl you are."

"Now stop!" Geraldine 削減（する） in 突然の. "Understand this, Mr. Jones, only one man can say that to me, and you are not that man."

"Don't waggle your finger at me, Geraldine, it's rude, and, moreover, don't imagine for a moment, that in telling you this I am harbouring invidious ideas regarding you—I'm not!"

"Lucky for you," 匂いをかぐd the indignant maiden.

"What I am telling you is 純粋に explanatory. Mind, though," he 追加するd laughing, "if I were not sure you were 完全に besotted over Billy, I don't know that my regard would be so platonic."

"Besotted!" she almost hissed. "Besotted, what a word! You, you..." She paused for loss of a word. "Go on," he 誘発するd.

"You demon!"

"Very poor, very!" He was still laughing. "Really, Geraldine, I think you could have done better than that."

She sank 支援する in her 議長，司会を務める, for the moment 敗北・負かすd by his total insensibility to her 怒り／怒る.

"As I was 説," he went on, "the episode awakened me to the fact that I had not had much fun in my life, so I started out to （不足などを）補う for lost time."

Geraldine regarded him speculatively, for a long moment and then murmured, "So that was it!"

"So that was it!" he repeated.

"But," she said presently, "that may account for the things you have been doing, but it does not account for how you have been doing them."

"Do you know, Geraldine," said Tydvil, "that though you are a very beautiful girl, a charming girl, and a very nice girl, you have become a nuisance. I'm sorry to say it, but you have."

"解任するd?" She 解除するd her delicate brows.

"No 恐れる!" he said あわてて. "I want you 近づく me at 現在の in 事例／患者 you get into mischief. Besides, I don't want to lose my 長官 until I must."

"What I want to know is," she said, "how?"

He looked at her speculatively for some moments, and said, "I think I will even tell you that."

Geraldine looked a little startled. "Perhaps I had better not know," she 投機・賭けるd.

"I think さもなければ. Listen..." For ten minutes Tydvil spoke in 静かな level トンs, unwinding a story that brought first amazement, that changed 徐々に to びっくり仰天, and then to something like terror, into Geraldine's 注目する，もくろむs. Preposterous as the story was, she felt instinctively that he was telling the truth.

When he had finished, Tydvil leaned 支援する in his 議長，司会を務める regarding Geraldine's horrified 直面する with evident amusement.

Presently she 回復するd herself and, in an awed 発言する／表明する, said, "And you 調印するd that 公式文書，認める, and you were the other Billy, and Basil Williams!" It was more amazement than a question, but Tydvil nodded acquiescence to each 宣告，判決.

"Oh!" She clasped her 手渡すs. "How could you do such an awful thing?"

He laughed lightly. "I think it's a lark. You see, Geraldine, you could never understand why I did it unless you had been brought up as I have been, and lived as I have lived."

"But, it's such a dreadful price to 支払う／賃金!"

"Pha! I'm in no worse position than millions of others, who won't get half as much fun out of the 取引，協定 as I've had."

"But suppose," she said, "he does everything, you will have no hope if that 法案 落ちるs 予定—others have."

"My troubles!" smiled Tydvil lightly.

"And he is that Mr. 上級の?"

Tydvil nodded. "Impressive looking, is he not?"

"I felt that day when he （機の）カム to the office as though—" Geraldine paused for words, "as though I was 近づく something electric—some 広大な machine."

"He does give that impression of 力／強力にする," Tydvil 認める, "but, believe me, Geraldine, he's a splendid man, and he's been a jolly good and understanding pal to me."

"But why," asked Geraldine, "have you told me all this?"

Tydvil pursed his lips. "For one thing, you have been exasperatingly clever enough to find out far more than you should have. Another thing is, that I 信用 you."

"信用 me!"

He nodded. "You must see that you dare not tell anyone, except, perhaps, that Billy of yours, and that won't 事柄."

He waited for the comment she did not make, and continued, "Suppose you tried to tell. Remember, I am Tydvil Jones, Merchant, 改革者, a public man of 証明するd 正直さ. You and Billy are two of my 従業員s. I should be exceedingly 同情的な toward your 驚くべき／特命の／臨時の obsession, and would generously make 準備／条項 for you while you are under 抑制, and until you are 解放（する）d, happily cured."

Forgetting herself for the moment, Geraldine exclaimed, "Tyddie, you're a devil!" Then, seeing the 表現 on his 直面する, she said hurriedly, "Oh! I beg your 容赦, Mr. Jones, that just slipped out."

Tydvil laughed heartily. "Please, please don't spoil it by apologising—I like it. You all call me Tyddie, I know."

"But..."

"No buts! While we are together you must 保持する the Tyddie; aren't we fellow conspirators?"

She shrugged her shoulders. "You're hopeless." Then, after a moment, "But what about the synthetic Billy and Mrs. Jones?"

Tydvil was rubbing the palm of his left 手渡す absently, and looked up. "I'm afraid, Geraldine, that that is a 事柄 I cannot discuss with you."

"Since we are 存在 honest with one another," she replied vigorously, "I hope you get all you deserve out of that little 計画（する）. And I hope it will be a shock."

"If anyone gets a shock out of it, I don't think I'll be the one."

"Maybe, but you're the one who deserves it."

"Shucks!" growled Mr. Jones. "Don't babble, Geraldine." Then, "Would you like to 会合，会う my friend Mr. 上級の?"

"I most certainly would not."

"He admires you immensely. He 警告するd me all along that you would bowl me out."

"If he were sitting in that 議長，司会を務める," Geraldine nodded to the 訪問者's armchair, "I'd tell him just what I think of him."

"I shouldn't be surprised if he had been sitting in that 議長，司会を務める all the time we've been talking." Tydvil smiled at her.

Geraldine 星／主役にするd at the 議長，司会を務める in alarm.

"Am I 権利, Nicholas?" Tydvil 演説（する）／住所d the empty 議長，司会を務める.

"やめる 訂正する, Tydvil." Nicholas in person smiled from one to the other with engaging candour.

Geraldine was beyond speech. She 星／主役にするd, and hers was a 敵意を持った 星／主役にする.

Mr. 上級の's 注目する，もくろむs turned on her were やめる friendly and conciliating. "I'm afraid you will think my 行為／行う unpardonable, 行方不明になる Brand," he began.

Geraldine suddenly 設立する her lost 発言する／表明する and interjected, "It is! やめる unpardonable!"

Nicholas 無視（する）d the 敵意 and the interjection. "You see, I could not resist the 誘惑 of 存在 現在の at your interview with Tydvil."

"It is a pity your 儀礼 is not as 広大な／多数の／重要な as your curiosity," retorted the uncompromising Geraldine. "Geraldine!" exclaimed Tydvil in 抗議する.

"You keep out of this, Tyddie," snapped the girl, her claws 明らかにするd for 戦う／戦い.

The 注目する，もくろむs of Nicholas sparkled with mirth as he ちらりと見ることd at Tyddie. "It's a 私的な fight, Tydvil," he chuckled.

"And we don't want a 審判（をする）, either," 追加するd Geraldine. "Rafferty 支配するs," 譲歩するd Nicholas.

"Now!" She turned on Nicholas, 長，率いる high and 戦う／戦い in her 注目する，もくろむs.

"What I wished to explain was, that I was not 明らかな because I thought my presence might 干渉する with your freedom of speech." His smile 深くするd as he 追加するd, gently, "I 収容する／認める, misjudging your diffidence."

She let the jab go by unnoticed. "All I want to say to you is that I think this abominable 契約 into which you have inveigled Mr. Jones is 完全に worthy of you and your 評判."

Nicholas raised his eyebrows. "Have you heard Mr. Jones making any （民事の）告訴?"

"You know, 同様に as I do, that he has no idea of what he has done," she 主張するd.

"Dear lady," his 発言する／表明する was aggravatingly 患者, "don't you think you are rather overworking your sex's congenital inconsistency?"

Geraldine began to see red. "Don't you dare to 演説（する）／住所 me as 'Dear lady'..."

He interposed: "The adjective is 完全に respectful, and I 信用 you do not 拒絶する the noun."

"It is because I 受託する the noun, I have ref rained from calling you all that you deserve—and are." She 押し進めるd out a belligerent chin.

"I should feel more 感謝する for your 抑制, 行方不明になる Brand, were I not aware that it was the 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 of inconsistency, and not the 'Dear lady' that 原因（となる）d you to boil over," retorted the unabashed Nicholas. "It was the major truth that 傷つける."

"The 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 of inconsistency is as 誤った as your friend-ship with Mr. Jones," she （機の）カム 支援する at him.

"Out of your own mouth you 証明する me Tydvil's friend."

"You may fool him, but not me," she retorted.

"And yet you, both with yourself and your fiance, have agreed that since Tydvil has been 解放（する）d from his inhibitions through my 機関, he is much more human, much more likeable, and a much better and natural man."

"That was when I was unaware of the price he had paid for his 解放（する）."

Nicholas shook his 長，率いる slowly. "No, no, 行方不明になる Brand, be honest. Even with that knowledge, you still like the new Tydvil better than the old. Telling fibs to me is a most 無益な pastime."

"I'm not telling fibs, as you call them," she 主張するd 怒って.

"Oh, Geraldine! Geraldine!" said Mr. 上級の reprovingly.

"Mr. 上級の can read your thoughts, Geraldine," 警告するd Tydvil from across the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する.

Geraldine sat up. There was びっくり仰天 in her 直面する, over which a 深い 紅潮／摘発する spread. "Oh, you..." she gasped. Then, 回復するing herself, she said defiantly, "井戸／弁護士席, if you can read my thoughts, I hope you liked them."

"I must 自白する that I did not like them very much," Nicholas 認める. "They were very rude, and it is surprising, even to me, how such a nice girl could even think of such words. But I can be tolerant and make allowances for your 不正な prejudices. You see, 行方不明になる Brand, にもかかわらず your 有罪の判決 to the contrary, I am やめる truthful."

"Prejudices! Indeed!" Geraldine bridled.

"And yet you 借りがある me something, 行方不明になる Brand," said

Nicholas.

"I 借りがある you something!"

He nodded. "Your Mr. Brewer was, in 司法（官） and in 法律, my 所有物／資産／財産, and you stepped in and took him out of my 手渡すs without as much as 'by your leave'."

"I'm delighted to hear it," said Geraldine 心から. "井戸／弁護士席, I was very much annoyed," 認める Nicholas. "And I am more delighted still to hear that."

"So I am aware." He was smiling almost derisively. "And if I can 得る，とらえる Tyddie from you, I'll do that, too!" she said with spirit.

Nicholas turned to Tydvil. "Jove, Tydvil! There's nothing in humanity like the 炎上ing zest of these red-長，率いるs for a fight." Then, to Geraldine, "行方不明になる Brand, it's refreshing to 会合，会う an honest 闘士，戦闘機 who comes out into the open. My old 対抗者s, the churchmen, who 訴える手段／行楽地 to 毒（薬） gas and more poisonous 宣伝, have never fought 公正に／かなり. I admire your spirit."

"Flattery now!" said Geraldine wrinkling her dainty nose. "That reminds me of a 説 of my grandfather which amused the family when he became excited."

"May we hear it?" Mr. 上級の enquired.

"Certainly," replied Geraldine politely. "In moments of 強調する／ストレス the old boy always exclaimed: 'May the devil admire me!"

"Personalities apart, Geraldine," commented Nicholas, "there are not may of the race that I do admire."

"If you don't like personalities, Mr. 上級の, please 差し控える from 発言／述べるs about the colour of my hair, as for the 残り／休憩（する）, I do not echo, nor ever have echoed, my grandfather's peculiar wish."

Nicholas laughed. "I've known millions of your sisters who have not agreed with you."

"Poor mutts!" replied Geraldine きっぱりと.

"And," said Nicholas 残念に, "I was hoping that apart from our sentimental animosities, we could call a 一時休戦 and be friends."

"井戸／弁護士席, that's a hope you can forget. There's nothing doing, Mr. 上級の," she replied decisively.

"Couldn't I induce you and Mr. Brewer to dine with me and Mr. Basil Williams at Menzies this evening?" Nicholas 説得するd.

She shook her red mane emphatically.

"Because," and a mischievous smile danced 一連の会議、交渉／完成する the corners of her mouth, "there was never a spoon made long enough for my needs in such circumstances."

The two men laughed heartily at the thrust. Said Nicholas, when he had 回復するd his gravity, "Do you know what I think, 行方不明になる Brand?"

"Not having your peculiar gift, I don't," replied Geraldine.

"井戸／弁護士席," said Nicholas, "I think there may be times after your marriage when Billy may 悔いる that he slipped out of my 手渡すs."

"Should I ever catch him hankering after the world, the flesh and you, I can 約束 you that he will."

There was such a （犯罪の）一味 of 誠実 in her 発言する／表明する, that Mr. 上級の felt a twinge of pity for Billy.

"Then it is war?" he smiled.

She looked 刻々と into the 説得力のある, luminous 注目する，もくろむs. "Yes! War!"

She stood up and gathered her baskets in her arm. "And I'm wasting my time, and you're about the only one who could make me do that."

Nicholas 屈服するd ironically. "You flatter me, 行方不明になる Brand."

She took no notice of the 発言／述べる, but walked 一連の会議、交渉／完成する the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する and stood beside Tydvil, looking 負かす／撃墜する on him. "井戸／弁護士席?" he said, turning his 直面する up.

She placed her 解放する／撤去させるd 手渡す affectionately on his shoulder. "Oh, Tyddie! Tyddie," she said gently, "you have been an ass! But I understand."

"Friends?" asked Tydvil.

"Always!" she nodded.

She walked に向かって the door, and Nicholas started to his feet and opened it for her. 長，率いる up and 反抗的な, she paused on the threshold, "And if I don't make you 割引 that infernal 法案 of yours, it won't be for want of trying."

"That, I am sure of." He 屈服するd as to 王族 and の近くにd the door on her 出口.

Nicholas 再開するd his seat and the two regarded one another with smiles.

"Not much change out of her," was Tydvil's comment.

"You know," said Nicholas thoughtfully, "it's fortunate for me that there are not more like her. But, dash it all, Tydvil, I like her."

"She'll make Billy Brewer a good wife," 投機・賭けるd Tydvil. "She'll make him a far better husband," chuckled Nicholas.

CHAPTER XXX

It was a fascinated Billy who listened to Geraldine's story of her interview with Tydvil and Nicholas that evening. Said he, at the の近くに of the narrative, "By Jove, Gerry, I'd like to 激突する that Nicholas bird in the jaw."

"Shouldn't advise you to try, Billy," she laughed. "And besides, after all, his behaviour was really courteous and friendly."

"Dashed cheek asking us to dinner, I think," growled Billy.

She ran her fingers through his hair. "Here's a 自白. I'd have loved to have 受託するd that 招待. I think a dinner with Mr. 上級の would be delightful—while it lasted."

"Gerry!"

"But I didn't 受託する; too risky." There was a trace of 悔いる in her 発言する／表明する.

"Why, if you had, Tyddie as Basil Williams might have landed the lot of us in quod." Billy was not mollified.

"I 疑問 it, if I had been with you," Geraldine 保証するd him.

"井戸／弁護士席," Billy said, "I know what a night out is, but from what I heard about town of Basil Williams, I'm hanged if I'd 危険 a binge with him."

"Don't you let me catch you at it, boy. Tyddie trying to catch up with his lost 青年 is no companion for a nice Billy. Just remember that!" She drew his 長，率いる to her by his ear, and kissed him lightly on the tip of the nose.

Billy submitted to 治療 and grinned. "You bet I wouldn't let you catch me!"

"Dog!" she said, snuggling closer to him, and for a time the 対話 became incoherent.

Presently Geraldine sat up. "You know, Billy, I'm terribly worried about Tyddie."

"But, Gerry," he said doubtfully, "do you really think the story about the promissory 公式文書，認める is true? Dash it all, this is the twentieth century, not the middle ages."

"Think I'm 割れ目d if you like, but I am 肯定的な it is true," she 主張するd.

"井戸／弁護士席, if it's true, as you think, I don't like Tyddie's chance of 会合 it when it 落ちるs 予定." There was 関心 in Billy's 発言する／表明する.

"That's the maddening part of it." Geraldine's 発言する／表明する 反映するd her 苦悩. "If we told about it, everyone would think we are crazy, and there does not seem a hope of getting out of it."

"If that Nicholas bird can change Tyddie into any 形態／調整 he likes, I guess there is nothing he can't do."

"Nothing, 絶対 nothing! And the worst of it is," she 追加するd, "Tyddie does not seem to care, or to be trying to save himself."

"持つ／拘留する on a moment," Billy exclaimed. "What about the old legends? There was 一般に a way out of those 契約s!"

"That's just it. They're legends and nothing else," said Geraldine.

"But if Nicholas is what you say he is, you might try swatting him with a Bible, or getting him into Church or some gag like that," Billy 投機・賭けるd hopefully.

"Oh, those stories are all just church 宣伝! Don't you ever read the papers, Billy?" she asked disdainfully.

"What the dickens have the papers to do with it?"

"Just this," she said scornfully, "if you had read them you would know that Mr. Nicholas 上級の has given a Pleasant Sunday afternoon 演説（する）／住所 on the modern apathy に向かって 宗教. That he had 演説（する）／住所d the Anglican 教会会議, and he has been 支持するing in or for half the Churches in Melbourne."

Billy laughed. "Jove! He's a sportsman, at any 率."

"You can be sure there's something in his 存在 able to 特記する／引用する Scripture for his own 目的. Shakespeare did not guess that. No, Billy," Geraldine went on, "we'll have to think of something practical."

A 有望な idea struck Billy. "Listen, darlint, give Tyddie the tip to ask him to 転換 St. Paul's Cathedral on to the sit of St. Patrick's, and St. Patrick's on to the 場所／位置 of St. Paul's."

"Don't be absurd, Billy," laughed Geraldine.

"That's not absurd," Billy 競うd 熱望して. "If Nicholas couldn't do it, Tyddie would be saved, and if he could do it, think what a lark it would be?"

"Idiot! I'm trying to save Tyddie, not to start a war of 宗教."

"Ump!" 認める Billy. "I suppose something like that would happen when each 味方する began 非難するing the other."

"But there must be something," Geraldine 勧めるd. "Think, Billy."

"I'm done, Gerry," 定評のある Billy, "much as I like to help Tyddie, it looks like a blue duck to me."

"But he must be 攻撃を受けやすい somewhere," Geraldine 星／主役にするd at the carpet with knit brows.

Billy leaned his ruffled 長，率いる on her shoulders. "Righto, angel! You think up his 攻撃を受けやすい 位置／汚点／見つけ出す and tell your Billy all about it, and I 約束 to swat him 権利 on it."

But the days slipped by, and Geraldine was no nearer a 解答 of her problem. She had other things to think about, too, for Cranston v. Cranston, Brewer co-回答者／被告, was 未解決の.

When that 事例／患者 （機の）カム before the 法廷，裁判所, the newspapers 一時的に forgot the 国際情勢, for Cranston, Cranston and Brewer became news. After the first of the three days during which the 審理，公聴会 lasted, Mr. 司法（官） Mainwaring, who heard it (but 疑問d his ears, 同様に as all the 証言，証人／目撃するs), felt impelled to 放出する some blistering judicial comment on the behaviour of the horde of sensation-hungry people who 嵐／襲撃するd the 法律 法廷，裁判所's draughty 回廊（地帯）s in the hope of 得るing admission to his 法廷，裁判所.

Tydvil was more worried over the 結果 of the 事例／患者 than he was about his own 即座の problems. Billy's solicitors had 教えるd Mr. Max Mendax, K.C., for the co-回答者／被告. 個人として, however, Tydvil had 教えるd Mr. Nicholas 上級の, to 介入する—not in 法廷，裁判所, but by using his 影響（力） in any manner he thought advisable, ethically or さもなければ, to insure a 判決 against the petitioner.

Mr. 上級の had 受託するd the 簡潔な／要約する from Tydvil with some ironic comment on the 状況／情勢. "You know, Tydvil," he 発言／述べるd, "that red-長，率いるd demon of yours would never believe it, but I am glad to fight on her 味方する. But..."

"Now what mischief are you up to, Nicholas?" Tydvil was 怪しげな of the chuckle that …を伴ってd Nicholas' 発言／述べる.

"Nothing!" said Nicholas evasively. "I take it that you want that Cranston person to get it in the neck."

"Just that," Tydvil agreed. "But you know, Nicholas, I have a feeling, from my 簡潔な／要約する acquaintanceship with the lad in the 事例／患者, that Cranston's 主張s are not without 創立／基礎."

He looked up and caught Nicholas's amused 注目する，もくろむs on him. "Dash it all, Nicholas, don't look at me like that. You know 同様に as I do that..."

"Cranston arrived with his merry men too soon," Nicholas 削減（する） in.

"Confound you," Tydvil laughed in spite of himself, "港／避難所't you any 約束 in human nature."

"Yes!" replied Nicholas judicially. "Even I have some left, and that, my friend, is a very high 尊敬の印 coming from me."

"井戸／弁護士席, don't sit there grinning at me in that superior manner," Tydvil growled.

"Tydvil," Nicholas took a cigarette from his 事例／患者, "I do 保証する you that I have 約束 in human nature, but very little 約束 in—let me see—what was it—ah yes—two large scotches, a cocktail, sherry, three glasses of シャンペン酒 and a benedictine. There is a 確かな virtue in that blend, but not the 肉親，親類d you 要求するd on that particular evening."

Tydvil smiled reminiscently. "I was a 犠牲者 of circumstances; a fragment of life caught and 投げ上げる／ボディチェックするd about in a whirlpool of chance."

"It sounds やめる poetical when you put it that way," said Nicholas 投げ上げる／ボディチェックするing a match into the grate. "But there are 確かな いっそう少なく poetically minded people—people like Billy Brewer, for instance—who would say that you went on a binge and made a night of it."

"Vulgar people, perhaps, would look at it that way," Tydvil agreed. "But why 分裂（する） hairs. To get 支援する to the 回答者／被告. It is possible that some link with Brewer's earlier 協会 with Hilda Cranston may be (1)偽造する／(2)徐々に進むd in 法廷，裁判所 that would lead to 司法（官） 存在 done that I 疑問 if Mr. Cranston deserves."

"It seems as though we are 軍隊d into a 高度に immoral position," 観察するd Nicholas. "ーするために 妨げる Cranston from 得るing the 司法（官） you very rightly, say he does not deserve, I, who by 権利s should 味方する against the angels, must clog the wheels of the 法律 to 援助（する） them."

"I'm sure the angels will be relieved," said Tydvil, "to see you doing good by stealth, 特に if you blush to find it fame."

"Should anything go wrong, you would be the one to do the blushing," grinned Nicholas. "However, I 受託する the 乱暴／暴力を加える to my professional 倫理学."

"What about the gentleman of the 妨げる／法廷，弁護士業?" asked Tydvil.

"I have compared the 各々の 記録，記録的な／記録するs of Mr. Max Mendax with those of the counsel for the petitioner and 回答者／被告. In professional attainments and 欠如（する） of scruple there is not much to choose between them."

"Then you will have no trouble—it will be two to one," Tydvil 示唆するd.

"That will be a factor in our favour," agreed Nicholas. "But only Mr. 司法（官） Mainwaring and I are aware of the extent to which he is indebted to me—in fact I am depending 大部分は on such suggestions as I will make to him during the 審理，公聴会. Of course, I can 誘発する counsel where necessary also."

"井戸／弁護士席, I leave it to you with perfect 信用／信任," said Tydvil relieved.

Nicholas nodded. "I have already, 影響（力）d Mr. Mendax against his first 決定／判定勝ち（する） to call you as a 証言，証人／目撃する." Tydvil whistled. "Thanks for the escape."

"Yes," Nicholas went on, "after he had gone through his 簡潔な／要約する I 示唆するd to him that your 証拠 would sound so fishy under cross-examination, that it would not be 安全な to put you in the box."

"What a friend you are, Nicholas." There was a hint of sarcasm in his 発言する／表明する.

Nicholas grinned in 返答. "More than you think, my boy. There's a dashed inquisitive police 視察官 at Russell Street who is becoming more and more 納得させるd that Tydvil Jones knows more than he should know about Basil Williams. And," he 追加するd, "if you had any trouble in the 証言，証人／目撃する box, he might find out more than you would care for him to know."

"ネズミs to him!" Tydvil was unconcerned. "Let him find out what he likes. Nice ass he would look if he tried to place the facts before a （法廷の）裁判 of 治安判事s."

"There's something in that," agreed Nicholas. "But, in any 事例／患者, you may make your mind 平易な about Brewer."

There was one other person who was profoundly 苦しめるd by the 差し迫った 事例／患者. Amy, who was not usually a reader of the 法律 名簿（に載せる）／表（にあげる）, happened to notice the 指名する "Brewer" as she skimmed over her paper. In its 協会 with that of Cranston, and remembering the police 法廷，裁判所 事例／患者, her perturbation was natural. Never during her 協会 with William, had the 支配する been について言及するd between them. Now, jealousy entered her soul.

For her own 推論する／理由s, Amy was a little shy at 尋問 Tydvil on the 支配する. Latterly the 驚くべき／特命の／臨時の change in her husband had been 原因（となる）ing her no little 関心. By some means that were beyond her comprehension, he had 後継するd in escaping her 当局. He was truculent under cross-examination, and his language to her had occasionally, been almost vulgar. He 絶対 辞退するd to explain his almost constant absences from his dinner in the evening and his chronically late hours. Moreover, he was 完全に neglecting his social services in a most 苦しめるing manner.

Only that morning, when she had reminded him that she had arranged for him to 演説（する）／住所 a 会合 of the 委員会 of the Little Mothers' Guild at the Vicarage, he had replied that if she thought he was going to waste his time lapping milk with a bunch of she cats, she was dashed 井戸／弁護士席 mistaken.

Her indignant, but, in the circumstances, 抑制するd rebuke, had called 前へ／外へ a most disgraceful analogy regarding she cats and little mothers that had shocked Amy inexpressibly.

However, her curiosity regarding the 事例／患者 誘発するd her to bring up the 支配する at breakfast on the に引き続いて morning. Breakfast was now about the only time at which she could be sure of 会合 her husband.

掴むing what she thought was a favourable 適切な時期 to break in on his attention to his newspaper, she said, "Oh, Tydvil dear! I saw in yesterday's paper that there was a 離婚 事例／患者 coming on in which Cranston and Brewer are について言及するd. I 信用 that is not the Mr. Brewer you 雇う."

"Yes it is, and the Mr. Cranston, too," replied Tydvil すぐに. "What of it?"

"But, my dear Tydvil, I can scarcely believe it," she 抗議するd.

"Why not?" （機の）カム from the opposite end of the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する. The 発言する／表明する was やめる indifferent.

"井戸／弁護士席, I thought that your Mr. Brewer was such a superior man," Amy 投機・賭けるd. "What is it all about?"

Tydvil, scarcely looking up from his paper, gave her a 簡潔な／要約する 再開する of Cranston's 主張s in English so plain that Amy blushed.

"Tydvil!" she exclaimed in shocked amazement. "井戸／弁護士席, you asked me!"

"But, surely, to your wife, you might have chosen your words more carefully," she 抗議するd 怒って.

"Look here, Amy," he said impatiently, "however the 事柄 is put it means the same thing."

"It appears to me, Tydvil dear, you are strangely indifferent on such a 墓／厳粛／彫る／重大な 事柄."

"What do you want me to do? Weep?" he 需要・要求するd.

"I should have thought that if there were any ground for such a 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 you would have taken strong 活動／戦闘," she said 厳しく.

"Poppycock!" said Tydvil rudely. "How the ジュース do I know if there is any ground for it until the 事例／患者 is heard?"

"I, for one, don't believe it for a moment," Amy 主張するd with 有罪の判決.

"Pha! What do you know about it?" Outwardly, Tydvil was derisive. Inwardly he was 泡ing with mischievous mirth.

"From the little I've seen of him, that Mr. Brewer seemed a very nice man, not the 肉親，親類d to be 伴う／関わるd in such a disgraceful 事件／事情／状勢," said Amy 温かく.

"And that," retorted Tydvil, "just shows what a rotten 裁判官 of character you are. Brewer's the best salesman in town, but from what I hear, he makes love to every woman he 会合，会うs."

Had Tydvil thrown a brick at Amy he could not have given her a greater shock. But she would not believe him. For the 残りの人，物 of the meal, she 大きくするd on the 支配する of gossip and スキャンダル. She held no 簡潔な／要約する for Mr. Brewer, she 主張するd, but Tydvil should not listen to such 声明s, much いっそう少なく repeat them.

Tydvil 苦しむd the lecture with carefully 隠すd amusement. He 差し控えるd from replying or defending himself. He had 発射 his dart, and was content to let it rankle. And he could tell from her 発言する／表明する that it did rankle.

Later that day, Amy's 負傷させるd feelings received their much needed balm from the （疑いを）晴らす-注目する，もくろむd 保証／確信 of a young man in the Botanic Gardens, that he was the 犠牲者 of malice and a mistaken 身元. On his honour, he 公約するd that he had only met Mrs. Cranston once in his life, and had never felt the slightest 願望（する） to 会合，会う her again.

Later in life, Mr. 司法（官） Mainwaring was wont to 言及する to Cranston v. Cranston as a 事例／患者 peculiar for the consistency and brazen 質 of its 偽証.

Once more the 戦う／戦い 激怒（する）d 一連の会議、交渉／完成する the 黒人／ボイコット-注目する，もくろむ of William Brewer. For three hours in the 証言，証人／目撃する box, Cranston blackened Billy's character by 固執するing to his 声明 that William Brewer of Craddock, 燃やすs and Despard, and no other, was his wife's companion at his home on that night in August. He had known Brewer for twelve years and could not be mistaken. At the time of their 遭遇（する）, Brewer did not have a 黒人／ボイコット 注目する，もくろむ. If he had one later in the evening, it had been 得るd in a scuffle that had occurred in Cranston's home, or, perhaps, in his attack on other 証言，証人／目撃するs.

にもかかわらず Mr. Mendax's gruelling cross-examination Cranston stuck to his guns that the 訪問者 he had 設立する in his house was Brewer. The two 私立探偵s 支援するd their 雇用者 vigorously. They knew Brewer 井戸／弁護士席 by 外見. Mr. Mendax had not much trouble with the 追求するing 証言，証人／目撃するs, though, they 主張するd roundly that the Brewer in 法廷，裁判所 was the man they had 追求するd.

The policeman, who had not forgotten the 強襲，強姦 on his person or his dignity, was emphatic, as he saw the corespondent under the lights at the corner of Acland and Fitzroy Streets, that he could not be mistaken in the man, though he 認める the one he 逮捕（する）d did have a 黒人／ボイコット 注目する，もくろむ.

At the の近くに of the 事例／患者 for the petitioner the 見通し for Billy Brewer was decidedly sombre.

Things began to look up, however, when Billy accounted for his movements on the night in question. When he was 支援するd staunchly by his host and hostess of the evening, who stuck to the 黒人／ボイコット- 注目する，もくろむd Brewer and all his 作品, Mr. 司法（官） Mainwaring began to be peevish.

When counsel for the petitioner endeavoured to discredit them by asking whether one Tydvil Jones, merchant of Melbourne, had not given 証拠 in another 法廷，裁判所 to the 影響 that Brewer had been working in his office until late on the night in question, Mr. Mendax 介入するd. In the 続いて起こるing 合法的な 空中戦／乱闘, during which Mr. 司法（官） Mainwaring 厳しく rebuked both counsel, the question was disallowed. He 示唆するd that either 味方する had been する権利を与えるd to call the 証言，証人／目撃する Jones if they wished.

行方不明になる Geraldine Brand went into the 証言，証人／目撃する box with some trepidation but with her chin up.

Yes she was 井戸／弁護士席 熟知させるd with the co-回答者／被告.

Unhurriedly and 正確に she 関係のある that she had seen a man, who closely 似ているd Brewer, speaking to the 回答者／被告 の近くに to His Majesty's Theatre at 8 o'clock on the night in question.

She was 確かな it was not Brewer, because he did not have a 黒人／ボイコット 注目する，もくろむ.

It was when Geraldine was 手渡すd over to counsel for the petitioner for cross-examination that something impelled her to turn her 注目する，もくろむs to the 観客s in 法廷，裁判所. They fell on a very distinguished 長，率いる with a touch of grey on either 寺. The 注目する，もくろむs belonging to the 長，率いる were alive with amusement. Geraldine was suddenly 掴むd with a 燃やすing 願望（する） to poke out her tongue at that very distinguished 長，率いる.

So far she had escaped without 当惑, but she felt the presence of Mr. 上級の boded no good.

As counsel rose to his feet and 投げ上げる／ボディチェックするd 支援する his gown, she distinctly heard a 発言する／表明する whisper の近くに to her ear, "Is it still war?"

She knew that 発言する／表明する, and she gave her thoughts 解放する／自由な rein regarding its owner. Had they become 声の she would have staggered the 法廷，裁判所. That they reached their ーするつもりであるd 目的地 she was aware from the smile that twitched at Mr. 上級の's lips.

Again the 発言する／表明する whispered very distinctly: "War it is! I have just put an idea into that learned gentleman's 長，率いる that is going to make you very uncomfortable."

"Now, 行方不明になる Brand," grated counsel. "You say you have known the co-回答者／被告, Brewer, for five years?"

"Yes."

"And you think you could not have been mistaken in 説 that it was not Brewer who you saw 近づく the theatre?"

"I am 確かな it was not."

"Because he did not 所有する this famous 黒人／ボイコット 注目する，もくろむ we have heard so much about?"

"Yes."

"At what time did you first see Brewer that day?"

"About nine o'clock."

"Where was he then?"

"In Mr. Jones's 私的な office."

"Were you alone with him?"

As Geraldine 滞るd "Yes," mingled 恐れる and 怒り／怒る （機の）カム to her. She felt sure she knew who was the actual 質問者.

"Did he have the 黒人／ボイコット 注目する，もくろむ then, 行方不明になる Brand?"

Geraldine ちらりと見ることd に向かって Nicholas. As she did, a 発言する／表明する said gently in her ear, "I'll teach you to call me approbrious 指名するs, you red-長，率いるd baggage."

Turning to counsel, she snapped, "You 臆病な／卑劣な brute!"

"How dare you 演説（する）／住所 counsel in such 条件!" 雷鳴d Mr. 司法（官） Mainwaring in the sensation 原因（となる）d by her 突発／発生.

More staggered than His Honour was Geraldine, who had involuntarily 投げつけるd at counsel the thought she ーするつもりであるd for Nicholas, instead of the "No" she wished to say. "I beg your Honour's 容赦, I did not mean to say that," she stammered.

"If there is any その上の 不品行／姦通 of the 肉親，親類d, 証言，証人／目撃する, I 警告する you I will を取り引きする you very 厳しく," glared the 乱暴／暴力を加えるd 裁判官.

"Please, your Honour! I was upset because there is a man in the 団体／死体 of the 法廷，裁判所 making most 侮辱ing gestures at me," Geraldine 主張するd 熱心に.

"A man in...Point him out to me, 証言，証人／目撃する!" snapped the 裁判官.

There was 勝利 in Geraldine's heart as she turned and pointed. "It is the tall, dark man, third from that end in the second 列／漕ぐ／騒動."

All 注目する，もくろむs in 法廷，裁判所 were turned on the 位置／汚点／見つけ出す she 示すd.

His Honour 星／主役にするd, and then 星／主役にするd at Geraldine suspiciously. "Which tall, dark man, 証言，証人／目撃する?" he 需要・要求するd.

"The third from the end, sir! The clean shaven man with the dark 注目する，もくろむs," she said 熱望して.

Once again Mr. 司法（官） Mainwaring 星／主役にするd from 位置／汚点／見つけ出す to 証言，証人／目撃する and 支援する again. "Stand up that third man from the end of the second 列／漕ぐ／騒動."

Mr. 上級の stood at attention.

"Is that the tall, dark, clean-shaven man?" 公正に／かなり roared His Honour.

"Yes, sir!" Then her 神経 almost broke. As she looked 支援する from the （法廷の）裁判 she saw a small, bent 人物／姿／数字 of a shabby old man standing where, a moment before, Nicholas had towered. He had a long, straggly 耐えるd, and his weak grey 注目する，もくろむs were magnified with large, 厚い glasses.

From the （法廷の）裁判 behind the 妨げる／法廷，弁護士業 （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する, she saw Billy's 直面する turned up to her in uncomprehending びっくり仰天.

Then her 注目する，もくろむs turned 支援する to Mr. 司法（官） Mainwaring, whose 面 was so far from benevolent that she looked あわてて away again.

"証言，証人／目撃する," （機の）カム a 冷淡な, uncompromising 発言する／表明する from the （法廷の）裁判, "I fail to understand whether you are trifling with the 法廷，裁判所, whether this is very ill-timed impertinence, or whether you are in your 権利 mind. But—if you dare to repeat your 驚くべき／特命の／臨時の behaviour I shall commit you for contempt. Indeed, I think I am too lenient in not doing so now. Proceed, Mr. Bingleton!"

As His Honour 結論するd his 尊敬の印 to Geraldine, （機の）カム again the still small 発言する／表明する in her ear: "You should have brought that long spoon into 法廷，裁判所 with you, Geraldine, my dear."

"You say, 行方不明になる Brand, that when you saw Brewer alone in Mr. Jones's office at nine o'clock, he did not have a 黒人／ボイコット 注目する，もくろむ?"

"That is so," she was much meeker.

"At what time did he acquire this decoration?"

"About twenty minutes later." How she hated that Nicholas.

"Did you 証言，証人／目撃する the 事故, 行方不明になる Brand?"

"Yes," 滞るd Geraldine. The thought of the next question turned her 冷淡な.

"Just explain to the 法廷，裁判所 how it happened."

"He knocked it against something," she temporarised. "Against something—what thing?"

There was a long pause.

"Come, come! 行方不明になる Brand, what was it?"

"Answer the question, 証言，証人／目撃する!" from the （法廷の）裁判. "My 手渡す," 滞るd 行方不明になる Brand.

"Let us get this やめる （疑いを）晴らす, 証言，証人／目撃する," （機の）カム Mr. Bingleton's suave, persuasive 発言する／表明する. "Did Brewer knock against your 手渡す, or did your 手渡す knock against Brewer?"

Geraldine sped a 前向きに／確かに poisonous look at the man third from the end of the second 列／漕ぐ／騒動 in the 団体／死体, of the 法廷，裁判所, and answered, "My 手渡す knocked against him."

"Ah!" exclaimed Mr. Bingleton, as one who has made a pleasing 発見.

"And did your 手渡す happen to be clenched, 行方不明になる Brand?"

"Yes," murmured the 哀れな Geraldine, wishing she had Mr. 上級の somewhere 解放する／自由な from 観察.

"So, 行方不明になる Brand, we can assume that at about twenty minutes past nine that morning, alone in Mr. Jones's office, you punched the co-回答者／被告 in the 注目する，もくろむ so 厳しく that you blackened it?"

There was no answer.

Mr. Bingleton took the silence for assent, and asked, in silky トンs, "Just why did you blacken Brewer's 注目する，もくろむ, 行方不明になる Brand?"

"For nothing," she answered 猛烈に.

"証言，証人／目撃する! Do you mean to tell the 法廷，裁判所 that you are in the habit of punching men in the 注目する，もくろむ for nothing?" 厳しく 需要・要求するd Mr. 司法（官） Mainwaring.

"No, sir," said Geraldine weakly.

"Then I 警告する you not to prevaricate! Answer counsel's question."

Geraldine took a (n)艦隊／(a)素早いing look at Billy's 直面する that was 登録（する）ing 激しい sympathy.

"He kissed me!" The whispered words were 際立った in the silent 法廷，裁判所, and 解放（する）d a wave of laughter.

"Silence! Silence!" roared the 整然とした.

"If there is a repetition of that disgraceful behaviour I shall have the 法廷，裁判所 （疑いを）晴らすd!" 雷鳴d Mr. 司法（官） Mainwaring.

Geraldine's thoughts at the moment may be imagined from the fact that those who were sitting on either 味方する of the third man from the end of the second 列／漕ぐ／騒動 noticed that he started as though something had stung him.

"So," continued Mr. Bingleton, "the co-回答者／被告 took advantage of your unprotected 明言する／公表する and kissed you, and you, in defence of your 乱暴／暴力を加えるd modesty, punched him in the 注目する，もくろむ."

Geraldine looked 哀れな, but made no reply.

"井戸／弁護士席," he continued, "now we know all about the famous 黒人／ボイコット 注目する，もくろむ, and some more of the character of the co-回答者／被告. Thank you, 行方不明になる Brand, that will do."

The look Geraldine turned on Mr. Bingleton as she left the 証言，証人／目撃する box, 納得させるd that gentleman that she was in a mood to serve out another 黒人／ボイコット 注目する，もくろむ, and that he could easily be its 受取人.

It was late that day, that Mr. 司法（官） Mainwaring 観察するd, の中で other things, that the only fact that 現れるd from the 証拠 was that all the 証言，証人／目撃するs were lying.

He utterly 辞退するd to believe any 声明 made by any one of them. The 証言，証人／目撃する Cranston was viciously malicious. His two 探偵，刑事s were men whose characters forbade credence. He held his own opinion on the 不本意 of both 味方するs to call in the 証言，証人／目撃する from the lesser 法廷，裁判所, Tydvil Jones, who might have thrown some light on the slimy morass of 回避 and falsehood. Brewer might be innocent, but if so, he did not behave as an innocent man. The silence of the 回答者／被告 was a 著名な feature of the 事例／患者.

The 法廷，裁判所, he 観察するd in 結論, though willing to give every consideration to fact, would not 試みる／企てる to 差別する の中で falsehoods. For that 推論する／理由 he 解任するd the 嘆願（書）. Each 味方する should 支払う／賃金 its own costs.

As Geraldine left the 法廷，裁判所, still boiling with fury, she overtook Nicholas. "Devil!" she hissed in his ear.

"At your service, my dear young lady; now and always," he smiled serenely.

CHAPTER XXXI

It was little なぐさみ to Geraldine that in both the evening and morning papers the 圧力（をかける） photographers had done her ample 司法（官）. The caption beneath the pictures of herself that conspicuously decorated every account of the 事例／患者, were flattering but facetious. She did not like to see herself 述べるd as "Geraldine Brand, the lovely girl with the lively left." Beneath another she read, "Who wouldn't 危険 a 黒人／ボイコット 注目する，もくろむ?" But her sense of humour （機の）カム to the 救助（する） as she and Billy discussed the events of the afternoon.

Billy was fighting mad when he heard of Nicholas's 株 in her tribulations, and it was only with difficulty that she made him recognise the utter futility of any 試みる／企てる at 報復s.

Geraldine's own 感情s に向かって Mr. 上級の were 現実に いっそう少なく friendly than those of Billy. To her, it was （疑いを）晴らす that in the 法廷，裁判所, she alone, saw him as the tall, distinguished stranger. To the others he must have appeared as the bent and bearded septuagenarian. The 展示 she had made of herself in her 試みる／企てる at 報復 made her boil when she thought of it. What perturbed her most was her own unquestioning 受託 of Tydvil's explanation of Nicholas's 身元, preposterous as it was.

にもかかわらず that knowledge, she wondered at her 欠如（する） of 恐れる. During her 簡潔な／要約する interview with Nicholas in Tydvil's room she had experienced a fascination she could not resist. Again, as on her first 遭遇（する）, she had felt the 衝撃 of 力／強力にする that radiated from him. Behind the banter of his words, and the sardonic humour of his 注目する，もくろむs, she sensed something terrible that was beyond her comprehension. Whatever it was it did not 影響する／感情 her as 存在 evil, nor had it 脅すd her. Her feeling was more of awe than anything else.

にもかかわらず, intuition 警告するd her that there was 危険，危なくする in the fascination he 演習d. A shudder went through her at the thought of the 可能性s that might be masked by the almost irresistibly attractive humanity he had assumed. Tydvil, she recognised, had taken him at his 額面価格. Geraldine was not 深く，強烈に 宗教的な. Her wholesome 良心 was her 長，指導者 guide and 後見人. Her ありふれた sense 拒絶するd the 原則 of evil as 存在 具体的に表現するd in horns, hooves and barbed tail as ludicrous. She felt that the Nicholas 上級の she had met could be more dangerous than any 合成物 zoological 創造 of mediaeval ecclesiastical imagination.

Since knowledge of the truth regarding Tydvil had come to her, she had turned over in her mind the incongruousness of Nicholas busying himself with Tydvil's petty 事件／事情／状勢s and escapades. It seemed like using, a mountain to 鎮圧する a gnat, until she 反映するd that Tydvil would be but one の中で millions who were 存在 影響する／感情d by the same 影響（力）, unseen and unknown to her.

But there had 徐々に grown up in her a 猛烈な／残忍な 決意 to save Tydvil in spite of himself. It was more a desperate 解決する to match herself against the unseen 軍隊 than to 保護する Tydvil from the consequences of his folly. Her animosity against Nicholas 上級の had become violently personal. He had roused a dauntless spirit that nested under her 炎上ing helmet. Taking Nicholas on his own valuation she argued to herself that he must be 攻撃を受けやすい. Nothing was invulnerable in the Universe but the will of its Creator. Therefore, somewhere, Nicholas had a 位置／汚点／見つけ出す through which he could be struck.

But her first 障害s were in Billy, who looked askance at her taking the 危険 of fighting Nicholas, and in Tydvil himself, who was either blind or indifferent to her 危険，危なくする.

Though Billy was 深く，強烈に impressed by Nicholas's activities, his antagonism was very human and natural. He 勧めるd on Gerry that Nicholas was a 汚い bit of work with which she had no need to become 伴う／関わるd.

"Look, Gerry!" he said when they discussed the question, "if Tyddie is 襲う，襲って強奪する enough to get himself mixed up with all the devils in Hades, why should you 危険 getting singed fighting his 戦う／戦いs?"

"Tell me," she 需要・要求するd, "what I looked like yesterday when I pointed out the tall, dark stranger to that old savage, Mainwaring?"

Billy strove manfully, but failed to hide his mirth at the recollection.

Geraldine reached for, and 得るd, a 会社／堅い handful of hair, and shook her finger in a 直面する that was incapable of 回避. "Yes, Billy, laugh! Go on, laugh! I know I looked like a prize idiot. Just as I did when I called that pompous ass Bingleton a brute. He was, too. But who 原因（となる）d it all? Tell me that!"

"Crikey, Gerry!" gurgled Billy. "I didn't...Leggo my hair! Do you want a bald husband?"

But Gerry, 無視（する）ing his 抗議するs, went on. "Nicholas 上級の He did it. He's the man I'm after. Do you think I'm letting him get away with that?"

"Poor Devil!" grinned Billy as she 放棄するd her 持つ／拘留する. "He'll wish himself home again if you do get a strangle 持つ／拘留する on him."

"Oh, if only I knew how!" Her 発言する／表明する was 深い in its 誠実 of 目的.

"Some of those evangelical parsons talk of 格闘するing with the Devil," Billy 投機・賭けるd. "You might engage one to train you."

"Idiot!" murmured Geraldine. "Can't you think of anything?"

"Come here!" He held out his 武器 and Gerry 答える／応じるd. As she settled herself comfortably, he said, "How about trying to 説得する him to 交換（する） Tyddie for Amy? Then everyone would be happy."

"Except Mr. Nicholas 上級の. Do you think he's that sort of fool?" she said disdainfully. "Would you 交換（する） Tyddie for Amy?"

"Lord forbid!" replied Billy piously.

"井戸／弁護士席, why should he? Although," she 追加するd, "I should think Amy would be a far greater 資産 for his 目的s."

"What I can't understand about Tyddie is why, if he did want to go on the binge, he didn't come to me, instead of going to the Devil." Billy's 発言する／表明する sounded as though he felt Tydvil's judgment was at fault.

Smothered by the lapel of his coat, he heard a chuckle. "What's so funny about that?" he 需要・要求するd.

"Nothing, dearest," （機の）カム from his lapel. "I was just thinking it might have 量d to the same thing."

"What you deserve is..." he began.

She raised her 直面する to him.

There was a long pause, and then as he looked 負かす／撃墜する into the laughing 注目する，もくろむs again, he said, "You didn't deserve that, anyway. What you really deserve, is to be married to Nicholas 上級の— you'd make a 罰金 pair."

"If he got what he deserved, he would be married to Amy."

"I didn't think you were so vindictive, Gerry."

"When I think of those two I could bite them both," she said. "That cat, Amy, is just as much to 非難する for everything as Nicholas is."

"Urn! Maybe you're 権利. Poor old Tyddie didn't have much chance between them."

"And," she went on, "don't forget that （疑いを）晴らす Amy is under the happy impression, that you, William Brewer, are her 有罪の partner in her 炎上ing romance!"

"Makes me 脅すd stiff to think of it," Billy 認める. "Lord! Who'd have thought that Tyddie would put that across dear Amy?"

"I'm not worrying about her," Geraldine replied. "But if Tyddie lets you in for any more trouble, I'm going to make him wish he'd never been born."

"Yes, and if Amy gets 持つ／拘留する of me in mistake for Tyddie, I'll be wishing the same wish."

"Then, there will be three of you with but a 選び出す／独身 thought," Geraldine 解放（する）d herself. "Because, when I'm finished with Amy, her 見通し on life is going to be very 荒涼とした."

"There was a time," Billy 観察するd as his 注目する，もくろむs took in the picture made by Gerry as she straightened her disordered hair before the Tydvil's mirror, "when I had a 評判 for enjoying a 捨てる. But I was the dove of peace compared with you, darlint."

"It's not fighting I love, Billy," she 保証するd him.

He caught sight of the reflection of her 直面する in the mirror. A minute later he was shooed out of the room by a Geraldine who 需要・要求するd to be 知らせるd if he thought she had nothing to do but 徹底的に捜す her hair every five minutes.

When Tydvil arrived at the office that morning, his humour was joyous and mischievous. He （機の）カム in with the morning papers under his arm, and placed them on the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する without a word, but with 挑発的な 意図. Each 上昇傾向d page 陳列する，発揮するd a portrait of his 長官. He left them there, an incitement to 戦争 during the whole of their morning 決まりきった仕事. As a challenge to Geraldine's 拒絶 to notice them, he paused now and again in his 口述 to admire his picture 展示, and to compare the portraits with the 初めの.

Said Geraldine, as she began to collect her papers, "If you had been a 不正に brought-up schoolboy, your behaviour might be excusable; as the 長，率いる of C. B. & D., it's disgraceful."

"You're certainly in a position to criticise my behaviour." His laugh was derisive. "Who was it used abusive language to an 著名な counsel? Who was it who tried to pull the 脚 of the 最高裁判所 裁判官? Who was it nearly had herself run in for 法廷侮辱（罪）? You, to talk of disgraceful behaviour!"

"I suppose," her 発言する／表明する was 十分な of menace, "you, and your very distinguished and noble friend, Mr. 上級の, have been enjoying the ridicule I underwent."

"井戸／弁護士席, yes," Tydvil 答える／応じるd. "To be honest, I think enjoying is the 訂正する word."

"It's refreshing to find you honest about anything these days."

"The 傷害 was 明らかに inflected by a blunt 武器; probably a girl's tongue," said Tydvil to his blotting pad. "傷害!" She 匂いをかぐd disdainfully.

He leaned 今後 on his 倍のd 武器 on his （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する. "You might have been more 懐柔的な to Mr. 上級の, you know, Geraldine. Without 持つ／拘留するing a 簡潔な／要約する for him, you rather asked for what happened."

"懐柔的な! You can do what you please, but understand this, I'd rather be 妥協d by him any day than 妥協 with him."

"You have no idea what a delightful companion he can be."

"It's for that very 推論する／理由 that I'm taking no 危険s," she 主張するd. Then, pointing to the open papers on the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する, she went on, "Do you think I liked those?"

He grinned mischievously. "I would unhesitatingly 受託する your 保証／確信 that you didn't." Then, after a pause, "There was someone who liked them almost いっそう少なく than you did."

"I have one friend 明らかに."

"Not やめる a friend, I'm afraid." He leaned 支援する in his 議長，司会を務める. "To tell you the truth, it was a high moral 当局 who 示唆するd at length, and with some 強調, that my 長官 was a blot on society and やめる unfitted for intimate 接触する with the proprietor of C. B. & .D."

Danger signals flashed into Geraldine's 直面する. "If I am tainting the high moral atmosphere of C. B. & D., and its 高度に, moral proprietor, the sooner I 除去する the blot the better."

"You dare, you wild cat, and by Jove, I'll—I'll 告訴する you for 違反 of 契約 or something awful!" He laughed.

"Do you think I'd let you house a blot on society?"

"Geraldine! In the first place, no Moral 当局, however high, is 許すd to 干渉する with my 管理／経営 of C. B. &.D. In the second place, にもかかわらず the fury of your temper, I like you too much to 許す you to go." There was no mistaking the 誠実 of his 発言する／表明する as he smiled up at the angry girl.

"Oh, Tyddie, you are a mischievous demon!" The "Tyddie" slipped out unconsciously.

"That's better! Friends again?" There was something of a schoolboy in his engaging grin.

She laughed. "But what about the High Moral 当局?"

His 注目する，もくろむs twinkled. "You may not believe it, Geraldine, but I derive a かなりの 量 of enjoyment from 失望させるing the High Moral 当局."

She looked at him speculatively. "Yes," she said slowly, "I can やめる believe that."

He started up. "Oh, by Jove, I'd almost forgotten! Sit 負かす／撃墜する again and take this 公式文書，認める."

Geraldine 再開するd her seat, pencil in 手渡す,

"Dear Sir," dictated Tydvil. "Will you kindly 受託する this as a notification that I am disassociating myself from the activities of your society, and 願望（する） my 指名する to be 除去するd from the 名簿（に載せる）／表（にあげる） of members?"

From his wallet Tydvil drew a paper and passed it over to Geraldine. "You will find here a 名簿（に載せる）／表（にあげる） of seventeen philanthropic societies. I want you to send a copy of that 公式文書，認める to the 長官 of each one."

Geraldine 星／主役にするd up from the 名簿（に載せる）／表（にあげる） to Tydvil. "I wonder," she said thoughtfully, "what the High Moral 当局 will say to that?"

"It scarcely 耐えるs contemplation," chuckled Tydvil. "井戸／弁護士席," commented Geraldine, "there are always Gippsland and the tall 木材／素質."

She stood up and walked に向かって the door, but hesitated. Then she returned and, walking 一連の会議、交渉／完成する the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する, stood beside it.

Seeing her 不決断 he looked up. "Come, Geraldine, out with whatever it is."

"Do you know the date?" she asked.

He ちらりと見ることd at the date 封鎖する on his （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する. "October 18th, unless you have neglected to change my 封鎖する. What of it?"

"There are just seventeen days before November the fourth." Her 発言する／表明する was very serious.

His 直面する was expressionless as he replied: "That will be the day after Cup Day."

"Oh, please, please Tyddie, be serious!" she pleaded. "You know you told me that that dreadful 法案 was 予定 on the fourth."

His 注目する，もくろむs searched her 直面する. "I believe, Geraldine, you really are worried."

"Oh! How can I help 存在 worried? You don't seem to realise; you're blind to what it means. I—I want to help." The 深い 関心 for him was very real.

"Will you believe me when I say the prospect does not worry me in the slightest degree?" There could be no 疑問 he meant what he said.

"But..." she began.

"Listen, Geraldine," he interrupted, "I went into this with my 注目する，もくろむs wide open. It was a 反乱 against circumstances. I have had, and will continue to have, my fun. I am not going to squeal about the price of it."

"But, Tyddie," her 発言する／表明する told the affection she felt for him, "there must be a way out. Would you not take it if there were?"

Tydvil raised his eyebrows. "You're far more 楽観的な than I am. In fact, the 可能性 of 避けるing the 法案 is so remote that I have never even considered it."

"But would you take the 適切な時期 if there were one?"

"井戸／弁護士席," he replied thoughtfully, "the 言い回し of the 裏書，是認 is explicit, so that I would be やめる within my 権利 to do it, and," he 追加するd, "I やめる believe Mr. 上級の would 受託する the 状況／情勢 philosophically."

"I 疑問 it." Geraldine wrinkled her dainty nose disdainfully.

"Maybe you do, my dear girl," Tydvil smiled up at her, "but I have always 設立する him to be a gentleman and a sportsman in every sense of the word." He paused and went on, "And that is more than I can say of any 選び出す／独身 one of my former pious associates."

"Was it a sportsman who baited me yesterday?" Geraldine's indignation flashed up.

Tydvil chuckled. "I 収容する／認める it must have been rather harrowing for you. But remember, you challenged him; and remember, too, that he might as easily as have made the rebuke a thousand times worse."

"Staggered at his own moderation, no 疑問." Geraldine laughed in spite of herself.

"Anyway," Tydvil said, "if I'm not worrying, you needn't."

"But I am worrying, and I'm going on worrying," 固執するd Geraldine.

Tydvil raised his 手渡すs in 降伏する. "From toothache, flat tyres and all contumacious women, Good Lord 配達する us."

Mr. Tydvil Jones's 私的な 長官 looked her 雇用者 straight in the 注目する，もくろむ, and protruded the tip of a pink tongue at him in 審議する／熟考する derision as she turned に向かって the door. Far from 表明するing 怒り／怒る at her rudeness, Mr. Tydvil Jones laughed heartily at the gesture.

As her 手渡す was on the door-knob he called, "Geraldine!"

She paused.

"I want you to give that Billy of yours a message."

"井戸／弁護士席!"

"Tell him to put every penny he can spare on 'Thundercloud' for the Cup," was the astonishing direction.

"You..." Geraldine's 在庫／株 of vituperative reply was so unfit for 消費 that she left it unspoken. "Don't you know I'm trying to break him of those habits?" she 需要・要求するd.

"A dying ぱたぱたする," 説得するd Tydvil.

"Why should he?" she asked indignantly.

"Tell him I have one hundred 続けざまに猛撃するs on," he grinned. "Perhaps he can take a hint にもかかわらず the puritan 良心 of his fiancee."

"He's saving for our home; and he won't waste his money that way," she retorted.

"He'll be able to buy and furnish the house if he takes my advice," replied the 副／悪徳行為-大統領 of the Anti-賭事ing League.

"More likely to lose our house and furniture," she retorted.

"The bookmakers are laying three hundred to one against Thundercloud," murmured the 発言する／表明する of Tydvil the tempter. "Twenty 続けざまに猛撃するs carefully 投資するd would return six thousand."

"I'll tell him no such thing," hissed the 決定するd damsel as she disappeared through the door, cutting the discussion short.

にもかかわらず, as a 冷笑的な Tydvil 推定する／予想するd, the advice did reach Billy Brewer; not as a 推薦 to 受託する it, but as a 警告 against the wiles of Tydvil in particular, and against 支援 horses in general.

Billy virtuously disclaimed any 意向 of 賭事ing. In any 事例／患者, he 申し立てられた／疑わしい that his opinion of Thundercloud's chances for the Cup was far more 悲観的な than that of the bookmakers.

During the afternoon, however, he gave the 事柄 furtive but serious consideration. He had very scant 尊敬（する）・点 of Thundercloud, but he had a very 広大な／多数の／重要な 尊敬（する）・点 for Tydvil's 保守主義 in money 事柄s. He 反映するd that though Tyddie was lavish with his money for charities, 財政／金融ing bookmakers to the extent of one hundred 続けざまに猛撃するs would not be likely to 適合する to his idea of charity.

Tyddie must have had a tip from someone. Who? Nicholas 上級の, was the only answer to that question.

Next morning Billy spent some of his 雇用者's time in putting twenty 続けざまに猛撃するs on Thundercloud with as many bookmakers. One of these 保証するd him cheerfully that the horse was not 価値（がある） half of the twenty shillings 投資するd on him.

It was by no means on moral grounds that Amy had 勧めるd Tydvil to rid the office of the miasmatic presence of that "Brand girl," as she elected to call Geraldine. Amy was a very troubled and a very jealous woman. When she read the story of Billy's 黒人／ボイコット 注目する，もくろむ, that had been torn from Geraldine in the 証言，証人／目撃する box, Amy saw yellow.

The more she thought, the more bewildered she became. That night William had sought 避難 from a sudden indisposition, he had not a 黒人／ボイコット 注目する，もくろむ. Yet, unless that Brand girl had committed 偽証, he most certainly should have had one. Of course, that Brand girl was just the sort or creature who would 誘惑する a man into kissing her, and a woman like that would not hesitate to perjure herself, Amy 推論する／理由d. Women of that type were a 肯定的な menace to every man they met. Of course, Tydvil was too simple and ignorant of women to understand.

Although by now she felt sure that the 混乱 had arisen from a mistaken 身元, and that にもかかわらず the 証拠 her William had not been 伴う／関わるd with that dreadful Cranston woman, Amy felt 激怒（する） 殺到する through her at the thought that William might have kissed that Brand girl.

Undoubtedly her William was the office William, who the other was she did not care.

That afternoon when she met him, it was with an 空気／公表する of 苦痛d reserve. She told him she did not wish to prejudge him she had come to give him an 適切な時期 to explain what seemed to her inexplicable.

And William explained.

He explained with such an 空気／公表する of innocence and candour that Amy's heart 燃やすd with indignation at the utterly unscrupulous 行為／行う of that Brand creature. 井戸／弁護士席 it was for Tydvil that Geraldine could not hear William lying away her 評判 for veracity.

He 保証するd Amy that he had not been in the 長，指導者's office on that 致命的な morning. That he had never in his life as much as laid a 手渡す on 行方不明になる Brand, much いっそう少なく had he kissed her, as she 申し立てられた／疑わしい. Never had he experienced any inclination to kiss her. He 主張するd on his honour that so far as he was 関心d there was not a word of truth in that girl's 証拠. As proof he 解任するd to her mind that at their 会合 at her house that night, he had not had a 黒人／ボイコット 注目する，もくろむ.

All this, William's alter ego 保証するd him, did not 出発／死 one hair's breadth from the truth.

His words carried such 有罪の判決 that Amy 設立する it impossible to 疑問 him.

Moreover, the wily William 強化するd that 有罪の判決 by reminding Amy of the peculiar 行為／行う of 行方不明になる Brand in the 証言，証人／目撃する box. A girl who behaved like that could not be taken 本気で, as the 裁判官 had pointed out.

By the time William's explanation was 完全にする, Amy felt 納得させるd that beside that Brand girl Sapphira was a 井戸／弁護士席 of the purest veracity, and Jezebel was a much overrated sinner. She 発言する／表明するd her thoughts to William with 拡張s and annotations, until William began to feel uneasy at the thought of what might happen should Amy come into 接触する with Geraldine on one of her 時折の visits to the office.

He knew that so far as Amy was 関心d he had left Geraldine's 評判 a total 難破させる. He felt 確かな , too, that if Amy were to let herself loose on Geraldine, that astute young woman would, in a second, 罪人／有罪を宣告する him of 存在 the source of Amy's （警察などへの）密告，告訴（状）.

Knowing Geraldine, William's alter ego regarded the 見通し as rather perilous. What 行方不明になる Brand's reaction to the 状況／情勢 would be, did not 耐える contemplation. However, he 反映するd that a game that did not 伴う／関わる 危険s was not 価値（がある） playing. Certainly, his spurious 身元s of Billy and Basil Williams had made the life of Tydvil Jones' anything but 淡褐色 and boring.

The 国内の life of Tydvil also became more hectic than usual during the に引き続いて week when news reached Amy from 悲しみing 長官s of bereft societies that Mr. Jones had 厳しいd his invaluable 関係 from them. Life under his own roof became one long 戦う／戦い, into which Amy flung herself, heart and soul. In the struggle for liberty and independence Tydvil fought with a 愛国者's fervour. The few meals he took at home sounded like mealtime の中で the larger carnivora at the Zoo.

His worst experience was when he arrived home late at night to find Amy in 戦う／戦い array waiting for him. に引き続いて his usual 策略 he 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金d through the enemy's lines, and, closely 追求するd, reached his own room. It was only when he 試みる／企てるd to lock the door he 設立する that the lock had been 除去するd. The 職業 had been Amy's own handiwork, and had cost her half the afternoon to 完全にする.

Under her 脅し to "叫び声をあげる the house 負かす／撃墜する" if he did not let her in, Tydvil 降伏するd. It was not a pleasant interview. The conversation was almost one-味方するd, and lasted for three hours. It took Amy every minute of them to 述べる Tydvil as he appeared in her 注目する，もくろむs. In 新規加入 to her 見解（をとる）s on his desertion of her 原因（となる）s, his furtive 行為／行う during the past week, and her 疑惑s that he was 主要な a profligate life, she reasserted her 見解（をとる）s on that Brand creature, that the girl was not better than she should be, and that Tydvil knew it.

Finally, some その上の and more scandalous reflections on Geraldine 拒絶するd Tydvil into 報復s. He 公正に／かなり blew her out of the room with a 爆破 of language such as had never before 強襲，強姦d Amy's ears. She retired shaken with sobs that on an earlier day Tydvil would have heard with an abject sense of 犯罪 and shame. Now they sounded like music in his ears as he バリケードd his door with his bed in 事例／患者 the enemy 反撃d.

He had one 満足な sense of 優越 in the war. While he was 心にいだくing his secret of Amy and William, which he was reserving for a 危機 that he knew must come, Amy had nothing on him. He was still the impeccable Tydvil Jones of the blameless life—on the surface, at any 率.

Then, from 原因（となる）s beyond his 支配（する）／統制する swift 災害 befell him.

Since the night that he had 敗北・負かすd the police on the question of Basil Williams, he had been careful to keep Basil out of any mischief that might 新たにする their attentions. As Nicholas had 警告するd him, and as he himself 観察するd, Tydvil Jones was under 静かな but continuous police 監視. 視察官 Kane was a 患者 but tenacious man when his own hunches were 関心d. Intuition had linked Basil Williams and Tydvil Jones in his mind, and he followed that intuition as a ferret follows a rabbit.

Tydvil had 設立する in Elsie Wilson an entertaining friend. It was a friendship which to Nicholas's 冷笑的な amusement he kept on a 厳密に platonic basis. He recognised, however, that few of Basil Williams's friends 受託するd it at its 額面価格.

One day, as Basil Williams, he kept a 昼食 任命 with Elsie with 意図 to spend the afternoon at the Moonee Valley. When they met in Collins Street, Tydvil noticed that she was even more lighthearted and entertaining than usual. He was not to know that Elsie had already 吸収するd more joy-producing fluids than discretion 令状d. The 瓶／封じ込める of ワイン they 株d at lunch, に先行するd by a cocktail, 完全に 抑えるのをやめるd Elsie's not tightly bound inhibitions.

Unfortunately, Tydvil did not rightly 診断する the 原因（となる） of her spontaneous gaiety until in Collins Street, after lunch, when the fresh 空気／公表する took 即座の 影響.

Now, 運命／宿命 法令d that 視察官 Kane had paused to speak to a 制服を着た man on 義務 as the two 現れるd from the restaurant. Elsie's merry laugh drew his two 狭くするd grey 注目する，もくろむs on Basil Williams and his partner.

Then, two facts struck Basil with a staggering 衝撃. One was, that Elsie was far from sober; and the other was that 視察官 Kane and a 制服を着た man were standing within ten feet of him.

Basil's thoughts buzzed wildly for a moment and then crystallised. On the opposite 味方する of the street, and almost in 前線 of the Centreway, stood a taxi—and 避難.

Gently but 堅固に he took the now swaying Elsie's arm and led her across the street. It was not an 平易な passage because Elsie's feet were manifestly unsteady and the traffic was 激しい. But he breathed a sigh of 救済 when they reached the taxi in safety. A swift ちらりと見ること 警告するd Tydvil that Kane and the constable had left the far footpath and were moving across the road with 明らかな 無関心／冷淡 to his 存在.

The taxi-driver regretted he was engaged. Basil quickly 申し込む／申し出d him 二塁打 fare to become 解放する／撤去させるd. The man 残念に and respectfully 拒絶する／低下するd the 申し込む／申し出. His obduracy evidently annoyed the lively Elsie, whose raised 発言する／表明する 停止（させる）d a number of staggered 歩行者s on the footpath. Basil made a desperate but ineffectual 試みる／企てる to draw her away through the Centreway. Elsie was beyond 推論する／理由, and before he could 介入する she struck the taxi-driver in the 直面する.

What happened next 占領するd two irreparable seconds. The man, in trying to dodge the infuriated Elsie, bumped into Basil. The girl flew at him, and clung like a wild cat. Basil tried to 調査する her off her 犠牲者 and the three 衝突，墜落d in a heap to the pavement. He was on his feet in a moment and 解除するd Elsie to her feet. He had a glimpse of Kane and the constable passing through the traffic に向かって them at 増加するd 速度(を上げる）.

Chivalry forbade Basil to 砂漠 his 悲惨な partner. With all 速度(を上げる）, half carrying her, he made for the Centre-way. The only idea in his mind was to escape 追跡. The laughing （人が）群がる let him through, but Kane and his 衛星 were not more than thirty feet behind him when he was half way 負かす／撃墜する the short passage to Flinders 小道／航路.

His mind flew to Nicholas for 援助, and at the same instant he saw 前進するing に向かって him no other than Amy, whose 注目する，もくろむs were 直す／買収する，八百長をするd with a pious glare on the dishevelled Elsie. At the same moment Elsie slipped from his しっかり掴む to a sitting posture on the pavement. Behind Basil Williams was one 災害, in 前線 of him was another. To assume his 身元 of Tydvil Jones would be worse than to remain Basil Williams.

推論する／理由 fled before instinct. To save Elsie was impossible. It was a 事例／患者 of sauve qui peut. Turning, he darted up the blind alley off the passage. It was happily empty, and in its far corner stood a stack of scaffold 政治家s, behind which the breathless Basil squeezed himself. But as he did so he recognised that he was 罠にかける. There were sounds of hurrying feet and excited 発言する／表明するs 近づくing his 避難.

"We've got the beggar this time," he heard Kane's 勝利を得た 発言する／表明する.

Strong 手渡すs tore the scaffold 政治家s away. To the 逃亡者／はかないもの was 明らかにする／漏らすd 視察官 Kane and the constable in the 即座の foreground. わずかに behind them was a group of 利益／興味d 観客s such as gather mysteriously at every unusual event. の中で them stood Amy. Two of the 直面するs bore an 表現 of undisguised astonishment. One of these belonged to 視察官 Kane, and the other was Amy's.

The first of the groups to move was Amy. She almost sprang past Kane and paused with a gasped, "Tydvil! Whatever is the meaning of this?"

Kane 星／主役にするd from one to the other. "Who is this man?" he 需要・要求するd of Amy.

"He is my husband." Amy resented the 公式の／役人 発言する／表明する and manner of Kane. "He is Mr. Tydvil Jones."

Kane ちらりと見ることd over his shoulder. With the ubiquity of the 軍隊 a second 制服を着た man had joined his 同僚s. "Mason! Keep those people away. You, 燃やすs, take that woman to the watch- house." He waved his 手渡す に向かって Elsie, who had passed out where she lay.

Tydvil's heart went out in sympathy for his unhappy little playmate who was beyond his 援助（する）.

Then Kane turned 支援する to run a 冷淡な, inquisitive 注目する，もくろむ over Tydvil Jones, whose 外見 at the moment was anything but dignified.

"So!" growled Kane, "you are Mr. Tydvil Jones?" Tydvil wished very heartily at the moment that he could 否定する his 身元—but 認める it.

"Then will you please 知らせる me on what you were doing 隠すd behind those 政治家s?" The 発言する／表明する was respectful but coldly 公式の／役人, and its トン 示すd that a 十分な and frank answer was 要求するd.

Although Amy was silent her 注目する，もくろむs 需要・要求するd explanations even more eloquently than Kane's 発言する／表明する.

Tydvil's trouble at the moment was that an 適する explanation, impromptu, of the presence of an 著名な merchant and philanthropist behind a pile of 政治家s up an alley off a 小道／航路 at one-thirty p.m., was not the easiest thing in the world to 供給する.

All he could say as he looked into the searching grey 注目する，もくろむs was, "Urn!" He said "Urn!" several times.

At about the fourth repetition of the word, 視察官 Kane said, not very encouragingly, "You have already said 'Urn,' Mr. Jones."

にもかかわらず, Tydvil repeated the word and 停止（させる）d again in his speech.

視察官 Kane was about to speak again when a 転換 （機の）カム that made Tydvil's blank 直面する light with joy. 一連の会議、交渉／完成する the corner from the Centreway （機の）カム Mr. Nicholas 上級の, serene, dignified and unhurried.

The 表現 in Tydvil's 直面する made Kane turn to 調査する the newcomer. Nicholas, however, 完全に 無視（する）d Kane's presence. He raised his hat to Amy, who also あられ／賞賛するd his arrival with 楽しみ, though it was a 楽しみ tinged with 当惑.

Nicholas placed his 手渡す on Tydvil's shoulder. "Did you get them?" he asked 熱望して.

"Who are you, sir?" 需要・要求するd Kane irritably.

"You may have heard of Mr. Nicholas 上級の," Tydvil explained, and to Nicholas, "This gentleman is a police officer."

"Oh!" Nicholas smiled. "How very fortunate." Then to Tydvil, "Did you really get them!"

Bewildered, but 信用ing Nicholas, Tydvil shook his 長，率いる. "I'm afraid not."

"Will you be good enough to explain to me what this is all about?" Kane's patience was evaporating 急速な／放蕩な.

"Mr. Jones and I," he said serenely,—"You know he is the 副／悪徳行為-大統領 of the Anti-賭事ing League—having been 怪しげな that two men are using this alleyway to 行為／行う starting price 賭事ing..."

"What!" snapped Kane.

"And," Nicholas went on, unheeding the 敵意 of the 発言する／表明する, "we decided that one of us should watch each day to try to procure 証拠 of the offence."

Kane looked from one to the other and the 表現 in his 直面する was not flattering to either Nicholas, Tydvil, or the explanation. What he may have ーするつもりであるd to say was 削減（する） short by Amy, who broke in with, "But, Tydvil, you have 辞職するd from the Anti-賭事ing League!"

Under his breath Tydvil said something that was not やめる nice.

Aloud, Kane gave vent to an expressive "Oh!" Then he turned on. Tydvil, "If you are not a member of the League, why are you 追跡（する）ing gamblers?"

"I am still 利益／興味d in the 鎮圧 of the 副／悪徳行為," replied Tydvil with dignity.

"You must be," was Kane's 乾燥した，日照りの comment. "So perhaps you can tell me what became of the man who ran into this alley just before I arrived?"

"A man!" Tydvil's 発言する／表明する sounded as though a man were as rare a 現象 in the city as an angel.

"Yes!" went on Kane. "A man 指名するd Basil Williams. He （機の）カム in here, and he certainly did not go out."

"I certainly did not see a man come in here," Tydvil 主張するd.

"Yet you were watching for gamblers." Kane's トン was unpleasant.

"You must be mistaken." Tydvil had to keep his ground.

"He was not mistaken, Tydvil, dear," put in Amy. "I distinctly saw a man who was with that horrid woman, leave her and run in here." Amy was beginning to enjoy herself.

Kane drew himself up with a 決定的な 動議. "Mr. Jones, there are circumstances surrounding this 出来事/事件 that 要求する その上の （警察などへの）密告，告訴（状） from you. I must ask you to …を伴って me to Russell Street."

"I most 前向きに／確かに 拒絶する／低下する to go to Russell Street." Tydvil stood on his dignity. "If you wish to continue this absurd inquisition, my office is の近くに by. We can continue our conversation there."

"Very good!" Kane nodded stiffly. "You will come with me, please."

He turned away, but Amy was too 十分な of curiosity to be 否定するd, as the other two fell in beside him.

"Tydvil, I 主張する on 存在 現在の at this interview," she said.

Kane looked at her, 決めかねて. Tydvil, however, was in no humour for Amy. "There is not the slightest necessity," he snapped.

"But I 主張する." Amy was afraid she might 行方不明になる something.

"My dear Mrs. Jones," Nicholas 干渉するd gently but 堅固に, "I shall stay with Mr. Jones, and I really think you would be wiser not to …を伴って us." He …を伴ってd the words with an understanding smile that 征服する／打ち勝つd Amy.

"Very 井戸／弁護士席, Mr. 上級の," she said graciously, "So long as you are with Mr. Jones I feel sure I have no 原因（となる） for 苦悩."

"I am 確かな of that." He raised his hat. "I 約束 I will look after him."

The three men made their way through the curious （人が）群がる that still remained watching from the 入り口. Kane marched stiffly ahead, without even ちらりと見ることing 支援する to see if he were followed.

As they walked, Tydvil murmured his thanks to Nicholas who 警告するd him there were still 障害物s ahead.

Geraldine was at her desk as three 人物／姿／数字s 前進するd 負かす／撃墜する the 倉庫／問屋 between stacks of sheeting and piled Manchester goods. Her heart danced when she recognised the third member of the party as 視察官 Kane. She did not even ちらりと見ること up as the three men passed her desk and entered Tydvil's 私的な office. Tydvil 押し進めるd the door behind him but it had not やめる の近くにd. With shameless curiosity Geraldine walked to a とじ込み／提出するing 閣僚 の近くに to the door, her ears 警報.

Tydvil took his accustomed seat at the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する. Nicholas waved Kane to the armchair, and seated himself on the corner of the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する.

"Now!" Tydvil, on his native ヒース／荒れ地, spoke decisively. "Perhaps you will let me know what this is all about."

Unabashed at his トン, Kane replied, "That is just what I am 推定する／予想するing from you, Mr. Jones."

"I am やめる at sea." Tydvil's 発言する／表明する was all candour. "Perhaps if you asked some questions..." He waved his 手渡すs 大部分は.

"That is just what I ーするつもりである to do," 答える／応じるd Kane, 無視（する）ing the friendliness of Tydvil's 招待.

"Do you still 主張する, Mr. Jones, that though you were watching for some bookmaker, you did not see a man enter that alley?" he 需要・要求するd.

"I 保証する you, 視察官, that I did not," Tydvil replied. "You were not asleep, by any chance" There was more than a hint of sarcasm in the 発言する／表明する.

"You are jesting, 視察官." Tydvil smiled engagingly.

"Believe me, I am not, and you would be 井戸／弁護士席 advised to recognise that," was the frosty retort. "A man did enter that alley, and I'm afraid I cannot 受託する your 保証／確信 that you did not see him."

"How very peculiar!" Mr. 上級の 観察するd.

"Very!" said Kane dryly, without taking his 注目する，もくろむs off Tydvil.

"Then I have nothing to 追加する," said Tydvil すぐに.

"Tell me this, Mr. Jones," asked Kane 突然の. "Do you know the man Basil Williams, or have you had any 取引，協定ing with him?"

"I have never yet met the man, nor spoken to him," replied Tydvil きっぱりと.

"You will find it far wiser to be frank with me," 主張するd Kane.

"Believe me, I am 全く at a loss to understand how you can associate me with this man Williams in any way," Tydvil 断言するd.

"Candidly, Mr. Jones, I don't believe you," （機の）カム 支援する the uncompromising Kane.

"Then, perhaps you can 供給（する） me with some 推論する／理由s for your 疑問. And let me tell you, 視察官 Kane, I 反対する 堅固に to your manner. I find it 不快な／攻撃." Tydvil tried taking the high ground.

視察官 Kane was not impressed. Others had tried that on him before. "Mr. Jones!" his 発言する／表明する was becoming more 公式の／役人. "You will be good enough to explain why, on the night of the 暴動 in town three months ago, your hat was in Williams's 所有／入手? Why, on the night Mr. Muskat was 強襲，強姦d, you were 設立する alone in the 小道／航路 into which Williams escaped? Why, later, when Williams was traced into De 墓／厳粛／彫る／重大なs Street, he had 消えるd and you were there alone? Why, today, when I ran Williams into that alley he had again 消えるd, but you were there?"

"Do you dare to say that I am Williams?" Tydvil 需要・要求するd with some show of 怒り／怒る.

"I am 主張するing nothing, sir!" Kane said すぐに. "I am asking for an explanation."

"Don't you think that is rather difficult?" Tydvil sneered a little.

"I am sure it is. One coincidence of the 肉親，親類d might be explained; but four coincidences, Mr. Jones, 要求する a 広大な／多数の／重要な 取引，協定 of explanation." Kane's 発言する／表明する had become silky, but all the more 脅迫的な.

"Then," Tydvil exclaimed, "I can't help you! I know nothing of Basil Williams, and I am not 利益／興味d in him."

He was still speaking when a knock at the door 先触れ（する）d the advent of Geraldine. She carried an open cheque 調書をとる／予約する in her 手渡す.

Jones ちらりと見ることd up, and said, "Not now, 行方不明になる Brand, I am engaged."

Geraldine stood her ground. "I am sorry, Mr. Jones, but before you went to lunch you told me to bring this cheque for five hundred 続けざまに猛撃するs for Mr. Basil Williams for 署名 the moment you returned."

Kane sprang to his feet and snatched the 調書をとる／予約する from her 手渡すs. "So!" he ejaculated triumphantly, "He told you that did he?" turning to Geraldine.

The 表現 of びっくり仰天 on Tydvil's 直面する was perfectly natural. That on Geraldine's 直面する was perfectly 行為／法令／行動するd. Mr. Nicholas 上級の's 注目する，もくろむs were dancing with 抑えるd mirth.

"I..." Geraldine stammered, looking at Tydvil for 指導／手引.

"That will do! Go!" ordered Kane, bustling her to the door, which he の近くにd 突然の after her.

Outside, Geraldine stood with a Mona Lisa smile on her lips, and with her 長，率いる inclined intently to the door.

"Now!" Kane almost barked. "You will be good enough, sir, to tell me all you know of this man you don't know, but for whom you 調印する cheques for five hundred 続けざまに猛撃するs?" He slapped the 調書をとる／予約する as he spoke.

That was the second poser Kane had put to Tydvil that day, and Tydvil felt, as he sat at his （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する with his 直面する in his 手渡すs, that it was one too many.

Kane 再開するd his seat and glared at the bent 長，率いる. "I am waiting! You must recognise, Mr. Jones, that your position is serious."

Nicholas sat watching Tydvil for a 調印する that did not come.

Then Tydvil sat 築く and turned to Kane. "You have placed me in a position which I hoped to 避ける," he said wearily. "I have to 収容する／認める now that Basil Williams has been ゆすり，恐喝ing me."

At that dashing falsehood, look of 賞賛 flashed into Nicholas's 直面する.

Thirty years' experience of its worst 面 had left little 約束 in humanity in 視察官 Kane. He had seen many 明らかに impeccable 評判s 粉砕する when their owners were cornered. Still, the admission of Tydvil Jones surprised even his 常習的な mind but he never thought to 疑問 the 声明.

There was even a little pity in his 注目する，もくろむs as he regarded Tydvil. "So!" he thought, "the little pipsqueak wowser had run off the rails."

What he said was, and he said it with 決定／判定勝ち（する）, "You would have saved yourself a lot of trouble—and perhaps money—if you had come to us in the first place."

"Impossible," murmured Tydvil.

"Mr. Jones," continued Kane. "I am not your 裁判官. I am not going to ask why that ruffian is ゆすり，恐喝ing you. But, believe me, there are fools, and there are fools, and there are damn Fools. But the biggest damn fool of all is the man who 支払う／賃金s a blackmailer."

Tydvil sat with bend 長，率いる and made no 返答. Kane's 発言する／表明する grew a little kinder. "Come, Mr. Jones, help us. Tell me where the fellow lives."

Tydvil shook a despairing 長，率いる. "I have no idea."

"I don't want to 圧力（をかける） you. But is there a woman in the 事例／患者?"

Tydvil, thinking of Amy, nodded an affirmative. "More than one?" 示唆するd Kane, hopefully.

"Hell's bells!" grunted Tydvil. "Isn't one enough?"

Kane stood up. "One thing I would like you to do, Mr. Jones, is to 協議する your solicitor on the meaning of condonation, and on how it is regarded by the 法律."

"Oh! I know that!" Tydvil answered sullenly.

"Then make me a 約束," Kane 勧めるd. "Don't 支払う／賃金 this money and if he comes 支援する at you, let us know, and we will を取り引きする him as he deserves. It's a public 義務 同様に as a 合法的な 義務."

Tydvil remained silent and thoughtful.

"I 約束 you, Mr. Jones, we will 保護する your 指名する and 妨げる it from 存在 published." Kane was very persuasive.

Tydvil sat up as one making a 広大な／多数の／重要な 決定／判定勝ち（する）. "Very 井戸／弁護士席, 視察官," he said, "I give you my word of honour I will not 支払う／賃金 over this cheque. And I 約束 if Williams 脅すs me again I will communicate with you at once."

"Good man! Good man!" exclaimed Kane heartily, "and I know I can rely on you."

"You can," said Tydvil with 有罪の判決.

"井戸／弁護士席, I will not trespass on your time any longer." He turned to the door and paused. "Mr. 上級の, I think that you could help Mr. Jones in this 事柄."

"I 保証する you I will!" 答える／応じるd Nicholas heartily.

Kane nodded and went about his 商売／仕事. As he passed 負かす／撃墜する the 倉庫／問屋, Geraldine's 注目する，もくろむs followed the stiff 支援する speculatively until three hornet-like buzzes on her （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する 召喚するd her to Tydvil's room. She made a 直面する at the buzzer, patted her hair, and entered the presence with 長，率いる 築く and 反抗 in her 注目する，もくろむs.

Tydvil was leaning 支援する in his 議長，司会を務める as she stood before him. For a long moment he 星／主役にするd at her in silence. Then: "So you profess to be my friend! My friend! You 二塁打-dyed traitress!"

"When I （人命などを）奪う，主張するd to be your friend, I did not know what an unspeakable 反逆者 you were." She spoke coldly. "You! Call me a traitress!"

"Would you consider me inquisitive if I asked why you brought that cheque in here?" he asked 激しく.

"Not at all," she replied airily. "I did it in the hope that it would land you in an everlasting mess with the police."

"Thank you, Geraldine, for your 肉親，親類d thought and for your still kinder 意向s."

"I 信用 I 後継するd in my 計画（する）?" asked the icy damsel.

"式のs! Geraldine, you failed," he jeered at her. "My native 知能 saved me. But that does not 少なくなる the 負債 of 感謝 I 借りがある you."

"What a pity," she sighed. "I hoped to see you go out with 手錠s on."

"Might I 投機・賭ける to ask why you 心にいだく these delightful 感情s に向かって me?" he enquired.

"It's a 楽しみ to enlighten you—you unscrupulous ruffian."

"Please, Geraldine!" Tydvil said gently. "I didn't ask you for flattery. Just a little （警察などへの）密告，告訴（状） on so trifling a 事柄."

"My 推論する／理由 for trying to have you 逮捕（する）d arises from a visit I had from a 確かな high moral 当局 just before you （機の）カム in," she retorted with venom in her 発言する／表明する.

"Oh!" Tydvil straightened up. "So," he thought, "that accounted for Amy's presence in the 小道／航路."

"I see you understand," she went on.

"My dear Geraldine! There must be some mistake, surely."

"Mistake indeed!" She 投げ上げる／ボディチェックするd her 長，率いる. "Who was it 保証するd Mrs. Jones that I was a perjurer? Where did she get the notion that I am a designing unprincipled creature who 誘惑するs men into 不名誉? Who told her that Billy's 黒人／ボイコット 注目する，もくろむ was a pure 捏造／製作? Who led her to believe that I am a 有望な pink, if not a scarlet, woman? Who 誘発するd...?"

"But, Geraldine!" Tydvil broke in. "Surely you don't think..."

"Think!" she interrupted. "No! I know! Tyddie, you've even いっそう少なく moral scruple than your noble friend." She glared at Nicholas. "I know what happened as though I'd been there. As Billy, you had to save yourself, and you—you horror!—You sacrificed me to do it."

Tydvil's 長，率いる was 屈服するd to the 爆破.

"Look me in the 注目する，もくろむ and 否定する it! You can't, and you know you can't."

Tydvil turned to Nicholas, who shrugged his shoulders and laughed.

"Oh! You're a lovely pair!"

Tydvil looked up guiltily at the 人物／姿／数字 of Nemesis that towered over him. "Was it a very 堅い ordeal, Geraldine?" he asked sympathetically.

"You 収容する／認める it?" she 需要・要求するd.

"I was in a terribly 堅い corner, Geraldine," he pleaded.

She looked from one to the other. Even Nicholas had the grace to look ashamed. They looked so like a pair of 有罪の schoolboys that she laughed, and relented.

"Now you listen to me—both of you! If I have any more trouble from you two I'll make you both sorry for it if it takes the 残り／休憩（する） of my life to do it."

"I'm really sorry, Geraldine," Tydvil 勧めるd penitently,

"And so you should be," she retorted. "And I 警告する you, if that high moral 当局 favours me with any more of her personal 見解（をとる）s on my character there is going to be a スキャンダル in C. B. & D. I'll live up to the 評判 you have given me, my friend. She can consider herself lucky that she is not a total 難破させる now."

"But surely, Geraldine, you wouldn't use 暴力／激しさ?" Tydvil's 発言する／表明する sounded more 希望に満ちた than shocked.

"Wouldn't I?" the fiery girl retorted. "She said things to me that no woman can say to another. Any woman between a duchess and charwoman would have been 正当化するd in peeling her for half what she said to me."

"Geraldine! Geraldine!" Tydvil admonished, laughing.

"You can put it 負かす／撃墜する to my self-抑制 and self-尊敬（する）・点 that she didn't get out of the office in her blushes; and I won't answer for myself another time." 発言する／表明する, 態度, and 注目する，もくろむs 証言するd to Amy's 狭くする escape from a truly sensational experience.

"And so," said Tydvil without trying to hide his amusement, "you took it out of me."

"I did my best," she agreed.

"You put me in an awful 穴を開ける, you demon."

"I'm so glad," she replied with simple candour.

"What am I to do with her?" Tydvil turned to appreciative Nicholas.

"In your place," advised Nicholas, "my 政策 would be 熱烈な 調停."

Tydvil laughed, "Make it pax, Geraldine. You put a 汚い one over me, so that せねばならない make us square."

Her wrath had died 負かす／撃墜する, and with a chuckle she said, "Pax it is—but it should be a lesson to you I'm not to be trifled with."

"Bless you, my children," from Nicholas.

Geraldine swung 一連の会議、交渉／完成する on him. "As for you, I don't 高く評価する／（相場などが）上がる your blessing. I don't know what you are or who you are, but even if you're what I believe you to be, I'm not afraid of you, and I'm not done with you yet!" Her 注目する，もくろむs turned to the date 封鎖する on Tydvil's （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する. "No, not yet!"

Nicholas stood up. "I have too 深遠な an 評価 of your sex, and of you, to 無視（する） the 警告."

"And I know too much of your sex, and of you, to 表明する much 評価 of either," she said defiantly.

"Let me try to 勝利，勝つ a little by 申し込む／申し出ing a sincere 陳謝, for the trick I played on you."

"Didn't someone say, 'Timeo Danaos et dona ferentes'?" Nicholas's smile was friendly. "I'm no Greek, Geraldine, and I really mean I am sorry."

She looked at him speculatively. "I believe you mean it, and I 受託する, but," she smiled, "don't ask me to 信用 you. It is still war."

"Fair 交流," he laughed, "you 受託する my 陳謝 and I 受託する your challenge."

"Wait a moment," she said, "Tydvil says you are a sportsman."

He nodded. "I try to be one."

"Then, if it's war, play fair," she challenged.

"You mean?" He was 率直に 利益／興味d.

"Fair play and no 奇蹟s," she 需要・要求するd.

Nicholas laughed heartily. "I might have 推定する／予想するd something like that."

"I only want an equality of 武器s," she 固執するd.

"You 過大評価する my strength," Nicholas shook his 長，率いる. "You may not recognise it, but you are better 武装した than I. Even I can't afford to give anything away in fighting Geraldine Brand."

"Very 井戸／弁護士席!" she said decisively, "then it's no ４半期/4分の1."

"And the prize?" he ちらりと見ることd に向かって Tydvil.

Geraldine nodded. "Since he won't help himself." Then to Tydvil, "You're an unscrupulous creature, and don't think I'm doing it on your account, I'm only doing it to teach Mr. 上級の a lesson.'

"Oh! Don't mind me, Geraldine," laughed Tydvil. "I seem to have no say in the 協定."

"非，不，無 whatever!" she agreed. "You're a pawn, a bone of 論争—in fact, you don't count."

"You must agree, Tydvil, that she is やめる candid with us both," said Nicholas.

"You see," she turned to Nicholas, "if I can 取り消す that 法案, I'll settle my account with you, and Tydvil will get all he deserves by living with Mrs. Jones—so he doesn't escape much."

"What a woman!" There was sincere 賞賛 in Nicholas's 発言する／表明する.

"Now we understand one another, anyway," she said, moving に向かって the door. "I have work to do."

As she の近くにd the door behind her the two men looked from it to one another.

Said Tydvil, "Cheerful child! Isn't she?"

Nicholas grinned. "It may, 利益／興味 you to know, that にもかかわらず that tirade against you, she is as loyal to you as steel, and she likes you immensely."

"Somehow, I think you're 権利," smiled Tydvil.

"And," Nicholas 追加するd, "I think Mrs. Jones would be very 井戸／弁護士席 advised to keep （疑いを）晴らす of her."

Tydvil nodded. "I'll do what I can, but that is not much. I wonder," he said thoughtfully, "just what Geraldine is up to."

"In a long, long experience," Nicholas replied, "one of the very few things I have learned about women is that it is 無益な to 予報する what they will do."

"But can she do anything?" Tydvil asked.

"I 疑問 it," Nicholas answered, "but..." He paused, sunk in thought. "Perhaps their Creator does understand women, but they have given me so much trouble, and deceived me so often that I いつかs think they are the greatest of my 罰s."

"A 罰 in disguise," 示唆するd Tydvil. "Perhaps," Nicholas 反映するd. "But I have never married."

"Misogamist!" laughed Tydvil.

"No, just 脅すd," replied Nicholas.

"脅すd! You!" Tydvil was astonished.

"Aye, Tydvil, 脅すd. How does it go—'Fools 急ぐ in where angels 恐れる to tread'?"

"Angels?"

"Same thing," said Mr. 上級の.

On the に引き続いて morning Tydvil 手渡すd Geraldine a cheque on his 私的な account with 指示／教授／教育s to cash it herself and to draw the money in ｣100 公式文書，認めるs. Even the 井戸／弁護士席-trained Geraldine could 不十分な forbear to raise her 注目する，もくろむ-brows when she read the 量. Tydvil, watching her 直面する, saw the curiosity that she could not hide.

"That, my dear Geraldine, is 良心 money, since you are so curious about it," he said.

"You must have a blotchy 良心," replied 行方不明になる Brand, regarding the 人物／姿／数字s with awe.

"井戸／弁護士席, not so blotchy as your censorious mind imagines," he grinned.

"井戸／弁護士席," she returned, "all I can say is that its tenderness does you credit, if it isn't blotchy."

"It's a 負債 I 借りがある—with 利益／興味 追加するd—to my very dull 青年." Tydvil smiled.

When Geraldine returned with the 公式文書，認めるs Tydvil 解任するd her, and spent some time in making them into a neat 小包.

That night 行方不明になる Elsie Wilson received a small 一括 演説（する）／住所d to her at the Casino Club. In it was a 簡潔な／要約する message from Basil Williams regretting that he had been called from Melbourne on 緊急の 事件／事情／状勢s and was unable to say goodbye. He begged she would 受託する the enclosure with his best wishes for her 未来.

Thereafter the Casino Club knew her no more. Within a fortnight Elsie had 設立するd a 商売／仕事 which 栄えるd under her own shrewd 管理／経営. But she never knew why Craddock, 燃やすs and Despard were always so 肉親，親類d and considerate to her in her 取引 with them.

CHAPTER XXXII

As the days passed, Geraldine began to detest the sight of the calendar on her office （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する. She hated to date her letters. Both clamoured that October was の近くにing and November was at 手渡す. When she had 反抗するd Nicholas, it was in the hope that inspiration would come to her. During the days that followed, she formed and 拒絶するd a 得点する／非難する／２０ of 計画（する）s. Billy, she 設立する, was 関心d, but hopeless. Tydvil was unconcerned and indifferent. What a nuisance men were!

Although she became more and more worried as time went on, Tydvil's 無視（する） for its passage exasperated her. Every morning seemed to make him younger and more irresponsible. The 長，率いる of C. B. & D. behaved like twenty-five years old, instead of the thirty-five he really was. The change was all the more 示すd because the old Tydvil was nearer fifty in 見通し and deportment.

It was not that he neglected his work. He entered into it with even, a greater zest than before. Indeed, he 現実に worked harder in the office, so as to find time for play. And play he did, with an even greater zest than he worked. But the dull, priggish and stolid Tydvil had 消えるd. Their morning 開会／開廷／会期 for the mail and 口述 had become a lively, and to both, and enjoyable hour. He teased Geraldine with the mischief of a schoolboy. He interspersed the 公式の／役人 letters with sheer nonsense.

Almost every afternoon by four o'clock, Nicholas would stroll into the office, and perhaps for ten minutes Geraldine's ears would catch sounds of mirth. Then they would 出発／死 together.

"Guess where I was last night," he said one morning. "I'd hate to." Geraldine 投げ上げる／ボディチェックするd her 長，率いる.

"Paris!" he replied. "You've no idea what Paris can be with Nicholas for a guide."

"Perhaps it's just 同様に I have no idea," 匂いをかぐd 行方不明になる Brand.

"Wowser!" His 注目する，もくろむs danced.

"I suppose Melbourne is too small for our Mr. Jones now?" she said.

"No, my dear Geraldine, too hot. Our 相互の friend, 視察官 Kane, seems to think that there is no one in the city but me."

"井戸／弁護士席, there's one thing, I can't retort and call you a wowser now."

"There's a high moral 当局 who is in 完全にする 協定 with you on one point at any 率."

"And she doesn't know half," 追加するd Geraldine.

Tydvil screwed up his 注目する，もくろむs. "Not one-sixteenth, I'm happy to say."

"井戸／弁護士席," said Geraldine, "you'd better make the most of your little playmate, Nicholas. You've only four days to go now."

"With his help, my dear girl, you'd be surprised to know what can be done with four days." Tydvil's 発言する／表明する was 十分な of 評価.

"Paris again tonight then, I suppose?"

"You bet! I won twenty-five thousand フランs at Long-champs, and I don't want to waste one フラン of it."

"And to think I'm worrying about you and that wretched 法案," she said with 深い feeling.

"Forget it, Geraldine. I have." He smiled.

"You men! What with you and Billy I'm perfectly dizzy."

"Don't tell me he's gone off the rails." Tydvil looked at her in surprise.

"I was idiot enough to 警告する him not to 支援する that wretched horse you told me about."

Tydvil chuckled. "Surely you knew better than that."

"I've learned now. But he has wasted twenty 続けざまに猛撃するs on it," she said indignantly.

"Wait until next Tuesday afternoon before you say 'wasted'," he 示唆するd.

"That is one 推論する／理由 why I am going out to Flemington with him on Cup Day," she explained.

"And another?" He raised his brows.

"A new frock—it's a dream."

"Not such a wowser after all." He laughed. "Listen! This is an order. You and Billy lunch with me out at the course on Tuesday."

Geraldine gurgled. "All 権利, between you and your 罰金 friend my 評判 is 損失d already. I might 同様に get some fun out of it."

On the Saturday morning Geraldine, having sorted the mail, was called upstairs before Tydvil arrived at the office. On her way 負かす／撃墜する again she 遭遇（する）d a department 経営者／支配人 coming up. He looked as though he had been seeing things.

"Good gracious! Mr. 強風, what's happened?" she enquired.

He goggled at her and gasped. "宗教上の Wars! 行方不明になる Brand, have you seen the 長，指導者?"

"What's wrong?" she 需要・要求するd.

"G-g-go and look at him..." He passed on, 苦しむing under some powerful emotion.

Geraldine's feet scarcely touched the 床に打ち倒す as she 急いでd to the 長，指導者's office.

She stood petrified as she entered. The 長，率いる of C. B. & D. was 検査／視察するing himself before his mirror with not a little satisfaction in his 反映するd 表現.

As he heard her he turned. "Do you like it?" He was grinning 広範囲にわたって.

Mr. Tydvil Jones was wearing a new 控訴, oyster grey in colour, and of rakish 削減（する）. On his feet were tan shoes. The grey Alpine hat was 始める，決める at a 反抗的な angle. Across his chest was the ひもで縛る of the race glasses that 残り／休憩（する）d in their 事例／患者 against his hip.

Still Geraldine 星／主役にするd. Nothing いっそう少なく like the once Tydvil Jones was it possible to imagine. Suddenly she 設立する her 発言する／表明する and gasped, "Lovely!" Then she leaned against the 塀で囲む and laughed.

"Really, Geraldine!" he 抗議するd.

"It's perfect—perfect! But..." She struggled with her mirth. "But what did the High Moral 当局 say?"

Tydvil joined in her laughter. "I don't know all of it yet. She hadn't half finished when I left home."

"Do you know," she said as she 回復するd herself, "that you have almost given Mr. 強風 apoplexy?"

"He certainly did look surprised when I passed him coming in," Tydvil said. "Did he say anything to you?"

"Just '宗教上の Wars!'" gurgled Geraldine.

"Hump!" Tydvil commented. "And that's just what it is going to be at home."

It might have been 宗教上の Wars at home, but on the Monday morning, it was an unchastened and merry Tydvil who whistled him way 負かす／撃墜する the 倉庫／問屋.

In answer to Geraldine's enquiry he told her he had had a gorgeous day, though it had cost him twenty 続けざまに猛撃するs—"quid" he called it; a word that never before had passed his lips.

That morning he dictated a notice to the entire staff of the 倉庫／問屋. It 発表するd general 増加するs in salaries of from ten per cent. to as much as twenty per cent. の中で its lower paid members. With twinkling 注目する，もくろむs he said to Geraldine as she took it 負かす／撃墜する in shorthand. "My charity is beginning at home in 未来— and besides, I'm making more out of this particular form of banditry than I need."

By evening when the news spread 一連の会議、交渉／完成する the 広大な／多数の／重要な building, there were few who were not whistling as merrily as Tydvil had been in the morning—and the morrow was Cup Day and a holiday, There was not a more contented 全住民 in the city than that of C. B. & D.

On that November third, that 夜明けd next day, there were many light-hearted people in the good city of Melbourne. But of them all were 非，不，無 so carefree as Geraldine Brand and William Brewer. Geraldine had shut the thought of the next day out of her mind. Billy's gasp of delight as his 注目する，もくろむs fell in the picture she made in her new frock, would have gratified any girl. Flemington was at its best, the 天候 was at its best, and the thousands that thronged the wide, green grounds rose to the occasion.

Neither Geraldine nor Billy had dreamed what a perfect host Tyddie could be. He 扱う／治療するd Billy as a friend and an equal and chaffed the two happily. At lunch Geraldine ちらりと見ることd 一連の会議、交渉／完成する. Tydvil read her meaning, and laughed. "No, Geraldine," he said, "Nicholas 拒絶する／低下するd to join us. He said he might be a discordant factor, and that the spoons might not be long enough for your liking."

式のs! For evil communications that corrupt good morals. At lunch Geraldine sipped suspiciously at first, at the glass of vintage ワイン that was 注ぐd out for her. The second sip was いっそう少なく 怪しげな. After that there was no 疑惑 whatever. When they arrived in the open 空気／公表する again Geraldine Brand ゆだねるd to William Brewer one 続けざまに猛撃する to put on a horse of her own choosing, にもかかわらず the advice of Tydvil and Billy. When, later on she collected eight 続けざまに猛撃するs, there was no 持つ／拘留するing her.

The race for Thundercloud's Cup still remains a mystery in turf history. The horse's owner 認める ruefully, afterwards, that only 確かな 代表s of 確かな people who had drawn Thundercloud in a 確かな 協議 induced him to leave the horse in the race. にもかかわらず Tydvil's 投資 the bookmakers were still 申し込む／申し出ing two hundred to one against, before the race. But even the most 常習的な 楽天主義者s resisted that bait—to their その後の 悲しみ. And, to her disgust, Geraldine was の中で them.

When the three, who had 安全な・保証するd an excellent 地位，任命する on the terrace, saw the drove of 飛行機で行くing horses and colours pass the stand for the first time, Thundercloud was a comfortable last, and looked like staying there forever. By the time the horses had reached the far 味方する of the course Tydvil returned his glasses to their 事例／患者. Thundercloud was still 持つ／拘留するing his position at the tail of the 行列. Billy, however, was made of sterner 楽観的な 構成要素. His comments as the field swept nearer the straight were anything but complimentary to Thundercloud.

Then, as the 長，率いる of the field was turning into the straight, something happened. Some one hundred and fifty thousand 発言する／表明するs yelling "Lapwing" or "Diorite" or "圧力をかけて脅す（悩ます）" were suddenly smitten into silence. Something in gold, white and chocolate （機の）カム 激怒（する）ing out from the 支援する of the ruck. It swept 一連の会議、交渉／完成する the turn neck and neck with Lapwing and 圧力をかけて脅す（悩ます）, then passed them, flashing 負かす／撃墜する the straight lengths ahead of the 雷鳴ing 暴徒 behind. To the 星／主役にするing （人が）群がる it looked more like an 加速するd 動議 picture of a horse than a living animal. The （人が）群がる moaned in unison as it flashed passed the 地位，任命する with a dozen lengths to spare. It is difficult even now to say whether horse, (v)策を弄する／(n)騎手, owner, stewards or the （人が）群がる were the most astounded. Thundercloud （機の）カム in, for the only time in Cup history, in a dead silence—the （人が）群がる had lost its 発言する／表明する—一時的に. There was plenty said and yelled later on. All the explanation that Brandish, the amazed (v)策を弄する／(n)騎手, could give was, that Thundercloud seemed to go mad just before he reached the straight. He gave a bound that nearly unseated his rider and took 完全にする 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 of his movements, which were as swift as they were 理解できない.

The most searching veterinary examination failed to （悪事，秘密などを）発見する 麻薬. The owner's evident astonishment rang true. The stewards saw no 推論する／理由 to 干渉する with the 裁判官's 決定／判定勝ち（する）. But that all （機の）カム afterwards. Something, however, happened on the terrace as Thundercloud passed the 地位，任命する that amused the 即座の 観客s. After having ardently embraced one of her companions, a daughter of the gods in green, who was tall and most divinely fair, put her 武器 about the neck of her other companion and kissed him 温かく on both cheeks. Those who 証言，証人／目撃するd the 出来事/事件 would have been far more 利益／興味d had they known that the 受取人 of the second demonstration was no other than Tydvil Jones.

"Aren't you ashamed of yourself, Geraldine?" 抗議するd the pleased but embarrassed Tydvil.

"Billy," Tydvil turned to Brewer, "can you not 支配（する）／統制する this 騒然とした wench?"

"Not I," laughed Billy, "she's a shameless baggage."

"Wowsers!" taunted Geraldine.

"Don't you dare call me that," Tydvil 嵐／襲撃するd at her.

"Would you prefer 'Darling'?" Her 発言する／表明する was a caress.

"Billy! Stop her, she's worse than Thundercloud," cried Tydvil.

"Don't you try to いじめ（る） me," she said recklessly, "or I'll kiss you both again."

Just at that moment Geraldine saw Nicholas 上級の making に向かって them through the now 崩壊するing （人が）群がる. In her humour at this juncture Geraldine forgot her animosity and 迎える／歓迎するd him cheerfully as he （機の）カム up to them.

"Oh Mr. 上級の," she said, her 直面する 紅潮／摘発するd with excitement, "did you see the race? Wasn't Thundercloud wonderful?"

"He was," smiled Mr. 上級の. "I せねばならない know, because I was riding him."

"Congratulations!" laughed Geraldine.

"After all," she told Billy that night as they talked over the events of the day, "I couldn't be rude to anyone who had won six thousand 続けざまに猛撃するs for us? Could I?'

"Heaven forbid," replied Billy piously, "that I should try to 計器 what you could or could not do. You're beyond me. But for the love o' マイク, dearest, don't alter."

Next morning Geraldine arrived at the office with all her 疑惑s 損なわれていない. It seemed somehow strange that the day was no different from other days. Yet everything in the office was 正確に／まさに the same as usual. To her there should have been some gloom—some 承認 of Tydvil's 危険，危なくする. But that terrible 法案 was 予定 at midday, and 非，不，無 but she and Billy knew it.

Not the knowledge that their home was 保証するd, relieved her 恐れるs for Tydvil. She confided her feelings to Billy, who 株d them, but who could 申し込む／申し出 no suggestions.

Tydvil arrived on time and seemed いっそう少なく 関心d than ever. He teased her about her behaviour of the day before and laughed at her as she rose to the bait. Somehow she sensed that he did not wish her to 言及する to the date or the 法案 that was so nearly 手がかり（を与える）. As she left the room he said, "Oh! Geraldine. I'm 推定する／予想するing Mr. 上級の a little after eleven. See we are not 乱すd."

She was about to make a last 嘆願, but his 解除するd 手渡す checked her, and she went to her work with a 激しい heart.

All the morning the everyday life of the 倉庫／問屋 buzzed on. She typed her letters, she answered phone calls and interviewed 報知係s and the staff almost mechanically Some how she felt she 手配中の，お尋ね者 support, and chased Billy through the 倉庫／問屋 on the house phones, and begged him to come to her at about eleven- thirty. Understanding, Billy agreed. He, too, 株d her 苦悩, but he felt that nothing either she or he could do would be of any avail.

It was about a ４半期/4分の1 after eleven that a （疑いを）晴らす, vibrant 発言する／表明する beside her made her aware of Nicholas's presence.

There was mischief, but friendly mischief in his 注目する，もくろむs. "Still war?" he asked.

"To the last second," she 断言するd.

"Oh! You fighting red-長，率いるs!" he laughed.

"There are still forty-five minutes," she said.

"Forty-five years would be no use to you."

"If I had them, I would try all the time."

"And fail!"

"Mr. Jones is 推定する／予想するing you," she said すぐに, turning away.

"Goodbye, Geraldine!" he laughed.

"Thank goodness!" she retorted to his 支援する, as he walked に向かって the door.

Nicholas strolled into Tydvil's room and dropped into the armchair. For a while neither spoke. Nicholas lighted a cigarette and Tydvil took a cigar from a box that had become part of his （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する furniture.

"You know, Tydvil," said Nicholas presently, "I am sorry to be going. Ours has been a pleasant friendship."

Tydvil nodded. "I'll 行方不明になる you, Nicholas, but I can find my own way now."

"You certainly have developed in three months, my friend."

Tydvil ちらりと見ることd at the clock. "What time do you leave?"

"Twelve 正確に／まさに. There is an 護衛する coming for me."

"You have finished your 調査s?" asked Tydvil. Nicholas shrugged his shoulders. "Yes, my friend. All I have 設立する out that is new, is that sin has become mechanised, and has not 改善するd very much in the 過程."

"Our 聖職者のs and 経済学者s 宣言する the world was never in a worse 明言する／公表する."

"Umph!" Nicholas said. "To my knowledge the 聖職者のs have been 説 that for two thousand years—as for the 経済学者s, if they're agreed on that, it is the only 支配する on which I have ever known as many as two of the 産む／飼育する': in 協定."

"So it's not so bad as they, say?" asked Tydvil.

"No, don't think that," Nicholas interposed quickly, "it is infinitely worse than I imagined."

"That's a bad 警戒／見張り for us, Nicholas." There was 関心 in Tydvil's 発言する／表明する. "Anything that 原因（となる）s you to become 悲観的な does not 約束 much for us."

For a moment an 表現 flashed into the 注目する，もくろむs of Nicholas that sent an icy 冷気／寒がらせる from the tips of Tydvil's toes to the roots of his hair. When he spoke, there was a （犯罪の）一味 of fury in his 発言する／表明する—fury and despair.

"I had hoped," he said tensely, "that you poor human fools had learned your lesson, but that accursed Judas Iscariot has fooled both you and me."

"共産主義?" Tydvil asked.

Nicholas nodded. "Yes, 共産主義," replied Nicholas. "I might have known when he betrayed his first Master, he would betray me also."

"But," interrupted Tydvil, "Will not fascism 行為／法令／行動する as an antidote for the 毒（薬）?"

Nicholas turned pitying 注目する，もくろむs on Tydvil. "My friend, my friend! That was the most foul and 悪名高い part of Judas's 陰謀（を企てる）. The two doctrines he created, which appear diametrically …に反対するd, are one and the same evil thing. Each 耐えるs the seeds of the 破壊 of humanity. I would not mind that so much," he 追加するd with a grim smile, "but they will 難破させる Hell itself, and you poor fools cannot recognise that fact."

He sat for a moment, and 投げ上げる／ボディチェックするd his 長，率いる and laughed. "許す me Tydvil, but I feel sore. The only satisfaction is that I have only been betrayed once, while humanity has been betrayed twice."

Just then the sound of raised 発言する／表明するs outside could be heard indistinctly through the の近くにd door. Tydvil started up. "広大な／多数の／重要な Scot! That's Amy!" Then, to Nicholas, "Please keep her out of here, Nicholas, while you're here at any 率."

Nicholas laughed gently. "No need to worry for the time 存在, she and our 行方不明になる Brand appear to have a good 取引，協定 to discuss."

And so it was. True to his word Billy had made time to come to Geraldine. Seated on the 辛勝する／優位 of her （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する, and の近くに to her, his 手渡す was 残り／休憩（する）ing gently on her shoulder as they talked. It was a secluded backwater of the building where only those （機の）カム who had 商売／仕事 with Tydvil. It. was not unnatural, therefore, that as they talked Billy leaned over and 圧力（をかける）d his lips to the richly dowered 長，率いる.

The gasped "William!" that reached their ears was the first notice they had of the presence of Amy, who glared in furious unbelief at the one whom she imagined to be 始める，決める high above other men.

Geraldine and Billy 星／主役にするd blankly as the 猛烈な／残忍な apparition bore 負かす／撃墜する on them. Amy looked, as she was, past discretion.

"Keep 冷静な／正味の, Billy," whispered Geraldine, "she's fighting mad."

The 見積（る） was no exaggeration. "Nice behaviour t" Snorted Amy. "You せねばならない be ashamed of yourself, 行方不明になる Brand."

"Why?" asked 行方不明になる Brand, with 挑発的な innocence.

"You will be good enough to remember to whom you are speaking, your insolence is insufferable." Amy was very red of 直面する.

"I should say," there was frozen vitriol in Geraldine's 発言する／表明する, "that you are a better 裁判官 of insolence than of behaviour."

Amy gasped. She turned to Billy, who was wondering just how the 状況／情勢 could be 扱うd without a 大災害. "William," she almost hissed, "will you try to explain your behaviour, and this dreadful woman's."

Billy was 用意が出来ている to listen to anything within 推論する／理由, Amy said of him, but he was not in a humour to hear Geraldine called a dreadful woman.

"As 行方不明になる Brand and I are to be married, Mrs. Jones, I 反対する to 審理，公聴会 you or anyone else speak of her in those 条件," he said 温かく.

"You! You dare to tell me that! You dare to tell me that you are going to marry this shameless creature?" Amy stuttered.

Before Billy could return to the attack, Geraldine's 冷静な／正味の 発言する／表明する broke in: "I may be shameless to 許す my fiance to kiss me here, in this office, but I am not a married woman, and I have not been shameless enough to 許す another woman's fiance to kiss me, 公然と, in the Botanical Gardens."

"Gerry!" gasped Billy, wondering if he heard aright. Amy almost reeled under the blow. "How dare you utter such an abominable insinuation!" she 激怒（する）d.

Geraldine laid a 抑制するing 手渡す on Billy's arm. He was 展示（する）ing symptoms of detonation. "If you must know, I have always considered you a canting hypocrite, and I bet Mr. Brewer sixpence that he could not make love to you and kiss you. I was there when he did it. It was on September fifth, in the afternoon."

The crimson 直面する went pale. She glared from one to the other. Billy stood 星／主役にするing at Geraldine wondering whether he or she had gone crazy. But there was a flicker in her 注目する，もくろむ that 警告するd him she was bad rather than mad.

Amy's 表現 as she turned to Billy was fiendish. "Is that—true?" she snarled.

Only Billy's utter 信用／信任 in Geraldine's ability to 扱う the 状況／情勢 she had created enabled him to 耐える up and 決起大会／結集させる to her help. Said he, やめる unabashed, "It was only ーするつもりであるd as a joke, Mrs. Jones."

Geraldine with difficulty repressed a giggle.

Amy made no 試みる／企てる to repress anything. She opened her mouth and let it say all it liked. She began with, "You cur! You unspeakable hound! You 臆病な／卑劣な ruffian! There are no words a self-尊敬（する）・点ing woman can use that can 述べる such a dastardly lying brute as you are. You have dared to conspire with this shameless creature to humiliate a woman who 信用d you—who thought you a man and, heaven 許す me, an honourable man— I..."

And on she 激怒（する）d while Geraldine, listening, quickly raised her telephone from its stand, 圧力（をかける）d a button, spoke a few words, and 取って代わるd the 器具. Then she started to her feet and interposed herself between Billy and the fury of Amy, cutting off the tempest of 乱用.

"You can keep out of this, Billy," she 命令（する）d. "It's my 事件／事情／状勢, and I've been waiting for this for a long, long time."

"I'm afraid I cannot compete in an argument with a..."

Amy dropped a word that made Billy see red. It filled Geraldine with 冷淡な, implaccable 激怒（する）. She towered over Amy, silencing Billy with a ちらりと見ること.

"Now you'll listen to me." Her 発言する／表明する was as 冷淡な as her wrath. She did not raise it; in low, level トンs, she painted Amy Jones as she saw her with another woman's insight and intuition. Savagely she stripped Amy of her armour of self-satisfaction and conceit. It was merciless and pitiless. She 輪郭（を描く）d Amy's life and 作品, and hypocrisies, in words that stung, each a separate hornet, against which there was no defence.

In Tydvil's office he had listened to Geraldine's words on the telephone, and had 取って代わるd the 器具 with a slight smile. He and Nicholas had been sitting 交流ing desultory 宣告，判決s, as men will, when all has been said between them, and they を待つ the moment of parting.

"Geraldine!" he explained to Nicholas as he put 負かす／撃墜する the receiver.

The room had 徐々に grown darker. A low rumble of 雷鳴 （機の）カム through the partly opened window.

"Sounds like a 嵐／襲撃する coming," 発言／述べるd Tydvil as he raised his 長，率いる.

Nicholas laughed. "That is my 護衛する coming, Tydvil." Tydvil ちらりと見ることd at him a question.

"Really it is," Nicholas 保証するd him. "Lucifer, my 指揮官- in-長，指導者, loves to do these things in style. I 推定する／予想する he's turned out the entire 黒人／ボイコット guard with an 大砲 分割 to ride 支援する with me."

"Sounds noisy," was Tydvil's comment as another and nearer peal rumbled 総計費.

"She's having a lively time, I imagine," Nicholas returned to Geraldine's 事件／事情／状勢s.

"From the suggestion she made, I think you're 権利," agreed Tydvil.

"Suggestion!" Nicholas became 警報. It 手配中の，お尋ね者 ten minutes to midday.

"Oh, nothing much," said Tydvil almost indifferently, "but it is one small last service you can do for me, Nicholas."

"Delighted, of course," Nicholas 答える／応じるd 温かく. "What is it?"

"井戸／弁護士席, I want you to put a 抑制（する） on Amy's tongue—say, to 減ずる her 言葉の 生産（高） to about one-sixteenth of its 現在の flow." Tydvil was selecting another cigar as he spoke and did not see the 表現 in Nicholas's 注目する，もくろむs.

"Was that Geraldine's suggestion?" There was a queer （犯罪の）一味 in Nicholas's 発言する／表明する.

"Yes." Tydvil was 意図 on his cigar. "I should have thought of it myself." He looked up as he spoke. Nicholas was regarding him with curious intentness. "広大な／多数の／重要な Scott! Nicholas," he asked in 関心, "is here anything wrong?"

"It 完全に depends on the viewpoint," Nicholas said.

Then he leaned 支援する and laughed without 抑制. "What on earth...?" Tydvil began.

"The red-長，率いる 勝利，勝つs," gasped Nicholas at last.

Tydvil looked at him bewildered. "How—勝利，勝つs what?"

Nicholas drew his wallet from his pocket and 抽出するd the 法案 Tydvil 調印するd three months earlier. "Just this, my friend," he said. "You have asked me to 減ずる Mrs. Jones's flow of talk to one-sixteenth of its 現在の 容積／容量. What you 明らかに do not know it, that neither her Creator, nor I nor man can by any 力／強力にする or 説得／派閥 減ずる the flow of any woman's talk by one word or one syllable against her will."

"You mean...?" Tydvil 星／主役にするd at him incredulous.

"I have failed in my last service to you—and believe me, Tydvil, it is the one I would most 喜んで 成し遂げる if I could.

"So that..." He nodded at the 法案 in Nicholas's 手渡す.

"This is 無効の." Nicholas was rereading his 裏書，是認.

"It seems so simple though." Tydvil's 発言する／表明する was 十分な of wonder.

"So simple—yet the only thing in the Universe that is impossible."

"I just can't understand," said Tydvil.

"Listen, my friend. When the Creator first formed woman, and the work was 完全にするd, it was discovered, too late, that one of the 補助装置ing angels had omitted to adjust the ブレーキ on her tongue. The mistake was irreparable, and beyond even the 力／強力にする of the Creator to 治療（薬）."

"And mankind has 苦しむd for it ever since," sighed Tydvil.

Nicholas nodded. "But the wrath of the Creator was so 広大な／多数の／重要な that he ordered a terrible 罰 to the erring' angel. He 法令d that so long as mankind lived on earth, that angel should take human form, to be reincarnated through all time, and in each incarnation to be a married man."

"What a fearful 運命／宿命," murmured Tydvil, sympathetically.

Nicholas nodded his 協定. "But the worst part of the 罰 was that through all his reincarnation he would know himself to be the 行方不明の angel and to realise the 楽園 he had lost."

"But can't he tell his wife he is the angel?" asked Tydvil.

"To guard against that, the Creator 任命するd that throughout time, every married man should always believe himself to be a 行方不明の angel. So, as all men try to 説得する their wives they are angels, the real angel's wife always regards him as 存在 like the 残り／休憩（する） of them, and no better than them."

"Terrible," murmured Tydvil, "why, I might be—I'm sure lam..."

"So are all the 残り／休憩（する）," Nicholas said, 持つ／拘留するing out the 法案 to Tydvil.

"Au revoir, my friend."

Tydvil reached out to take the 法案. As he did so there was a 衝突，墜落 and a blinding flash of light. The window and the glass 塀で囲むs of Tydvil's office 衝突／不一致d 負かす／撃墜する in clang of broken glass. Tydvil was flung to the 床に打ち倒す beside his 後援d 令状ing （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する. One sleeve was almost torn out of his coat. As the smoke （疑いを）晴らすd he 回復するd his shocked senses.

Geraldine, Amy and Billy, turned and 急ぐd to the 粉々にするd 塀で囲むs. 星／主役にするing through, they beheld a dishevelled Tydvil sitting on the 廃虚s of his 議長，司会を務める, by the remains of his （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する. He still held his smoking cigar in the corner of his mouth, and he was turning over, with evident 利益／興味, a scorched piece of paper he held in his 手渡す.

It was Amy who first 設立する her 発言する／表明する. "Tydvil!" she exclaimed 劇的な, "this is a visitation of heaven."

"Fat lot you know!" （機の）カム the rude and truculent answer from a belligerent Tydvil.

"Are you 傷つける?" asked Geraldine anxiously.

Tydvil regarded the three with 利益／興味. "Come in here the three of you, and don't stand gaping there." Then, to the white- 直面するd （人が）群がる of 従業員s who had 急ぐd to the scene, "（疑いを）晴らす out, you people," he shouted. "There's nothing wrong—only a flash of 雷."

Putting her 手渡す through the broken pane, Geraldine opened the 粉々にするd door and the three joined Tydvil as he 緊急発進するd to his feet.

"I hope, if there is any decency left in you, Tydvil," Amy took the 床に打ち倒す, "that this will be a terrible 警告 to you."

無視（する）ing her words 完全に, he 調査するd the three; then he 直す／買収する，八百長をするd his 注目する，もくろむs on Amy. "You two," he said with a ちらりと見ること at Geraldine and Billy, "know as much of my 事件／事情／状勢s as I do—nearly. So I don't mind your 審理，公聴会 what I am going to say." Then, to Amy, "I'm 絶対 fed up of you and all your 作品. Now, here's my only 申し込む／申し出. Either you give me a judicial 分離 or I'll 告訴する for 離婚, and, by Jove, I'll get it!"

"You! You 離婚 me?" Amy gasped.

Tydvil stepped の近くに to her, bent his 長，率いる and murmured some words in her ear.

Amy paled and stepped 支援する with terror in her 注目する，もくろむs. "井戸／弁護士席!" he snapped. "分離 or 離婚?"

"I will have to 服従させる／提出する to your cruelty," Amy stammered. "Then get out of this and wait at home till you hear from me."

With one savage ちらりと見ること at Geraldine, Amy turned and walked out of the room.

"What on earth was the 列／漕ぐ／騒動 about?" 需要・要求するd Geraldine. "Where's Mr. 上級の?"

"Thanks to you," Tydvil held out the 公式文書，認める on which the word "Cancelled" appeared in scorched letters.

Her 注目する，もくろむs lit up. "It worked?"

"It did," agreed Tydvil looking 一連の会議、交渉／完成する the 難破させるd room.

"What worked?" asked the bewildered Billy.

"Best not tell him, Geraldine," grinned Tydvil, "the news would 脅す him too much."

"She's 脅すd me enough already this morning," growled Billy. "So I won't ask any more questions."

Tydvil looked to Geraldine for enlightenment, and Geraldine told her story.

"You mean to tell me that you put that on to poor Billy? You せねばならない spank her," laughed Tydvil.

"She deserves it, but she has me 脅すd, 長，指導者," grinned Billy. "I'd never know what she'd do next."

"Oh! by the way," Tydvil said, "I forgot to tell you. You're both 解雇（する）d."

"長，指導者!" expostulated Billy.

"What 感謝." Geraldine laughed. "I've saved your 団体／死体 from Amy and your soul from your friend—and you 解雇（する） me..."

"Billy," Tydvil 命令（する）d, "take that woman some where and marry her as soon as you can. She's not 安全な to be left lying about loose..."

"You're not as 割れ目d as I thought you were," retorted Billy audaciously.

"I hope I'm not," Tydvil went on, "because I'm off to Europe for a holiday next month, and you, Billy, are going to manage C. B. & D. in my place..."

And now, gentle reader, should you be a woman and married, I have written this story to tell you why you should be 患者 and gentle with him. Because he really believes he is an angel—that is his 運命／宿命. And besides, he really might be. You never know your luck, and that 行方不明の angel is somewhere in the world.

THE END

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