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<v Speaker 1>Chapter twenty one of The Double by Edgar Wallace. This

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<v Speaker 1>LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Read by Atolsharma, Winnipeg, Canada,

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<v Speaker 1>Chapter twenty one, Tommy Wield sat down in his hotel

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<v Speaker 1>sitting room to take stock of himself. There were quite

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<v Speaker 1>a number of people in the world who regarded this

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<v Speaker 1>fresh faced, young, irresponsible man of thirty as an easy mark.

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<v Speaker 1>But Tommy Wield was no fool, and if proof were necessary,

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<v Speaker 1>his bailiff could have revealed quite a number of interesting facts.

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<v Speaker 1>Contrary to the general belief, the late Lord Weald was

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<v Speaker 1>not a very rich man. He was certainly a careless one.

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<v Speaker 1>He had left his estate in some confusion, and it

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<v Speaker 1>had been Tommy who had shored up the tottering fortune

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<v Speaker 1>of his house, and most shrewdly rebuilt its foundation. Perhaps

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<v Speaker 1>his patent innocence helped him. He had been led in

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<v Speaker 1>by acquaintances on the stock exchange to several good things.

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<v Speaker 1>They expected him to speculate gently and leave the fat

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<v Speaker 1>pickings of the market to themselves. They were pardonably indignant

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<v Speaker 1>when they found their novitiate gambling with the sang frois

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<v Speaker 1>of a hardened jabber and what is more, skimming the

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<v Speaker 1>cream of the market. Tommy was no born manager of estates,

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<v Speaker 1>but he had the knack of choosing the right men.

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<v Speaker 1>He had found his reputation for innocence something of an asset,

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<v Speaker 1>and had stared between many dangerous rocks across many disastrous shoals,

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<v Speaker 1>avoiding in the process the lady who was popularly believed

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<v Speaker 1>to have a million of money but no personal attractions,

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<v Speaker 1>at least two cousins, a charming widow or two, and

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<v Speaker 1>divers detached and distantly related females. He ran his fingers

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<v Speaker 1>through his untidy hair and stared solemnly at his reflection

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<v Speaker 1>in the mirror. Tommy always sat before a looking glass

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<v Speaker 1>when he was alone, and if there was one available

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<v Speaker 1>for he was a gregarious creature and loved company. And

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<v Speaker 1>here was the fact that the Earl of Wield had

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<v Speaker 1>to face for the first time in his life. He

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<v Speaker 1>was desperately in love with a girl, who, from self

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<v Speaker 1>consciousness or some other cause, treated him, in his own words,

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<v Speaker 1>like a beastly poodle by day and by night, was

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<v Speaker 1>to him the most adorable and the most loving of women.

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<v Speaker 1>Tommy had none of the uncomfortable thoughts which usually beset

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<v Speaker 1>a man in his position. He had no relations to

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<v Speaker 1>please or displease. For his aunts, if the truth be told,

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<v Speaker 1>were so many pegs on which she could hang timely excuses.

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<v Speaker 1>They were timorous old ladies, very much in awe of

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<v Speaker 1>their nephew. He had money. The woman he loved, so

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<v Speaker 1>far as he could judge by voice and manner, was

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<v Speaker 1>a lady. He never even speculated upon this, And except

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<v Speaker 1>for her unfortunate shyness or awkwardness, or whatever was the

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<v Speaker 1>disturbing quality which made her so impossible in daytime, she

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<v Speaker 1>adored him. An aunt had rather diffidently raised the only

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<v Speaker 1>objection in the course of a letter, which was filled

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<v Speaker 1>with reserved congratulation. One of course, must know her people.

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<v Speaker 1>Many modern young girls have the most presentable manners, and

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<v Speaker 1>are indistinguishable from ladies and members of a good family

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<v Speaker 1>until one meets their relations. Tommy replied to that hotly.

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<v Speaker 1>He was marrying Mary and not her relations. But he

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<v Speaker 1>was quite prepared to discover that they earned a precarious

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<v Speaker 1>livelihood in the ancient and honorable profession of ragpickers, he

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<v Speaker 1>said romantically. Nevertheless, he had his uneasy moments. There were

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<v Speaker 1>a few gritting the slides of life. Even now, he

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<v Speaker 1>had not dressed for dinner, and sat watching the slow

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<v Speaker 1>minute hand of the clock on the mantelpiece move imperceptibly

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<v Speaker 1>toward the hour of his rendezvous. It was not remarkable

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<v Speaker 1>that he should be waiting outside the charmed house a

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<v Speaker 1>quarter of an hour too soon. There was a diversion

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<v Speaker 1>to occupy his mind. He had passed at the corner

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<v Speaker 1>of the road, a very inebriated gentleman who sang as

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<v Speaker 1>he staggered, a song about love. Tommy watched him reel

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<v Speaker 1>through the drizzle, and long after he had passed out

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<v Speaker 1>of sight, his melancholy cadences were yet audible. He saw

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<v Speaker 1>a movement near the house, and a dim figure melted

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<v Speaker 1>out of the bushes near the doorway and came toward him. Oh, Tommy,

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<v Speaker 1>I didn't know it was raining, she said, her voice

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<v Speaker 1>full of self reproach, as she opened the gate and

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<v Speaker 1>led him onto the dark lawn. How mean of me

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<v Speaker 1>I could have come out before nothing, dear old thing, nothing,

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<v Speaker 1>said Tommy briskly. If I wait till it stops raining,

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<v Speaker 1>I should never see you. How's that jolly old rascal Cornfort?

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<v Speaker 1>He has gone to bed, said the girl, as she

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<v Speaker 1>slipped her arm in his. He's terribly tired. There was

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<v Speaker 1>a canvas swing in the garden, and above a most

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<v Speaker 1>substantial awning, which would have kept out the ultra violet

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<v Speaker 1>rays of the sun, if the sun had ever shone itself,

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<v Speaker 1>and did, in point of fact, serve as a protection

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<v Speaker 1>from the heavy showers of rain, which were not infrequent.

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<v Speaker 1>Tommy sat down by his companion's side and put his

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<v Speaker 1>arm about her shoulder. Tommy, you're purring, she said, in alarm.

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<v Speaker 1>He accepted the accusation as a compliment. Her head sank

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<v Speaker 1>lower on his shoulder. He drooped his head, and her

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<v Speaker 1>velvet cheek was against his. They must have looked very silly,

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<v Speaker 1>but nobody saw them, and two people in such circumstances

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<v Speaker 1>can never look silly, except in another's eyes. Presently, Tommy

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<v Speaker 1>straightened up, Mary, my darling. He said, I've got a

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<v Speaker 1>fearfully important question to ask you. He heard her sigh, Tommy,

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<v Speaker 1>I hate answering fearfully important questions, But he was determined.

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<v Speaker 1>Aren't you awfully keen on dick stains? She thought this

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<v Speaker 1>matter over? I like him, she said, thoughtfully, from what

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<v Speaker 1>I have seen of him, he seems rather nice. Honestly, Mary,

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<v Speaker 1>he cleared his throat, for he was putting a question

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<v Speaker 1>which properly and satisfactorily answered would sweep away a great

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<v Speaker 1>deal of the unhappiness which clouded his waking moments. Honestly,

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<v Speaker 1>aren't you in love with him? A little bit? I mean,

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<v Speaker 1>he's a shriekingly good looking chap and I know I'm

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<v Speaker 1>a perfectly ghastly sight. Every time I look at a baby,

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<v Speaker 1>it goes blue in the face. It's a fact. What

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<v Speaker 1>I mean to say is, don't you think you would

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<v Speaker 1>be happier with what nonsense you talk? Tommy? There was

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<v Speaker 1>a little touch of petulance in her voice. I don't

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<v Speaker 1>know why, but I love you better than anybody in

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<v Speaker 1>the world. Do you believe that? Believe what asked Tommy,

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<v Speaker 1>who was always cautious at the wrong moment, that you

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<v Speaker 1>don't know why? She sat bolt upright? Of course, I

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<v Speaker 1>don't know. Why does any girl? Tommy? If I am

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<v Speaker 1>in love with you, which I suppose I am, is

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<v Speaker 1>it remarkable that I shouldn't know why? Here was a

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<v Speaker 1>problem in psychology which could not readily be solved. Tommy

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<v Speaker 1>liked a reason for everything, even for falling in love,

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<v Speaker 1>and it had seemed to him that in the daytime,

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<v Speaker 1>at any rate, Mary's attitude was distinctly frigid, especially in

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<v Speaker 1>Dick Staine's presence. That's all right, he said, with satisfaction.

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<v Speaker 1>The truth is, old Darling, I've been fearfully worried. You

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<v Speaker 1>and old Dicky get on so well together. You have

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<v Speaker 1>your secret pilavers, and there have been moments when I've

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<v Speaker 1>been frantically jealous. She squeezed his arm gently. Then you've

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<v Speaker 1>been frantically foolish, she said. The house where mister Cornfort

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<v Speaker 1>had his lodgings was on the corner of two roads,

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<v Speaker 1>and the large gardens were flanked by low cut hedges.

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<v Speaker 1>From where they sat, the front door was obscured by

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<v Speaker 1>clumps of rhododendrons, which also hid half the tiled path

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<v Speaker 1>to the gate, which was not only in view in

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<v Speaker 1>the daylight but even at night. Beyond the pathway the

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<v Speaker 1>great on slope down to a sunken garden, so that

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<v Speaker 1>anybody passing to the gate from the house showed against

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<v Speaker 1>the skyline. Tommy's hearing was particularly acute. He heard the

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<v Speaker 1>front door open and close softly in the faint crunch

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<v Speaker 1>of feet and smiled. Who is that? He asked, She

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<v Speaker 1>shook free of his arm and sat up. What was it?

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<v Speaker 1>Before he could answer, the figure of a man came

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<v Speaker 1>into view. He limped quickly across their line of vision.

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<v Speaker 1>They heard the squeak of the gate, and he disappeared

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<v Speaker 1>in the darkness of the roadway. Jumping snakes. Gasped, Tommy,

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<v Speaker 1>that's old Cornfort. He had seen the thin face, the

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<v Speaker 1>mop of gray hair, the long hawk like nose. I

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<v Speaker 1>thought you said, nonsense, Tommy. Her voice was sharp. Mister

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<v Speaker 1>Cornfort's in bed. That was another lodger. He looked round

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<v Speaker 1>at her slowly. Mary, He said, you lie in your boots,

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<v Speaker 1>ol dear. If that's not the late or nearly late,

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<v Speaker 1>mister Cornfort, I'll eat my right ear for a second.

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<v Speaker 1>She was too taken aback to answer. You're probably right,

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<v Speaker 1>she said, with devastating coolness, But why shouldn't he take

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<v Speaker 1>a little exercise now? And again? Nevertheless, in spite of

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<v Speaker 1>her calm manner, he detected a tremor of agitation in

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<v Speaker 1>her voice when she asked this audacious question. Wait, she said,

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<v Speaker 1>and ran across the lawn, disappearing into the house. Presently

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<v Speaker 1>she came out, followed by a man whom Tommy recognized

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<v Speaker 1>as Henry. Henry had been something of a puzzle to

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<v Speaker 1>Lord Wield. He had never quite known whether the bath

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<v Speaker 1>chairman was a permanency. Certainly, he was unaware until that

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<v Speaker 1>moment that Henry had lodgings in the house of his employer.

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<v Speaker 1>The girl and the man talked together quickly in a

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<v Speaker 1>low voice, and Tommy thought he heard the chairman say damn,

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<v Speaker 1>which in a bath chairman seemed nearer to profanity. Henry

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<v Speaker 1>heard cried out into the road, and he also disappeared.

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<v Speaker 1>She waited for a few seconds, looking over the gate,

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<v Speaker 1>and then came slowly back and sat down by Tommy's side.

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<v Speaker 1>It is really nothing, she said. Mister Cornfort has these

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<v Speaker 1>little fits of energy, but I don't like him to

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<v Speaker 1>go out alone. He may have a fit of vertico

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<v Speaker 1>and fall over a cliff or something, which would give

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<v Speaker 1>him a nasty taste in his mouth, said Tommy flippantly.

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<v Speaker 1>Old Cornfort. Fancy the old blighter being hauled around in

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<v Speaker 1>a chair all day and trotting about all night on

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<v Speaker 1>his flat feet. We like to encourage him to walk,

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<v Speaker 1>said the girl hastily. He had an idea that she

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<v Speaker 1>was listening, as all her senses showed for some sound,

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<v Speaker 1>he knew, not what. When a few streets away a

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<v Speaker 1>motorcycle back fired incessantly, she nearly jumped from her feet.

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<v Speaker 1>What was that, she gasped. Her voice was agitated. Sounds

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<v Speaker 1>like a motorbike to me, said Tommy. But when he

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<v Speaker 1>put his arm around, she was trembling from head to foot.

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<v Speaker 1>I'm a terrible coward, her voice quavered. I wish I

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<v Speaker 1>had the courage. She stopped short. You've got plenty of courage.

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<v Speaker 1>Oh dear, it's this beastly job trotting round after the

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<v Speaker 1>poor old ditherer that gets you rattled, said Tommy. And

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<v Speaker 1>this time there was no question as to the noise.

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<v Speaker 1>It was the sound of a shot, clear and unmistakable.

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<v Speaker 1>The girl sprang to her feet. Oh, Tommy, she gasped.

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<v Speaker 1>I wish he hadn't. And then came the sound of

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<v Speaker 1>running feet. Let me go, said an angry voice. The

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<v Speaker 1>gate was flung open, and mister Cornfort sprawled in as

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<v Speaker 1>though he had been violently pushed from behind. Henry followed,

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<v Speaker 1>closed the gate and leaned over. Tommy thought he saw

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<v Speaker 1>something glitter in the chairman's hand. Anything wrong, Henry looked round.

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<v Speaker 1>It seemed that he was only then aware of the

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<v Speaker 1>visitor's presence. No, my lord, nothing's wrong. I shouldn't sit

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<v Speaker 1>out here if I were. You, young lady, what is it,

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<v Speaker 1>she asked in a low voice. Somebody was the ambiguous reply,

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<v Speaker 1>then to Tommy, did you see anybody, my lord? When

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<v Speaker 1>you came in there was a fellow at the corner

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<v Speaker 1>of the street. Rather tight, said Tommy, remembering the appearance

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<v Speaker 1>of the inebriated wayfarer. A policeman came into sight under

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<v Speaker 1>a street lamp he crossed the road. Did you hear

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<v Speaker 1>somebody shooting? No, sir, Henry's voice was almost humble. There's

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<v Speaker 1>been a motorcycle exploding round here, as he spoke, as

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<v Speaker 1>though by a pre arranged signal, and to confirm his

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<v Speaker 1>explanation of the sound, came another backfire and a quick

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<v Speaker 1>succession of loud pops from the distance. That's what it was, eh,

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<v Speaker 1>The policeman seemed relieved after that bomb throwing. I've been

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<v Speaker 1>set to keep an eye on the house. I happened

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<v Speaker 1>to go round the corner to see my friend. On

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<v Speaker 1>the next beat. I didn't half get a fright. He

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<v Speaker 1>chatted for a few seconds and walked along the road.

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<v Speaker 1>Henry came slowly back to where they sat. I think

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<v Speaker 1>I should go now if I were you, sir. He

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<v Speaker 1>was very respectful, and apparently undisturbed by any adventures through

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<v Speaker 1>which he might have passed. Before Tommy could reply, a

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<v Speaker 1>voice called urgently from the door, hurry, come and get

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<v Speaker 1>your arm dressed quickly. It was Cornfort speaking, and for

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<v Speaker 1>one on the verge of eternity, there was considerable vigor

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<v Speaker 1>in his voice. Are you hurt? The girl's voice was

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<v Speaker 1>almost awail. Nothing, nothing at all, said Henry, showing his

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<v Speaker 1>first sign of impatience. A scratch, my dear, A bush

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<v Speaker 1>caught my er sleeve. Then it was that Tommy saw

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<v Speaker 1>he was holding his left arm a little above the wrist. Darling,

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<v Speaker 1>you are hurt, said the girl, almost tearfully, and Tommy

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<v Speaker 1>nearly dropped. Darling, was ever bath chairman addressed in such

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<v Speaker 1>endearing terms, Miss Dane, you are entirely mistaken. The Chairman's

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<v Speaker 1>voice was very firm. Now, Lord Wield, you would greatly

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<v Speaker 1>oblige me if you went home. In the confusion of farewell,

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<v Speaker 1>the girl disappeared. Tommy had hardly left the house when

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<v Speaker 1>he heard her call him back. Good night, Tommy. He

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<v Speaker 1>turned to kiss her cold lips. I'm awfully frightened to night, Tommy.

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<v Speaker 1>I'm so terribly wicked. I was never meant to be.

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<v Speaker 1>Before he could ask for an explanation, she had gone dashed. Extraordinary,

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<v Speaker 1>said Tommy aloud, and strode fiercely back to the hotel.

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<v Speaker 1>He kept a lookout for the drunken man, but did

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<v Speaker 1>not see him. Nearing the front, he found himself following

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<v Speaker 1>a stocky individual who might have been the song bird

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<v Speaker 1>he had seen earlier in the evening. He walked more

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<v Speaker 1>quickly to overtake the suspect, but as if he knew

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<v Speaker 1>he was being followed, the man walked faster. They came

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<v Speaker 1>to the fringe of a carnival party, either going to

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<v Speaker 1>or returning from a dance, and his quarry disappeared before

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<v Speaker 1>Lord Walde could make his acquaintance. For a long time

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<v Speaker 1>that night, Tommy sat on the edge of his bed

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<v Speaker 1>with folded arms, frowning at the wall paper. There were

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<v Speaker 1>one or two things that the future Lady Walde must

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<v Speaker 1>be taught, as, for example, the bad form of addressing

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<v Speaker 1>Bath Chairman in terms of excessive endearment. End of Chapter

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<v Speaker 1>twenty one