按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
'Eustace！' cried Lady Wetherby； severely。
Eustace lowered his foot and gazed at her meditatively； then at the odd…job man； then at the scullery…maid； whose voice rose high above the din。
'I rather fancy； m'lady；' said Wrench； dispassionately； 'that the animal is about to hurl a plate。'
It had escaped the notice of those present that the shelf on which the rioter had taken refuge was within fortable reach of the dresser； but Eustace himself had not overlooked this important strategic point。 As the butler spoke； Eustace picked up a plate and threw it at the scullery…maid； whom he seemed definitely to have picked out as the most hostile of the allies。 It was a fast inshoot； and hit the wall just above her head。
''At…a…boy！' said the odd…job man； reverently。
Lady Wetherby turned on him with some violence。 His detached attitude was the most irritating of the many irritating aspects of the situation。 She paid this man a weekly wage to do odd jobs。 The capture of Eustace was essentially an odd job。 Yet； instead of doing it； he hung about with the air of one who has paid his half…dollar and bought his bag of peanuts and has now nothing to do but look on and enjoy himself。
'Why don't you catch him？' she cried。
The odd…job man came out of his trance。 A sudden realization came upon him that life was real and life was earnest； and that if he did not wish to jeopardize a good situation he must bestir himself。 Everybody was looking at him expectantly。 It seemed to be definitely up to him。 It was imperative that； whatever he did； he should do it quickly。 There was an apron hanging over the back of a chair。 More with the idea of doing something than because he thought he would achieve anything definite thereby； he picked up the apron and flung it at Eustace。 Luck was with him。 The apron enveloped Eustace just as he was winding up for another inshoot and was off his balance。 He tripped and fell； clutched at the apron to save himself； and came to the ground swathed in it； giving the effect of an apron mysteriously endowed with life。 The triumphant odd…job man； pressing his advantage like a good general； gathered up the ends； converted it into a rude bag； and one more was added to the long list of the victories of the human over the brute intelligence。
Everybody had a suggestion now。 The cook advocated drowning。 The parlour…maid favoured the idea of hitting the prisoner with a broom…handle。 Wrench； eyeing the struggling apron disapprovingly； mentioned that Mr Pickering had bought a revolver that morning。
'Put him in the coal…cellar；' said Lady Wetherby。
Wrench was more far…seeing。
'If I might offer the warning； m'lady；' said Wrench； 'not the cellar。 It is full of coal。 It would be placing temptation in the animal's way。'
The odd…job man endorsed this。
'Put him in the garage； then；' said Lady Wetherby。
The odd…job man departed； bearing his heaving bag at arm's length。 The cook and the parlour…maid addressed themselves to forting and healing the scullery…maid。 Wrench went off to polish silver； Lady Wetherby to resume her letters。 The cat was the last of the party to return to the normal。 She came down from the chimney an hour later covered with soot； demanding restoratives。
Lady Wetherby finished her letters。 She cut them short； for Eustace's insurgence had interfered with her flow of ideas。 She went into the drawing…room； where she found Roscoe Sherriff strumming on the piano。
'Eustace has been raising Cain；' she said。
The Press…agent looked up hopefully。 He had been wearing a rather preoccupied air。
'How's that？' he asked。
'Throwing eggs and plates in the kitchen。'
The gleam of interest which had e into Roscoe Sherriff's face died out。
'You couldn't get more than a fill…in at the bottom of a column on that；' he said； regretfully。 'I'm a little disappointed in that monk。 I hoped he would pan out bigger。 Well； I guess we've just got to give him time。 I have an idea that he'll set the house on fire or do something with a punch like that one of these days。 You mustn't get discouraged。 Why； that puma I made Valerie Devenish keep looked like a perfect failure for four whole months。 A child could have played with it。 Miss Devenish called me up on the phone； I remember； and said she was darned if she was going to spend the rest of her life maintaining an animal that might as well be stuffed for all the liveliness it showed； and that she was going right out to buy a white mouse instead。 Fortunately； I talked her round。
'A few weeks later she came round and thanked me with tears in her eyes。 The puma had suddenly struck real mid…season form。 It clawed the elevator…boy； bit a postman； held up the traffic for miles； and was finally shot by a policeman。 Why； for the next few days there was nothing in the papers at all but Miss Devenish and her puma。 There was a war on at the time in Mexico or somewhere； and we had it backed off the front page so far that it was over before it could get back。 So； you see； there's always hope。 I've been nursing the papers with bits about Eustace； so as to be ready for the grand…stand play when it esand all we can do is to wait。 It's something if he's been throwing eggs。 It shows he's waking up。'
The door opened and Lord Wetherby entered。 He looked fatigued。 He sank into a chair and sighed。
'I cannot get it；' he said。 'It eludes me。'
He lapsed into a sombre silence。
'What can't you get？' said Lady Wetherby； cautiously。
'The expressionthe expression I want to get into the child's eyes in my picture； 〃Innocence〃。'
'But you have got it。'
Lord Wetherby shook his head。
'Well； you had when I saw the picture；' persisted Lady Wetherby。 'This child you're painting has just joined the Black Hand。 He has been rushed in young over the heads of the waiting list because his father had a pull。 Naturally the kid wants to do something to justify his election； and he wants to do it quick。 You have caught him at the moment when he sees an old gentleman ing down the street and realizes that he has only got to sneak up and stick his little knife'
'My dear Polly； I wele criticism； but this is more'
Lady Wetherby stroked his coat…sleeve fondly。
'Never mind； Algie； I was only joking； precious。 I thought the picture was ing along fine when you showed it to me。 I'll e and take another look at it。'
Lord Wetherby shook his head。
'I should have a model。 An artist cannot mirror Nature properly without a model。 I wish you would invite that child down here。'
'No； Algie； there are limits。 I wouldn't have him within a mile of the place。'
'Yet you keep Eustace。'
'Well； you made me engage Wrench。 It's fifty…fifty。 I wish you wouldn't keep picking on Eustace； Algie dear。 He does no harm。 Mr Sherriff and I were just saying how peaceable he is。 He wouldn't hurt'
Claire came in。
'Polly；' she said； 'did you put that monkey of yours in the garage？ He's just bitten Dudley in the leg。'
Lord Wetherby uttered an exclamation。
'Now perhaps'
'We went in just now to have a look at the car；' continued Claire。 'Dudley wanted to show me the mutator on the exhaust…box or the windscreen； or something； and he was just bending over when Eustace jumped out fro