I expect you have a lot of things upstairs, I said.
Youve taken on the work I wrote to you about, he said. Well, Im sorry to have taken
up your time.
Thatwill give me the chance to do the rest quickly
when the momentcomes. Even I can scarcelykeep pace with her ardent youth. I thought
of that, she replied, but Colonel Arbuthnot says No,on no account.
I noticed that his heavy eyelids were neverraised.
It looked partly like amuseum, partly like an office, and partly like a library. But
afterbreakfast I gave up that line, for it led nowhere.
In an hour there wont be a sign of anything. And
then I had a shock which nearly sent me through the window. He seemed to be asking
urgentquestions, and the Indian was replying calmly and soothingly. But something
had to be done, and that is mybusiness especially. His lips were red like a
chorus-girls, and I wouldhave sworn that his cheeks were rouged. And Colonel
Arbuthnot says that, even if we found him, itmight be hard to restore the childs
mind.
Im not, I said stoutly, and I see him at closer
quarters thanmost people.
The arrival of Miss Wymondham made me get up to
leave. I noticed that his heavy eyelids were neverraised.
You have only to push it openand walk in. Youve
taken on the work I wrote to you about, he said. It was awomans dressing-table I
saw, with big hair-brushes and oddments ofscents and powders. He was evidently
saying that I was packedup and sealed and safe on the shelf. Could thisodd building
abut on a dance-hall? And Colonel Arbuthnot says that, even if we found him, itmight
be hard to restore the childs mind.
The place did not extend far to the back, as I had
believed.
Mary was in London,and I must see her at
once.
She was far too young and lovely to be safe on the
back-stairs.