beasts and super-beasts(野兽与超级野兽)-第31章
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Kestrel…Smiths； but he made no attempt to clothe his mental picture in
words。 The lady continued her story。
〃Naturally； none of my keys would fit the things； but I told an
intelligent page boy that I had lost my key…ring； and he had the locks
forced in a twinkling。 Rather too intelligent； that boy； he will probably
end in Dartmoor。 The Kestrel…Smith toilet tools aren't up to much；
but they are better than nothing。〃
〃If you feel sure that you have a title；〃 said Jerton； 〃 why not get
hold of a peerage and go right through it？〃
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〃I tried that。 I skimmed through the list of the House of Lords in
'Whitaker；' but a mere printed string of names conveys awfully little to
one； you know。 If you were an army officer and had lost your identity
you might pore over the Army List for months without finding out who
your were。 I'm going on another tack； I'm trying to find out by various
little tests who I am NOT … that will narrow the range of uncertainty
down a bit。 You may have noticed； for instance； that I'm lunching
principally off lobster Newburg。〃
Jerton had not ventured to notice anything of the sort。
〃It's an extravagance； because it's one of the most expensive dishes
on the menu； but at any rate it proves that I'm not Lady Starping； she
never touches shell…fish； and poor Lady Braddleshrub has no digestion at
all； if I am HER I shall certainly die in agony in the course of the
afternoon； and the duty of finding out who I am will devolve on the
press and the police and those sort of people； I shall be past caring。
Lady Knewford doesn't know one rose from another and she hates men；
so she wouldn't have spoken to you in any case； and Lady Mousehilton
flirts with every man she meets … I haven't flirted with you； have I？〃
Jerton hastily gave the required assurance。
〃Well； you see；〃 continued the lady； 〃that knocks four off the list at
once。〃
〃It'll be rather a lengthy process bringing the list down to one；〃 said
Jerton。
〃Oh； but； of course； there are heaps of them that I couldn't possibly
be … women who've got grandchildren or sons old enough to have
celebrated their coming of age。 I've only got to consider the ones about
my own age。 I tell you how you might help me this afternoon； if you
don't mind； go through any of the back numbers of COUNTRY LIFE
and those sort of papers that you can find in the smoking…room； and see
if you come across my portrait with infant son or anything of that sort。
It won't take you ten minutes。 I'll meet you in the lounge about tea…
time。 Thanks awfully。〃
And the Fair Unknown； having graciously pressed Jerton into the
search for her lost identity； rose and left the room。 As she passed the
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young man's table she halted for a moment and whispered：
〃Did you notice that I tipped the waiter a shilling？ We can cross
Lady Ulwight off the list； she would have died rather than do that。〃
At five o'clock Jerton made his way to the hotel lounge； he had spent
a diligent but fruitless quarter of an hour among the illustrated weeklies
in the smoking… room。 His new acquaintance was seated at a small tea…
table； with a waiter hovering in attendance。
〃China tea or Indian？〃 she asked as Jerton came up。
〃China； please； and nothing to eat。 Have you discovered
anything？〃
〃Only negative information。 I'm not Lady Befnal。 She
disapproves dreadfully of any form of gambling； so when I recognised a
well…known book maker in the hotel lobby I went and put a tenner on an
unnamed filly by William the Third out of Mitrovitza for the three…
fifteen race。 I suppose the fact of the animal being nameless was
what attracted me。〃
Did it win？〃 asked Jerton。
〃No； came in fourth； the most irritating thing a horse can do when
you've backed it win or place。 Anyhow； I know now that I'm not Lady
Befnal。〃
〃It seems to me that the knowledge was rather dearly bought；〃
commented Jerton。
〃Well； yes； it has rather cleared me out；〃 admitted the identity…seeker；
〃a florin is about all I've got left on me。 The lobster Newburg made my
lunch rather an expensive one； and； of course； I had to tip that boy for
what he did to the Kestrel…Smith locks。 I've got rather a useful idea；
though。 I feel certain that I belong to the Pivot Club； I'll go back to
town and ask the hall porter there if there are any letters for me。 He
knows all the members by sight； and if there are any letters or
telephone messages waiting for me of course that will solve the problem。
If he says there aren't any I shall say： 'You know who I am； don't you？'
so I'll find out anyway。〃
The plan seemed a sound one； a difficulty in its execution suggested
itself to Jerton。
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〃Of course；〃 said the lady； when he hinted at the obstacle； 〃there's
my fare back to town； and my bill here and cabs and things。 If you'll
lend me three pounds that ought to see me through comfortably。
Thanks ever so。 Then there is the question of that luggage： I don't want
to be saddled with that for the rest of my life。 I'll have it brought down
to the hall and you can pretend to mount guard over it while I'm writing
a letter。 Then I shall just slip away to the station； and you can wander
off to the smoking…room； and they can do what they like with the things。
They'll advertise them after a bit and the owner can claim them。〃
Jerton acquiesced in the manoeuvre； and duly mounted guard over
the luggage while its temporary owner slipped unobtrusively out of the
hotel。 Her departure was not； however； altogether unnoticed。 Two
gentlemen were strolling past Jerton； and one of them remarked to the
other：
〃Did you see that tall young woman in grey who went out just now？
She is the Lady … 〃
His promenade carried him out of earshot at the critical moment
when he was about to disclose the elusive identity。 The Lady Who？
Jerton could scarcely run after a total stranger； break into his
conversation； and ask him for information concerning a chance passer…
by。 Besides； it was desirable that he should keep up the appearance of
looking after the luggage。 In a minute or two； however； the important
personage； the man who knew； came strolling back alone。 Jerton
summoned up all his courage and waylaid him。
〃I think I heard you say you knew the lady who went out of the hotel
a few minutes ago； a tall lady； dressed in grey。 Excuse me for asking if
you could tell me her name； I've been talking to her for half an hour； she
… er … she knows all my people and seems to know me； so I suppose
I've met her somewhere before； but I'm blest if I can put a name to her。
Could you … ？〃
〃Certainly。 She's a Mrs。 Stroope。〃
〃MRS。？〃 queried Jerton。
〃Yes； she's the Lady Champion at golf in my part of the world。 An
awful good sort； and goes about a good deal in Society； but she has an
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awkward habit of losing her memory every now and then； and gets into
all sorts of fixes。 She's furious； too； if you make any allusion to it
afterwards。 Good day； sir。〃
The stranger passed on his way； and before Jerton had had time to
assimilate his information he found his whole attention centred on an
angry…looking lady who was making loud and fretful…seeming inquiries
of the hotel clerks。
〃Has any luggage been brought here from the station by mistake； a
dress…basket and dressing…case； with the name Kestrel…Smith？ It can't
be traced anywhere。 I saw it put in at Victoria； that I'll swear。 Why …
there is my luggage！ and the locks have been tampered with！〃
Jerton heard no more。 He fled down to the Turkish bath； and stayed
there for hours。
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THE STALLED OX
THEOPHIL ESHLEY was an artist by profession； a cattle painter
by force of environment。 It is not to be supposed that he lived on a
ranche or a dairy farm； in an atmosphere pervaded with horn and hoof；
milking…stool； and branding…iron。 His home was in a park…like； villa…
dotted district that only just escaped the reproach of being suburban。
On one side of his garden there abutted a small； picturesque meadow； in
which an enterprising neighbour pastured some small picturesque cows
of the Channel Island persuasion。 At noonday in summertime the
cows stood knee…deep in tall meadow…grass under the shade of a group
of walnut trees； with the sunlight f
