style="font-size:15px;"> “There’s been some talk of rolling me into an ante-room for the night. Everybody’s frightfully decent.”
“The ante-room? That’s where—” He paused. “Well, let’s run over the inventory. Who’ve you seen so far?”
“Lord Aveling.”
“He’s easy. Fifth baron. Hopes to be first marquis or earl. Conservative. I hope politics don’t make you feel suicidal?”
“One has to bear them; but I’m not particularly interested.”
“Just as well. You’ll be able to keep out of arguments. Have you seen Lady Aveling?” John nodded. “She needn’t worry you. She follows her husband’s lead. The daughter you’ve just met. The Honourable Anne. Keen on horses. Hunting people here, you know. And golfing. Private course. Anne can drive two hundred.”
“I like her,” said John.
“She’s O.K.” Taverley paused for an instant, then added: “She liked you.”
“You made up your mind quickly!”
“So did she about that. So did you. Well, let’s finish the family. There’s only one more.”
“The son?”
“No. That’s the disappointment. Lady Aveling’s mother. Mrs. Morris. You’re not the only invalid in the house. But you won’t see Mrs. Morris—she sticks to her room!”
At that moment Mrs. Morris was lying two floors above, propped up on pillows, in an ecstasy of joy. She was almost free from grinding pain. The world was very good....
“Fine old lady,” said Taverley. “Example to the lot of us. Right. Now for the guests. Who have you seen of those?”
“A lady brought me here.”
“Rather large and stout? Impressive glasses?”
“My God, no!”
“Would ‘distracting’ be the adjective?”
“I can’t think of a better,” agreed John, fighting an annoying moment of self-consciousness.
“That sounds like Nadine Leveridge. I heard she was coming on the 3.28. Was that your train? The one that tried to pull you to bits?”
“Yes. And Leveridge was the name.”
“Our attractive widow. Susceptible people need to keep out of her way. She can break hearts while she passes.”
“That almost sounds like advice,” said John.
“Well, if it is, it’s good advice,” parried Taverley unrepentantly. “That kind of woman can put a man through hell. Make pulp of his will-power. And—what’s the use?”
“I see you don’t like her.”
“You’re wrong, Foss. I like her immensely. What’s a woman to do with her beauty? Scrap it? One sticks to oneself. I like her, and I liked her husband. He and I played cricket together. He used to tell me that the only moment he could forget Nadine was when he brought off a leg-glide. There’s something about a leg-glide. Then only he got perfect peace. After he’d passed through a particularly difficult time you could always bowl Leveridge l.b.w.—he would try for that leg-glide. Even with the ball on the off-stump.”
“Did they quarrel, then?” asked John.
“Like hell,” answered Taverley. “And loved like hell. The person who next marries Nadine will know all there is to know. Well, that’s Number One of the guests. Seen any more?”
“Yourself.”
“Sussex. Batting average, 41.66. We won’t talk about the bowling average. Lord Aveling loves a show, and I’m part of it.” He laughed, then frowned at himself. “Don’t get a wrong impression of our host. He’s all right.”
“It seems to me you think everybody’s all right.”
“So they are, if we dig down far enough. But you’ll need to hold on to your faith this week-end—you’ll bump into some odd people.”
“Here come the only others I’ve bumped into,” said John, as the front door opened abruptly and the velvet-coated man and the retired merchant came in. A draught of keen air came in with them.
“Brrh!” exclaimed the retired merchant, rubbing his hands together. “Shut the door, quick!”
“Mistake to admit you’re cold in company,” commented the velvet-coated man. “It stamps you with a hot water-bottle.”
“Well, I love my hot water-bottle, and I don’t care a damn who knows it!”
“You’ll lose respect. Life, being itself hot, only sympathises with a poor circulation.”
“Oh, does it? Well, blood ain’t the only thing that circulates!” The retired merchant tapped his pocket and laughed. “Life respects that! Besides, where’s your company, anyhow?” Then he became conscious of it. “Ah, Taverley! We’ve just been across to the studio. It’s going to be a masterpiece. How’s the patient? How’s it go?”
“First rate, thanks,” answered John. “I shan’t be on your hands long.”
“Glad to hear it. I mean, glad you’re feeling better. Nasty things, these twisted ankles. I bunged mine up once playing draughts. Ha, ha! Well, come along, Pratt, or we’ll have no tea.”
He strode to the stairs and disappeared, but Pratt paused for a moment before following.
“Described us yet?” he inquired.
“No. You’re next on the list,” smiled Taverley. “So you’d better hurry!”
Pratt smiled back and left them, with just enough speed to indicate that he could respond to a jest without losing his dignity. John grinned.
“Leicester Pratt?” he asked. Taverley nodded. “Rather the rage just now, isn’t he?”
“Very much so. That’s why he’s here. Women flock to him to be painted, and Pratt ruthlessly reveals their poor little souls. Queer, isn’t it, how some people will strip themselves for notoriety—and not know they’re doing it?”
“I saw one of Pratt’s pictures last May. I thought it was clever, but—well—”
“Horrible?”
“Struck me that way. What’s this latest masterpiece? Is he painting anybody here?”
“The Honourable Anne,” answered Taverley. Both men were silent for a few seconds. Then Taverley continued: “The other was Mr. Rowe. You won’t have heard of him, but you may have breakfasted with him. Pratt—who has a cynical name for everybody—calls him the Man Behind the Sausage. When he paints Mr. Rowe, as he’s bound to do one day—Rowe is rolling in it—he’ll elongate his head just enough to let everybody know but Mr. Rowe. That’s his devilish art. He finds your weakness, and paints round it.”
“I
