The Essential W. Somerset Maugham Collection. W. Somerset MaughamЧитать онлайн книгу.
without getting locked up for being connected in a beastly bucketshop swindle.'
'George, how can you talk of your father like that!'
He gave a sort of sob and looked at her with wild eyes. But at that moment a cab drove up, and, he sprang on to the balcony.
'It's Dick Lomas and Bobbie. They've come to tell us.'
He ran to the door and opened it. They walked up the stairs.
'Well?' he cried. 'Well?'
'It's not over yet. We left just as the judge was summing up.'
'Damn you!' cried George, with an explosion of sudden fury.
'Steady, old man,' said Dick.
'Why didn't you stay?' moaned Lady Kelsey.
'I couldn't,' said Dick. 'It was too awful.'
'How was it going?'
'I couldn't make head or tail of it. My mind was in a whirl. I'm an hysterical old fool.'
Mrs. Crowley went up to Lady Kelsey and kissed her.
'Why don't you go and lie down for a little while, dear,' she said. 'You look positively exhausted.'
* * *
'I have a racking headache,' groaned Lady Kelsey.
'Alec MacKenzie has promised to come here as soon as its over. But you mustn't expect him for another hour.'
'Yes, I'll go and lie down,' said Lady Kelsey.
George, unable to master his impatience, flung open the window and stood on the balcony, watching for the cab that would bring the news.
'Go and talk to him, there's a good fellow,' said Dick to Robert Boulger. 'Cheer him up a bit.'
'Yes, of course I will. It's rot to make a fuss now that it's nearly over. Uncle Fred will be here himself in an hour.'
Dick looked at him without answering. When Robert had gone on to the balcony, he flung himself wearily in a chair.
'I couldn't stand it any longer,' he said. 'You can't imagine how awful it was to see that wretched man in the dock. He looked like a hunted beast, his face was all grey with fright, and once I caught his eyes. I shall never forget the look that was in them.'
'But I thought he was bearing it so well,' said Mrs. Crowley.
'You know, he's a man who's never looked the truth in the face. He never seemed to realise the gravity of the charges that were brought against him, and even when the magistrate refused to renew his bail, his confidence never deserted him. It was only to-day, when the whole thing was unrolled before him, that he appeared to understand. Oh, if you'd heard the evidence that was given! And then the pitiful spectacle of those two men trying to throw the blame on one another!'
A look of terror came into Mrs. Crowley's face.
'You don't think he's guilty?' she gasped.
Dick looked at her steadily, but did not answer.
'But Lucy's convinced that he'll be acquitted.'
'I wonder.'
'What on earth do you mean?'
Dick shrugged his shoulders.
'But he can't be guilty,' cried Mrs. Crowley. 'It's impossible.'
Dick made an effort to drive away from his mind the dreadful fears that filled it.
'Yes, that's what I feel, too,' he said. 'With all his faults Fred Allerton can't have committed such a despicable crime. You've never met him, you don't know him; but I've known him intimately for twenty years. He couldn't have swindled that wretched woman out of every penny she had, knowing that it meant starvation to her. He couldn't have been so brutally cruel.'
'Oh, I'm so glad to hear you say that'
Silence fell upon them for a while, and they waited. From the balcony they heard George talking rapidly, but they could not distinguish his words.
'I felt ashamed to stay in court and watch the torture of that unhappy man. I've dined with him times out of number; I've stayed at his house; I've ridden his horses. Oh, it was too awful.'
He got up impatiently and walked up and down the room.
'It must be over by now. Why doesn't Alec come? He swore he'd bolt round the very moment the verdict was given.'
'The suspense is dreadful,' said Mrs. Crowley.
Dick stood still. He looked at the little American, but his eyes did not see her.
'There are some people who are born without a moral sense. They are as unable to distinguish between right and wrong as a man who is colour blind, between red and green.'
'Why do you say that?' asked Mrs. Crowley.
He did not answer. She went up to him anxiously.
'Mr. Lomas, I can't bear it. You must tell me. Do _you_ think he's guilty?'
He passed his hands over his eyes.
'The evidence was damnable.'
At that moment George sprang into the room.
'There's Alec. He's just driving along in a cab.'
'Thank God, thank God!' cried Mrs. Crowley. 'If it had lasted longer I should have gone mad.'
George went to the door.
'I must tell Miller. He has orders to let no one up.'
He leaned over the banisters, as the bell of the front door was rung.
'Miller, Miller, let Mr. MacKenzie in.'
'Very good, sir,' answered the butler.
Lucy had heard the cab drive up, and she came into the drawing-room with Lady Kelsey. The elder woman had broken down altogether and was sobbing distractedly. Lucy was very white, but otherwise quite composed. She shook hands with Dick and Mrs. Crowley.
'It was kind of you to come,' she said.
'Oh, my poor Lucy,' said Mrs. Crowley, with a sob in her voice.
Lucy smiled bravely.
'It's all over now.'
Alec came in, and she walked eagerly towards him.
'Well? I was hoping you'd bring father with you. When is he coming?'
She stopped. She gave a gasp as she saw Alec's face. Though her cheeks were pale before, now their pallor was deathly.
'What is the matter?'
'Isn't it all right?' cried George.
Lucy put her hand on his arm to quieten him. It seemed that Alec could not find words. There was a horrible silence, but they all knew what he had to tell them.
'I'm afraid you must prepare yourself for a great unhappiness,' he said.
'Where's father?' cried Lucy. 'Where's father? Why didn't you bring him with you?'
With the horrible truth dawning upon her, she was losing her self-control. She made an effort. Alec would not speak, and she was obliged to question him. When the words came, her voice was hoarse and low.
'You've not told us what the verdict was.'
'Guilty,' he answered.
Then