Adventure, December 1914 — page 126: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

124 much obliged to you for the pains you’ve taken. Now will you permit me to say just one thing? And that is—that I don’t in- tend to go.” “What? After what I’ve just been ex- plaining to you, and your saying that you must have a chair to sit upon!”’ ‘“T’m going to have several chairs to sit upon. I’m going to have all these chairs— sO are you.” “Don’t be ridiculous! You can’t keep those men from taking them away. They’re all of them in the bill of sale. I remember the wording quite well—it said the entire contents of the house.” “Possibly. All the same, I’m going to pre- vent any one from taking so much as an egg- cup from this house. In other words, I’m going to settle with Messrs. Issachar and Daniel.’’ “You’re going to settle? You! Do you think I’d let you?” “You can’t stop me, Miss Dennis.” “Why are you putting that letter in your pocket?” “Because I’m going to pay a visit to Messrs. Issachar and Daniel, and propose to favor them with the sight of it.”’ “With the sight of their own letter! What do you mean? I’m very much obliged to you, Mr. Adair—I don’t understand the position you’re taking up—but I can assure you that I’ve not the slightest intention of allowing you to interfere between Messrs. Issachar and Daniel and me. The money was borrowed from Mr. Creed, and it’s going to be repaid. If I can’t pay it in any other way I’m going to let them have my furni- ture.” “Exactly, Miss Dennis. Your sentiments do you the greatest possible credit. I’m going out, but I shall be back for dinner.” “Yow ll be back for dinner! Don’t I tell you = “I tell you, Miss Dennis, that I shall be back for dinner. You'll be so good as to let me have something nice. I have been in Paris and have missed your cookery.” “Do you think I’m going to let you see those men? Do you really think so?” “I do, because you can’t stop me. I’ve the right to call upon a firm of lawyers if I choose. I knew Messrs. Issachar and Daniel very well; a finer pair of scoundrels don’t exist in London. You needn’t distress your- self in the slightest degree about the safety of your furniture. It’s yours, and will con- Adventure tinue yours. You owe nothing to these— blackguards, as in the course of the day shall be made clear to you. If you’ll kindly stand away from that door, Miss Dennis, I shall be able to pass.” She had placed herself in such a position that it almost seemed her intention was to prevent him leaving the room; when he went close to her something which she saw in his face caused her to move aside. As he was opening the door, she exclaimed— “What’s the matter with your lip?” He looked at her and he smiled. “T fancy I must have cut myself,” he said. CHAPTER VII AN EXPLANATION ESSRS. Issachar and Daniel’s offices were in Bouverie Street, on the top floor of an ancient building. Mr. Adair, en- tering unannounced a room in which both partners happened at that moment to be, greeted them with a reference to the height of their offices above the ground. “I say, you two! If I were you, you know, I should feel rather shy of being up here, all this way above the earth. Think what it might mean if some one were to throw you out of the window. Some one is sure to do it one day, and how far you’d have to fall!” Both partners glanced around at him in a manner which suggested that his appear- ance was more than unexpected—that it was unwelcome. A clerk was peeping through the doorway by which Mr. Adair had just come; he was apparently per- turbed, as if his conscience smote him. “Tf you please, Mr. Issachar, I told this gentleman you were engaged—but he nearly pitched me into the fireplace when I tried to stop him coming in.” Mr. Adair smiled at the clerk. “Come, come,” he said, “‘you are putting it rather strongly. And anyhow, it would not have hurt the fireplace.” Mr. Issachar, who had been seated, stood up and glared at the visitor with what he perhaps meant to be a bellicose air. “You’ve no nght to force yourself into our office when the clerk tells you we’re en- gaged. And I'll tell you this, Mr. Adair, we don’t want to see you anyhow, and we won’t. Now it is you who are trespassing; _ go perhaps you'll take yourself off, without conniclooolx C@