The Missing Angel by Erle Cox (english books to improve english txt) đ
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âWell,â Nicholas smiled, âthere is a full and fairly accurate account of
the court proceeding in them.â
âStill, I donât seeâŠâ Tydvil began.
âTwo things,â Mr. Senior interrupted. âFirst, she has just discovered she
is really in love with Brewer. Second, she has read the papers and at
this moment she is trying to reconcile your evidence with the fact known
to her that you most certainly did not work back in the office last
night.â
âHoly Moses!â Tydvil interjected. âOf course, she would know that from my
table.â
âAnd,â continued Nicholas, âshe is this moment trying to work out a
solution of the black eye problemâand so is your wife!â
Tydvil ran his hand through his hair. âTwo of âem!â Then amusement got
the better of his anxiety, and he laughed heartily.
âExactly,â nodded Mr. Senior. âTwo of âem! And that is why I said just
now that Brewerâs eye was a pivotal point for some explanation.â
âAnyway,â Tydvil said, âthey canât do much more than wonder, and they can
wonder as much as they like.â
âUm,â Nicholas replied. âTheyâre wondering all right. In the
circumstances, your wife is a bit handicapped because her explanation
would be rather more difficult than yours.â
Here Tydvil again sat erect, staring in front of him. Then his eyes
brightened and a smile of happiness spread over his face.
Watching him intently, Nicholas lay back and laughed softly. âTydvil,â he
said, âIâm no moralist, but would that be wise?â
âWhat do you mean?â asked Tydvil, surprised at the question.
âI read your thought. Forgive the intrusion, it was only a natural
curiosity.â
âWell,â answered Tydvil defensively, âAmy owes me a good deal, andâŠâ
âI see,â Senior grinned. âIf anyone is going to alienate your wifeâs
affections, you would rather do it yourselfâand know exactly what is
going on.â
âEthicallyâŠâ began Tydvil.
Again Nicholas laughed heartily, waving his hand. âNo, no, please, no,
Tydvil! No ethics!â
âAll right,â Tydvil conceded, âno ethics. But if I bring a new interest
into Amyâs life, it might keep her out of mischief.â
âOh, please yourself!â Nicholas said. âI admit the idea appeals to me as
something new for both of you. A good deal depends on what you mean by
âmischief.ââ
âLook here!â demanded Tydvil virtuously. âIf a man cannot make love to
his own wife, whose wife can he make love to?â
âBetter, I suppose, than becoming involved with Mr. Cranstonâs,â Senior
admitted. âHowever, have it your own way.â
âMy planâs worth considering. It has the virtue of novelty,â said Tydvil.
âWell, if you can reconcile it with any form of virtue, donât let me
interfere. But, remember this,â Nicholas added, âthat will not dispose of
your secretary.â
âIf Brewer were not such a good chap, I might dispose of her in the same
way,â Tydvil suggested.
âQuite a good idea!â laughed Nicholas. âConsidering your upbringing,
Tydvil, your capacity for very original sin amazes even me.â
âAh, well,â Tydvil said, a little regretfully, âBrewer deserves better
treatment. I owe it to him, anyway. Iâm afraid that Geraldine Brand is
beginning to think that I am not quite the pattern of virtue she imagined
me to be.â
âExactly!â Nicholas agreed. âThat is a very, unusual young woman, Tydvil.
She has brains, and knows how to use them. And if you donât watch your
step, my friendâwell, âware red hair.â
âStill, I donât see that she could do much,â contended Tydvil.
âDonât under-rate her,â warned Nicholas. âThat girl has got hold of one
factâthat you were not telling the truth in the witness boxâand several
suppositions. Now, give a redheaded girl, who is in love and defending
her lover, that much to work on and you, or I, may be astonished at the
things she can do. Believe me, Tydvil, I speak from a long experience. A
brunette on the warpath is bad enoughâbut the redheads! My boy, a sack
full of wild cats would be more tractable.â
Tydvil looked thoughtful. âSuppose,â he asked, âwe gave her Billy Brewer
free of encumbrance, so to speak?â
âProfessionally,â replied Mr. Senior, âit would be against my interests.
Brewer is heavily mortgaged to me. If that girl gets hold of him, heâll
pay off the mortgage in the first year heâs married. You canât beat
redheads either as reformers or the reverse when they set about it.
Still, in the circumstances, I would be willing to waive my claim.â
âThey say marriages are made in heaven,â remarked Tydvil reflectively.
Mr. Senior grinned derisively. âThat one was started by a bachelor. If
Brewer marries your Geraldine Brand, and does not behave himself
afterwards, youâll find it difficult to persuade him that his marriage
was made in heaven.â
âWell,â said Tydvil, âthatâs his risk.â
âOh! Talking of Heaven, that reminds me that I am to have the pleasure of
dining at your home tomorrow eveningâto meet Mr. Jones and a few of our
leading social workers.â
âYou have my deepest sympathy,â Tydvil replied, lighting another cigar.
âReally, I am looking forward to it,â Nicholas assured him.
âWell, donât let me discourage you, but I happen to have seen the list of
guests, and an innate sense of hospitality makes me feel rather guilty.â
âYou need not worry, for I feel sure it will be an enjoyable evening.â
Tydvil smiled through the smoke. âIf I hear you say that afterwards, I
shall feel greatly relieved.â
âAnd now, what about your own affairs?â asked Nicholas.
âIâve been thinking it over,â Tydvil replied, âand recognise that we
cannot risk a known individuality. Can you turn me out as something new?â
âNo difficulty whatever,â Nicholas assured him. âJust what would you like
to be?â
âOh, say something fairly good looking and robust. Plenty of
self-assurance. Not exactly entirely a sporting man, but a good all-round
type. Oh, and able to use my hands if necessary!â
âAttractive to women,â Nicholas suggested.
Tydvil hesitated a moment. âWell, yes, but within reasonable limits. I
suppose that is one highroad to adventure.â
âOne of the best,â Mr. Senior conceded. âStatus? I can put you into the
Metropolitan or the Continental Club if you like.â
Tydvil shook his head. âNo, I think not,â he said. âIâm afraid they would
cramp my styleâmake it something prosperous, but not too conspicuous.â
Mr. Senior stood up and looked Tydvil over with speculative eyes for a
few moments. Then, after a wave of his hands, âNow look at yourselfâŠâ
Tydvil rose to his feet and approached the mirror. Looking back at him
was an attractive stranger, about two inches taller than Tydvil Jones,
and broader. Under the sleek, black hair was a shapely, square-chinned
face. The grey eyes above a slightly aquiline nose, had a merry twinkle,
and the rather large, but well-shaped mouth, had a smile an either
corner. Tydvil felt quite pleased with himself.
The smile broke into a laugh as he turned to Nicholas. âIdeal!â he
thanked his friend. âThe remodelled Tydvil Jones is proud of himselfâŠâ
âBetter give him a remodelled name,â Nicholas suggested.
Tydvil picked up the telephone directory from his table and opened it at
random. Running his finger down the page, he looked up. âMore than a page
of Williams,â he said. âA nice non-committal name. Weâll make itâlet me
thinkâBertieâBernardânoâsay, Basil. Yes, permit me to introduce
myselfâBasil Williams.â
Mr. Senior took the outstretched hand. âI trust, Mr. Williams, you will
have a pleasant evening.â
âToo right I will!â grinned Basil Williams. Then his smile disappeared.
âOh, dash it all, I forgot!â
Nicholas raised an enquiring eyebrow.
âAmy,â explained Tydvil. âShe came in this morning to tell me about our
dinner tomorrow night, and I promised I should be at home this evening. I
wouldnât put it past her coming to look for me if I didnât show up.â
Then his face brightened. âNicholas, could you act as a deputy Tydvil
Jones. Itâs rather tough on youâbutâŠâ
âMy dear fellow, my bond apart, it will be a pleasure.â Mr. Senior spoke
sincerely.
âWell, all I can say it,â said Basil Williams with deep feeling, âthat
your conceptions of pleasure are peculiar. Amy has something on her
mindâthat Brewer affair I expectâanyhow, I assure you that you will
know all about it before the night is over.â
âHow is this?â asked Nicholas, and as he spoke a replica of Tydvil Jones
stood where Mr. Senior had stood.
Tydvil inspected his deputy, carefully, and admitted he was perfect. âA
word of advice and help,â he said. âWhen she makes the going too hot for
me, I always make for my own bedroom and lock the door. You may need
sanctuary before the night is over.â
NicholasâTydvil smiled a superior smile. âMy friend. In adopting your
identity I retain the powers of endurance belonging to my office. Your
solicitude is pleasant, but quite unnecessary.â
âMaybe,â Basil Williams replied. âBut I know Amy, and you donât.â Then,
remembering, âAbout my change back to Tydvil?â
âLeave it entirely, to me. Just call when you need me, and I will arrange
everything.â
âWell, I think that is all,â Tydvil said, helping himself to the contents
of his cash box.
Nicholas bade him good luck and good fun, and disappeared about his
business in hand. Basil Williams, taking a hat from its peg, sallied out
into the city, light of heart and full of hope.
When Nicholas let himself into the Jones mansion on St. Kilda Road with
the assistance of Tydvilâs latch key, Amy, who had kept dinner back for
three-quarters of an hour, was just leaving the dining-room. As she saw
him enter, she glanced at the dial of the Spanish mahogany grandfather
clock that stood in the wide hall. Its hands showed that the time was
twenty-five minutes to nine oâclock.
She opened fire as the sights came on. âThis is a nice time to come home,
Tydvil, I must say! Especially as you promised me faithfully you would be
back to dinner.â
Nicholas had placed his coat and hat on a high, carved chairâa
Restoration piece. âAre you doing that to provoke me deliberately, Tydvil?â
she asked acidly. âEllen, remove those things!â She pointed to the
outraged chair, and glared at the maid who was passing. So had Oliver
Cromwell spoken when he ordered the removal of the Mace from the table of
the Commons.
âNow,â as she followed her supposed husband into the room nominally
reserved for his own use, âperhaps you can explainâ Her voice was that
which she kept for domestic use only.
Mr. Senior, as Jones, spoke conciliatingly. âYou know I have been
busyâvery busy. I left work I should have done, and came as soon as I
possibly, could.â
âApparently, my dear Tydvil, you consider your work far more important
than your wife. Her interests are not worth your consideration. Here I
am, all day, labouring for your comfort, and this is all the thanks I
get.â
âAmy,â said Mr. Senior a little tartly, âI do not interfere with your
domestic arrangements. You must leave me to judge the necessities of my
office work.â
And thatâto use an expressive colloquialismâtore it completely.
âYouâyou donât interfere with my domestic arrangements?â She almost
gasped at the enormity. âYou keep dinner waiting, spoil my meal, and
upset the whole house routineâand you say you donâtâŠâ She paused for
breath. âI was going to say I was astonished. I am not! It is just what
I might have expected from your scandalous conduct lately. You swear at
me before
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