beasts and super-beasts(野兽与超级野兽)-第37节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Eggelby。
〃I daresay； if we knew more of her history； we should find out that
she'd often been ill before eating the lobster。 Aren't you concealing the
fact that she'd had measles and influenza and nervous headache and
hysteria； and other things that aunts do have； long before she ate the
lobster？ Aunts that have never known a day's illness are very rare； in
fact； I don't personally know of any。 Of course if she ate it as a child
of two weeks old it might have been her first illness … and her last。 But
if that was the case I think you should have said so。〃
〃I must be going；〃 said Mrs。 Eggelby； in a tone which had been
thoroughly sterilised of even perfunctory regret。
Clovis rose with an air of graceful reluctance。
〃I have so enjoyed our little talk about Eric；〃 he said； 〃I quite look
forward to meeting him some day。〃
〃Good…bye；〃 said Mrs。 Eggelby frostily； the supplementary remark
which she made at the back of her throat was …
〃I'll take care that you never shall！〃
127
… Page 128…
BEASTS AND SUPER…BEASTS
A HOLIDAY TASK
KENELM JERTON entered the dining…hall of the Golden Galleon
Hotel in the full crush of the luncheon hour。 Nearly every seat was
occupied； and small additional tables had been brought in； where floor
space permitted； to accommodate latecomers； with the result that many
of the tables were almost touching each other。 Jerton was beckoned
by a waiter to the only vacant table that was discernible； and took his
seat with the uncomfortable and wholly groundless idea that nearly
every one in the room was staring at him。 He was a youngish man of
ordinary appearance； quiet of dress and unobtrusive of manner； and he
could never wholly rid himself of the idea that a fierce light of public
scrutiny beat on him as though he had been a notability or a super…nut。
After he had ordered his lunch there came the unavoidable interval of
waiting； with nothing to do but to stare at the flower… vase on his table and
to be stared at （in imagination） by several flappers； some maturer beings
of the same sex； and a satirical…looking Jew。 In order to carry off the
situation with some appearance of unconcern he became spuriously
interested in the contents of the flower…vase。
〃What is the name of these roses； d'you know？〃 he asked the waiter。
The waiter was ready at all times to conceal his ignorance concerning
items of the wine…list or menu； he was frankly ignorant as to the specific
name of the roses。
〃AMY SYLVESTER PARTINGLON；〃 said a voice at Jerton's
elbow。
The voice came from a pleasant…faced； well…dressed young woman
who was sitting at a table that almost touched Jerton's。 He thanked her
hurriedly and nervously for the information； and made some
inconsequent remark about the flowers。
〃It is a curious thing；〃 said the young woman； that； 〃I should be able
to tell you the name of those roses without an effort of memory； because
if you were to ask me my name I should be utterly unable to give it to
you。〃
Jerton had not harboured the least intention of extending his thirst
128
… Page 129…
BEASTS AND SUPER…BEASTS
for name…labels to his neighbour。 After her rather remarkable
announcement； however； he was obliged to say something in the way of
polite inquiry。
〃Yes；〃 answered the lady； 〃I suppose it is a case of partial loss of
memory。 I was in the train coming down here； my ticket told me that I
had come from Victoria and was bound for this place。 I had a couple of
five…pound notes and a sovereign on me； no visiting cards or any other
means of identification； and no idea as to who I am。 I can only hazily
recollect that I have a title； I am Lady Somebody … beyond that my mind
is a blank。〃
〃Hadn't you any luggage with you？〃 asked Jerton。
〃That is what I didn't know。 I knew the name of this hotel and
made up my mind to come here； and when the hotel porter who meets
the trains asked if I had any luggage I had to invent a dressing…bag and
dress…basket； I could always pretend that they had gone astray。 I gave
him the name of Smith； and presently he emerged from a confused pile
of luggage and passengers with a dressing… bag and dress…basket labelled
Kestrel…Smith。 I had to take them； I don't see what else I could have
done。〃
Jerton said nothing； but he rather wondered what the lawful owner of
the baggage would do。
〃Of course it was dreadful arriving at a strange hotel with the name
of Kestrel…Smith； but it would have been worse to have arrived without
luggage。 Anyhow； I hate causing trouble。〃
Jerton had visions of harassed railway officials and distraught
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？〃
129
… Page 130…
BEASTS AND SUPER…BEASTS
〃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 fin
