The Seven Dials mystery
the house it seemed safer than ever. As for the next bit--" He paused,
looking at Bill. "Perhaps you'd like to tell that, sir."
"I was still lying on that bally sofa," said Bill, "trying to look
done in and getting the fidgets worse and worse. Then I heard someone
run down the stairs, and Loraine got up and went to the door. I heard
Thesiger's voice, but not what he said. I heard Loraine say: 'That's
all right--it's gone splendidly.' Then he said: 'Help me carry him
up. It will be a bit of a job, but I want them both together there--a
nice little surprise for No. 7.' I didn't quite understand what they
were jawing about, but they hauled me up the stairs somehow or other.
It _was_ a bit of a job for them. I made myself a dead weight all
right. They heaved me in here, and then I heard Loraine say: 'You're
sure it's all right. She won't come round?' And Jimmy said--the damned
blackguard: 'No fear. I hit with all my might.'
"They went away and locked the door, and then I opened my eyes and saw
you. My God, Bundle, I shall never feel so perfectly awful again. I
thought you were dead."
"I suppose my hat saved me," said Bundle.
"Partly," said Superintendent Battle. "But partly it was Mr. Thesiger's
wounded arm. He didn't realize it himself--but it had only half its
usual strength. Still, that's all no credit to the Department. We
didn't take the care of you we ought to have done, Lady Eileen--and
it's a black blot on the whole business."
"I'm very tough," said Bundle. "And also rather lucky. What I can't get
over is Loraine being in it. She was such a gentle little thing."
"Ah!" said the Superintendent. "So was the Pentonville murderess that
killed five children. You can't go by that. She's got bad blood in
her--her father ought to have seen the inside of a prison more than
once."
"You've got her too?"
Superintendent Battle nodded.
"I daresay they won't hang her--juries are soft-hearted. But young
Thesiger will swing all right--and a good thing too--a more utterly
depraved and callous criminal I never met.
"And now," he added. "If your head isn't aching too badly, Lady Eileen.
What about a little celebration? There's a nice little restaurant round
the corner."
Bundle heartily agreed.
"I'm starving, Superintendent Battle. Besides," she looked round, "I've
got to get to know all my colleagues."
"The Seven Dials," said Bill. "Hurrah! Some fizz is what we need. Do
they run to fizz at this place, Battle?"
"You won't have anything to complain of, sir. You leave it to me."
"Superintendent Battle," said Bundle, "you are a wonderful man. I'm
sorry you're married already. As it is, I shall have to put up with
Bill."
CHAPTER XXXIV
LORD CATERHAM APPROVES
"Father," said Bundle, "I've got to break a piece of news to you.
You're going to lose me."
"Nonsense," said Lord Caterham. "Don't tell me that you're suffering
from galloping consumption or a weak heart or anything like that,
because I simply don't believe it."
"It's not death," said Bundle. "It's marriage."
"Very nearly as bad," said Lord Caterham. "I suppose I shall have to
come to the wedding, all dressed up in tight, uncomfortable clothes,
and give you away. And Lomax may think it necessary to kiss me in the
vestry."
"Good heavens! You don't think I'm going to marry George, do you?"
cried Bundle.
"Well, something like that seemed to be in the wind last time I saw
you," said her father. "Yesterday morning, you know."
"I'm going to be married to someone a hundred times nicer than George,"
said Bundle.
"I hope so, I'm sure," said Lord Caterham. "But one never knows. I
don't feel you're really a good judge of character, Bundle. You told me
that young Thesiger was a cheerful inefficient, and from all I hear now
it seems that he was one of the most efficient criminals of the day.
The sad thing is that I never met him. I was thinking of writing my
reminiscences soon--with a special chapter on murderers I have met--and
by a purely technical oversight, I never met this young man."
"Don't be silly," said Bundle. "You know you haven't got the energy to
write reminiscences or anything else."
"I wasn't actually going to write them myself," said Lord Caterham. "I
believe that's never done. But I met a very charming girl the other day
and that's her special job. She collects the material and does all the
actual writing."
"And what do you do?"
"Oh, just give her a few facts for half an hour every day. Nothing
more than that." After a slight pause, Lord Caterham said: "She was a
nice-looking girl--very restful and sympathetic."
"Father," said Bundle, "I have a feeling that without me you will run
into deadly danger."
"Different kinds of danger suit different kinds of people," said Lord
Caterham.
He was moving away, when he turned back and said over his shoulder:
"By the way, Bundle, who _are_ you marrying?"
"I was wondering," said Bundle, "when you were going to ask me that.
I'm going to marry Bill Eversleigh."
The egoist thought it over for a minute. Then he nodded in complete
satisfaction.
"Excellent," he said. "He's scratch, isn't he? He and I can play
together in the foursomes in the Autumn Meeting."