A Connoisseur's Case Read Online Free PDF Page A

now.’
    â€˜But of course. You explained that to us. And Mr Hollywood is–?’
    â€˜The butler, my lady – although it was early in the day for the butler himself to be performing that duty. It makes me think that perhaps the big house is not staffed as it ought to be.’
    â€˜I see.’ Judith was properly impressed. ‘And you recognized this Mr Hollywood? He is the same butler as in the old days?’
    â€˜He is, my lady. And I am told that he is the only man or woman – manservant or maidservant, I should say – who has never left the place.’
    â€˜And he, on his part, recognized you?’
    Again Seth Crabtree showed a shade of perplexity – and perhaps of some less identifiable emotion as well.
    â€˜As to that, it would be hard to say. Mr Hollywood gave no sign.’
    â€˜But when you told him your name?’
    â€˜He was unresponsive, my lady. Perhaps it was natural and to be expected. I was never, remember, more than an outdoor servant about Scroop House. Or but that, at least, in name.’ Crabtree fell abruptly silent, as if something had slipped from him without his intending it. At the same time he sheathed his knife and showed some disposition to take his leave.
    Judith nipped this intention in the bud.
    â€˜But Mr Coulson?’ she said. ‘You asked for him?’
    â€˜He was not at home, my lady, but out and about on the business of the estate – a proper thing, that I was glad to hear of. So there I was, with but a glimpse of the hall and its grand staircase, noble places, the same as I remembered them. And yet there was a strangeness that must have come of all those absent years.’ Crabtree shook his head broodingly – a perplexed rural philosopher. ‘ Tempus fugit , my lady.’
    â€˜I expect everything would have rather a strange look for a while. And in fact you have never met the present Mr Coulson?’
    â€˜Never, my lady – since I left the big house, as I explained to you, in Mr Binns’ time. Or never until today. For I did, after all, meet Mr Coulson – less than a couple of hours ago, and as I was walking across the park, thinking to cross the canal and come to this inn. There the gentleman was, my lady, and he stopped me and spoke to me.’
    â€˜And what did you think of him, Mr Crabtree?’
    Seth Crabtree now had a more notable hesitation. Perhaps he was only registering a feeling that this was not a wholly proper question to address to one of humble station. Perhaps – on the other hand – he was really in doubt as to how to answer.
    â€˜Affable, my lady,’ he presently said. ‘An affable gentleman. Open and conversable. But not, my lady, what you might call a gentleman after the old style, if you follow me.’
    Judith did follow. Seth Crabtree had, in fact, pronounced against the present owner of Scroop House the very terrible verdict that he was not quite as other gentry are. And this was puzzling.
    â€˜But surely, Mr Crabtree, even a cousin of old Mrs Coulson’s–’
    â€˜A distant cousin, my lady, as I remarked. And I believe he has lived much in foreign parts. And I would guess – if the liberty may be taken – not in the best society. He would scarcely have fitted into one of the mistress’ house parties in times gone by. Not that Scroop House was not open to talent. Very much so, it was. Actresses would come, my lady, and Parliament people from the Labour Party. Yes, indeed. But there would always be about them–’ Seth Crabtree had one of his sudden silences. And this time he got to his feet. ‘But Mr Coulson was very kind,’ he said. ‘He had no occasion to take notice of me. But when I told him how I’d been about the place long ago, he said I was to come and see him at the big house tomorrow, and that he was doing great things around the estate, and that he would see whether there might be work for