An Apostle of Gloom Read Online Free PDF Page A

I have had a fuller explanation of the reason for this outrage and until I have had an opportunity for getting legal assistance. That’s the least you would do if I were an ordinary civilian.”
    Abbott’s mouth closed like a trap.
    He turned and, without nodding to Janet or Mark, went out of the room. He did not open the door wide but sidled through and then closed it silently. There were muffled footsteps in the hall before the front door closed. Footsteps followed on the gravel path. Roger stepped to the window and saw the little party disappearing towards King’s Road, shadowy figures in the evening gloom. The sound of their footsteps grew fainter, the street and the house were silent when the last dull thud had died.
    Roger turned slowly to face the room, his lips curved in a smile which held no amusement.
    â€œWe will now see what Walt Disney has to say,” he said with forced lightness. “Abbott’s one master of fantasy, Disney’s another, so the law of copyright might be involved.” He stopped smiling as he looked at Janet. “Sweet, I’m terribly sorry!”
    â€œDon’t be an ass,” said Janet, quietly, “if it had to happen I’m glad it was here.”
    â€œAre you?” demanded Roger. “I’m not and before I’m through I’ll let Chatworth know what I think of his stinking methods. I might have expected it of Abbott, but not of Chatworth.” He lit a cigarette and stared at the teapot. “Am I thirsty!” he exclaimed, and flung himself into a chair. “If I could only see the slightest gleam of light it wouldn’t be so bad, but I’d no idea, I didn’t dream—”
    â€œI’ll make some tea,” Mark volunteered.
    He took up the tea tray and went out, nearly dropping the tray as he opened the door. He had lived at the Bell Street house for some months and was familiar with every room, and as he often said, he liked to amuse himself in the kitchen.
    Janet came over and sat on the arm of Roger’s chair.
    â€œFeeling pretty grim, darling?”
    Roger said: “Quite damnable! I—but Jan, what’s Mark been up to?” He sat back and gripped Janet’s arm tightly. “I’m so woolly-headed I forgot all about that rumpus, and he sent you a tea-set as a present, didn’t he? I’m not dreaming, you did have the parcel from him this morning?”
    â€œYe-es,” admitted Janet, “I was afraid you were going to say something about that before.” She stood up, stepped to the mantelpiece and took down a small cup and saucer, a fragile, beautiful thing. Idly, she flicked it with her finger; the china rang sweet and clear. “This was just to hoodwink Abbott.”
    Roger said, in incredulous tones: “Did he know that Abbott would be here?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œAnd that din—” Roger jumped to his feet and stared at her, his eyes blazing. “There was someone upstairs, I thought I heard a bump when he was playing the fool on the piano! Jan, put me out of my misery, what has Mark been up to?”
    â€œHe—” began Janet, and then stopped helplessly. “Oh, we’ll have to leave it to him, I don’t know any more about it than you do, except that he told me he was going to make the very devil of a row, and the more noise I would make the better it would be. Abbott did scare me and – well, I joined in. Did you see me look at you?”
    â€œI did,” said Roger, “and I’m—”
    â€œExcept for Mark the only light relief was when that woman took me upstairs,” Janet said. “She was a pet, Roger! She told me that she didn’t know what Abbott was up to and if he thought you were involved in any shady work he must be off his head – she was the most refreshing creature I’ve met for a long time. You know her, of course?”
    Roger nodded. “Yes, Winnie Marchant – a good