An Experiment in Treason Read Online Free PDF

the master’s study. When Calder had failed to wake up Lambert, the latter woke of his own accord and, noting the late hour (near three in the morning), believed something was amiss. He armed himself and —
    That, as it happened, reader, was as far as Clarissa got with her narrative of the night before, for just then we heard heavy steps upon the stairs which led up to the kitchen where we were sat round the table. They were unmistakably those of Sir John. He reached the door, and without a pause threw it open. He marched into the kitchen. We all sat dumb before him. Thinking it only proper to offer some greeting, I rose from my chair.
    “Good evening to you, Sir John,” said I. “Mr. Donnelly and I have just — “
    “Good evening?” he interrupted me. “Good, you say? I see nothing good in this evening. I’ll be damned if I do.” And so saying, he marched on past us, up the stairs and into the bedroom which he shared with Lady Fielding.

TWO
In which Sir John
is forbidden access
to a state secret

    Within minutes, Mr. Donnelly had departed, and Molly had banked the fire. It was time for us in the kitchen to climb the stairs and proceed to our beds. I had seldom, if ever, seen Sir John in a mood so foul. It would not do for him to hear us buzzing and whispering there in the kitchen.
    Weary in spite of the long nap I had had in the coach, I lay in bed in my small attic room high above them all. From the floor be-low, I could hear the voices of Sir John and Lady Fielding — his deep and rumbling in anger, and hers lighter, higher, and in a sort of pleading tone. I could hear the voices but not the words that were spoken. What might they be saying?
    Next day, the three of us met once again in the kitchen. I was, as usual, the first to arrive. With shoes in hand, that I might not disturb Sir John and Lady F, I came quiet and knelt down to kindle a blaze in the fireplace; such had been my task as long as I had been there at Number 4 Bow Street. Having done thus much, I put on the water for a pot of tea. At about that time, Molly and Clarissa appeared, still groggy with sleep.
    Tea was brewed. The loaf of soda bread baked for dinner, still fresh and light, was put out by Molly with a crock of butter. We ate and drank our fill and gradually came full awake as we whispered round the table.
    “What do you s’pose has gotten into him?” asked Molly.
    “Oh, it’s to do with Black Jack Bilbo,” said I, “of that I’m sure.”
    “Undoubtedly,” said Clarissa.
    “And it’s all because of that woman, isn’t it? I’ve little use for her myself. It’s not personal, mind you now — simply because she took away my livelihood and turned me out of a place which had been my home for a good five years or more. Ah, no, for had she not brought her cook from France and sent me packing, I would not have met and married Albert Sarton. We were not together but a year — not even that — yet it was the best time of my life, so it was. So no, I don’t see that I can blame her for personal reasons.”
    “What then?” said I.
    ” ‘Twas the way she set her hat for Mr. Bilbo there on the boat. She saw him as one who might rescue her from the god-awful situation which she found herself in. I’ve seldom seen a more bold and barefaced attempt to ensnare a man for reasons of personal salvation.”
    At that, Clarissa and I exchanged quick looks but said naught. From what we had seen there on shipboard on our return from Deal to London, the attraction between Bilbo and Marie-Helene had been both real and mutual.
    Molly caught the glances that passed between us and would not let that moment go unnoted.
    “Ah, you two,” said she to us. “I know, indeed I do, that she’s won you over, as well. She’s a charmer, she is, and no getting around it. But just remember what I’ve said, will you?”
    I nodded soberly, but Clarissa simply said, “I will.”
    Then did we, all three, fall silent, and in that silence I heard stirring in