Appleby File Read Online Free PDF Page B

wrong with them since the Crusades, and all that.’
    ‘You’re a romantic at heart, Strickland. And noblesse oblige is all very well, no doubt.’ Appleby was speaking seriously. ‘But that particular sense of obligation is an open invitation to pride.’
    ‘And pride?’
    ‘Is an open invitation to the devil.’
    ‘Here’s Jasper coming down the gallery. He looks proud, I’m bound to admit. But he’s ageing, too. It’s just struck me. Still, he’s kept his form. A great athlete, you know, as a young man. But not the sort that falls into a flabby middle-age… I think he’s coming over to talk to you. I must go and have another word with your wife. Astonishing thing, you two turning up here like that. Quite astonishing.’
     
    ‘Delightful that you turned out to know the Stricklands,’ Jasper Darien-Gore said. ‘Won’t you and your wife treat it as an inducement to stay on for a day or two?’
    ‘It’s most hospitable of you, but I’m afraid we can’t.’ Appleby felt no reason to suppose that Darien-Gore had spoken other than merely by way of civility. There was, indeed, something faintly distraught in his manner which emphasized the point. ‘As a matter of fact, we must try to get away fairly early.’ Appleby hesitated, and then took a plunge. ‘Unless, that is, I can be useful in any way.’ He waited for a response, but none came. Darien-Gore was looking at him with a frozen and conventional smile. He simply mightn’t have heard. Having begun, however, Appleby went on. ‘You’ll forgive me if I’m talking nonsense. But it has just occurred to me that in that fellow Jolly you may find yourself rather far from entertaining an angel unawares. And I happen to know–’
    ‘Jolly?’ Darien-Gore repeated the name quite vaguely. ‘An odd chap, I agree. But he has been getting on quite well with Robert. In fact, they’ve been making some kind of wager – I’ve no idea about what.’
    ‘I don’t think I’d be inclined to lay any wager with Jolly. Winning and losing might prove equally expensive.’
    ‘And he says that he must try to get away quite early, too. Ah, here he is.’
    This was not wholly accurate. Jolly had been standing some little way across the gallery, and without showing any disposition to approach. But Jasper had made a gesture which constrained him to come forward.
    ‘Mr Jolly,’ he said, ‘–you must really leave us in the morning, if your car can be got away? It would be pleasant if you could stay a little longer.’ As he produced this further civility, Jasper gave Appleby a hard smile. ‘And, of course–’ He broke off. ‘Ah – thank you, Frape.’
    Frape’s appearance was with a large silver tray, upon which he was carrying round a whisky decanter, glasses, ice and a syphon. The Darien-Gores, it was to be supposed, kept fairly early hours. Frape was looking particularly wooden. He had presumably overheard his employer’s latest essay in hospitality.
    ‘Very much obliged,’ Jolly said. ‘But fast and far will be my motto in the morning. All having gone well, that’s to say.’ He gave a laugh which was at once insolent and apprehensive. ‘Yes, all having gone well.’ He looked indecisively at the tray – and at this moment Robert Darien-Gore came up. Silently, he poured a stiff drink, added a splash of soda-water, and handed the glass to Jolly. Jolly, who already seemed slightly drunk, gulped, hesitated, gulped again. The two brothers watched him fixedly. He returned the glass, only half-emptied, to the tray, and waved Frape away. Frape’s eyes met Appleby’s for a moment, and then he moved silently off.
    ‘I know just when I’ve been given enough,’ Jolly said. ‘And it has been the secret of my success.’ He turned to Appleby, and gave him a look of startling contempt. ‘Pleasant to meet people one has heard about,’ he said. ‘Isn’t that right, Sir John?’
    ‘Decidedly. And I’m glad, Mr Jolly, that I’ve been here to meet you