Snobbery with Violence Read Online Free PDF

Cathcart. But still, he could not bear to see her suffer.
    ‘I think I know someone who can help you. He . . . fixes delicate situations.’
    ‘Oh, please. Give me his name.’
    ‘There’s only one trouble. He’ll probably charge steep, about a thousand pounds.’
    ‘I have my own money. The reason I did not agree to pay Hecker was I knew he would bleed me dry.’
    ‘So it was a money problem after all.’
    ‘Certainly not. We never discuss money. You know that.’
    The brigadier suppressed a smile. He took out his card-case, extracted a card and wrote Captain Cathcart’s name and address on the back. ‘That’s the fellow,’ he said. ‘Go and see him but go alone.’
    ‘I don’t know how I can ever thank you.’
    ‘Thank me if it works out.’
    ‘A lady to see you, sir,’ said the captain’s manservant.
    ‘Which lady?’
    ‘The lady is heavily veiled and will not give me her card.’
    For some reason, Harry had a picture of Rose, her face illuminated with happiness – a happiness all too soon to be snuffed out.
    ‘Send her in,’ he ordered.
    He experienced a little pang of disappointment as the heavily veiled figure that was ushered in was obviously not that of Lady Rose. This lady had a mature figure and was dressed accordingly.
    ‘Do sit down,’ said Harry. ‘Something to drink?’
    ‘Nothing, I thank you.’
    ‘To what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?’
    ‘I did not expect you to be a gentleman. I must beg you to be discreet.’
    ‘I am always discreet.’
    She put back her heavy veil. ‘I am Lady Glensheil.’
    She studied the captain’s face but he expressed no surprise, only continued to look at her inquiringly. ‘Please sit down,’ he said, ‘and tell me why you have come.’
    She sat down opposite him and then looked nervously at the window. It was still daylight.
    ‘Would you be so kind as to draw the curtains? Someone passing in the street might see me.’
    ‘Certainly.’ The captain rang a bell by his chair. ‘Becket,’ he said, when his manservant appeared, ‘draw the curtains and light the place.’
    They waited in silence while Becket drew the curtains closed and then lit the gasolier.
    ‘That will be all,’ said Harry. ‘Now, Lady Glensheil . . .’
    She opened an enormous reticule and after much fumbling produced the brigadier’s card and handed it to Harry.
    I may be discreet, thought Harry, but the brigadier most certainly is not.
    ‘And what do you want me to do?’
    ‘I am being blackmailed,’ said Lady Glensheil. She began to cry. Harry rang the bell again and ordered brandy. He waited patiently while Lady Glensheil’s tears washed a copious amount of white lead make-up and rouge onto a delicate handkerchief. He took out a large one of his own and handed it to her.
    She began to recover and even drank some brandy.
    ‘It’s all too, too terrible,’ she said and then regaled Harry with the story of the blackmailing artist.
    ‘I see,’ said Harry when she had finished. ‘I suppose the first thing to do is to get the letters back.’
    Wild hope shone in her eyes. ‘You could do that?’
    ‘I will most certainly try. I will do my best to make sure he never troubles you again.’
    ‘Oh, thank you!’ Again the reticule was snapped open. This time she produced a roll of banknotes and handed them to him. ‘I thought it would be more discreet to pay you in cash.’
    Harry hesitated. It was one thing to take cash from the earl, another to take cash from a lady in distress. But the money would set him up very comfortably. He could even rent a carriage. A proportion could go to charity to ease his conscience. ‘Thank you,’ he said. ‘Would you like a receipt?’
    ‘No, please, nothing in writing. No one must hear of this.’
    ‘No one will hear a word from me. I do not go around in society much.’
    ‘I do not know why. You must come to one of my soirées.’
    ‘Too kind. But a lot of my lack of a social life is of my own choosing. Please leave