The Hunter and the Trapped Read Online Free PDF

she never stops talking about him. Not in relation to herself. She’s pathetically careful not to do that. But anecdotes about his kindness, his cleverness, his jokes … I’m sick to death of his name. It isn’t as if I didn’t know something of the other side of the picture.”
    â€œBut Penny does tell you when she’s been out with him?”
    â€œOh yes. She tries not to, but it bursts out of her. Or did. I think that phase is over.”
    â€œAh! Why do you say that?”
    â€œShe’s very depressed. Something’s happened. I wish to God I knew what.”
    â€œAnd I don’t mind betting he’s turned her down. It wouldn’t be the first time. I think there’s a big streak of neurosis in Fawcett. Endocrine unbalance, I suspect.”
    â€œDon’t get on the hobby horse now , of all moments!”
    William laughed and went no further. But his belief in a medical basis for Simon’s peculiarities was serious. In fact it was the one thing he held to in his constant, persisting unease about Diana. He dared not let it go. However Hubert, he saw, would not be impressed, “She’ll get over it,” he said, including Diana in his thoughts. “She’s very young. I remember being desperately in love with a rapid succession of girls about every six months at that age.”
    â€œPenny has never been like this before. She’s never taken any man seriously. Not even John.”
    â€œHe’d like to marry her, wouldn’t he?”
    â€œHe told me so. But he hasn’t had much chance this year. Been in the Med most of the time. Couldn’t even crew for me last summer.”
    â€œA pity. Where is he now?”
    â€œGib. And likely to be fully occupied this summer, too.”
    â€œBut you will be cruising? And taking Penny?”
    â€œIf she’ll come.”
    â€œOf course she will. She’s as keen on it as you are. As you always were. Your best move is to find some personable youngster to crew for you. Preferably someone who already knows and likes Penny. He might catch her on the rebound and solve your problem in one.”
    Hubert put down his glass.
    â€œI don’t think it’s anything to joke about,” he said, stiffly.
    â€œI couldn’t be more serious,” William assured him. “It sounds like a tuppenny novelette, I know, but it’s the sort of thing that could easily happen. You try it. And for God’s sake don’t go on worrying about Fawcett. He may be a bit of a menace but there’s no real harm in him. He’s been at the college six years now. Do you think if he was a wrong ’ un some scandal wouldn’t have broken before this?”
    â€œHasn’t it?” said Hubert. “What about the Darson case? Or don’t you call suicide a scandal?”
    â€œI don’t, as a rule,” said William, coldly. “I call it a tragedy or a medical failure or an inevitable part of an incurable disease, according to circumstances. I’ve never called it a scandal.”
    â€œNot even when a scandal induced it?”
    â€œCan’t you explain?” William said, irritably. He felt he had endured enough of Hubert’s obsession. “You talk about Penny being lost in love for this fellow. You seem to me to be pretty well lost in hate for the same man. Are you sure you haven‘t got an inverted Oedipus complex?”
    â€œDon’t be obscene!” said Hubert, furiously.
    William refilled their glasses and sat quite silent while Hubert recovered his temper, though not his sense of proportion.
    â€œThe boy Darson broke his own college career on Fawcett’s account,” he said, at length. “He decided to go to Canada and his parents managed to get him a place in a college there to continue his work. He was lost at sea on the way over. He left a note in his cabin for Fawcett, which the captain very rightly gave to the parents, together