按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
breakfasted on one cup of tea； brewed by himself； one egg； boiled by
himself； and two pieces of toast； the first one spread with marmalade；
the second with butter。 On Tuesdays； Thursdays； and Saturdays Joseph
Loveredge discarded eggs and ate a rasher of bacon。 On Sundays
Joseph Loveredge had both eggs and bacon； but then allowed himself
half an hour longer for reading the paper。 At nine…thirty Joseph
Loveredge left the house for the office of the old…established journal of
which he was the incorruptible and honoured City editor。 At one…forty…
five； having left his office at one…thirty； Joseph Loveredge entered the
89
… Page 90…
Tommy and Co。
Autolycus Club and sat down to lunch。 Everything else in Joseph's life
was arranged with similar preciseness； so far as was possible with the
duties of a City editor。 Monday evening Joseph spent with musical
friends at Brixton。 Friday was Joseph's theatre night。 On Tuesdays
and Thursdays he was open to receive invitations out to dinner； on
Wednesdays and Saturdays he invited four friends to dine with him at
Regent's Park。 On Sundays； whatever the season； Joseph Loveredge
took an excursion into the country。 He had his regular hours for
reading； his regular hours for thinking。 Whether in Fleet Street； or the
Tyrol； on the Thames； or in the Vatican； you might recognise him from
afar by his grey frock…coat； his patent… leather boots； his brown felt hat； his
lavender tie。 The man was a born bachelor。 When the news of his
engagement crept through the smoky portals of the Autolycus Club
nobody believed it。
〃Impossible！〃 asserted Jack Herring。 〃I've known Joey's life for
fifteen years。 Every five minutes is arranged for。 He could never
have found the time to do it。〃
〃He doesn't like women； not in that way； I've heard him say so；〃
explained Alexander the Poet。 〃His opinion is that women are the
artists of Societydelightful as entertainers； but troublesome to live
with。〃
〃I call to mind；〃 said the Wee Laddie； 〃a story he told me in this
verra room； barely three months agone： Some half a dozen of them
were gong home together from the Devonshire。 They had had a joyous
evening； and one of themJoey did not notice whichsuggested their
dropping in at his place just for a final whisky。 They were laughing
and talking in the dining…room； when their hostess suddenly appeared
upon the scene in a costumeso Joey described itthe charm of which
was its variety。 She was a nice…looking woman； Joey said； but talked
too much； and when the first lull occurred； Joey turned to the man sitting
nighest to him； and who looked bored； and suggested in a whisper that it
was about time they went。
〃'Perhaps you had better go；' assented the bored…looking man。 'Wish
I could come with you； but； you see； I live here。'〃
90
… Page 91…
Tommy and Co。
〃I don't believe it；〃 said Somerville the Briefless。 〃He's been
cracking his jokes； and some silly woman has taken him seriously。〃
But the rumour grew into report； developed detail； lost all charm；
expanded into plain recital of fact。 Joey had not been seen within the
Club for more than a weekin itself a deadly confirmation。 The
question became： Who was shewhat was she like？
〃It's none of our set； or we should have heard something from her
side before now；〃 argued acutely Somerville the Briefless。
〃Some beastly kid who will invite us to dances and forget the
supper；〃 feared Johnny Bulstrode； commonly called the Babe。 〃Old
men always fall in love with young girls。〃
〃Forty；〃 explained severely Peter Hope； editor and part proprietor of
Good Humour； 〃is not old。〃
〃Well； it isn't young；〃 persisted Johnny。
〃Good thing for you； Johnny； if it is a girl；〃 thought Jack Herring。
〃Somebody for you to play with。 I often feel sorry for you； having
nobody but grown…up people to talk to。〃
〃They do get a bit stodgy after a certain age；〃 agreed the Babe。
〃I am hoping；〃 said Peter； 〃it will be some sensible； pleasant woman；
a little over thirty。 He is a dear fellow； Loveredge； and forty is a very
good age for a man to marry。〃
〃Well； if I'm not married before I'm forty〃 said the Babe。
〃Oh； don't you fret；〃 Jack Herring interrupted him〃a pretty boy like
you！ We will give a ball next season； and bring you out； if you're good…
…get you off our hands in no time。〃
It was August。 Joey went away for his holiday without again
entering the Club。 The lady's name was Henrietta Elizabeth Doone。 It
was said by the Morning Post that she was connected with the Doones of
Gloucestershire。
Doones of GloucestershireDoones of Gloucestershire mused Miss
Ramsbotham； Society journalist； who wrote the weekly Letter to
Clorinda； discussing the matter with Peter Hope in the editorial office of
Good Humour。 〃Knew a Doon who kept a big second…hand store in
Euston Road and called himself an auctioneer。 He bought a small place
91
… Page 92…
Tommy and Co。
in Gloucestershire and added an 'e' to his name。 Wonder if it's the
same？〃
〃I had a cat called Elizabeth once；〃 said Peter Hope。
〃I don't see what that's got to do with it。〃
〃No； of course not；〃 agreed Peter。 〃But I was rather fond of it。 It
was a quaint sort of animal； considered as a catwould never speak to
another cat； and hated being out after ten o'clock at night。〃
〃What happened to it？〃 demanded Miss Ramsbotham。
〃Fell off a roof；〃 sighed Peter Hope。 〃Wasn't used to them。〃
The marriage took place abroad； at the English Church at Montreux。
Mr。 and Mrs。 Loveredge returned at the end of September。 The
Autolycus Club subscribed to send a present of a punch…bowl； left cards；
and waited with curiosity to see the bride。 But no invitation arrived。
Nor for a month was Joey himself seen within the Club。 Then； one
foggy afternoon； waking after a doze； with a cold cigar in his mouth；
Jack Herring noticed he was not the only occupant of the smoking…room。
In a far corner； near a window； sat Joseph Loveredge reading a magazine。
Jack Herring rubbed his eyes； then rose and crossed the room。
〃I thought at first；〃 explained Jack Herring； recounting the incident
later in the evening； 〃that I must be dreaming。 There he sat； drinking
his five o'clock whisky…and…soda； the same Joey Loveredge I had known
for fifteen years； yet not the same。 Not a feature altered； not a hair on
his head changed； yet the whole face was different； the same body； the
same clothes； but another man。 We talked for half an hour； he
remembered everything that Joey Loveredge had known。 I couldn't
understand it。 Then； as the clock struck； and he rose； saying he must be
home at half…past five； the explanation suddenly occurred to me： JOEY
LOVEREDGE WAS DEAD； THIS WAS A MARRIED MAN。〃
〃We don't want your feeble efforts at psychological