Oh, and I distinctly heard old Mrs. Paley
rapping out the most fearful oaths as I passed her bedroom door. It's
supposed that she tortures her maid in private--it's practically certain
she does. One can tell it from the look in her eyes."
"When you're eighty and the gout tweezes you, you'll be swearing like
a trooper," Terence remarked. "You'll be very fat, very testy, very
disagreeable. Can't you imagine him--bald as a coot, with a pair of
sponge-bag trousers, a little spotted tie, and a corporation?"
After a pause Hirst remarked that the worst infamy had still to be told.
He addressed himself to Helen.
"They've hoofed out the prostitute. One night while we were away that
old numskull Thornbury was doddering about the passages very late.
(Nobody seems to have asked him what _he_ was up to.) He saw the Signora
Lola Mendoza, as she calls herself, cross the passage in her nightgown.
He communicated his suspicions next morning to Elliot, with the result
that Rodriguez went to the woman and gave her twenty-four hours in which
to clear out of the place. No one seems to have enquired into the truth
of the story, or to have asked Thornbury and Elliot what business it was
of theirs; they had it entirely their own way. I propose that we should
all sign a Round Robin, go to Rodriguez in a body, and insist upon a
full enquiry. Something's got to be done, don't you agree?"
Hewet remarked that there could be no doubt as to the lady's profession.
Pages:
425
426
427
428
429
430
431
432
433
434
435
436
437
438
439
440
441
442
443
444
445
446
447
448
449