V
And what was Mr.¬ÝOakroyd doing all this time? What has kept him in the background? The answer is‚ÅÝ‚Äîa new part. For the first and last time in his life, Mr.¬ÝOakroyd played the detective, a role for which‚ÅÝ‚Äînot being a reader of sensational fiction‚ÅÝ‚Äîhe had no particular liking or aptitude. But the great catastrophe had left him darkly brooding, and after innumerable pipes of Old Salt and some talk with his friend, Mr.¬ÝJock Campbell, a man compact of suspicion, he had begun to put two and two together. Thus it came about that he played the detective, and we shall soon discover to what purpose if we wait for him in Miss Trant‚Äôs room at the nursing home, on the morning of the day when Susie and Inigo were due to depart to London, and even Mrs.¬ÝJoe and the others were thinking seriously about packing.
Miss Trant was still in the nursing home, but if she had been in a hurry to leave it, she could have done so. She preferred, however, to stay on until her arm was completely better, to the great content of her new medical adviser, Dr.¬ÝHugh McFarlane, who contrived to visit her every day. He had now gone into the matter of the Hippodrome claims with Mr.¬ÝGooch, and this meant, of course, that he had to see her as often as possible, whatever might happen to a good general practice and the parathyroid glands. Having completely recovered from the shock, Miss Trant was now able to get up, but for the time being she was keeping to her room. When Hugh called, on this particular morning, he found her sitting in an armchair.
“I telephoned to Gooch,” he explained, “and he’s coming along to see you. Something very special, he says. I don’t know that I can stay for long, but he’ll tell you all about it, Elizabeth.”
“It’s a shame, your doing so much,” she told him. “I’m sure you can’t spare the time. You mustn’t bother any more about it, Hugh.”
And he replied that it was no trouble at all, and she said she was sure it must be, and he replied again, quite gruffly, that it was a pleasure, and by this time their eyes had joined in the dialogue and were making the most reckless remarks to one another, so that though their tongues had framed only the most innocent friendly syllables, she was bright pink and he was brick-red. Shy people can engage in this commerce for quite a long time before anything decisive happens, and it is not a stage of the passion that has any interest at all for outsiders (though Miss Trant‚Äôs nurse, who had followed every move, noted every blush, and taken the temperature of the affair each day, must be excepted), so that we can safely withdraw to await the arrival of Mr.¬ÝGooch.
Mr.¬ÝGooch was a solicitor with a very large practice and also a marked Midlands accent. These two things taken together indicate that he was an unusually astute man who knew a great deal about everybody in Gatford, Mundley, and Stort. Miss Trant‚Äôs family solicitor, Mr.¬ÝTruby of Cheltenham, would not have approved of Mr.¬ÝGooch at all, but then Mr.¬ÝTruby would have been afraid to contest claims that Mr.¬ÝGooch regarded as mere whims, impudent triflings. Hugh‚Äôs Scotch instinct for a good fighting lawyer had not been at fault when it had taken him to Mr.¬ÝGooch. For the rest, it only remains to be said that Mr.¬ÝGooch was not at all sharp, wizened, ferret-faced, but a stout rubicund man with an enormous flat face that suggested nothing but a sleepy good-humour.
Having bluntly told Miss Trant that he was pleased to meet her and glad to see she was sitting up, Mr.¬ÝGooch came at once to business. ‚ÄúNow, Miss Trant,‚Äù he began, ‚ÄúI‚Äôve looked into this matter. I thought at first it was a hopeless job. You can‚Äôt deny your liability, you see. I‚Äôve had a look at your agreement with the Hippodrome, and your liability‚Äôs there all right. Of course you never thought of anything of this sort happening, did you?‚Äù
“Naturally not,” Miss Trant replied. “Who would? I mean, it’s not the kind of thing that does happen, you see.”
‚ÄúQuite so,‚Äù said Mr.¬ÝGooch, creasing his vast face. ‚ÄúOnly you‚Äôve got to be prepared for anything in this world. That‚Äôs what agreements and contracts are for. Ninety-nine times out of a hundred they‚Äôre only time and money thrown away, but there‚Äôs always the hundredth. This is it. It‚Äôs a pity you put your name to that agreement, Miss Trant, if you don‚Äôt mind me saying so. These theatrical lettings are out of my line‚ÅÝ‚Äîand I don‚Äôt pretend to know a lot about ‚Äôem‚ÅÝ‚Äîbut that one you signed doesn‚Äôt look right to me, smells fishy, that one. And that‚Äôs going to be worth looking into, I fancy‚ÅÝ‚Äîafterwards, just to make a bit of mischief. But it‚Äôs watertight, no mistake about that. You‚Äôre liable, and when they claim, you‚Äôll have to pay up.‚Äù Having said this, he looked at her in a manner that suggested he was quite pleased about it.
Miss Trant was not pleased and came to the conclusion that Mr.¬ÝGooch was a fool. ‚ÄúIt‚Äôs a shame,‚Äù she cried. ‚ÄúI wouldn‚Äôt care if it was my fault in any way. But it wasn‚Äôt, as you know, and I‚Äôve had to suffer anyhow. I and my party have lost money, you see, quite apart from anything I may have to pay. And then we‚Äôve suffered in other ways too. And all because a few hooligans were determined to spoil our performance.‚Äù
Here Dr.¬ÝMcFarlane muttered something that hinted what he would do to such fellows if he caught them. It may have concerned their parathyroid glands.
‚ÄúQuite so,‚Äù said Mr.¬ÝGooch again, still smiling good-humouredly. ‚ÄúBut though we might whittle the claim down a bit when it comes‚ÅÝ‚Äîit hasn‚Äôt come yet, you know, but it‚Äôs on its way, you might say‚ÅÝ‚Äîwe can‚Äôt contest it. I want to make you understand that, Miss Trant. That‚Äôs clear, isn‚Äôt it? All right, then that‚Äôs settled.‚Äù
He still seemed very pleased with himself, and Miss Trant began to think that even poor Mr.¬ÝTruby, though he may have been thinking for months she was wrong in her head, could have done better than this. And what made it much worse was that he was Hugh‚Äôs choice. Poor Hugh!‚ÅÝ‚Äîhe had looked so knowing about his Mr.¬ÝGooch.
‚ÄúBut there‚Äôs another point,‚Äù Mr.¬ÝGooch continued, with relish, ‚Äúand this is where we really come in. You‚Äôre responsible to them, all right. But who‚Äôs responsible to you? Who, in fact, is the guilty party?‚Äù He paused and looked at her expectantly.
She gave a mental if not an actual shrug. ‚ÄúThat‚Äôs soon settled too,‚Äù she replied, not without irony, ‚Äúbut it doesn‚Äôt help much. A gang of roughs‚ÅÝ‚Äîfrom nowhere. If it hadn‚Äôt been for them, nothing would have happened. But what good will that do us‚ÅÝ‚ÄîI mean, knowing that? Oh‚ÅÝ‚Äîit‚Äôs all stupid! I‚Äôm sorry, but it really is.‚Äù
‚ÄúIt might turn out stupid for somebody,‚Äù said Mr.¬ÝGooch, who was quite unperturbed, ‚Äúbut it‚Äôs not half so stupid as it looks. Quite tricky up to a point, in fact‚ÅÝ‚Äîquite tricky. I didn‚Äôt want to bother you just now with all this, but I thought you‚Äôd better know the line I‚Äôm taking. If you don‚Äôt mind waiting a minute, I‚Äôll just see if he‚Äôs here. I left a message for him to come along.‚Äù With that, he lumbered out, leaving Miss Trant staring at her companion.
‚ÄúI don‚Äôt understand what he‚Äôs talking about,‚Äù she confessed, frowning. ‚ÄúIs he‚ÅÝ‚Äîreally‚ÅÝ‚Äîa reliable man?‚Äù
Hugh laughed. “I’ve been watching you, Elizabeth. I saw you thought he wasn’t going to be any use to you.”
‚ÄúNo, that‚Äôs not fair. I didn‚Äôt. Only‚ÅÝ‚Äî‚Äù
“Just wait. He’s here.”
He was and there was somebody with him. It was Mr.¬ÝOakroyd, tightly clutching his cap and looking very embarrassed. He gave her a very uneasy grin.
‚ÄúWell, Mr.¬ÝOakroyd,‚Äù and she smiled, ‚Äúthis is very nice. I didn‚Äôt expect to see you.‚Äù
Mr.¬ÝOakroyd cleared his throat. ‚ÄúAr yer getting on, Miss Trant?‚Äù
“Very well, thank you. What have you been doing lately?”
‚ÄúWell‚ÅÝ‚Äîer‚ÅÝ‚ÄîI‚Äôve been busy‚ÅÝ‚Äîlike.‚Äù And he nodded towards Mr.¬ÝGooch.
‚ÄúOh!‚Äù cried Miss Trant. ‚ÄúI didn‚Äôt understand. You‚Äôve come here with Mr.¬ÝGooch, have you?‚Äù
‚ÄúThat‚Äôs right,‚Äù replied Mr.¬ÝOakroyd, more at ease now. ‚ÄúAny rate, he left word for me to come here. Said I‚Äôd better tell yer mysen.‚Äù
‚ÄúAnd you got hold of the other chap,‚Äù Mr.¬ÝGooch inquired, putting his head on one side in a droll fashion, ‚Äúmade sure of him, did you?‚Äù
‚ÄúHe‚Äôs here,‚Äù said Mr.¬ÝOakroyd, jerking a thumb over his shoulder.
‚ÄúHe‚Äôs here, is he?‚Äù Mr.¬ÝGooch was quite lively. ‚ÄúWhere? Outside?‚Äù
‚ÄúOn t‚Äômat,‚Äù replied Mr.¬ÝOakroyd, grinning. ‚ÄúD‚Äôyou want him in?‚Äù
‚ÄúIf Miss Trant doesn‚Äôt mind,‚Äù said Mr.¬ÝGooch, glancing at her.
“Of course I don’t mind,” said Miss Trant, staring at them. “But what is it all about?” And she suddenly began to laugh.
‚ÄúIt‚Äôs like this here, Miss Trant,‚Äù Mr.¬ÝOakroyd began, earnestly; ‚ÄúAfter that there do o‚Äô Saturday, I begins to put two an‚Äô two together. There‚Äôd been summat up all t‚Äôweek, though it were nowt to Saturday. Saturday capped t‚Äôlot, as yer knaw very well. Nar there‚Äôs one or two had said to me they thowt it were a put-up job, them chaps makking all that to-do. I didn‚Äôt like look on it at all, I didn‚Äôt. So I put my thinking cap on.‚Äù
‚ÄúThat‚Äôs the way,‚Äù said Mr.¬ÝGooch approvingly. ‚ÄúThinking cap.‚Äù
‚ÄúNar a friend o‚Äô mine that doesn‚Äôt belong here but ‚Äôud been here a bit, this chap ‚Äôud dropped a remark to me when I saw him last week‚ÅÝ‚Äîit were in t‚ÄôMarket Tavern o‚Äô Thursday‚ÅÝ‚Äîan‚Äô when I towd him I was here wi‚Äô T‚ÄôGood Companions, then he says, ‚ÄòYou had any bother lately, ‚Äôcos you‚Äôre going to have some right sharp?‚Äô Summat like that, he says. Well, I didn‚Äôt tak‚Äô much notice on it at time, an‚Äô he were off afore I could say owt. So I lets it drop, you might say. But t‚Äôother day, o‚Äô Monday it wor, when I begins to puzzle it out a bit, I thowt, ‚ÄòAr did he knaw we‚Äôd have some bother?‚Äô He‚Äôd said we would have and‚ÅÝ‚Äîby gow!‚ÅÝ‚Äîwe‚Äôd had some bother an‚Äô all. So I puts two an‚Äô two together. I thowt to mysen, ‚ÄòHe‚Äôs in t‚Äôknow, he is. If this here‚Äôs a put-up job, he‚Äôs been where they‚Äôve been putting it up, as you might say.‚Äô That‚Äôs what I thowt.‚Äù
Mr.¬ÝGooch wagged his huge head at Miss Trant. ‚ÄúThat‚Äôs the way,‚Äù he said once more. ‚ÄúThinking cap again.‚Äù
Miss Trant was interested now. ‚ÄúGo on, Mr.¬ÝOakroyd. This is exciting.‚Äù
‚ÄúSo I sets off to look for him, this here friend o‚Äô mine. Any rate, I maks a few inquiries. Meantime, I goes to see Jimmy Nunn, an‚Äô he tells me what Soosie towd him about Doctor McFarlane here going to Mr.¬ÝGoodge about this here job, so I goes to Mr.¬ÝGoodge an‚Äô all an‚Äô tells him what I think about it an‚Äô he says there might be summat in it an‚Äô I‚Äôd better keep on looking for this friend o‚Äô mine, d‚Äôyou see. ‚ÄòI‚Äôll do what I can,‚Äô he says, ‚Äòto help you to find him. What‚Äôs he like?‚Äô he says. An‚Äô I tells him, an‚Äô off I goes again an‚Äô comes on one chap ‚Äôat ‚Äôud seen him an‚Äô he puts me on to another chap. Eh, it were a business! But at finish up, I finds him.‚Äù
“Was he here in Gatford?” Miss Trant asked.
‚ÄúHere! He wor fowty mile away an‚Äô just settin‚Äô off to go another fowty or fifty. He‚Äôs allus on t‚Äômove,‚Äù he added, not without pride. ‚ÄúI were wi‚Äô him one time‚ÅÝ‚Äîon t‚Äôroad. If I hadn‚Äôt been, he wouldn‚Äôt ha‚Äô come back. He worn‚Äôt set on it‚ÅÝ‚Äî‚Äôcos he didn‚Äôt want to be mixed up in t‚Äôjob‚ÅÝ‚Äîbut he come i‚Äô t‚Äôfinish, being a pal o‚Äô mine.‚Äù
‚ÄúWell, we‚Äôd better have him in now,‚Äù said Mr.¬ÝGooch, ‚Äúunless Miss Trant doesn‚Äôt want to be bothered. You can leave it all to me, you know, Miss Trant, but I thought you might like to hear what he has to say.‚Äù
“I should think so!” cried Miss Trant. “Hurry up and bring him before he runs away.”
‚ÄúNay, he‚Äôll noan do that,‚Äù said Mr.¬ÝOakroyd, almost reproachfully. ‚ÄúI‚Äôll fetch him.‚Äù And off he went.
‚ÄúAnd you really think there‚Äôs something in this?‚Äù said Dr.¬ÝMcFarlane, looking anxiously at Mr.¬ÝGooch.
‚ÄúI‚Äôm pretty sure there is,‚Äù that gentleman replied, smiling and half-closing his eyes. ‚ÄúPre‚Äëtty sure there is.‚Äù Then he opened his eyes, wide. ‚ÄúBut I can‚Äôt tell you exactly what‚ÅÝ‚Äînot yet.‚Äù
‚ÄúWell, whether there is or not,‚Äù cried Miss Trant excitedly, ‚Äúit‚Äôs lovely. And I hope there is, just for Mr.¬ÝOakroyd‚Äôs sake. I‚Äôve told you about him, haven‚Äôt I, Hugh?‚Äù
‚ÄúThis is him,‚Äù said Mr.¬ÝOakroyd, returning at that moment, ‚ÄúJoby Jackson. Nar, Joby lad, yer can tell ‚Äôem yersen.‚Äù
Our old friend Mr.¬ÝJackson looked from one to another of his audience and rubbed his chin dubiously. We see him for a moment robbed of that bright confidence which was part of his charm.
‚ÄúNow then?‚Äù said Mr.¬ÝGooch.
‚ÄúIt‚Äôs like this,‚Äù said Joby hoarsely. ‚ÄúYer not making a police-court job o‚Äô this, are yer? If y‚Äôare, I want to keep out, see? Anything to oblige a pal‚ÅÝ‚Äîan‚Äô anyhow they did the dirty on yer‚ÅÝ‚Äîbut I don‚Äôt want to be put in a little box with a clever bloke on the other side saying, ‚ÄòAnd where were you on the fourteenth of July last?‚Äô No witnessing for me. Oh no! I‚Äôll tell yer what I know for George ‚Äôere, but yer don‚Äôt put me in the box, see?‚Äù
‚ÄúThere isn‚Äôt going to be a box; don‚Äôt worry,‚Äù said Mr.¬ÝGooch. ‚ÄúIt isn‚Äôt that sort of business at all.‚Äù
‚ÄúGood enough then,‚Äù said Joby, hesitating no longer and speaking with more freedom. ‚ÄúWhat yer want to know is ‚Äôow did I come to know there might be a bit o‚Äô bother, that‚Äôs it, isn‚Äôt it? Right.‚Äù He paused, gave a sharp glance round, thoroughly enjoying the situation. ‚ÄúWell, I‚Äôm ‚Äôere in Gatford, see. One morning in a boozer‚ÅÝ‚Äînot the Market Tavern, lower class of ‚Äôouse altogether‚ÅÝ‚Äîtell yer its moniker in a minute‚ÅÝ‚Äîthe Black Bull, that‚Äôs it. Know it?‚Äù
Mr.¬ÝGooch pondered for a moment. ‚ÄúCorner of Castle Street,‚Äù he said finally. ‚ÄúLittle place. Nearly got its licence taken away last year.‚Äù
‚ÄúThat‚Äôs the place,‚Äù said Joby. ‚ÄúWell, I‚Äôm in there, see‚ÅÝ‚Äîone morning, havin‚Äô one with some o‚Äô the lads. When I say some o‚Äô the lads, I don‚Äôt mean they was pals o‚Äô mine. But I knew some of ‚Äôem. Matter o‚Äô fact, some of ‚Äôem was on the road, same as meself. They wasn‚Äôt workin‚Äô just then, ‚Äôcos Gorley‚Äôs place is near ‚Äôere, see‚ÅÝ‚Äîan‚Äô Gorley‚Äôs the feller that owns some o‚Äô them Cock‚Äôrels and Swishbacks‚ÅÝ‚Äîand they was ‚Äôere, waitin‚Äô for the engines to be over‚Äôaulded, see. The other fellers I didn‚Äôt know-local fellers, they was, all in a click, y‚Äôknow, a gang, with about the price of a pint between the lot of ‚Äôem. Well there we are‚ÅÝ‚Äîwhen in comes a feller, a biggish bloke, all dressed up, smart feller. One or two o‚Äô the lads knows ‚Äôim, see, same as if they‚Äôd done a bit o‚Äô work for ‚Äôim one time, when they did work. This feller then looks us over, nods ‚Äôere an‚Äô there, very friendly like, calls the landlord an‚Äô orders drinks all round. Sensation in court! Then when the landlord‚Äôs gone and we‚Äôre all well into the pig‚Äôs ear, he sort o‚Äô gathers us round like an‚Äô says quietly, ‚ÄòAny o‚Äô you fellers like to earn some easy money?‚Äô ‚ÄòWhat‚Äôs the idear?‚Äô we want to know. ‚ÄòOnly a bit of a joke on my part,‚Äô ‚Äôe says, ‚Äòjust payin‚Äô somebody off,‚Äô ‚Äôe says, ‚Äòan‚Äô money for nothing for some o‚Äô you lads.‚Äô He didn‚Äôt look a money-for-nothing bloke to me, I don‚Äôt mind tellin yer, an‚Äô when ‚Äôe says, ‚ÄòBefore we go any further, who‚Äôs game?,‚Äô I didn‚Äôt catch on, see. I thought, ‚ÄòI don‚Äôt like the look of you, chum. Bit too careful about your joke. Too much lookin‚Äô over the shoulder.‚Äô So me an‚Äô two or three more wasn‚Äôt in it, see, an‚Äô we sits in the other corner, tryin‚Äô to look as if we wasn‚Äôt still drinkin‚Äô the beer he paid for. ‚ÄôE whispers for about ten minutes, then slings it. But I got a word or two, something about a show at the Hip. When ‚Äôe goes, the other fellers lets on then, see. ‚ÄòWhy don‚Äôt yer come in?‚Äô they says to us. ‚ÄòQuid each for sittin‚Äô at the back o‚Äô the Hip. an‚Äô giving ‚Äôem the bird, an‚Äô p‚Äôraps another quid for Saturday if it pans out all right,‚Äô they says‚ÅÝ‚Äî‚Äù
“And those were the men then,” Miss Trant gasped. “But why? I don’t understand. Who was this man?”
‚ÄúNow we come to it,‚Äù said Mr.¬ÝGooch. ‚ÄúWho was he?‚Äù
‚ÄúI ‚Äôeard ‚Äôis name,‚Äù Joby replied slowly, ‚Äú‚Ää‚Äôcos, as I say, some of ‚Äôem knew ‚Äôim‚ÅÝ‚Äî‚Äù
“Good! And what was it?”
‚ÄúThat‚Äôs it. I‚Äôve forgotten it. Clean gone. An‚Äô me with a memory, my God! that‚Äôs won me more pints o‚Äô beer in bets than you could swallow from now to‚ÅÝ‚Äî‚Äù
‚ÄúCome along,‚Äù said Mr.¬ÝGooch. ‚ÄúThis won‚Äôt do, you know. You might as well give us the name now. It‚Äôs just that we want.‚Äù
“It’s no good yer coming along me,” cried Joby aggressively. “Yer can come along till yer blue an’ it won’t make no difference. I’ve tried to remember that feller’s moniker all day. ’Ere, George, you can tell ’em. Wasn’t I tryin’ to remember it all along the road’ere?”
‚ÄúAy, yer wor, Joby,‚Äù Mr.¬ÝOakroyd replied mournfully. It began to look as if he had had all his trouble for nothing.
‚ÄúWell, can‚Äôt you remember anything about him?‚Äù said Mr.¬ÝGooch, who looked neither sleepy nor good-humoured now.
“Let’s see. ’Alf a minute. Biggish bloke. Clean-shaved. Reddish face. Baggy under the eyes, poached-egg style. Too much whisky.” But that did not seem to help much, for Gatford and district could boast of dozens of middle-aged gentlemen exactly like that. Then Joby remembered something else. “ ’Ere, ’alf a minute. Pitchers. Something to do with pitchers.”
‚ÄúPitchers?‚Äù Mr.¬ÝGooch stared at him.
“That’s ri’. Yer know, films, cinemas!”
‚ÄúAh!‚Äù Mr.¬ÝGooch sounded triumphant. ‚ÄúWas his name Ridvers?‚Äù
‚ÄúYou‚Äôve got it, chum,‚Äù shouted Joby, in great excitement. ‚ÄúYou‚Äôve got it in one. Ridvers, that‚Äôs it. Now ‚Äôow the‚ÅÝ‚ÄîI mean‚ÅÝ‚Äî‚Äôow did I come to forget that? Ridvers. That‚Äôs it all right an‚Äô no mistake. Do yer know‚Äôim, Mister?‚Äù
‚ÄúI know Mr.¬ÝRidvers,‚Äù Mr.¬ÝGooch replied, a trifle grimly, ‚Äúand Mr.¬ÝRidvers knows me. I don‚Äôt think I shall have a lot of trouble with Mr.¬ÝRidvers. I happen to know he‚Äôs trying to sell his three cinema halls to a big syndicate. In fact, I know a lot about Mr.¬ÝRidvers. And now I know a bit more, don‚Äôt I? Well, well! Hello!‚Äù He stared at Miss Trant, who was wrinkling her brow. ‚ÄúDo you know him too?‚Äù
‚ÄúI‚Äôm just trying to think. There was a man, a horrid man, pushed his way into my room at the hotel one afternoon, two or three weeks ago, and he said he had something to do with cinemas here. He was awfully rude and disagreeable‚ÅÝ‚Äîa beast of a man‚ÅÝ‚Äîand so I wouldn‚Äôt listen to him, just told him to go. And I heard afterwards that some of the men in the party had some trouble with him after that, downstairs. I‚Äôm sure that must be the same man.‚Äù
‚ÄúSo am I,‚Äù said Mr.¬ÝGooch.
‚ÄúI‚Äôve a mind to call on this Ridvers,‚Äù Dr.¬ÝMcFarlane began, looking very fierce.
‚ÄúLeave him to me, Doctor, leave him to me,‚Äù said Mr.¬ÝGooch. ‚ÄúI‚Äôll attend to him. He‚Äôs had his little joke, and this is where he pays for it.‚Äù He turned to Joby. ‚ÄúAnd don‚Äôt you worry about courts of law. This won‚Äôt get that far, if I know Mr.¬ÝRidvers; But I tell you what you can do, my lad, and I‚Äôll see you don‚Äôt lose by it. You can just give me as many names of those other fellows as you can remember. That‚Äôll help us to show Mr.¬ÝRidvers we know all about his little games.‚Äù He whipped out paper and pencil and took Joby aside.
‚ÄúWell done, Mr.¬ÝOakroyd!‚Äù said Dr.¬ÝMcFarlane, shaking him by the hand. ‚ÄúThat‚Äôs fine.‚Äù
“Isn’t it?” cried Miss Trant. “Whatever happens, I’m very very grateful to you. You’ve been wonderful, finding all this out for us.”
“Nay, I’ve done nowt. It’s Joby who’ll ha’ done t’trick.”
“No, it’s you really, and I can’t tell you how grateful I am. And listen, I’ve been wanting to talk to you, now that we’ve all broken up. Aren’t you sorry?”
‚ÄúEh, I am, Miss Trant. I don‚Äôt like thowt on us all leavin‚Äô one another, I don‚Äôt. Ther‚Äôs Soos an‚Äô Inigo off this afternoon‚ÅÝ‚ÄîI‚Äôm off to t‚Äôstation wi‚Äô em if I can get‚ÅÝ‚Äîan‚Äô though I‚Äôm right glad they‚Äôre doing so well, I‚Äôll be right sorry to see ‚Äôem go, I will that. Eh, we‚Äôve had wer bit o‚Äô fun together, three on us.‚Äù
“But tell me,” said Miss Trant, looking at him very earnestly, “what are you going to do? I’ve been wanting to talk to you about that.”
‚ÄúNay, I‚Äôve been so throng wi‚Äô this business, I don‚Äôt fairly knaw. Ther‚Äôs been a bit o‚Äô talk about it. Soos wants me to go to London afore so long, ‚Äôcos she fancies she can get me summat to do there. An‚Äô Joe says if I went wi‚Äô them, p‚Äôraps ther‚Äôd be a job there‚ÅÝ‚Äî‚Äù
‚ÄúAnd I don‚Äôt know exactly what I‚Äôm going to do,‚Äù she said, ‚Äúbut that‚Äôs what I was going to say to you too. But look here, will you talk to the others seriously today, and then come to see me‚ÅÝ‚Äîlet me see‚ÅÝ‚Äîtomorrow morning sometime, and then we can talk about it properly. Will you do that?‚Äù
‚ÄúAy, I will,‚Äù said Mr.¬ÝOakroyd solemnly, and then awkwardly took his leave of her. But he did not talk it over with the others and he did not call upon her the next morning.
‚ÄúYer mun come an‚Äô have a bit o‚Äô dinner wi‚Äô me, Joby lad,‚Äù he said, as they left the nursing home in triumph. ‚ÄúI towd t‚Äôlandlady yer might‚ÅÝ‚Äîshe‚Äôs a right good sort is this, an‚Äô I‚Äôve been there a time nar‚ÅÝ‚Äîan‚Äô she‚Äôll have it ready.‚Äù
‚ÄúI‚Äôm with yer, George,‚Äù said Joby in great content. He had been promised a reward for his services by Mr.¬ÝGooch, and, reward or no reward, had enjoyed his morning.
They had hardly set foot in the house, however, before the landlady rushed up and thrust something in Mr.¬ÝOakroyd‚Äôs face, just as if it had been there some time and she was anxious to get rid of it, fearing that it would explode at any moment. And indeed this is indeed exactly what she felt, for the thing she handed over was a telegram. At the sight of it Mr.¬ÝOakroyd‚Äôs triumphant morning crashed to smithereens. ‚ÄúBy gow!‚Äù he muttered, staring.
It was Joby’s turn to read it now. Come at once mother bad. Leonard. He made a little clucking noise. “That’s ruddy ’ard lines, George,” he said, seriously, sympathetically. “The old trouble-and-strife, eh? Bad, eh? Aw, that’s rotten, George. ’Ope for the best, though.”
‚ÄúI knew ther were summat. I did, I knew,‚Äù Mr.¬ÝOakroyd was muttering. Then he looked at Joby. ‚ÄúI mun be off soon as I can. When‚Äôs t‚Äônext train up there, lad?‚Äù
Joby knew, for he was an authority on trains. There was one in the middle of the afternoon, and this gave him time after dinner to scrawl his Bruddersford address and a few words of explanation on a bit of paper, to be conveyed to Miss Trant by “t’landlady’s little lad,” to put his things together and settle his bill, to hurry round and say goodbye to Susie and Inigo. There was no time to see the others, but perhaps they would not be gone when he returned, if he did return. Joby went with him to the station, though his own train did not go until five o’clock.
‚ÄúAll the best, George. An‚Äô don‚Äôt forget‚ÅÝ‚ÄîJoby Jackson, World‚Äôs Fair‚ÅÝ‚Äîfinds me ev‚Äôry time, see. Keep smilin‚Äô.‚Äù
“So long, Joby lad. See thee again some day. On t’road, eh?”
And then the train went roaring North.