第63章

Beatriceaskedthesequestionsinalowvoiceandgavemenochancetoanswer。Thentakingarhythmfromthemusicbeforeher，shesaid——

“Atthebackofthehouseisagarden——adoorinthewall——onthelane。Understand？”

Iturnedoverthepageswithoutanyeffectonherplaying。

“When？”Iasked。

Shedealtinchords。“IwishICOULDplaythis！”shesaid。

“Midnight。”

Shegaveherattentiontothemusicforatime。

“Youmayhavetowait。”

“I’llwait。”

Shebroughtherplayingtoanendby——asschoolboyssay——“stashingitup。”

“Ican’tplayto-night。”shesaid，standingupandmeetingmyeyes。“Iwantedtogiveyouapartingvoluntary。”

“WasthatWagner，Beatrice？”askedLadyOspreylookingupfromhercards。“Itsoundedveryconfused。”

Itookmyleave。IhadacurioustwingeofconscienceasI

partedfromLadyOsprey。Eitherafirstintimationofmiddle-ageormyinexperienceinromanticaffairswastoblame，butIfeltaverydistinctobjectiontotheprospectofinvadingthisgoodlady’spremisesfromthegardendoor。Imotoreduptothepavilion，foundCothopereadinginbed，toldhimforthefirsttimeofWestAfrica，spentanhourwithhiminsettlingalltheoutstandingdetailsofLordRobertsB，andleftthatinhishandstofinishagainstmyreturn。IsentthemotorbacktoLadyGrove，andstillwearingmyfurcoat——fortheJanuarynightwasdampandbitterlycold——walkedtoBedleyCorner。IfoundthelanetothebackoftheDowerHousewithoutanydifficulty，andwasatthedoorinthewallwithtenminutestospare。Ilitacigarandfelltowalkingupanddown。Thisqueerflavourofintrigue，thisnocturnalgarden-doorbusiness，hadtakenmebysurpriseandchangedmymentalaltitudes。IwasstartledoutofmyegotisticalposeandthinkingintentlyofBeatrice，ofthatelfinqualityinherthatalwayspleasedme，thatalwaystookmebysurprise，thathadmadeherforexamplesoinstantlyconceivethismeeting。

Shecamewithinaminuteofmidnight；thedooropenedsoftlyandsheappeared，ashort，greyfigureinamotor-coatofsheepskin，bareheadedtothecolddrizzle。Sheflitteduptome，andhereyeswereshadowsinherduskyface。

“WhyareyougoingtoWestAfrica？”sheaskedatonce。

“Businesscrisis。Ihavetogo。”

“You’renotgoing——？You’recomingback？”

“Threeorfourmonths。”Isaid，“at