And Berry Came Too (7 page)

I threw one frantic look round – and read my doom. Though the landing was none too big, it gave to a promising passage which would, I am sure, have offered some way of escape. But I could not gain the passage, unless I crossed the head of the stairs. As it was, I was in a blind alley some twelve feet square, in which were two doors and a window, all three of them shut.

For an instant, I hesitated. Then I slid to the nearest door, opened it noiselessly and glided within the room. In a flash I had shut the door and was standing with my ear to the frame. As I held my breath, I heard a board creak upon the landing…

And then and there, I think, the fellow’s suspicions were laid, for he let out a satisfied grunt and a moment later I heard him descending the stairs.

As I wiped the sweat from my face—

“Won’t you sit down?” said a voice. “Your sigh of relief suggests that the danger is past.”

As in a dream, I was gazing at Perdita Boyte, who was looking extremely lovely and lying at ease in a bed, with three or four pillows behind her and a novel, face down, on her lap.

“Perdita?” I breathed, staring. “Whatever are you doing here?”

“The same to you,” said Perdita. “This is my room.”

Quietly I told her my tale.

“But I shan’t say I’m sorry,” I concluded, “because I’m an honest man. I’m much too glad to see you. The pity is I’m not Herrick.
To Julia, abed
, would have been a sonnet worth reading. Oh, and who says Fate doesn’t know best? First, she brings us here and then she fairly hounds me into your room.”

“It does look like it,” said Perdita. “Mother and I were
en route
and I ricked my back. Yesterday evening, that was, and this was the nearest inn. The silly part is that she’s gone to call upon you, to ask you to do what you’ve done. Visit the sick, I mean. The doctor says I’ll be here for another two days. But all that can wait for the moment. If you really want the ruling of your baboon, I should stay where you are: they asked me if, as mother was out, the fellow could lunch in our room: and I said ‘yes.’ Well, that room’s directly below us, and the ceiling is very thin. If he and Aaron speak up, you’ll hear every word.”

“Good lord,” said I. “What a chance! All the same, I don’t like eavesdropping. I mean—”

“Don’t be a fool,” said Perdita. “Quite apart from anything else, you may bet your happy days that a man who is so suspicious is up to no good.”

With her words came the sound of a car, and a moment later the crunch of tires upon gravel declared that the curtain was up.

The baboon was out in the forecourt before I had reached the window commanding the scene.

Oozing servility, a willowy, pale-faced youth emerged from the limousine – to be met with a glare which would have made a lion tamer think.

“What does this mean? Where’s Aaron?” Hat in hand, the unfortunate creature blenched. “I’m very sorry, Mr Stench, but Mr Aaron is ill – with stomachic pain. So he gave me your catalogue and—”

With a working face, his master turned right about and blundered into the inn. The other followed delicately, goggle-eyed…

I tiptoed to Perdita’s side.

As I opened my mouth, she laid a hand on my arm.

“Stay with me, please. I—”

From below, the voice of a brute cut her sentence in two.

“Have you got the things?”

“Every lot but one, Mr Stench, so far. And all well below your figures. If I may say so, I think we’ve done—”

“Which one did you lose?”

“The set of chairs, Mr—”

A howl of anguish rang out.

“All but the chairs? That’s what you came for, you blockhead – to buy those chairs.”

“I’m sure I’m very sorry, Mr Stench, but it wasn’t my fault. I went to the figure you’d written down in the margin, and just as I thought—”

“What did they go for?”

“Two hundred and fifty pounds.”

For a moment there was dead silence. Then came a hideous sound – a gobbling noise…

As I turned to meet the horror in Perdita’s eyes, Aaron’s unfortunate deputy voiced his dismay.

“Don’t, Mr Stench,” he whimpered. “What have I done?”

His master spoke through his teeth.

“Look at that, you blundering idiot.”

“What about it, Mr Stench? Two hundred and – Oh, my God, Mr Stench, that isn’t a ‘one’?”

“That is a ‘one.’ One before two makes twelve.
One thousand
two hundred and fifty is what I wrote. I’ve as good as sold those chairs for two thousand pounds, and you’ve let some country counterjumper…”

I think that was all I heard: at least, I remember no more – except the blaze of excitement in Perdita’s glorious eyes.

“Go and buy your table,” she breathed. “And – and then, if you please, come back and revisit the sick. The sick will be very grateful. I don’t know that they can promise to make your fortune again, but—”

“The light in your eyes is my fortune, you pretty maid.”

“I’m afraid that’s not legal tender. Goodbye, Herrick.”

“There’s plenty of time,” said I, and picked up her fingertips. “Gather ye rosebuds while ye may.”

“Business first,” said my lady, and whipped her fingers away. “You’ve got to be clear of this house before the deputy Aaron comes out of that room.”

“I don’t believe
Julia
would have—”

“If you don’t go,” said Perdita, “I shall call Mr Stench.”

It was nearly a quarter to four before the table came up: but though the seats in the saleroom were painfully hard, our discomfort of body was salved by our peace of mind. The chairs I had bought had passed – and I had a note of hand for one thousand pounds.

As was only to be expected, Mr Stench’s man had approached me the moment he saw my face and had offered to purchase my ‘bargain’ for ‘a five-pound note.’ Such impudence steeled my heart and I had but little compunction in making him climb the steps which I knew as well as he he was ready to tread.

Imperceptibly the room had grown full. From where I was sitting with Berry, I could no longer set eyes upon Daphne and Jill. They were, I knew, close to the door, because of the Knave – who had found the fall of the hammer matter for wrath. Jonah, who had been beside us, had left his seat for a moment to lose it for good. When I saw him next, he was standing some ten feet away on the edge of the press.

Not to be defeated by distance, he sent me a little note.

We’re in for a fight all right. At least five London dealers are now in the room.

I passed it to Berry and took another look round.

On the farther side of the table a thick-set Jew was making his neighbour free of spurts of confidential information which the other steadfastly ignored. A comfortable lady in black alternately toyed with her pencil and set her chin on her shoulder to speak with a hatchet-faced man who was stooping behind. A nice-looking fellow in grey, directly facing the rostrum, bid from time to time with a whimsical smile. The picture of despair, a Jew of some seventy summers, continually looked about him, as though he were caged and were seeking some way of escape. Occasionally he bid – agonizedly. Seated almost below the rostrum, a jolly-faced man in blue maintained a cheerful conversation with some crony behind his chair, only interrupting this communion to nod to the auctioneer – a curious contrast to his neighbour, who tiny, bespectacled, bird-like, stared with an air of indignation on all he saw.

“
Lot four hundred and six
,” said the auctioneer.

A ripple of preparation ran through the room.

Throats were cleared, lips moistened, feet moved: glasses were adjusted: men settled themselves on their chairs, and those that were standing strove to improve their view.

Silence followed. Even the man in blue suspended his flow of soul.

“
A fine oak table. May I say – Three hundred, thank you. I’m bid three hundred pounds
.”

“Whose bid?” whispered Berry.

“I don’t know. I couldn’t see.”

“
And ten
…
Twenty
…
Thirty
…
Forty
…”

The auctioneer’s head was flicking from side to side. In vain I endeavoured to see from whom the bids came.

“
Three hundred and ninety pounds
.”

“Four hundred,” said a man in pince-nez, with his hat on the back of his head.

“That fellow there,” I whispered, “with his catalogue up to his nose.”

“
Four hundred, thank you. And ten… Twenty… Thirty…”

“Who’s bidding against him?” breathed Berry.

In vain I tried to follow the eye of the auctioneer.

“Can’t you see who’s against him?” – irritably.

“I tell you I can’t,” I breathed. “I’m doing my best.”

“
Five hundred pounds. And ten
…”

My sister’s face appeared – between two bowler hats on the edge of the press. Her eyes flung some frantic question of which, of course, I took no notice at all. At the moment the slightest gesture would have been read as a bid. When I ventured to look again, she had disappeared.

The bidding continued to rise.

At seven hundred and fifty the man with the pince-nez dropped out.

“
Eight hundred pounds… Eight hundred… Eight hundred pounds
.”

My brother-in-law glanced at the rostrum.

“
And ten, thank you. Twenty… Thirty
…”

“Who’s against me?” hissed Berry. “You must be able to see.”

Subduing an impulse to scream, I sought for some tell-tale gesture, and sought in vain.

A note was thrust into my hand.

Stench’s man is not bidding – J.

When I offered the note to Berry, he pushed it away.

“Can’t you see who’s taking me up?”

“It isn’t Stench.”

“That,” said Berry, “is what I wanted to know.”

“
Nine hundred pounds
.”

The auctioneer was looking at Berry.

As the latter lifted his chin—

“
And ten… Twenty
.”

“Damn the fellow,” breathed Berry, and nodded again.

“
Thirty… Forty
.”

An oppressive silence followed. Then Berry inclined his head.

“
Fifty
… Sixty.”

Berry raised his eyebrows – and lifted his chin.

“
Seventy… Eighty
.”

“Make it a thousand,” said Berry.

“
One thousand pounds, thank you
.”

A sudden buzz of excitement rose and fell. As it died down—

“
And ten
,” said the auctioneer.

To my amazement, Berry sat back in his chair.

“Well, that’s that,” he murmured.

I could hardly believe my ears.

“You’re not going to stop?”

“Of course I am,” said Berry. “Our limit is reached.”

“
One thousand and ten pounds
.”

“But we’ve still got three—”

“That’s all washed out. I’m not going to blue our own money on something that Stench won’t touch.”

“
One thousand and ten pounds
.”

Looking up, I met Daphne’s gaze. Her agonized look of inquiry showed that she did not know whether the last of the bids was Berry’s or not. Her doubts were rudely dispersed.

“
It’s against you, sir
.”

My brother-in-law shook his head.

The auctioneer raised his hammer.

“
For the last time, one thousand and ten pounds
.”

As the hammer was falling, I nodded my head.

“
Twenty, thank you. Thirty… Forty… Fifty
.”

“Are you doing this?” said Berry.

“Some of it,” said I, and nodded again.

“
Sixty… Seventy… Eighty
…”

“You’re out of your mind,” breathed Berry. “No table on earth is worth it. Besides, if—”

“
Eleven hundred… And ten
…”

“I won’t come in,” said Berry. “I warn you, I won’t come in. You’ve had the straightest of tips and you’re flying bung in its face.”

“So did you,” I retorted, and nodded again. “You knew that Stench—”

“We had a thousand to play with. If we chose to—”

“
Twelve hundred pounds
.”

The auctioneer was looking at me.

Once again I nodded.

“
Twelve hundred and ten… Twenty
…”

As I nodded again, I saw Berry start and stare – at the end of the room. Then he turned and caught at my arm.

“Perhaps this’ll stop you,” he hissed. “It’s Daphne that’s bidding against you. I saw her nod.”

“Good God,” said I, weakly.

“
Twelve hundred and forty pounds
.”

“Can you beat it?” said Berry grimly. “Baboon eating baboon.”

“
Twelve hundred and forty pounds
.”

I got to my feet.

“How long—”

“Who knows?” said Berry, rising. “She probably took me up.”

“
It’s against you, sir
.”

I shook my head…

As the hammer fell, I made my way out of the press.

Standing at the back of the room, my sister and I regarded one another.

“I suppose,” said I, “you came in when Berry stopped.”

“As you did,” said Daphne. “It’s really all his fault for not going on.”

“It’s a mercy he saw you,” said I. “I tremble to think—”

“Don’t talk about it,” said Daphne. “When Jonah came and told me, I nearly died.”

I slid my arm through hers.

“Well, come and claim it, my darling. At least, you had the last word.”

My sister frowned.

“Twelve forty, he said.”

“I know. I bid twelve thirty, and you put me up.”

“But I didn’t,” cried Daphne. “The moment Jonah told me, I turned away.”

“Yes, but that was after twelve forty.”

“I bid twelve twenty,” said Daphne, “and then Jonah caught my arm. Twelve twenty or thirty. I can’t be sure which it was.”

“You’ve got it wrong, my darling. I bid twelve thirty. I must have.”

The auctioneer’s clerk put us straight.

“I’m afraid it’s neither of yours, sir. When the lady dropped out, we took up the bidding again. We were bidding for one of our clients who isn’t here. I’m very sorry, sir – more sorry than I can say. If you’d bid once more, you’d have had it. We had instructions to go to twelve hundred and fifty pounds.”