SV - 05 - Sergeant Verity and the Swell Mob. (39 page)

'Course
I wouldn't,' said Verity, bewildered and undecided. 'Course I never would.'

The rest of the conversation,
the departure of the steward and the arrangements to be made for Billy when he
should attain the age of six were lost to him. After the commendation of
Superintendent Gowry this latest news left him numb.

'And
you won't deny it to your own flesh and blood, Mr Verity! Not if I know it!'

For the sixth time since they had clambered into bed
in the Tidy Street room, Bella voiced her determination in the matter.

'A great man, 'e
said. A judge!'

'And why shouldn't your son be
a judge?' she cried. 'Why shouldn't he be a great man if he gets the chance?'

There was an ominous shifting
from one of the two cradles at the foot: of the bed.

' 's all right, Mrs Verity! Ain't I said it's all
right?'

"You
was lucky,' said Bella complacently. 'You was lucky you didn't take the hundred
pounds. What your son shall have is worth a good many times more 'n that.'

'A man don't take rewards for
doing his duty, Bella! Mr Hoskins can't see it, p'raps, but your pa brought you
up to know better!'

The starlight was glistening on
the Brighton slates just as it had so many nights before when he had woken in
the room alone.

'And fifty pounds might go a
long way to put young Jolly right,' said Bella insistently, 'now we give her a
roof.'

' 's only for two weeks,' said
Verity gently, touching Bella's face.

'Mr Stringfellow says she'll
be no inconvenience back in Paddington Green. Pa says it'll stop you thinking
nastiness about him and little Ruthie up in them attics.'

'Whatcher mean?'
Verity sat upright in bed.

'Nowhere else for young Ruth
to sleep, 'cept in the attic next to his. But you got no cause to think
nastiness about it, William Clarence Verity. No cause whatever! There's what
they call a chap-y-rone now, Jolly being in with Ruthie.'

'You mean Mr Stringfellow got
both them young persons up there with him in the attics?' The agony in his
voice was distinct and shrill.

'You
gotta nasty mind, William Verity! Pa done everything in the world for you and
your offspring, 'f it wasn't for his little 'ouse, you wouldn't have a roof
over the heads of any of us!'

It was
the second time that they had quarrelled over the attic accommodation since
Ruth's arrival. As on the previous occasion Verity heard, in the faint noises
of the sleeping house, Stringfellow's fruity chuckle of appreciation. There
was a series of sounds which were identical with those made by the cabman's
hand when it patted Lightning's flanks. Two separate female giggles followed
simultaneously and a throaty old voice said: 'Clever little 'orse!'

'It give your mind a turn,'
said Bella severely. 'I know it do. Having to do with criminals and nastiness
give your mind a turn. Now all you can do is talk nastiness about poor papa!'

'No!' said Verity
hastily. 'No, I never!'

'Mr
Stringfellow says Jolly won't be any more inconvenience to him than Ruth.'

A sigh of female contentment
breathed high over their heads and there was a shifting of iron springs. Too
weary to continue the argument, Verity slid down between the sheets again. Presently
he began to drift into sleep, aware that Bella's outburst was over and that she
was moving softly towards him. After a little while he stirred and felt that
she was as naked and marble smooth as Jolly had been on that other night which
seemed to him now so long ago. His hands moved contentedly upon her and Bella
snuggled tighter against him.

'Oh, Mr Verity,' she breathed,
the world lost to her in their happiness. 'Oh, Mr Verity, what a good brave
sojer I've got!'