And now
I can't get another billet any way, and there's a bill of sale over
the furniture, and I've sold all my jewels down to my ticker, or at
least most of them, and there's that brute," and her voice rose to a
subdued scream, "living like a fighting-cock while his poor wife is
left to starve."
"'Wife!' Oh, yes, we know all about that," said the gentleman called
Johnnie.
A look of doubt and cunning passed across the woman's face. Evidently
she feared that she had said too much. "Well, it's a good a name as
another," she said. "Oh, don't I wish that I could get a grip of him;
I'd wring him," and she twisted her long bony hands as washerwomen do
when they squeeze a cloth.
"I'd back you to," said Johnnie. "And now, adored Edithia, I've had
enough of this blooming show, and I'm off. Perhaps I shall look in
down Rupert Street way this evening. Ta-ta."
"Well, you may as well stand a drink first," said the adored one. "I'm
pretty dry, I can tell you."
"Certainly, with pleasure; I will order one. Waiter, a brandy-and-soda
for this lady--/six/ of brandy, if you please; she's very delicate and
wants support."
The waiter grinned and brought the drink and the man Johnnie turned
round as though to pay him, but really he went without doing so.
Pages:
294
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306
307
308
309
310
311
312
313
314
315
316
317
318