Ranson's Folly (Fiscle Part 3) - Richard Harding Davis (reading diary .txt) 📗

To Tell These Gentlemen Who Shot That

Lion. Who Presented It To The Grill?"

 

Joseph,  Unused To Acting As Master Of Ceremonies To Members Of The

Club,  Shifted,  Nervously,  From One Foot To The Other.

 

"Why,  You--You Did," He Stammered.

 

"Of Course I Did!" Exclaimed The Young Man. "I Mean,  What Is The Name

Of The Man Who Shot It? Tell The Gentlemen Who I Am. They Wouldn't

Believe Me."

 

"Who You Are,  My Lord?" Said Joseph. "You Are Lord Edam's Son,  The

Earl Of Chetney."

 

"You Must Admit," Said Lord Chetney,  When The Noise Had Died Away,

"That I Couldn't Remain Dead While My Little Brother Was Accused Of

Murder. I Had To Do Something. Family Pride Demanded It. Now,  Arthur,

As The Younger Brother,  Can't Afford To Be Squeamish,  But,

Personally,  I Should Hate To Have A Brother Of Mine Hanged For

Murder."

 

"You Certainly Showed No Scruples Against Hanging Me," Said The

American,  "But,  In The Face Of Your Evidence,  I Admit My Guilt,  And I

Sentence Myself To Pay The Full Penalty Of The Law As We Are Made To

Pay It In My Own Country. The Order Of This Court Is," He Announced,

"That Joseph Shall Bring Me A Wine-Card,  And That I Sign It For Five

Bottles Of The Club's Best Champagne."

 

"Oh,  No!" Protested The Man With The Pearl Stud,  "It Is Not For You

To Sign It. In My Opinion,  It Is Sir Andrew Who Should Pay The Costs.

It Is Time You Knew," He Said,  Turning To That Gentleman,  "That,

Unconsciously,  You Have Been The Victim Of What I May Call A

Patriotic Conspiracy. These Stories Have Had A More Serious Purpose

Than Merely To Amuse. They Have Been Told With The Worthy Object Of

Detaining You From The House Of Commons. I Must Explain To You That,

All Through This Evening,  I Have Had A Servant Waiting In Trafalgar

Square With Instructions To Bring Me Word As Soon As The Light Over

The House Of Commons Had Ceased To Burn. The Light Is Now Out,  And

The Object For Which We Plotted Is Attained."

 

The Baronet Glanced,  Keenly,  At The Man With The Black Pearl,  And

Part 3 Title 1 (Ranson's Folly) Pg 150

Then,  Quickly,  At His Watch. The Smile Disappeared From His Lips,  And

His Face Was Set In Stern And Forbidding Lines.

 

"And May I Know," He Asked,  Icily,  "What Was The Object Of Your

Plot?"

 

"A Most Worthy One," The Other Retorted. "Our Object Was To Keep You

From Advocating The Expenditure Of Many Millions Of The People's

Money Upon More Battle-Ships. In A Word,  We Have Been Working

Together To Prevent You From Passing The Navy Increase Bill."

 

Sir Andrew's Face Bloomed With Brilliant Color. His Body Shook With

Suppressed Emotion.

 

"My Dear Sir!" He Cried,  "You Should Spend More Time At The House And

Less At Your Club. The Navy Bill Was Brought Up On Its Third Reading

At Eight O'clock This Evening. I Spoke For Three Hours In Its Favor.

My Only Reason For Wishing To Return Again To The House To-Night Was

To Sup On The Terrace With My Old Friend,  Admiral Simons; For My Work

At The House Was Completed Five Hours Ago,  When The Navy Increase

Bill Was Passed By An Overwhelming Majority."

 

The Baronet Rose And Bowed. "I Have To Thank You,  Sir," He Said,  "For

A Most Interesting Evening."

 

The American Shoved The Wine-Card Which Joseph Had Given Him Toward

The Gentleman With The Black Pearl.

 

"You Sign It," He Said.

 

 

 

 

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Publication Date: 05-17-2014

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