第99章

IN THE WEB

Soames returned to England the following day,and on the third morning received a visit from Mr.Polteed,who wore a flower and carried a brown billycock hat.Soames motioned him to a seat.

"The news from the war is not so bad,is it?"said Mr.Polteed."Ihope I see you well,sir."

"Thanks!quite."

Mr.Polteed leaned forward,smiled,opened his hand,looked into it,and said softly:

"I think we've done your business for you at last.""What?"ejaculated Soames.

"Nineteen reports quite suddenly what I think we shall be justified in calling conclusive evidence,"and Mr.Polteed paused.

"Well?"

"On the 10th instant,after witnessing an interview between 17and a party,earlier in the day,19can swear to having seen him coming out of her bedroom in the hotel about ten o'clock in the evening.

With a little care in the giving of the evidence that will be enough,especially as 17has left Paris--no doubt with the party in question.In fact,they both slipped off,and we haven't got on to them again,yet;but we shall--we shall.She's worked hard under very difficult circumstances,and I'm glad she's brought it off at last."Mr.Polteed took out a cigarette,tapped its end against the table,looked at Soames,and put it back.The expression on his client's face was not encouraging.

"Who is this new person?"said Soames abruptly.

"That we don't know.She'll swear to the fact,and she's got his appearance pat."Mr.Polteed took out a letter,and began reading:

"'Middle-aged,medium height,blue dittoes in afternoon,evening dress at night,pale,dark hair,small dark moustache,flat cheeks,good chin,grey eyes,small feet,guilty look.'"Soames rose and went to the window.He stood there in sardonic fury.Congenital idiot--spidery congenital idiot!Seven months at fifteen pounds a week--to be tracked down as his own wife's lover!

Guilty look!He threw the window open.

"It's hot,"he said,and came back to his seat:

Crossing his knees,he bent a supercilious glance on Mr.Polteed.

"I doubt if that's quite good enough,"he said,drawling the words,"with no name or address.I think you may let that lady have a rest,and take up our friend 47at this end."Whether Polteed had spotted him he could not tell;but he had a mental vision of him in the midst of his cronies dissolved in inextinguishable laughter.

'Guilty look!'Damnation!

Mr.Polteed said in a tone of urgency,almost of pathos:"I assure you we have put it through sometimes on less than that.It's Paris,you know.Attractive woman living alone.Why not risk it,sir?We might screw it up a peg."Soames had sudden insight.The fellow's professional zeal was stirred:'Greatest triumph of my career;got a man his divorce through a visit to his own wife's bedroom!Something to talk of there,when I retire!'And for one wild moment he thought:'Why not?'After all,hundreds of men of medium height had small feet and a guilty look!

"I'm not authorised to take any risk!"he said shortly.

Mr.Polteed looked up.