Этюд в багровых тонах

Tobias Gregson shows what he can do.

           “‘Yourbestwayistomakeacleanbreastofthefacts,’Ianswered. ‘Dependuponit,ifyoursonisinnocenthewillbenonetheworse.’ 

           “‘Perhaps,Alice,youhadbetterleaveustogether,’shesaid,andherdaughterwithdrew. ‘Now,sir,’shecontinued,‘Ihadnointentionoftellingyouallthis,butsincemypoordaughterhasdiscloseditIhavenoalternative. Havingoncedecidedtospeak,Iwilltellyouallwithoutomittinganyparticular.’ 

           “‘Itisyourwisestcourse,’saidI. 

           “‘Mr.Drebberhasbeenwithusnearlythreeweeks. Heandhissecretary,Mr.Stangerson,hadbeentravellingontheContinent. Inoticeda“Copenhagen”labeluponeachoftheirtrunks,showingthatthathadbeentheirlaststoppingplace. Stangersonwasaquietreservedman,buthisemployer,Iamsorrytosay,wasfarotherwise. Hewascoarseinhishabitsandbrutishinhisways. Theverynightofhisarrivalhebecameverymuchtheworsefordrink,and,indeed,aftertwelveo’clockinthedayhecouldhardlyeverbesaidtobesober. Hismannerstowardsthemaid-servantsweredisgustinglyfreeandfamiliar. Worstofall,hespeedilyassumedthesameattitudetowardsmydaughter,Alice,andspoketohermorethanonceinawaywhich,fortunately,sheistooinnocenttounderstand. Ononeoccasionheactuallyseizedherinhisarmsandembracedheranoutragewhichcausedhisownsecretarytoreproachhimforhisunmanlyconduct.’ 

           “‘Butwhydidyoustandallthis,’Iasked. ‘Isupposethatyoucangetridofyourboarderswhenyouwish.’ 

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