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. Ononeoccasionheactuallyseizedherinhisarmsandembracedher—anoutragewhichcausedhisownsecretarytoreproachhimforhisunmanlyconduct.’
“‘Butwhydidyoustandallthis,’Iasked. ‘Isupposethatyoucangetridofyourboarderswhenyouwish.’
