Berry And Co. eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 363 pages of information about Berry And Co..

Berry And Co. eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 363 pages of information about Berry And Co..

“Three tons of the best nuts are to be delivered sub rosa between two and three to-morrow afternoon.  Nothing is to be said, nothing signed.  Nobody is to know anything about it.  The carter will simply take up the plate, shoot the stuff in, and push off.  As I happened to have six pounds ten shillings upon me, the transaction will not be recorded.”  With a depreciatory hand he waved aside the involuntary buzz of grateful admiration.  “I am not long for this world.  I am, as it were, ear-marked for a more worthy sphere.  My translation may occur any moment.  I should like Lewis to have some trifle in memory of me.  A personal effect, I mean.  I’ve got a gun-metal sovereign-case somewhere.  But anything useful will do.”

* * * * *

We made a point of being in upon the following afternoon.  It was not often that we all sat down to lunch together, but the satisfaction of witnessing the delivery of three precious tons of coal in the teeth of the authorities was more than we could forego.  The butler was admitted to our confidence, and instructed to stifle any attempt to allay curiosity, by interpretation of the carman, that might originate in the servants’ hall, and immediately after luncheon, which finished at three minutes to two, an O.P. was established by the side of one of the dining-room windows, in which Jill was posted with orders to advise us directly the convoy appeared.

In the library we spent a restless time.  Berry, usually somnolent at this hour, sat upon the club kerb and toyed with The Times.  Jonah fidgeted with a refractory pipe.  Daphne glanced from the clock to her novel and the novel to the clock at intervals of fifteen seconds, and I wrote four letters to the War Office about my gratuity, and very properly destroyed them as incoherent one after another.

At a quarter past two, by common consent, I visited Jill to see if she was asleep....  When I made my report we reminded one another that Mr. Lewis had said between two and three, and agreed that it was early as yet.

At half-past two Daphne left the room and did not return.

At twenty minutes to three I made no attempt to disguise my uneasiness, and joined my cousin and sister in the dining-room.

Ten minutes later Jonah and Berry came in.

After a hurried consultation it was decided that, if the coal had not arrived in ten minutes’ time, Berry should telephone to Mr. Lewis forthwith.  Almost immediately it was found that nobody knew the man’s number, initials, or address, and reference to the Directory showed that there were four columns of subscribers all bearing his name.

At five minutes past three the strain was telling, and every one’s temper began more or less to show signs of wear and tear.

“Are you sure,” said Daphne for the fourth time, “that it was to come between two and three?”

“No,” said her husband.  “That’s why I’ve been waiting.”

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Project Gutenberg
Berry And Co. from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.