Get into a taxi, and tell the fellow to drive you to
Piccadilly Circus. Leave him there--take a turn round so's he won't see
what you do--then get into another taxi, and drive to St. Pancras Church.
Get out there--and foot it to King's Cross Station. You'll catch the 3.15
for the North easy--and after you're once in it, you're all right. Get to
Peebles!--that's the thing! S'elp me, Mr. Lauriston, it's the only thing!"
Five minutes later, there being no one but themselves in the little room,
Lauriston gave Melky a hearty grip of the hand, walked out of the door in
the corner, and vanished. And Melky, left alone, pulled out his cigarette
case, and began to smoke, calmly and quietly. When the waitress came back,
he whispered a word or two to her; the waitress nodded with full
comprehension--for everybody knew Melky at Goldmark's, and if the
waitresses wanted a little jewellery now and then, he let them have it at
cost price.
"So you can give me the checks for both," said Melky. "I'll pay 'em."
But Melky let three-quarters of an hour elapse before he went to the desk
in the outer shop. He sipped a cup of coffee; he smoked several
cigarettes; it was quite a long time before he emerged into Praed Street,
buttoning his overcoat.
Pages:
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110