May 15, 2025 • 14 mins
Journey with Paul Walmsley, a well-known regular at Stephanos, as his peaceful dinner is interrupted by a fast-acting stranger who not only steals his meal but also hands him a mysterious packet beneath the table. This encounter marks the start of exhilarating adventures with the enigmatic American adventurer, Joseph H. Parker and his charming daughter, Eve. Please note that there is an alternative narration for section 8, both renditions are equally compelling and we invite you to enjoy either or both.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Chapter nine of An Amiable Charlaton. This is a LibriVox recording.
All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more
information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox dot org. An
Amiable Charlaton by E. Phillips Oppenheim, Chapter nine At the Alambra,
(00:20):
Luigi's face when he met the Parkers and myself at
the entrance of the restaurant was a study. His polite
bow and smile of welcome seemed suddenly frozen on his
face as his eyes fell upon mister Moss. Mister Moss
was still wearing his hat, which was a black bowler
with a small brim, set at a jaunty angle a
little to one side, and affording a liberal view of
his black curls underneath his linen failed completely to stand
(00:42):
the test of the clear, soft light of a restaurant,
and what might have been excused for entertaining certain doubts
with regard to the diamond pin in his wild tie
and the ring that flashed from his not over white
hand as it tardily removed his head gear. Bit of
all right this place, mister Moss exclaimed, handing his hat
to Luigi, who have a short with me before we feed.
(01:02):
Luigi passed the hat from the tips of his fingers
to a subordinate. He showed us to a table, quite silently,
handed the menu over to a maitre Deida hotel, and
promptly departed. Looking round a little nervously, I could see
him gazing at us from his sanctum over the top
of the blind Mister Moss, I see has American tastes.
Mister Parker declared he likes in a paratif before dinner.
(01:23):
Leave it to me, please. Mister Parker ordered a somewhat
extensive dinner. Throughout the meal, we listened to a series
of adventures in which the hero was always mister Moss.
We heard of wonderful halls and wonderful escapes, detectives outwitted
exploit there reminded me more of the motor bandits of
Paris than of our own sober capital. Mister Parker's attention
never flagged. Halfway through the meal, mister Moss suddenly put
(01:46):
down his knife and fork. He broke off in the
middle of a fascinating narration of an episode during which
he had jiu jitsued one detective, knocked another down, locked
them bolt in an empty room, and strolled away with
the cigar abstracted from the case of one of them,
and his pockets full of Uno emeralds. With his mouth open,
he was scazing fixedly across the room. There was a
considerable change in his tone where tech he said sharply.
(02:09):
We all looked in the direction he indicated, and we
all recognized mister Cullen, who was apparently returning with interest
our observation. I saw a grim smile upon his lips
as he disappeared for a moment behind the menu card.
For a man who had in his times treated detective
in such a cavalier way, mister Moss's change of color
and subdued manner was a little extraordinary. He cheered up. However,
after a little while, our friend culin mister Parker murmured,
(02:33):
seems to have taken quite a fancy to this restaurant
he used to be on my ley. Mister Moss exclaimed,
he is much too big a duke now for the street.
Though they say he gets nearly all the high class
forgery and swiddling cases we have come into contact with
him ourselves. Mister Parker observed, genially seems to me. There's
a kind of want of snap about him compared with
(02:54):
our American detectives. But I dare say he knows his business.
Is your father really enjoying this, I asked, Eve? He
absolutely loves it, she replied. I sighed, and I think,
she added, suddenly you are behaving beautifully. I almost love
you for it. I looked at her quickly, and I
felt rewarded for all that I had gone through. Her
(03:14):
attitude towards me was subtly different. Somehow I felt that
I was being permitted a glimpse of the real Eve.
Her eyes were soft. She patted my hand under the table.
I could almost have shaken hands with mister Moss. What
about a music hall? Afterwards? I proposed, in the fullness
of my heart, shall I send for stalls at the alarmre.
My proposal was received with unanimous approval. Our departure from
(03:36):
the restaurant a few minutes later evoked almost as much
comment as our arrival. Mister Moss led the way, his
hands in his trousers pockets and a large cigar pointed
towards the ceiling, protruding from the corner of his mouth.
His slight uneasiness with regard to the whereabouts of his hat,
having been dispelled by its appearance before we finished our meal,
he placed it on his head at its usual angle
before we left the room. Mister Parker took his arm
(03:57):
as we passed out, and I saw mister Cullum's eyes
followed them from behind his newspaper. The two got into
a taxi, and even I followed them in another an
arrangement that mister Moss seemed to regard with this favor.
Eve's hand stole into mine as we drove off. Do
you know, she said, seriously, I think it's perfectly horrid
to drag you about in such company. It's all very
(04:18):
well for us, because we belong and we are in
a strange city. But I saw some of your friends
look at you and whisper. They must think you are mad.
As long as you are in it, dear, I assured her,
I don't care where I go or with whom. You
don't look like that a bit, you know, she sighed.
As for the rest, I went on, if you are
really sorry for me, why then, ended your father would
(04:41):
spare us for a little time. I could see she
was becoming serious again. Lights flashed upon her face. I
felt a sudden wave of pity mingle with my love
for her. After all, there were times when her anxiety
must have been almost insupportable. Eve dearest, I whispered, You
must let me take you away from this. You must.
You are too good and sweet ever to mix with
(05:01):
these people, to live this life. She half closed her
eyes for a moment. When she looked at me again,
she was laughing. You are a dear boy, she said.
Now help me out, please. We have arrived. We found
four stalls reserved for us near the front of the
music hall, and after settling a slight preliminary difficulty owing
to mister Moss's reluctance to parting with his hat, we
(05:22):
sat down to enjoy the performance. Mister Moss seemed a
little disappointed too, that his bright and snappy order for
drinks to the powdered official who showed us to our
places was not at once executed. But otherwise he made
himself very much at home. We had been there perhaps
half an hour when I saw a sudden change in
his demeanor, which was almost at once reflected in the
serious expression which had stolen into mister Parker's benign countenance.
(05:44):
An old gentleman, white haired, with rubriken face and a
jovial air, had taken the seat decks to them. He
had the appearance of having come from the country and
of having spent a happy day in town. Even from
where I sat, I could see protruding from his breast
pocket a brown leather pocket book. I watched them as
so fascinating. The change in mister Moss was amazing. His
reckless air of enjoyment had departed. He was still smoking,
(06:06):
but he was all alert, like a cat ready to spring.
Mister Parker, too was interested. I saw him whisper something
in mister Moss's ear, and I felt a cold foreboding
of what was going to happen. I'm for a drink,
mister Moss declared, in a rather loud tone. Come on, Governor.
They both rose. The old gentleman drew in his legs
to let them pass. Though I watched with fixed eyes
(06:26):
that was absolutely unable to follow their movements. But when
they had passed the old gentleman, I could see from
where I sat that his pocket book was gone. Did
you see that, I whispered to Eve. She shook her head.
The old gentleman's pocket book, I groaned, They've got it. Eve,
for a moment sat quite still. She too seemed nervous.
I was looking away again at the retreating figures of
(06:48):
mister Parker and mister Moss. Suddenly my heart sank. I
saw the old gentleman spring to his feet and hurry
after them. I saw, too, at the end of the
line of stalls, mister Cohen and a companion standing waiting.
I rose quickly to my feet. I'm afraid there's going
to be some trouble, I said to Eve. Let me
go and see if I can help. It looked as
though the whole thing was a trap. I followed quickly.
(07:12):
It is only fair to mister Cullen to say that
he conducted the affair with great discretion and with every
consideration for the feelings of the management. He stopped mister
Parker and mister Moss as they reached the end of
the line of stalls. Please come with me, he said,
I have something to say to you. Outside. Mister Moss
showed signs of an attempt to escape. He stooped for
a moment as though to run, but a kick from
(07:33):
mister Parker induced him to alter his mind. What you want,
he asked, allijeredly. The old man had now reached them,
red faced and incoherent. He addressed himself to mister Cullen,
and I no longer had any doubt whatever that the
affair was a plant of the detective. I've been robbed
at my power book, he exclaimed. One of them is
too hous. It roast up against me just now on
(07:54):
the way out of the stalls, where's the manager? Only
a few people in the immediate vicinity were cromped that
anything at all unusual was happening. The promenade just at
that particular spot was almost deserted. This gentleman is certainly mistaken,
mister Parker declared with dignity. Neither my friend nor myself
knows anything about his pocket book. I am sorry, mister
(08:15):
Cullin said politely, but I shall have to trouble you
to come with me to Bou's read at once. And
you too, sir, he added, addressing the old gentleman, I
am a police officer, and we will go into the
matter there. You will agree with me that it is
well not to make a disturbance here. I have two
assistance with me, he indicated by a little gesture two
men who had emerged from somewhere in the background. I
(08:36):
will go with the utmost pleasure, mister Parker consented. At
the same time. This gentleman has obviously been drinking, and
his charge is absurd. It was precisely at this moment
that I felt something hard pressed against my hand with
a dexterity that was nothing short of miraculous. Mister Parker,
who apparently was standing with his hands in his pockets,
had suddenly forced one of them through some secret opening
in his coat. In those few seconds, it seemed to
(08:58):
me I lived a year. I had no time to think,
no time to realize that if I failed, nothing could
save my appearance at Bow Street the following morning. As
a common pickpocket, I gripped the pocket book from his hand, and,
without changing a muscle, dropped it into the yawning overbook
pocket of the bucolic gentleman. The moment was over and passed.
Mister Parker, with the movement forward, had covered my proceedings.
(09:20):
I had been face to face with death years before,
but I had never felt quite the same thrill this way, gentlemen,
if you please, mister Cullen directed softly, you will not
object to my accompanying you, I asked, certainly not, mister
Cullen replied, I, in fact, am not sure that it
would not be my duty to ask you to come.
Oh one moment, I begged, mister Cullen paused. The gentleman
(09:44):
who made this charge, I went on, seems to me
to be in a very uncertain condition. Might I suggest
that before you commit yourself to taking these people to
the police station, you just make sure he really has
been robbed of his pocket book? I did hear, the
old gentleman declared, right in this pocket, look for yourself gone.
The old gentleman scarcely seems to me, I remarked, to
(10:07):
be in a fit condition to know wish pocket it was in.
Mister Colin, who had been walking carefully between him and
the other two, smiled in a superior way. Please feel
in all your pockets, he told his accomplice. The old
gentleman obeyed. Suddenly he stopped short. A blank expression came
into his face. What have you got there, I asked?
(10:28):
He brought it out with ill concealed reluctance. It was,
without doubt of the pocket book. I shall never forget
mister Collins's face. He was bereft of words. He stared
at it as though he had seen it come up
through the floor. Mister Moss simply stood with his mouth open.
Mister Parker alone appeared unmoved by any emotion of surprise.
His manner was serious, almost dignified. I want you to
(10:49):
take this from me straight, mister Cullen, he said. I
am not a man who loses his temper easily, but
you're trying that's a bit high. Mister Cullin remained for
a moment or two speechless. He looked at me and
drew a long breath. I knew perfectly well what he
was thinking. He had had a man on either side
of mister Parker and mister Moss. The only person who
could have transferred that pocket book was myself. I could
(11:10):
see him readjusting his ideas as to my moral character.
A mister Parker, gentleman, he said, removing his hat, Pray,
accept my apologies. You are free to return to your
seats whenever you choose. This gentleman was evidently mistaken, he added,
speaking with withering sarcasm and turning sharply towards his coadjutor.
You oughtn't to come to these places in your present condition, sir,
(11:32):
take my advice and get along home. At once. The
Bucolic gentleman, who had completely lost his appearance of ineberty,
mumbled a few incoherent words and departed. After his departure,
mister Parker assumed a more genial attitude. Well, well, I
suppose you only did your duty, sir, he remarked, with
a resigned sigh. We were on our way to the bar.
(11:52):
Will you join us now, mister Cullen. I did not
hear the detective's reply, but somehow or other we all
drifted there. Mister Moss at once found an easy chair,
which he pronounced to be a bit of all right,
and which he assumed an easy and elegant attitude. Mister Parker,
mister Cubhum, and I completed the circle, which now included
a professional gutter thief, a disappointed detective, mister Parker, and myself.
(12:15):
It was a unique moment in my life. The wine
affected the spirits of no one except perhaps mister Moss
and him. When we finally broke up our party, we
thought it advisable to get rid of in quick order.
To my surprise, mister Parker seemed in a particularly despondent
frame of mind. He needed pressing even to come to supper.
You were pretty quick witted, Walmsley, he admitted, as we
rolled away in the car. Quick witted. I'll admit that,
(12:37):
but you were dead clumsy with your fingers. I could
see what you would do from the back of my head. Really,
I murmured, well, I suppose that sort of thing is
a gift. I only know that I hope I may
never have to do it again. Mister Parker sighed, I fear,
he said, that your troubles with us will soon be over.
Eve has been telling me all about that young idiot
(12:58):
of an Englishman who visited the bumber comes out at Okatah.
If there was one man whose name I thought I
was safe to make use of, it was Joe Bundercombe.
It seems, I admitted, to have been an unfortunate choice.
What do you think of doing about it? Mister Parker
apparently had no immediate answer ready for me. During our
brief ride the motor car and in the early stages
(13:18):
of supper, he was afflicted by a taciturnity that made
him almost negligible as a companion, and then suddenly a
light broke over his face. He had the appearance of
a shipwrecked mariner who suddenly catches sight of land in
the offing. His lips were a little parted. His boy's
face all aglow, Walmsley, my dear fellow, he exclaimed, Eve, dear,
the problem is solved. Raise your glasses to drink with me.
(13:41):
Here's farewell to mister Joseph H. Parker and miss Parker Ana.
Welcome to mister and miss Thundercombe of Okatah. That's all
very well, I said, But Reggie will be on your track.
Mister Parker beamed Eve. And me we shall see, he declared, didactically.
End of Chapter nine recording by Todd
Chapter nine of An Amiable Charlaton. This is a LibriVox recording.
All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more
information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox dot org. An
Amiable Charlaton by E. Phillips Oppenheim, Chapter nine At the Alambra,
(00:20):
Luigi's face when he met the Parkers and myself at
the entrance of the restaurant was a study. His polite
bow and smile of welcome seemed suddenly frozen on his
face as his eyes fell upon mister Moss. Mister Moss
was still wearing his hat, which was a black bowler
with a small brim, set at a jaunty angle a
little to one side, and affording a liberal view of
his black curls underneath his linen failed completely to stand
(00:42):
the test of the clear, soft light of a restaurant,
and what might have been excused for entertaining certain doubts
with regard to the diamond pin in his wild tie
and the ring that flashed from his not over white
hand as it tardily removed his head gear. Bit of
all right this place, mister Moss exclaimed, handing his hat
to Luigi, who have a short with me before we feed.
(01:02):
Luigi passed the hat from the tips of his fingers
to a subordinate. He showed us to a table, quite silently,
handed the menu over to a maitre Deida hotel, and
promptly departed. Looking round a little nervously, I could see
him gazing at us from his sanctum over the top
of the blind Mister Moss, I see has American tastes.
Mister Parker declared he likes in a paratif before dinner.
(01:23):
Leave it to me, please. Mister Parker ordered a somewhat
extensive dinner. Throughout the meal, we listened to a series
of adventures in which the hero was always mister Moss.
We heard of wonderful halls and wonderful escapes, detectives outwitted
exploit there reminded me more of the motor bandits of
Paris than of our own sober capital. Mister Parker's attention
never flagged. Halfway through the meal, mister Moss suddenly put
(01:46):
down his knife and fork. He broke off in the
middle of a fascinating narration of an episode during which
he had jiu jitsued one detective, knocked another down, locked
them bolt in an empty room, and strolled away with
the cigar abstracted from the case of one of them,
and his pockets full of Uno emeralds. With his mouth open,
he was scazing fixedly across the room. There was a
considerable change in his tone where tech he said sharply.
(02:09):
We all looked in the direction he indicated, and we
all recognized mister Cullen, who was apparently returning with interest
our observation. I saw a grim smile upon his lips
as he disappeared for a moment behind the menu card.
For a man who had in his times treated detective
in such a cavalier way, mister Moss's change of color
and subdued manner was a little extraordinary. He cheered up. However,
after a little while, our friend culin mister Parker murmured,
(02:33):
seems to have taken quite a fancy to this restaurant
he used to be on my ley. Mister Moss exclaimed,
he is much too big a duke now for the street.
Though they say he gets nearly all the high class
forgery and swiddling cases we have come into contact with
him ourselves. Mister Parker observed, genially seems to me. There's
a kind of want of snap about him compared with
(02:54):
our American detectives. But I dare say he knows his business.
Is your father really enjoying this, I asked, Eve? He
absolutely loves it, she replied. I sighed, and I think,
she added, suddenly you are behaving beautifully. I almost love
you for it. I looked at her quickly, and I
felt rewarded for all that I had gone through. Her
(03:14):
attitude towards me was subtly different. Somehow I felt that
I was being permitted a glimpse of the real Eve.
Her eyes were soft. She patted my hand under the table.
I could almost have shaken hands with mister Moss. What
about a music hall? Afterwards? I proposed, in the fullness
of my heart, shall I send for stalls at the alarmre.
My proposal was received with unanimous approval. Our departure from
(03:36):
the restaurant a few minutes later evoked almost as much
comment as our arrival. Mister Moss led the way, his
hands in his trousers pockets and a large cigar pointed
towards the ceiling, protruding from the corner of his mouth.
His slight uneasiness with regard to the whereabouts of his hat,
having been dispelled by its appearance before we finished our meal,
he placed it on his head at its usual angle
before we left the room. Mister Parker took his arm
(03:57):
as we passed out, and I saw mister Cullum's eyes
followed them from behind his newspaper. The two got into
a taxi, and even I followed them in another an
arrangement that mister Moss seemed to regard with this favor.
Eve's hand stole into mine as we drove off. Do
you know, she said, seriously, I think it's perfectly horrid
to drag you about in such company. It's all very
(04:18):
well for us, because we belong and we are in
a strange city. But I saw some of your friends
look at you and whisper. They must think you are mad.
As long as you are in it, dear, I assured her,
I don't care where I go or with whom. You
don't look like that a bit, you know, she sighed.
As for the rest, I went on, if you are
really sorry for me, why then, ended your father would
(04:41):
spare us for a little time. I could see she
was becoming serious again. Lights flashed upon her face. I
felt a sudden wave of pity mingle with my love
for her. After all, there were times when her anxiety
must have been almost insupportable. Eve dearest, I whispered, You
must let me take you away from this. You must.
You are too good and sweet ever to mix with
(05:01):
these people, to live this life. She half closed her
eyes for a moment. When she looked at me again,
she was laughing. You are a dear boy, she said.
Now help me out, please. We have arrived. We found
four stalls reserved for us near the front of the
music hall, and after settling a slight preliminary difficulty owing
to mister Moss's reluctance to parting with his hat, we
(05:22):
sat down to enjoy the performance. Mister Moss seemed a
little disappointed too, that his bright and snappy order for
drinks to the powdered official who showed us to our
places was not at once executed. But otherwise he made
himself very much at home. We had been there perhaps
half an hour when I saw a sudden change in
his demeanor, which was almost at once reflected in the
serious expression which had stolen into mister Parker's benign countenance.
(05:44):
An old gentleman, white haired, with rubriken face and a
jovial air, had taken the seat decks to them. He
had the appearance of having come from the country and
of having spent a happy day in town. Even from
where I sat, I could see protruding from his breast
pocket a brown leather pocket book. I watched them as
so fascinating. The change in mister Moss was amazing. His
reckless air of enjoyment had departed. He was still smoking,
(06:06):
but he was all alert, like a cat ready to spring.
Mister Parker, too was interested. I saw him whisper something
in mister Moss's ear, and I felt a cold foreboding
of what was going to happen. I'm for a drink,
mister Moss declared, in a rather loud tone. Come on, Governor.
They both rose. The old gentleman drew in his legs
to let them pass. Though I watched with fixed eyes
(06:26):
that was absolutely unable to follow their movements. But when
they had passed the old gentleman, I could see from
where I sat that his pocket book was gone. Did
you see that, I whispered to Eve. She shook her head.
The old gentleman's pocket book, I groaned, They've got it. Eve,
for a moment sat quite still. She too seemed nervous.
I was looking away again at the retreating figures of
(06:48):
mister Parker and mister Moss. Suddenly my heart sank. I
saw the old gentleman spring to his feet and hurry
after them. I saw, too, at the end of the
line of stalls, mister Cohen and a companion standing waiting.
I rose quickly to my feet. I'm afraid there's going
to be some trouble, I said to Eve. Let me
go and see if I can help. It looked as
though the whole thing was a trap. I followed quickly.
(07:12):
It is only fair to mister Cullen to say that
he conducted the affair with great discretion and with every
consideration for the feelings of the management. He stopped mister
Parker and mister Moss as they reached the end of
the line of stalls. Please come with me, he said,
I have something to say to you. Outside. Mister Moss
showed signs of an attempt to escape. He stooped for
a moment as though to run, but a kick from
(07:33):
mister Parker induced him to alter his mind. What you want,
he asked, allijeredly. The old man had now reached them,
red faced and incoherent. He addressed himself to mister Cullen,
and I no longer had any doubt whatever that the
affair was a plant of the detective. I've been robbed
at my power book, he exclaimed. One of them is
too hous. It roast up against me just now on
(07:54):
the way out of the stalls, where's the manager? Only
a few people in the immediate vicinity were cromped that
anything at all unusual was happening. The promenade just at
that particular spot was almost deserted. This gentleman is certainly mistaken,
mister Parker declared with dignity. Neither my friend nor myself
knows anything about his pocket book. I am sorry, mister
(08:15):
Cullin said politely, but I shall have to trouble you
to come with me to Bou's read at once. And
you too, sir, he added, addressing the old gentleman, I
am a police officer, and we will go into the
matter there. You will agree with me that it is
well not to make a disturbance here. I have two
assistance with me, he indicated by a little gesture two
men who had emerged from somewhere in the background. I
(08:36):
will go with the utmost pleasure, mister Parker consented. At
the same time. This gentleman has obviously been drinking, and
his charge is absurd. It was precisely at this moment
that I felt something hard pressed against my hand with
a dexterity that was nothing short of miraculous. Mister Parker,
who apparently was standing with his hands in his pockets,
had suddenly forced one of them through some secret opening
in his coat. In those few seconds, it seemed to
(08:58):
me I lived a year. I had no time to think,
no time to realize that if I failed, nothing could
save my appearance at Bow Street the following morning. As
a common pickpocket, I gripped the pocket book from his hand, and,
without changing a muscle, dropped it into the yawning overbook
pocket of the bucolic gentleman. The moment was over and passed.
Mister Parker, with the movement forward, had covered my proceedings.
(09:20):
I had been face to face with death years before,
but I had never felt quite the same thrill this way, gentlemen,
if you please, mister Cullen directed softly, you will not
object to my accompanying you, I asked, certainly not, mister
Cullen replied, I, in fact, am not sure that it
would not be my duty to ask you to come.
Oh one moment, I begged, mister Cullen paused. The gentleman
(09:44):
who made this charge, I went on, seems to me
to be in a very uncertain condition. Might I suggest
that before you commit yourself to taking these people to
the police station, you just make sure he really has
been robbed of his pocket book? I did hear, the
old gentleman declared, right in this pocket, look for yourself gone.
The old gentleman scarcely seems to me, I remarked, to
(10:07):
be in a fit condition to know wish pocket it was in.
Mister Colin, who had been walking carefully between him and
the other two, smiled in a superior way. Please feel
in all your pockets, he told his accomplice. The old
gentleman obeyed. Suddenly he stopped short. A blank expression came
into his face. What have you got there, I asked?
(10:28):
He brought it out with ill concealed reluctance. It was,
without doubt of the pocket book. I shall never forget
mister Collins's face. He was bereft of words. He stared
at it as though he had seen it come up
through the floor. Mister Moss simply stood with his mouth open.
Mister Parker alone appeared unmoved by any emotion of surprise.
His manner was serious, almost dignified. I want you to
(10:49):
take this from me straight, mister Cullen, he said. I
am not a man who loses his temper easily, but
you're trying that's a bit high. Mister Cullin remained for
a moment or two speechless. He looked at me and
drew a long breath. I knew perfectly well what he
was thinking. He had had a man on either side
of mister Parker and mister Moss. The only person who
could have transferred that pocket book was myself. I could
(11:10):
see him readjusting his ideas as to my moral character.
A mister Parker, gentleman, he said, removing his hat, Pray,
accept my apologies. You are free to return to your
seats whenever you choose. This gentleman was evidently mistaken, he added,
speaking with withering sarcasm and turning sharply towards his coadjutor.
You oughtn't to come to these places in your present condition, sir,
(11:32):
take my advice and get along home. At once. The
Bucolic gentleman, who had completely lost his appearance of ineberty,
mumbled a few incoherent words and departed. After his departure,
mister Parker assumed a more genial attitude. Well, well, I
suppose you only did your duty, sir, he remarked, with
a resigned sigh. We were on our way to the bar.
(11:52):
Will you join us now, mister Cullen. I did not
hear the detective's reply, but somehow or other we all
drifted there. Mister Moss at once found an easy chair,
which he pronounced to be a bit of all right,
and which he assumed an easy and elegant attitude. Mister Parker,
mister Cubhum, and I completed the circle, which now included
a professional gutter thief, a disappointed detective, mister Parker, and myself.
(12:15):
It was a unique moment in my life. The wine
affected the spirits of no one except perhaps mister Moss
and him. When we finally broke up our party, we
thought it advisable to get rid of in quick order.
To my surprise, mister Parker seemed in a particularly despondent
frame of mind. He needed pressing even to come to supper.
You were pretty quick witted, Walmsley, he admitted, as we
rolled away in the car. Quick witted. I'll admit that,
(12:37):
but you were dead clumsy with your fingers. I could
see what you would do from the back of my head. Really,
I murmured, well, I suppose that sort of thing is
a gift. I only know that I hope I may
never have to do it again. Mister Parker sighed, I fear,
he said, that your troubles with us will soon be over.
Eve has been telling me all about that young idiot
(12:58):
of an Englishman who visited the bumber comes out at Okatah.
If there was one man whose name I thought I
was safe to make use of, it was Joe Bundercombe.
It seems, I admitted, to have been an unfortunate choice.
What do you think of doing about it? Mister Parker
apparently had no immediate answer ready for me. During our
brief ride the motor car and in the early stages
(13:18):
of supper, he was afflicted by a taciturnity that made
him almost negligible as a companion, and then suddenly a
light broke over his face. He had the appearance of
a shipwrecked mariner who suddenly catches sight of land in
the offing. His lips were a little parted. His boy's
face all aglow, Walmsley, my dear fellow, he exclaimed, Eve, dear,
the problem is solved. Raise your glasses to drink with me.
(13:41):
Here's farewell to mister Joseph H. Parker and miss Parker Ana.
Welcome to mister and miss Thundercombe of Okatah. That's all
very well, I said, But Reggie will be on your track.
Mister Parker beamed Eve. And me we shall see, he declared, didactically.
End of Chapter nine recording by Todd
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