Read Online Will O’ the Wisp by Patricia Wentworth - Free Book Online Page A

she?”
    â€œShe’s a little fool.”
    â€œSt. Inigo’s a member of The Soupçon. You’ll probably find them there—if the committee hasn’t kicked him out yet. I happen to know they’re going to, because Mordaunt told me so—can’t hold his tongue to save his life, and he said St. Inigo had been making the place too hot to hold him. What on earth’s George March about to let the girl pick up with a fellow like that?”
    â€œI gather that she picked up with him because George said she wasn’t to.”
    â€œGeorge is a damned fool,” said Frank Alderey with contempt.
    Julie sat with her elbows on the table and her chin in her hands. She wore a pale blue velvet wrap with fur on it. Her cheeks were pink, and her eyes bright with excitement as she looked from Frank to David.
    â€œLook here,” said Frank. “I’ll get on to Mordaunt and say you want to look in at The Soupçon. That’ll make it all right for you. When you get there—”
    David laughed a little harshly.
    â€œWhen I get there! Well, what do I do then? As a matter of fact I can’t do anything.”
    â€œOh, but you’ll go? ” said Julie eagerly.
    David laughed again.
    â€œOh yes, I’ll go.”

CHAPTER IX
    When David came into the room with the crowded dancing-floor and the little tables set close to the wall all round it, the first person that he saw was Tommy Wingate, plump and rosy. His large round eyeglass—Tommy’s monocle always looked larger and shinier than anyone else’s—winked joyously at the many lights. His hair had gone a trifle farther back in the three years since David had seen him last. Otherwise the same Tommy.
    David was very glad to see him now. He smote him on the shoulder, hauled him to a table, and ordered drinks.
    â€œYou with anyone?”
    â€œMeeting a man. He’s late, or I’m early. Man called Devlin. Said he’d introduce me. I’m a pilgrim, I’m a stranger. Oh, David, it’s good to get home! Anyone”—he leaned forward and struck David painfully on the knee—” anyone —”
    â€œTommy, I’ll break your head if you do that again!”
    â€œThen you’ll get chucked out. They were raided a month ago, and we don’t break heads any more. What I was going to say when you interrupted me was that any blooming fellow can have the whole blooming East as far as I’m concerned.”
    He began to warble:
    â€œI ain’t going back no more, no more,
    Oh, I ain’t going back no more,
    Tarara! ”
    The last word was so startlingly loud that it achieved an audience. Tommy was in admirable form.
    â€œWhat are you doing? Leave?”
    â€œJust a spot. I’m for the Staff College and the midnight oil—not this sort, worse luck. I failed till they got tired of failing me and gave me a nomination. Er—” Tommy’s voice dropped from its loud and cheerful note. “Er—how’s everything?”
    â€œOh, all right.”
    Tommy let his eyeglass fall, picked it up, squinted through it with his other eye, and remarked absently:
    â€œEr—Eleanor’s home.”
    â€œYes, she’s home.”
    â€œShe all right?”
    â€œGoing strong. She’s down at Ford staying with Betty. Better come and look us up.”
    Tommy dropped his eyeglass again.
    â€œWell,” he said, “I’ll come—but I don’t suppose it’s any earthly.” He screwed up his jolly face and looked deprecatingly at David. “I’ve always been an ass about her, and I always shall be, and it’s never been any earthly. There you are—I don’t think she minds me when I don’t make too big an ass of myself.” He brightened a little. “When shall I come along?”
    â€œWhat about to-morrow? I’m driving down.”
    The prospect of the tête-à-tête drive with Folly was one