The Girl on the Boat - Penn State University

“Oh, but I have it! I have, Mr. Samuel!” said Peters,
opening a small handbag and taking out a hymn-book,
half a pound of mixed chocolates, a tongue sandwich,
and the pistol, in the order named. “I was on my way
to the Rupert Street range for a little practice. I should
be glad to show it to her.”
“Well, wait here a minute or two,” said Sam. “I’ll have
finished talking business in a moment.”
He returned to the inner office.
“Well?” cried Billie.
“Eh? Oh, he’s gone,” said Sam. “I persuaded him to
go away. He was a little excited, poor fellow. And now
let us return to what we were talking about. You say
….” He broke off with an exclamation, and glanced at
his watch. “Good Heavens! I had no idea of the time. I
promised to run up and see a man in one of the offices
in the next court. He wants to consult me on some
difficulty which has arisen with one of his clients.
Rightly or wrongly he values my advice. Can you spare
me for a short while? I shan’t be more than ten minutes.”
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Girl</strong> on the Boat
134
“Certainly.”
“Here is something you may care to look at while
I’m gone. I don’t know if you have read it? Widgery
on Nisi Prius Evidence. Most interesting.”
He went out. Jno. Peters looked up from his Home Whispers.
“You can go in now,” said Sam.
“Certainly, Mr. Samuel, certainly.”
Sam took up the copy of Home Whispers and sat down
with his feet on the desk. He turned to the serial story
and began to read the synopsis.
In the inner room Billie, who had rejected the mental
refreshment offered by Widgery and was engaged
on making a tour of the office, looking at the portraits
of whiskered men whom she took correctly to be the
Thorpes, Prescotts, Winslows, and Applebys mentioned
on the contents-bill outside, was surprised to hear the
door open at her back. She had not expected Sam to
return so instantaneously.
Nor had he done so. It was not Sam who entered. It
was a man of repellent aspect whom she recognised