Show I TH THE KING W ARGRA VB I IY Copyright 1924 by Alfred A. A Knopf Inc B By Y V J J. J S S. S FLETCHER Published January 1924 Second printing February 1924 Continued from yesterday I You must be there s sir r replied Mr Ir I particularly desire ae- ae sire you to be bo there Let me re re- re sume Dr Herbert and Dr Graye will come up to the the Manor They will wUl consult with Sir Benjamin Broadstairs And upon the result of of that consultation gentlemen wilt will depend the ultimatum which Sir Austin Wrexham and myself will deliver to Lady Wargrave I 1 think that Is all Do Do- you approve or of my plans gentlemen Nobody r disapproves nobody has any suggestion to make And sOI so Sr Sir Austin Wrexham and Sir Benjamin Benjamin Ben Ben- jamin Broadstairs and Mr 1 S I bury reenter Herberts Herbert's motorcar and are whirled off oft to the Manor all very solemn and dignified and looking as if they were about to discharge some tremendous ous mission as as indeed they are are and one one much more Important than they know of And as they speed up the tho avenue of or limes they overtake a a. gentleman in clerical dress looks look round them and recognizing the solicitor first nods to and then beckons him The vicar observes Mr bury He wishes to speak to tome me me Stop the car driver Mr 1 descends He and the vicar greet each other Let your car move slowly along says the vicar I wont won't ont keep y you u a a moment So you are going up up to the tho house So am I. I And perhaps you know know why I am going Not ot in th the slightest says Mr 11 What is it I am going to marry Lady Wargrave Wargrave War War- grave grav to a Signor Lucien dl ell Spada 1 ada who Is staying there answer the vicar By a special license got from the Faculty Office at Doctors' Doctors Commons this morning Signor dl Spada has lias shown it lt to me an hour ago It is all in order and I cant can't help myself But But But- The vicar broke off and shook his head I dont don't like it it he adds I dont don't like it Mr I U Is s silent from S She Jrr st stupefaction fa When hel he recovers his voice it shakes with many conflicting conflicting conflicting conflict conflict- ing emotions and passions God bless my soul he e exclaimed ex ex- ex claimed What a disgraceful thing And what a a. fortunate ell cir circumstance that I arid and my fellow trustees have turned up in time Here Sir Austin Sir he Austin he must hear this And there need be beno beno beno no no secrets from Sir Benjamin Broadstairs Vicar The othe two gentlemen got out of the car They too hear the vicars vicar's story Sir Austin becomes purple with fury Outrageous Scandalous Highly High ly improper he bursts out We Ve mu must t stop this at once The vicar shakes his head You lou cant can't he say says Everything Everything Everything Every thing Is in order They can oblige me to marry them at any time In any place That's the the law The law be be begins Sir Austin Austin Aus Aus- tin But Mr checks him Delay my y deal dea dear sir delay is the thing Vicar you must on no account account ac- ac count enter that house until I give We Ve shall not you leave he says be there very very long long when when we have done what we wish vish there will I I thing be no marriage We Ve cannot be seen from the house her here herg Turn Into the wood th there re by that path and wait walt Ill I'll Ill take the consequences conse conse- So the vicar turns Into the wood and the car car goes on b beyond yond It to the house and the three enter the satellites at the hall door knowing two of them to be e what they are And he takes their cards when he has ushered them into a morning room and they look at each other and at the pictures on the walls and at the sun flecked lawns and deep plantations seen through the windows as they watt walt for Lady But Lady Wargrave Is long In coming Five ten minutes pass and she does not come And then Mr breal breaking ng the silence says something under his breath and is adv advancing to ring the bell beU when the door opens and andIn andIn andin In walks walks walks-a a gentleman A foreign gentleman this obviously ob ob- and and a very self-possessed self one who clicks his heels together as ns h he makes a a. profound bow and Smiles mH s upon the tho visitors as s he re regards regards regards re- re gards them alternately with their cards held in his white handI hand I am sorry gentlemen that Lady Wargrave cannot give herself the pleasure of seeing you today h he says suavely L Lady dy Wargrave Is engaged Upon some sonie sorn other occasion say say tomorrow or the next day Mr very majestic appears appears appears ap ap- ap- ap pears on the front of his small army Whom t Whom do do I sir address address sir he de deg mands L' L The foreign gentleman exhibits e t that Irritating smile once once more My ly name Is Lucien dl di Spada at your our service Mr 11 I Continued tomorrow 1 |