Edgar Wallace

“ Arrayed in a costume which he firmly believed drew down upon his head the derision and contempt of all civilised people who wore soft hats and soft collars, he met Mansar, and was relieved to discover that that young gentleman, too, was similarly, if not so newly, attired.
"You'll like Welson," said Mansar, as they were sitting in a large and solemn waiting-room, their cards having been taken into the sanctum of the Under-Secretary. "He's a queer old devil, but really not half a bad sort. He's by far the most important man in the Foreign Office."
"What does he do?" asked Chick. ”

“ It was nine o'clock when he turned into Doughty Street, his portfolio under his arm, his tall hat rakishly on the side of his head—it was dark, or Chick would never have dared such secret raffishness—his mind fully occupied with the recitation of a hundred Spanish idioms which he had committed to his memory during the past few days.
When he came to the house, he was surprised to see the door open and Mrs. Orlando Phibbs standing in the doorway with a shawl over her shoulders.
"Hullo, Mrs. Phibbs!" said Chick, in astonishment. "Are you looking for anybody?" ”

“ The future was really beginning to worry Chick for the first time. He was a clerk earning five pounds a week, and had accounted himself comfortably placed, until the death of an expensive uncle had saddled him with an ancient title. He knew that a marquis clerk in the office of an insurance broker was something of a social monstrosity, and every day brought a new sense of discomfort. And Gwenda expected something better of him, too ”

“ He touched the portfolio. "I came back to get my money. Do you think a hundred pounds will be enough for the journey?"
She could only stare at him dumbfounded.
"Will you go to your room, Gwenda?" he asked again, and she nodded.
When she had gone, Chick motioned to a chair.
"Sit down, please, Mr. Maynard," he said. "I am sorry your sister has had this trouble. Is there anything I could do to induce you to go away?"
"You could give me the money," said Mr. Maynard, with his crooked smile.
"That I couldn't possibly do," said Chick firmly. "Why should I help a man like you? ”

“ They just sit round and find papers and things, and conduct the foreign politics of the country."
"I shouldn't have to do anything of that, should I?" asked Chick, in alarm.
"I don't think so," said Mansar gravely.
A few minutes afterwards they were shown into a very high-ceilinged room with a very large marble mantelpiece, an enormous desk, and a comparatively small old man, who peered up at them over his glasses as they entered.
"Hullo, Mansar!" he said. "Sit down. Is this your friend Lord Pelborough?" ”

“ Maynard had gone, so also had Chick's portfolio, with fifty pounds and two Spanish grammars.
"You see, dear," said Chick that night, as he sat by her side at the table, his hand on hers, "if I'd given him money, he'd have come back. As he stole the money, he won't come back. He can't go anywhere near you for fear I shall be with you. Maybe he'll go to Canada and be killed," he added hopefully. ”

“ The only thing that may lose you the job is that you have one very unfortunate deficiency—at least, I'm afraid you have—otherwise I could get you an appointment as an extra Foreign Office Messenger without any difficulty. ”

“ The longest-living author of this work died in 1932, so this work is in the public domain in countries and areas where the copyright term is the author's life plus 91 years or less. This work may be in the public domain in countries and areas with longer native copyright terms that apply the rule of the shorter term to foreign works. ”