Red In The Morning Read Online Free Page A

er, colleague detests, it is intrusion upon his private affairs: and when such intrusion impairs his enterprise, his, er, impatience of the intruder is very marked. This is understandable. You’d be surprised if you knew how much time and money went to the preparation of the ground for the exercise which you, er, embarrassed the other night. And what, if you will forgive the phrase, tends to aggravate your offence – of course, in my colleague’s eyes – is the unfortunate fact that this is not the first time that you have, er, inconvenienced him. On the other occasion, also, a considerable amount of money – and money’s worth was, I believe, involved. In these circumstances, it must be, I think, most clear that if my colleague is to pursue his, er, calling with any degree of confidence, he must receive some assurance that this interference will cease. The most satisfactory assurance would take the form of your death – upon which, I may say, my colleague had set his heart. Had. But, after two hours’ hard work, I managed to bring him round. He’s a difficult fellow, Gedge. A brilliant felon – quite brilliant: but, strictly between you and me, a very vulgar blackguard. His language, for instance, is sometimes incredibly coarse. And a master of blasphemy! But, as I say, I hauled the swine out of his wallow and made him see sense. And so he agreed that I should call upon you and tell you the price at which we value your health. That price is, shortly, thirty-five thousand pounds. If you like to pay me that money within three weeks, the incident will be closed. If you don’t, then your life will be closed – of that, you need have no doubt. Gedge is in the slips. And, to be perfectly frank, offered your life or your money, he’d choose your life. But I am more mercenary. Besides, of course, you’ve only embarrassed me once. Well, there we are, Captain Mansel. How do you feel?”
    “There’s only one answer,” said Mansel.
    “Pray let me have it,” said the other, “for what it is worth. Such language as Gedge understands must be painfully clear.”
    Mansel regarded him sternly.
    “You have demanded with menaces thirty-five thousand pounds. If you had asked thirty-five shillings, you would have gone empty away. You see, I’m one of those people who don’t subscribe to blackmail.”
    The other sighed.
    “You know,” he said, “I felt it would be like that. From Gedge’s strictures upon your outlook – strictures, I may say, which were tinctured with every shade of obscenity – there emerged the clear impression that you would have nothing to do with dirty work. And so, when I set out, I had a definite feeling that I was wasting my time. When I saw you, that feeling was, so to speak, fortified. And I am by no means surprised that you prefer to die, rather than to render to Caesar the things that are God’s. You must forgive my flights – I was once a gentleman. Years ago, of course. And I took a first class in Honour Moderations. Unfortunately, shortly afterwards, I took twenty-seven pounds from the monies entrusted to my care. Facilis descensus Averni . And I have never looked back.” In one astonishing movement, he rose to his feet and slid his hands into the pockets of the good-looking jacket he wore. “Well, Captain Mansel, that’s over. There’ll be no holding my colleague, when he hears what you have to say. And he can do his stuff, you know. That’s why I work with him. A poisonous bounder, of course: but he can do his stuff. Frankly, I shouldn’t like him to, er, earmark me. And, of course, he will have my support in all that he does.”
    “You’ve had my answer,” said Mansel.
    “I have,” said Brevet. “ Te moriturum saluto .” He took out Mansel’s pistol and laid it down on his gown. “I had to impound it,” he said, “but I’m not here to steal. You may need it to kill me with. One never knows.”
    With that, he bowed to Jenny and nodded to Mansel and me. Then he walked