Overthem all lay a blanket of silence, of eating
and talking and lyingstill on the sofa as usual. He had brought himself to face the
factthat light topknots are not necessarily fatal. He felt younger, spryer than he
had done thesemany years. Had the Kennel Club, then, no jurisdiction
inItaly?
An hour or so later Miss Barrett came
backalone.
Marylebone Church bells, said Miss Henrietta. They
sattogether in the crackling blaze and snuffed up the sharp, aromaticscent. They
were cells of brick intersected by lanes which ranwith filth. Yet a majestic
greyhound was drinking greedily.
The light, infinitely sharp and clear, dazzled
hiseyes. She dressed herself as if to go outdirectly after breakfast. Still, of
course, shewould have to pay it.
Wimpole Street was determined to make a
standagainst Whitechapel. Had the Kennel Club, then, no jurisdiction inItaly? And
the signs of strain were unmistakable.
Saturday was the fifth day of Flushs imprisonment.
The very movement of the blind as itdrew in and out seemed to Flush like a signal.
If she encouragedTaylor who stole dogs, she encouraged Mr.
Insects crawled in his fur, but he was too weak,
too indifferent toshake his coat.
They went out together; and Flush lay on the sofa
and waitedfor their return.
But Miss Barrett, perhaps,hesitated a
moment.
A weariness, a doubt, a ribaldry possessed him. She
bade her brother to go at once to Mr. She threw pinelogs from the Dukes forest on to
the fire if it froze. But Wilson came up with the letters; Wilsoncame up with the
hot water.
All this night he willhowl and lament, I know
perfectly, Miss Barrett wrote to Mr. Taylorpromised that he would confer with his
Society and that the dogwould be returned next day.
Were theyabout to escape together from this awful
world of dog-stealers andtyrants? The rain dripped through the roof and the wind
blew throughthe walls.
But even as she gazed, thesuperb figure of one of
the Grand Dukes bodyguard caught her eye. Overthem all lay a blanket of silence, of
eating and talking and lyingstill on the sofa as usual. Hewhined, and a heavy hand
beat him over the head. Behind those smiling, friendly faces were treachery
andcruelty and deceit. Whenever the door was kicked open he looked up. They
sattogether in the crackling blaze and snuffed up the sharp, aromaticscent.