The Big Drum Part 58

Leonard--Westrip?

LADY FILSON.

Mr. Westrip!

SIR RANDLE.

[_To_ DUNNING, _blinking._] Mr. Westrip is my secretary.

BERTRAM.

[_To_ DUNNING, _agape._] He's my father's secretary.

DUNNING.

[_To_ SIR RANDLE.] Your seckert'ry?

PHILIP.

[_Coming to the nearer end of the settee on the left._] The--the--the fair boy I've seen in Ennismore Gardens!

ROOPE.

[_Rising and joining_ SIR RANDLE _and_ LADY FILSON_--expressing his amazement by flouris.h.i.+ng his arms._] Oh, my dear excellent friends----!

LADY FILSON.

[_To_ SIR RANDLE.] Randle--what--what next----!

SIR RANDLE.

[_Closing his eyes._] Astounding! Astounding!

DUNNING.

[_Looking about him, rather aggressively._] Well, I seem to have accidentally dropped a bombsh.e.l.l among you! Will any lady or gentleman kindly oblige with some particulars----? [_To_ OTTOLINE, _who checks him with an imperious gesture--changing his tone._] I beg your pardon, madarme----

[OTTOLINE _has left her chair and come to the writing-table, where, with a drawn face and downcast eyes, she is now standing erect._

OTTOLINE.

[_To_ DUNNING, _repeating her gesture._] Stop! [_To_ LADY FILSON _and_ SIR RANDLE, _in a strained voice._] Mother--Dad----

[_Everybody looks at her, surprised at her manner._

LADY FILSON.

Otto dear----?

OTTOLINE.

I--I can't allow you all to be mystified any longer. I--I can clear this matter up.

SIR RANDLE.

You, my darling?

OTTOLINE.

[_Steadying herself by resting her finger-tips upon the table._]

The--the explanation is that Mr. Westrip--[_with a wan smile_] poor boy--he would jump into the sea for me if I bade him--the explanation is that Mr. Westrip has been--helping me----

LADY FILSON.

_Helping_ you----?

SIR RANDLE.

Helping _you_----?

OTTOLINE.

[_Inclining her head._] Helping me. He--he---- [_Raising her eyes defiantly and confronting them all._] _ecoutez!_ Robbie Roope has asked who is the actual tenant of the cellar and room in Carmichael Lane.

[_Breathing deeply._] _I_ am.

LADY FILSON.

[_Advancing a few steps._] _You_ are! N-n-nonsense!

OTTOLINE.

Mr. Westrip took the place for me--my arrangement with t.i.tterton made it necessary----

LADY FILSON.

With t.i.tterton! Then he--he _has_----?

OTTOLINE.

Yes. The thousands of copies--packed in the cases with the lying labels--_I_ have bought them--they're mine----

LADY FILSON.

Y-y-yours!

OTTOLINE.

I--I was afraid the book had failed--and I went to t.i.tterton--and bargained with him----