Reprise Read Free

bachelor’s dinner at the Reddleston--some of my friends from Cambridge. I sha’n’t stop in later, for the thing will go on till dawn. I’ll put a down payment on the house this afternoon, which will involve long and very dull sessions with my banker--if you’re sure you're satisfied? The furniture goes with it. Half of it useless lumber, but at least we’ll have a table and chairs. And a bed--an item of considerable importance to the more libidinous among us. We can replace the rest by degrees.”
    “Fine--I like it very much. It’s good to have it settled. And you mustn’t worry that the owner stripped the walls of paintings. Uncle will splatter us up a bunch of Mona Lisas or Rembrandts--whatever you fancy.”
    “I’ll see you tomorrow then, and we’ll come back here and go over the place to see what you want done to it to make it habitable immediately. I’ll drop by Hettie’s place this afternoon. She’ll be dying to hear we’re settled at last. She’ll want to come around and see it for herself, but I’ll close the deal before she begins discovering watermarks on the ceiling and cracked walls. Personally, I don’t care if the ceilings are black and blue, as long as the roof stands over our heads.”
    “You have to see Wills about your play this afternoon, too.”
    “Not a minute for me to fall into the devil’s clutches, you see. From banker to Wills. Come, I’ll take you home. I don’t mean to let you walk the streets alone, my girl. Satan may have an eye on you, too, now that you’ve fallen into my orbit.”
    They went happily off to Grosvenor Square discussing the future, without a single thought that Satan was lurking around the corner, planning the greatest mischief for them.
     

Chapter Two
     
    Lady Melvine was not onlyDammler’s aunt, but his best friend in London outside of Prudence Mallow. He told her of his new house that afternoon, and she was eager to see it, but his visit with Wills made it impossible. The next morning she was up bright and early, had her carriage taken round to Grosvenor Square, and installed herself in Clarence’s saloon to await the trip to Berkeley Square.
    When Clarence heard who sat in his saloon, he was soon pushing away his eggs half-eaten and dashing to see her. Prudence smiled across the table to her mother. “Good--this will give us a chance to finish our meal in peace. Hettie means to go and see the house, I suppose. Will you come with us too, Mama?”
    “I’ll go another time, dear. Four in the carriage will be enough.”
    “We are only three. Oh, Uncle Clarence! Of course he will want to come along.”
    “It would be a nice gesture to ask him,” her mother replied.
    Mrs. Mallow’s brother Clarence had for several years provided the two ladies a roof over their heads free of cost, and his wishes were always deferred to in these little matters.
    “Certainly I’ll ask him,” Prudence said happily. It was one of life’s little mysteries to her that Clarence rubbed along so well with all Dammler’s relatives. Truth to tell, she had been half ashamed to produce him for inspection, but from the first he had made a hit. It was his lack of any sense of inferiority in himself that put him over. He was as undaunted by public opinion as those exalted personages who considered themselves well above public censure. He cared for approval, but never once was bothered by the idea that he might not attain it.
    Her breakfast finished, Prudence went to the saloon to find Clarence already dressed for the street, with his hat in his hand, his gloves on and malacca walking stick at the ready.
    “Good morning, Lady Melvine. Are you coming with us to Berkeley Square?” she asked.
    “Indeed I am. What time is Dammler calling for you?”
    “No hour was set actually. He expected to be up late after the bachelor party.”
    “He said early!” Hettie advised her.
    “We’ll go and wake him up,” Clarence said at once, very eager to be into Lady Melvine’s