Storm Music (1934) by Dornford Yates

Author:Dornford Yates [Yates, Dornford]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: The Pulp Shop
Published: 2014-07-25T16:00:00+00:00

Dear Faning,—

Sorry, but I'm fed up. I've had enough of Yorick, and I'm going tonight. I don't know where, but I'll probably get a train. See you again some day ...

I think it looked the note of a drunken man.

As I laid down my pencil—

"That'll do very well," said Helena. "He never writes, so nobody knows his hand. Leave it there on the blotting pad. And now we must go. Mona's a broken reed, but it can't be helped. I'm not afraid of her talking— she's far too scared for that. But I am afraid of her bolting the moment she gets the chance."

A moment later our strange procession took shape.

Helena led the way and I brought up the rear, with the Count on my back, while Mona minced between us, bearing her shoes in her hand.

As once before, we passed through my lady's bedroom, down the two flights of steps and so to the postern door. Helena opened this and then stood waiting whilst Mona and I passed out. At once, as we had arranged, I turned to the right and made my way over the turf by the castle wall. One minute later, perhaps, I saw the light that streamed from the porter's lodge. This passed over the Rolls to illumine the jaws of the bridge and had, of course, taught Bugle the trick which had served me so well.

Six paces away from the gates I laid my burden down.

"Is your back all right?" breathed Helena.

"Yes, thank you, my sweet."

At once she turned to Mona, who was drooping besides the wall.

"If you cross that bridge, the porter will see you, and you will be chased and caught. In a few minutes' time, however, the porter will leave his lodge. You'll know when he's gone, because then the wicket will open. The moment the wicket opens, cross the bridge. When you're safely over the bridge, you can put on your shoes again. Then run down the drive as fast as you can until you come to the woods. Wait there at the edge of the meadows, and the car will be down in five minutes to pick you up."

"It is understood, my lady."

"You will wait without fail, on the right-hand side of the road."

"Without fail, my lady. My lady will not be long."

"Five minutes," I said. "Perhaps I shall come before. But until the wicket opens, you must not move."

"Very good, my lady."

With many misgivings we left her and hastened the way we had come. This time, however, we left the postern ajar.

We had found her bedroom lighted and left it so— an open wardrobe declared the rape of the frock: and now we only waited to set wide open the doors of the principal rooms. Then we went down to the courtyard— up to the last of the jumps.

AS the porter stepped out of his lodge:

"Why didn't you tell me," said Helena, "that his lordship was gone?"

The fellow looked scared.

"I— I didn't know, my lady. I— I thought his lordship was here.

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