The Big Drum - LightNovelsOnl.com
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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----
