Anthony held her closer. “Never mind Archibald, Answer me, woman! Do we leave England on Saturday?”
They heard the heavy front-door flung open; then a cry of delight; then silence.
“Let me down! Oh, do let me down!” Lucia begged. “Tony, pleeease! They’ll be in here in a minute.”
He released her, only to snatch her to him again when both were on their feet.
He held her close. “You’ve got to answer, you know. Do we leave England—”
“Oh, yes. All right, all right! but haven’t you forgotten something?” He felt laughter shake her body.
“Forgotten something?” he said. “No, don’t think so.”
She drew his face down to hers. “Don’t we get married at all?” she whispered.
“Hell!” said Anthony. “I’d forgotten that. Damn it! That means we can’t go until Monday.”
They heard footsteps outside. Lucia wriggled free, her face flaming.
The door burst open. “Here we are!” said Deacon, enormous in the doorway. “The return of Crippen. Most affectin’!” He advanced into the room. “First: Gethryn, thank you.” He stretched out a big hand and crushed Anthony’s.
Dora, entering in a rush, fell upon her sister. “Loo! Loo!” she cried, “we’re going to be married! Soon!”
Lucia clutched at her and began to laugh. “Why, darling,” she said, “I believe I am too.”
III
In town, Spencer Hastings and his betrothed were discussing details.
“Of course,” said Hastings, “A. R. Gethryn for best man?”
Margaret patted his cheek. “It wouldn’t surprise me, little man,” she said, “if we found he wasn’t eligible.”
Endnotes
Colophon
The Rasp
was published in 1924 by
Philip MacDonald.
This ebook was produced for
Standard Ebooks
by
Andrius Maliuginas,
and is based on a transcription produced in 2023 by
Brian Raiter and Distributed Proofreaders
for
Project Gutenberg
and on digital scans from the
Internet Archive.
The cover page is adapted from
Peter Bell Smith,
a painting completed in 1859 by
John J. Porter.
The cover and title pages feature the
League Spartan and Sorts Mill Goudy
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The League of Moveable Type.
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