173177.fb2 Fingersmith - читать онлайн бесплатно полную версию книги . Страница 115

Fingersmith - читать онлайн бесплатно полную версию книги . Страница 115

I looked from face to face. Dainty had begun to cry. John sat, open-mouthed and astonished. Mr Ibbs had his hand at his cheek. Maud nursed her bleeding fingers.

Charles shook. Mrs Sucksby said,

'Sue, put down the knife. Cast you out? The idea! I— '

Then she stopped. Charley Wag had lifted his head. From Mr

Ibbs's shop there came the sound of a key, turning in a lock. Then came the kicking of boots; then whistling.

'Gentleman!' she said. She looked at Maud, at Mr Ibbs, at me. She got up, and leaned to catch at my arm. 'Sue,' she said, as she did it. She spoke in a voice that was almost a whisper. 'Susie, sweetheart, will you come upstairs . . .?'

But I did not answer, only gripped the knife more firmly. Charley Wag gave a feeble bark, and Gentleman heard him, and barked in reply. Then he whistled again, a lazy waltz tune, and we heard him stumbling along the passage and watched as he pushed at the door. I think he was drunk. His hat was crooked, his cheek quite pink, his mouth a perfect O. He stood, and slightly swayed, and looked about the room, squinting into the shadows. The whistle died. His lips grew straight, and he licked them.

'Hallo,' he said, 'here's Charles.' He winked. Then he looked at me, and at my knife.

'Hallo, here's Sue.' He took off his hat and began to unwind the scarlet cloth from his throat. 'I supposed you might come. Had you left it another day, I should have been ready. I have just now collected a letter, from that fool Christie. He certainly dragged his heels, in letting me know of your escape! I think he planned to recapture you before he should have to. Bad publicity, when one's lady lunatics run.'

He put the scarlet cloth inside the hat and let them drop. He took out a cigarette.

'You're fucking cool,' I said. I was shaking. 'Here's Mrs Sucksby and Mr Ibbs, know everything.'

He laughed. 'I should say they do.'

'Gentleman!' said Mrs Sucksby. 'Listen to me. Sue has told us terrible things. I want you to go.'

'Don't let him leave!' I said. 'He'll send for Dr Christie!' I waved my knife. 'Charles, stop him!'

Gentleman had lit his cigarette, but apart from that had not moved. He turned to look 319

at Charles, who had taken a couple of doubtful steps towards him. He put his hand to Charles's hair.

'So, Charley,' he said.

'Please, sir,' said Charles.

'You have found me out a villain.'

Charles's lip began to tremble. 'Honest to God, Mr Rivers, I never meant to!'

'There, there,' said Gentleman. He stroked Charles's cheek. Mr Ibbs made a puffing sound with his lips. John got to his feet, then looked about him as if he did not know why he had done it. He blushed.

'Sit down, John,' said Mrs Sucksby.

He folded his arms. 'I shall stand if I like.'

'Sit down, or I'll hit you.'

'Hit me?' His voice was hoarse. 'Hit them two, there!' He pointed to Gentleman and Charles. Mrs Sucksby took two quick steps, and struck him. She struck him hard. He put both his arms to his head and gazed at her from between his elbows.

'You old cow!' he said. 'You been down on me since the day I was born. You touch me again, you'll know it!'

His eyes blazed as he said it; but then, they filled with tears and he began to snivel. He walked to the wall, and kicked it. Charles shuddered and wept harder. Gentleman looked from one to the other, then gazed at Maud in pretend amazement.

'Is it down to me,' he said, 'that small boys weep?'

'Fuck you, I ain't small!' said John.

'Will you be quiet?' said Maud, in her low, clear voice. 'Charles, that's enough.'

Charles wiped his nose. 'Yes, miss.'

Gentleman leaned against the post of the door, still smoking. 'So, Suky,' he said. 'You know all now.'

'I know you're a filthy swindler,' I said. 'But I knew that, six months ago. I was a fool, that's all, to trust you.'

'Dear girl,' said Mrs Sucksby quickly, with her eyes on Gentleman's face. 'Dear girl, the fools were me and Mr Ibbs, to let you.'

Gentleman had taken his cigarette from his mouth to blow against its tip. Now, hearing Mrs Sucksby and meeting her gaze, he stood quite still for a second with it held before his lips. Then he looked away and laughed— a disbelieving sort of laugh— and shook his head.

'Sweet Christ,' he said quietly.

I thought she had shamed him.

'All right,' she said. 'All right.' She lifted her hands. She stood, like a man on a raft— like she was afraid to make too sharp a move for fear of sinking. 'Now, no more wildness. John, no more sulks. Sue, put that knife down, please, I beg you. No-one is to be harmed. Mr Ibbs. Miss Lilly. Dainty. Charles— Sue's pal, dear boy— sit down.

Gentleman. Gentleman.'

'Mrs Sucksby,' he said.

'No-one to be harmed. All right?'

He glanced at me. 'Tell it to Sue,' he said. 'She is looking at me with murder in her 320

eyes. Under the circumstances, I don't quite care for that.'

'Circumstances?' I said. 'You mean, your having locked me up in a madhouse and left me to die? I should cut your bloody head off!'

He narrowed his eyes, made a face. 'Do you know,' he said, 'you have a very whining tone to your voice at times? Has no-one told you that?'

I made a lunge at him with the knife; but the truth was, I was still bewildered, and sick, and tired, and the lunge was a feeble one. He watched, not flinching, as I stood with the point of the blade before his heart. Then I grew afraid that the knife would shake and he would see it. I put it down. I put it down on the table— at the edge of the table, just beyond the circle of light that the lamp threw there.

'Now, ain't that nicer?' said Mrs Sucksby.

John's tears had dried, but his face was dark— darker on one cheek than on the other, where Mrs Sucksby had hit him. He looked at Gentleman, but nodded to me.

'She went for Miss Lilly just now,' he said. 'Said she'd come to kUl her.'

Gentleman gazed at Maud, who had bound up her bleeding fingers in a handkerchief.