Argosy All-Story Weekly, July 1, 1922 — page 125: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

HIS THIRD MASTER. ‘A step which I regretted, sir, but which was unfortunately imperative.” “JT think I understand. You straight to Mr. Greene from them?”’ Dickon listened anxiously to the pump- ing. ‘“ No, sir. We met quite by chance.” Dickon could have laughed at the con- summate adroitness of Vincent. “Very odd. Met by chance, eh?” “Under unusual circumstances, sir, which made it clear to me at once that I had met my third master.” Dickon sighed with relief; for there was a pause which showed that Vincent had been checkmated. He said at last: “‘ I am heartily glad for your sake, North. He is a man of talent.” ‘“‘ Extraordinary, sir!”’ There was an emphasis in this which warmed Dickon’s heart. “In fact, I think he will go far, socially.” “I beg your pardon, sir?” “TI say, I think he will do well and rise considerably in the social world, North.” “ Rise, sir?” “Why not?” “There must be a mistake. It is ob- viously not a question of rising with Mr. Greene, but simply of being recognized.” Again Dickon came within an ace of chuckling. Under the questions of Vincent he sensed a subtle rapier play of which honest William North was obviously quite unaware, yet the valet had brushed aside every vital stroke with his bludgeon of downrightness. “ Ah, yes, I see,” said Vincent, coming back to the attack from a different angle, as though he hoped to turn the enemy’s flank. ‘I see, he comes from some very old and dignified family, eh, North? Connec- tions so eminent that they have only to be recognized to take the social world by storm? By the way, what is his tree, the went family tree of which he told you, North?” “ He told me of none, sir.” “Not of his family? Why, North, I’m surprised. I thought you were most partic- ular in such matters of service.” ‘T have only one great standard by which I judge my masters,” said North quietly. 915 “And Mr. Greene measures up to it?” “‘ Better, sir, than any one whom I have served before.” ‘‘ That’s infernally interesting. Will you tell me what that standard may be?” For all the assumed carelessness of Vin- cent’s tone, Dickon caught an undercur- rent of tenseness, as if the connoisseur felt that he were approaching the crux of the inquiry. Unquestionably something had happened that night which made him eager to place Dickon Green exactly; probably that something had to do with Cynthia Rainey. “‘T shall be glad to tell you, sir, though I’m surprised that you ask. It is a simple thing, but it escapes definition: Gentility.” A certain guilty depression overtook Dickon as it always did when he heard the valet broach this subject. He felt, al- ways, as if he had been wearing a mask in the presence of William North. ‘‘-Indefinable, indeed,” answered Vincent, his voice altered. ‘“ And if Dickon Greene is in every sense of the word, you are to be congratulated, North, profoundly.” “‘ Indeed,” said North, ‘“‘ I have been not unhappy in his service.” ‘‘And your plan to gain eminence for Mr. Greene is simply to let him be seen?” If there were any sting of irony in the astute voice of James Vincent it passed William North by. ‘* ‘You may have observed, Mr. Vincent,”’ he said, “‘ that so far he has not been alto- gether without success.” “True, North,” said Vincent, and there was such a freshening of his voice that Dickon knew he had given up the attempt to pump William North of any more news concerning his third master. ‘ True; and unless I’m mistaken, he will continue.” “Thank you, sir. Is there anything else of which you wish to speak with me, sir?” “ Nothing, North. The morning coat was all. Thank you, very much.” “A pleasure, Mr. Vincent. Subject to Mr. Greene, I hope you will always con- sider me at your command, sir.” “Very good of you. Good night.” “ Good night, sir.” The step of William North passed away. (To be concluded NEXT WEEK.) comicloool C©