She found the matchbox on the chimneypiece. In a minute more the room was bright. Amelius sat looking at her, perfectly incapable of deciding what he ought to say or do next. To complete his bewilderment, the voice of the attentive old Frenchman made itself heard through the door, in discreetly confidential tones.
“I have prepared an appetising little supper, sir,” said Toff. “Be pleased to ring when you and the young lady are ready.”
CHAPTER 3
Toff’s interference proved to have its use. The announcement of the little supper—plainly implying Simple Sally’s reception at the cottage—reminded Amelius of his responsibilities. He at once stepped out into the passage, and closed the door behind him.
The old Frenchman was waiting to be reprimanded or thanked, as the case might be, with his head down, his shoulders shrugged up to his ears, and the palms of his hands spread out appealingly on either side of him—a model of mute resignation to circumstances.
“Do you know that you have put me in a very awkward position?” Amelius began.
Toff lifted one of his hands to his heart. “You are aware of my weakness, sir. When that charming little creature presented herself at the door, sinking with fatigue, I could no more resist her than I could take a hop-skip-and-jump over the roof of this cottage. If I have done wrong, take no account of the proud fidelity with which I have served you—tell me to pack up and go; but don’t ask me to assume a position of severity towards that enchanting Miss. It is not in my heart to do it,” said Toff, lifting his eyes with tearful solemnity to an imaginary heaven. “On my sacred word of honour as a Frenchman, I would die rather than do it!”
“Don’t talk nonsense,” Amelius rejoined a little impatiently. “I don’t blame you—but you have got me into a scrape, for all that. If I did my duty, I should send for a cab, and take her back.”
Toff opened his twinkling old eyes in a perfect transport of astonishment. “What!” he cried, “take her back? Without rest, without supper? And you call that duty? How inconceivably ugly does duty look when it assumes an inhospitable aspect towards a woman! Pardon me, sir; I must express my sentiments or I shall burst. You will say perhaps that I have no conception of duty? Pardon me again—my conception of duty is here!”