The Bunch of Violets | Page 5

the valley
of Kedu are considered very fine and the river itself-"
It was Darragh whom Violet had heard approaching, and he entered the
room in a much better temper than he had left it. At the door he paused
a moment to encourage someone forward-a seedy, diffident man of
more than middle age, who carried a brown-paper parcel.

"Come on, Sim; hurry up, man!" urged Darragh impatiently, but
without the sting of contempt that had poisoned his speech before.
"And, oh, Phillips"-looking back and dropping his voice-"when Mr.
Hulse arrives show him into the morning-room at first. Not up here,
you understand? Now, Sims."
After a rather helpless look round for something suitable on which to
lay his parcel, the woebegone-looking individual was attempting to
untie it on an upraised knee.
"Yes, sir," he replied, endeavouring to impart a modicum of briskness
into his manner. "I'm sorry to be a bit late, sir; I was delayed."
"Oh, well, never mind that now," said Darragh magnanimously. "Thing
quite all right?"
"Mrs. Sims isn't worse?" asked Violet kindly.
Mr. Sims managed to get his back to the group before he ventured to
reply.
'No, miss, he said huskily; "she's better now. She's dead: died an hour
ago. That's why I wasn't quite able to get here by eight."
From each of his hearers this tragedy drew a characteristic response.
Violet gave a little moan of sympathy and turned away. Kato regarded
Sims, and continued to regard him, with the tranquil incuriosity of the
unpitying East. Darragh-Darragh alone spoke, and his tone was almost
genial.
"Devilish lucky that you were able to get here by now, in the
circumstances, Sims," he said.
"Well, sir," replied Sims practically, "you see, I shall need the money
just as much now-though not quite for the same purpose as I had
planned." He took the garment from the paper and shook it out before
displaying it for Darragh's approval. "I think you will find that quite
satisfactory, sir."

"Exactly the same as the one your people made for Mr. Hulse a week
ago?" asked Darragh, glancing at the jacket and then passing it on to
Violet for her verdict.
"To a stitch, sir. A friend of mine up at the shop got the measurements
and the cloth is a length from the same piece."
"But the cut, Sims, " persisted his patron keenly; "the cut is the most
important thing about it. It makes all the difference in the world."
"Yes, sir," acquiesced Sims dispassionately; "you can rely on that. I
used to be a first-class cutter myself before I took to drink. I am yet,
when I'm steady. And I machined both coats myself."
"That should do then," said Darragh complacently. "Now you were to
have-"
"Ten guineas and the cost of the cloth you promised, sir. Of course it's
a very big price, and I won't deny that I've been a bit uneasy about it
from time to time when I-"
"That's all right." Darragh had no wish to keep Mr. Sims in evidence a
minute longer than was necessary.
"I shouldn't like to be doing anything wrong, sir,Ó persisted the poor
creature; "and when you stipulated that it wasn't to be mentioned-"
"Well, well, man; it's a bet, didn't I tell you? I stand to win a clear
hundred if I can fool Hulse over this coat. That's the, long and short of
it."
"I'm sure I hope it is, sir. I've never been in trouble for anything yet,
and it would break my wife's 'art-" He stopped suddenly and his weak
face changed to a recollection of his loss; then without another word he
turned and made shakily for the door.
"See him safely away, Katty, and pay him down below," said Darragh.
"I'll settle with you later," and the Japanese, with a careless "All

right-o," followed.
"Now, Violet, slip into it," continued her husband briskly. "We don't
want to keep Hulse waiting when he comes." From a drawer in a
cabinet near at hand he took a paper packet, prepared in readiness, and
passed it to her. "You have the right cotton?"
"Yes, Hugh," said Violet, opening a little workbasket. She had already
satisfied herself that the coat was a replica of the one the young
American would wear, and she now transferred the dummy package to
the corresponding pocket and with a few deft stitches secured it in the
same way as she had already learned that the real contents were
safeguarded. "And, Hugh-' "
"Well, well?" responded Darragh, with a return of his old impatience.
"I don't wish to know all your plans, Hugh," continued Violet meekly,
"but I do want to warn you. You are running a most tremendous risk
with Kato."
"Oh, Kato!"
"It is really serious, Hugh. You don't