The Husbands of Edith | Page 4

go?" with beaming eyes. "I knew it would appeal to you,
as an American."
"What does it all mean?"
"It's all very simple, if one looks at it from the right angle, Brock. Up to
last night, I was blissfully committed to the most delightful of outings,
so to speak. At ten o'clock everything was changed. Mrs. Medcroft and
I sat up all night discussing the situation with the messenger--my
solicitor, by the way. The Vienna trip is out of the question, so far as I
am concerned. It is of vital importance that I should return to London
to-night, but is even more vitally important that the world should say
that I am in Vienna. See what I mean?"
"No, I'm hanged if I do."
"What I have just heard from London makes me shudder to think of the
consequences if I go on east to-night. I may as well tell you that there is
a plot on foot to perpetrate a gigantic fraud against the people. The
County Council is to be hoodwinked out and out into moving forward
certain building projects, involving millions of the people's money. Our
firm has opposed a certain band of grafters, and when I left England it
was pretty well settled that we had blocked their game. They have
learned of my proposed absence and intend to steal a march on us while
I am away. Without assuming too much credit to myself, I may say that
I, your old friend, Roxbury, I am the one man who has proved the real
thorn in the sides of these scoundrels. With me out of the way, they feel
that they can secure the adoption of all these infamous measures. My
partners and the leaders on our side have sent for me to return secretly.
They won't bring the matter to issue if they find that I've returned; it
would be suicidal. Therefore it is necessary that we steal a march on
'em. I know the inside workings of the scheme. If I can steal back and
keep under cover as an advisory chief, so to speak, we can well afford
to let 'em rush the matter through, for then we can spring the coup and
defeat them for good and all. But, don't you see, old man, unless they
know that I've gone to Vienna they won't undertake the thing. That's

why I'm asking you to go on to Vienna and pose as Roxbury Medcroft
while I steal back to London and set the charge under these demmed
bloodsuckers. Really, you know, it's a terribly serious matter, Brock. It
means fortune and honour to me, as well as millions to the rate-payers
of Greater London. All you've got to do is to register at the Bristol, get
interviewed by the papers, attend one or two sessions of the convention,
which lasts three days, and then go off into the mountains with the
Rodneys,--the society reporters will do the rest."
"With the Rodneys? My dear fellow, suppose that they object to the
substitution! Really, you know, it's not to be thought of."
"Deuce take it, man, the Rodneys are not to know that there has been a
substitution. Perfectly simple, can't you see?"
"I'm damned if I do."
"What a stupid ass you are, Brock! The Rodneys have never laid eyes
on me. They know of me as Edith's husband, that's all. They are to take
you in as Medcroft, of course."
At this point Brock set up an emphatic remonstrance. He began by
laughing his friend to scorn; then, as Medcroft persisted, went so far as
to take him severely to task for the proposed imposition on the
unsuspecting Rodneys, to say nothing of the trick he would play upon
the convention of architects.
"I'd be recognised as an impostor," he said warmly, "and booted out of
the convention. I shudder to think of what Mr. Rodney will do to me
when he learns the truth. Why, Medcroft, you must be crazy. There will
be dozens of architects there who know you personally or by sight.
You--"
"My dear boy, if they don't see me there, they can't very well recognise
me, can they? If necessary, you can affect an illness and stay away
from the sessions altogether. Give a statement to the press from the
privacy of the sickroom--regret your inability to take part in the
discussions, and all that, you know. Hire a nurse, if necessary. You

might venture to express an opinion or two on vital topics, in my name.
I don't care a hang what you say. I only want 'em to think I'm there. No
doubt our enemies will have a spy or two hanging about to see that I
am actually off for a jaunt with the Rodneys, but