The Irrational Knot: Being the Second Novel of His Nonage — John Shaqi
The Irrational Knot: Being the Second Novel of His NonageShaw, Bernard
General
The Irrational Knot: Being the Second Novel of His Nonage
Shaw, Bernard
Marriage -- Fiction; Social classes -- Fiction
“That’s a lie, like your denial of your name. Come, come, Master
Marmaduke: you cant humbug me. Youre too young. Hallo! What do _you_
want?”
It was the waiter, removing some plates, and placing a bill on the
table. Marmaduke put his hand into his pocket.
“Just wait a minute, please,” said Susanna. The waiter retired.
“Now then,” she resumed, placing her elbows on the table, “let us have
no more nonsense. What is your little game? Are you going to pay that
bill or am I?”
“I am, of course.”
“There is no of course in it—not yet, anyhow. What are you hanging
about the theatre after me for? Tell me that. Dont stop to think.”
Marmaduke looked foolish, and then sulky. Finally he brightened, and
said, “Look here. Youre angry with me for bringing your brother last
night. But upon my soul I had no idea—”
“That’s not what I mean at all. You are dodging a plain question. When
you came to the theatre, I thought you were a nice fellow; and I made
friends with you. Now I find you have been telling me lies about
yourself, and trying to play fast and loose. You must either give that
up or give me up. I wont have you pass that stage door again if you
only want to amuse yourself like other lounging cads about town.”
“What do you mean by playing fast and loose, and being a cad about
town?” said Marmaduke angrily.
“I hope youre not going to make a row here in public.”
“No; but I have you where _you_ cant make a row; and I intend to have
it out with you once and for all. If you quarrel now, so help me Heaven
I’ll never speak to you again!”
“It is you who are quarrelling.”
“Very well,” said Susanna, opening her purse as though the matter were
decided. “Waiter.”
“I am going to pay.”
“So you can—for what you had yourself. I dont take dinners from strange
men, nor pay for their ices.”
Marmaduke did not reply. He took out his purse determinedly; glanced
angrily at her; and muttered, “I never thought you were that sort of
woman.”
“What sort of woman?” demanded Susanna, in a tone that made the other
occupants of the room turn and stare.
“Never mind,” said Marmaduke. She was about to retort, when she saw him
looking into his purse with an expression of dismay. The waiter came.
Susanna, instead of attempting to be beforehand in proffering the
money, changed her mind, and waited. Marmaduke searched his pockets.
Finding nothing, he muttered an imprecation, and, fingering his watch
chain, glanced doubtfully at the waiter, who looked stolidly at the
tablecloth.
“There,” said Susanna, putting down a sovereign.
Marmaduke looked on helplessly whilst the waiter changed the coin and
thanked Susanna for her gratuity. Then he said, “You must let me settle
with you for this to-night. Ive left nearly all my cash in the pocket
of another waistcoat.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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