184
THE WEST SHORE.
"My huHbnnd!" exclaimed Mrs. Multiple, starting
up, with nn excellent appearance of horror and amaze
ment "I thought you said lie was out," Raid Mr. Choke,
uneasily.
"3ut he Iiiih returned It is his knock. Gracious
heavens! what shall I do?" cried Mrs. Multiple, rushing
frantically to the window and wringing her hands.
" My dear lady, there is no cause for alarm," said Mr.
Choke, recovering his presence of mind. "Yon have
only to introduce nio as a friend whom you knew before
your inarriago."
" This is dreadful ! Horriblo !" cried Mrs. Multiple,
in a frantic state, too frightonod, apparently, to listen to
reason, "lie will not bo deceived, and has evidently
watched nio. He saw you from the window yesterday
and told mo who you were."
"Tray calm yourself, madam. You will betray your
self and me too if you go on in that fashion," said Mr.
Choke, getting alarmed at the state of affairs; while the
sound of the knocker reverberated a second time through
the houso.
"There I The man is opening the street door," cried
Mrs. Multiple, who had worked herself into a perfect
frenzy. " Ho is coming in. Here! You must hide in
stantly," sho added, suddenly throwing open the door of
a small boudoir adjoining, as though by an afterthought
"I assure you, dear madam, there is no occasion,"
protested Mr. Choke.
"There is! My-reputation is at stake," cried Mrs.
Multiple, vohcmently.
" Hut the servant who opens the door?"
"Ho will hold his tongue. If my husband does not
see you his suspicions will be allayed," said Mrs. Multi
ple. " I will lock you in and give the koy to the butler.
You shall lo released as soon as you can safely leave."
There was no time for further parley, and Mr. Choke
somewhat reluctantly yielded to the lady's Urgent en
treaties and stepped into the boudoir. The door had no
sooner dosed upon him than Sam Multiple burst into the
room and confronted his wife with a terrible aspect The
scene that ensued had been carefully rehearsed, and was
well calculated to deceive the anxious listener. Sam
vowel and declared that he had seen a man enter the
house, and, lu sp.te of his wife's eager denial, he contin
ued to upbraid her fiercely. His rnge and jealousy were
bo groat that ho Bwore he would strangle theinJuder
and ho eortmn y succeeded in impressing Mr. Choke with
a w olno ar0ad of meeting him in his present
l ortunately, Mrs. Multiple's indignant p otostationrof
miuhmmioo seem to disarm him, ami he gradual y lw
calmer, though it was evident that he was still , ,
-UHpiciou, With considerable i g luTy JfcwT
length prevailed BpuB him to accl
" Very well, indeed, Sam. I believe you would make
a good actor, my dear," said his wife, sinking into a
from sheer exhaustion.
" By Jove! Loo, you were first rate," said Sam, admir
ingly, mopping his forehead. " I shouldnt care, though, '
to play the jealous husband every day in the week. It's
infernally fatiguing. Thanks, my love. I think I will
take a B and S."
" What is to happen next ?" inquired Mrs. Multiple,
as she handed the grateful draught to her husband.
"I think we can now proceed," said Sam, after imbib
ing the refreshment he needed. "Hi! Simmonds!" he
roared in a voice of thunder, audible all over the
premises.
" You will frighten poor Mr. Choke out of his wits,
Sam," said Mrs. Multiple, putting her hands to her ears.
" Serve him right," said Sam, spitefully.
" Simmonds 1 Bring me my revolver!" he shouted
with increased vigor.
The butler made his appearance, bearing no weapon,
but carrying over his arm a suit of livery. The twinkle
in his eye plainly showed that he appreciated the serio
comic drama that was being enacted.
" Now, Simmonds, do you recollect what you have to
do?" inquired Sam.
"Yes, sir," answered the butler, promptly; "I'm to
say that you've locked the street door and put the key in
your pocket"
" Exactly. I'm still raging with jealousy, remember,
and wouldn't hesitate to kill any one I found on the
premises," said Sam, impressively. "You must look
agitated and frightened yourself, you know." .
" Bear in mind, Simmonds, that you are risking your
place in order to assist him to escape," interposed Mrs.
Multiple.
" Yes, and the only plan you can think of is to pass
him off for a friend of yours, who has stepped in to have
a chat," added Sam.
"Don't overdo the part," said Mrs. Multiple, ear
nestly. "No! and you must be realistic; a 5 note wouldn't
be too much to ask for the service you are rendering
him," said Sam, with a wink. "
"I'll make a point of that, sir," returned the butler.
" He surely won't consent to disguise himself in a
livery!" said Mrs. Multiple, incredulously, when the
butler had departed on his errand.
"He will if Simmonds carries out my instructions,"
answered Sam, with confidence. " It will be explained
to him that otherwise he will have to remain where he is
all night, with the risk of detection."
"And you propose to turn him out into the street
dressed like a lacquey ?" exclaimed Mrs. Multiple.
" Not only so, but I shall take care that his wife sees
him," said Sam, complacently.
"His wife! Is he a married man ?" cried Mrs. Mul
tiple, in amazement
"Very much boj and from all accounts Mtb. Choke
ourli hit renerable whiikers for him," answered Sam.