Chapter 18 Chapter Seventeen

(Excerpt from the Diary of Sir Eustace Peterler) Mount Nelson Hotel, Cape Town. It was a great relief to leave the "Gilmorden Castle".At every moment on board I felt as if I were caught in a web of intrigue.To cover it all, Pagett must have arranged a drunken fight last night.It's easy to explain, but that's what the idea is for you.If a person came to see you with a swollen pimple the size of an egg on his head and bruises around his eyes, what other ideas would you have? Of course Pagett insisted on trying to keep the whole thing mysterious.Based on what he said, you'd think his dark circles were the result of protecting me.His story was very vague and general, and it took me a long time to catch the clue.

First, he saw a man "acting suspiciously," as Pagett called it.He was a quote from a German spy novel.I told him that he had no idea what he was talking about when he called a man acting suspiciously. "He was stealthy and tiptoeing along, and it was midnight, Sir Eustace." "Okay, so what about yourself? What are you doing? Why don't you go to bed and sleep on your big head?" I asked him angrily. "I was translating your telegrams, Sir Eustace, and typing your latest diary." Trust that Pagett is always right, and always a martyr in it! "How about that?"

"I was thinking I should look around before I went to bed, Sir Eustace. That man was coming across your room. I saw him like that, and immediately thought there must be something wrong. He slipped Go up the stairs by the dining room, and I'll follow him behind." "My dear Pagett," said I, "why shouldn't the poor fellow come on deck quietly? Many people even sleep on deck—very uncomfortable, I always think. At five o'clock in the morning, The sailors will clean you and the deck." I shrugged. "Anyway," I went on, "if you're going to worry about a sleepless wretch, I don't doubt that he's enough for you."

Pagett endured. "If you'll listen to me, Sir Eustace, I saw that fellow walking up and down about your room. There's only your room with Colonel Race down the passage." "Race," I said, lighting a cigar carefully, "he can take care of himself without your help, Pagett." Then I added, "Me too." Pagett came closer, breathing heavily, the way he always looked before he revealed a secret. "Do you know, Sir Eustace, I supposed - and I am sure now - that it was Rayburn." "Rayburn?" "Yes, Sir Eustace." I shake my head.

"Rayburn couldn't have woken me up in the middle of the night." "Yes, Sir Eustace. I think it was Colonel Race he wanted to see. Secretly—to give orders!" "Don't bite the tongue with me, Pagett," I said, stepping back, "and don't talk nonsense, your idea is so absurd. Why should they gather in secret in the middle of the night? If they want to say something to each other, they can." Be generous with casual conversation while drinking beef gravy." I saw that Pagett didn't understand anything. "There was something wrong last night, Sir Eustace," he said hastily, "otherwise why would Rayburn beat me so cruelly?"

"Are you sure that's Rayburn?" Pagett looked very confident.This part of the whole story he told was not at all ambiguous. "It's a strange thing," he said. "First, where is Rayburn now?" It is true that we have not seen him since we landed.He didn't come to the restaurant with us, however, I don't believe he was afraid of Pagett. The whole incident is truly disturbing.One of my secretaries is missing, the other looks like a beaten boxer.In his current state, I can't let him follow me, or I'll be the laughing stock of Cape Town.I have an appointment later on to send old Milley's secret papers, but I can't take Pagett with me, nasty chap!

I'm really bad tempered.I had a poisonous breakfast with some hateful fellows.It took the turnip-legged Dutch waitress half an hour to bring me a piece of unpalatable fish.And when the boat arrives at the pier, I have to get up at five o'clock in the morning, with my hands raised above my head, and the ridiculous behavior of having my body checked by a nasty doctor really makes me exhausted. (A few days later) Something serious has happened.I took Millray's sealed letter to the prime minister's appointment.The letter didn't look like it had been stolen or dropped, but it contained some blank paper.

Now, I think, I'm in big trouble.How did I get messed up like this by Milley's damn old mountain donkey? Pagett was known as the "counter-consoler," whose consolations only added to your pain.His vague smugness drove me almost mad.Also, he took advantage of my anxiety and anxiety to take the opportunity to hand over the pencil case to me.If he was not extra careful, the next time he attended would be his own funeral. However, I ended up having to listen to him. "Suppose, Sir Eustace, suppose Rayburn heard a word or two of your conversation with Mr. Millray in the street? Do you remember that you only accepted Rayburn, but there was no letter of introduction signed by Mr. Millray?" ?”

"So you're saying Rayburn is a villain?" I said slowly. Pagett thought so.I don't know how much he's been affected by the beatings he's had and the dark circles around his eyes for saying that, but he did find a fairly fair reason against Rayburn.And the facts were against Rayburn.My idea is that I don't plan to do anything. A fooled person is not eager to publicize scandal. Not Pagett, however, whose vigor was undimmed by recent misadventures, of course, in his own way.He hurried to the police station, sent countless telegrams, and brought a large group of English and Dutch officials, and bought them drinks at my money.

We got a call back from Milley that evening.He doesn't know anything about my new secretary!That was the only comforting aspect of the whole affair. "Anyway," I said to Pagett, "you're not poisoned. You're just suffering from a general hyperbilia." I saw him cringe, and that was the only place I could vent my anger. (shortly thereafter) Pagett was well placed.His mind was brimming with bright ideas.He believed that Rayburn was undoubtedly the famous "man in brown."I dare say he is right.But all of this is getting more and more unpleasant.The sooner I leave this place for Rhodesia, the better.I've explained to Pagett not to come with me.

"You know, my good secretary," I said, "you must stay here, and you may need to identify Rayburn at any moment. Besides, I have my dignity as a member of the British Parliament. I can't go with me. Followed by a secretary who's apparently had trouble getting hurt lately." Pagett flinched.He was such an admirable fellow that a pained look came over his face when I said it. "But what about your letters? And the outlines of your speeches? Sir Eustace." "I'll arrange it," I said cheerfully. "Your private carriage will be on the eleven o'clock train tomorrow morning Wednesday," continued Pagett. "I've made all arrangements. Will Mrs. Blair bring her maid with her?" "Mrs. Blair?" I gasped. "She told me you gave her a place." Yes, I remembered.On the night of the masquerade.But I didn't expect that she really wanted to.As happy as she is, I don't think I want Mrs. Blair to come and go with me to and from Rhodesia.Women are too much to be looked after, and sometimes they are a nuisance. "Did I invite anyone else?" I said nervously.That's what people do when they're drunk. "Mrs. Blair seems to think you have Colonel Race, too." I growled. "If I had Reese, I'd be pretty darn drunk. Take my advice, Pagett, and take your dark circles as a warning to never drink too much again." "I don't drink, you know, Sir Eustace." "If you have a weakness in that area, it would be wiser to swear off. I didn't invite anyone else, did I? Pagett." "I don't think so, Sir Eustace." I breathed a sigh of relief. "And Miss Beddingfield," I said thoughtfully, "she's going to Rhodesia to dig bones, I believe. I'd love to ask her to be my secretary for a while, she can type, I know, She told me." To my surprise, Pagett vehemently opposed the idea.He didn't like Anne Beddingfeld.Ever since the night when the circles under his eyes turned black, he couldn't control his emotions when he mentioned her.Now Pagett is more and more mysterious. Just to make him worry, I want to invite that girl too.As I said before, she has very nice legs.