Читать книгу Some Do Not... онлайн

46 страница из 107

'They are,' Father Consett said. 'The devil's at work.'

Sylvia drifted back into the room with a telegram of several sheets. Father Consett held it close to one of the candles to read, for he was short-sighted.

'All men are repulsive,' Sylvia said; 'don't you think so, mother?'

Mrs Satterthwaite said:

'I do not. Only a heartless woman would say so.'

'Mrs Vanderdecken,' Sylvia went on, 'says all men are repulsive and it's woman's disgusting task to live beside them.'

'You've been seeing that foul creature?' Mrs Satterthwaite said. 'She's a Russian agent. And worse!'

'She was at Gosingeaux all the time we were,' Sylvia said. 'You needn't groan. She won't split on us. She's the soul of honour.'

'It wasn't because of that I groaned, if I did,' Mrs Satterthwaite answered.

The priest, from over his telegram, exclaimed: 'Mrs Vanderdecken! God forbid.'

Sylvia's face, as she sat on the sofa, expressed languid and incredulous amusement.

'What do you know of her?' she asked the Father.

'I know what you know,' he answered, 'and that's enough.'