Chapter Nine

Blathers and I rushed through the alley to The Strand and hurried toward Alice Martin’s flat. The rain had stopped, but we each carried an umbrella against the certainty the downpour would start again soon. It was quicker to walk than it would be to get a cab. Blathers found rushing difficult, so I arrived at our destination several minutes sooner than he did. I knew I had reached Alice’s flat because a Bobbie stood in front of her door. I stopped and caught my breath, relieved that our haste was unnecessary. While I rested, Blathers caught up.

“Well, look here. Guardin’ the door o’ our lovely Alice is our favorite Bobbie of all time, Young Jerry Cruncher. How is ya, Young Jerry? Has ya been out here in the fog and rain all the night and day?”

“Go’day, Mr. Blathers. Go’day, Mr. Duff. No, I ’asn’t been ’ere all the night. I’m a senior man now, and I no longer needs ta work nights. Them newer fellers do that, donch ya see. I come on at ’alf eight. The feller what were ’ere all the night in the fog were quite wet, ’e were. I ’as me raincoat, donch ya see.”

I told Young Jerry we were here to see Miss Martin. He confirmed that, because of the brutality of the attack on her brother, his superiors had assigned him and his fellow officers to guard the young woman. “I can lets ya go in, but I ’as ta go wi’ ya, donch ya know.” We three trooped to Alice’s main floor door. “These gents is ’ere ta sees ya, miss. Does ya wants me ta shoo them away?”

“Oh, no, no, Constable. Please let them come in. Thank you for coming, Mr. Blathers, Mr. Duff. Thank you so much. Please, please, come in.”

Cruncher started to enter the house with us, but Blathers looked at him so fiercely he stepped back and returned to the street without saying a word.

Inside, Blathers said, “Dear Alice, Duff and I are so very sorry about the loss of your brother, and we are concerned about your being here alone. Clara has asked us to extend an invitation for you to stay at the Black Lion, as her guest, for as long as you like. We would be very pleased if you would pack what things you need and come along with us now. We all feel that you will be much happier and safer if you accept her invitation.”

I was flabbergasted. Blathers had talked like his old self, all morning. I guessed it was because he had been excited, but now, in the presence of Alice, he was even using the possessive with the participle. I could say nothing to either of them. I just nodded in agreement. Alice must have noticed the eloquence of the speech as well, for, in spite of her grief, a smile formed on her lovely lips.

“I am sure being with you and Mrs. Barkis will be right for me. Please give me a few minutes to put some things together.”

Blathers, still in his Queen’s English mode, said, “I will go and speak to Cruncher, and arrange for a cab.”

Since Miss Martin didn’t need my help packing, I went out with Blathers. I had witnessed discussions between my partner and the young constable, and I found them amusing. I didn’t want to miss this exchange.

“Young Jerry, there, be a good lad and keep an eye out fer a cab, will ya? We is taking Miss Martin wi’ us as soon as she is ready.” Apparently this conversation did not require any eloquence.

“Takin’? Where is ya takin’ ’er? I can’t lets ya take ’er anywhere. I is guardin’ ’er, donch ya see.”

“Ya was guardin’ her, but now we is guardin’ her, and ya can go and has a cuppa.”

“I can’t do that. I ’as me orders, donch ya know.”

Alice came to the street with her portmanteau as Jerry was waving his hands in the air, and Blathers had his right index finger placed squarely on the Peeler’s breastplate.

“You’re not holding the lady a prisoner. That is against the law, and unless you are going to arrest her you cannot detain her.” Blathers was becoming a language chameleon, changing the color of his speech depending on the circumstances, the circumstance in this case being the presence of Alice Martin.

“I ’as me orders. I can’t let ya takes the lady. I ’as ta talk to me gov ’bout it.”

“Jerry, my friend, we do not have time to wait for your superior to come along. Now, let us think about this.”

“Is ya all right, Mr. Blathers? Ya sounds very strange.”

“Never mind, now, my lad, how I sound. Just answer me this one question. What exactly were your orders?”

“I ’as told ya, me orders is ta guard the lady.”

“Exactly. You are to guard the lady, not the house. Here, Duff, grab that cab and the one behind it. Up you go, Alice. Duff, I’ll ride with Alice. You and Jerry take the second cab. He can guard her at the Lion.”