Read Online Angel's Flight (A Mercy Allcutt Mystery) by Alice Duncan - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Alice Duncan
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the duties of a houseboy and in helping rid your home of invaders.” I smiled brightly.
“Ah, yes. Has Miss Allcutt told you about my problem, Mr. Mullins?” Mr. Easthope asked politely.
After gulping again, Rupert said, “M’sister did, sir. She told me about them fakers taking in your mama.”
Mr. Easthope’s eyebrows rose slightly, and he seemed to be contemplating Rupert’s response. I wondered if Mr. Easthope was faintly disappointed, as I was, by the naive and ill-spoken Rupert. However, as so many people have said before, beggars can’t be choosers. Rupert was here, available, and needed a job, and he might well be smarter than he appeared. He certainly wouldn’t be the only bright person in the world who, through lack of opportunity, had failed to achieve a first-class education. At least that’s what I’d read often enough.
Surreptitiously eyeing both brother and sister from the corner of my eye, I wasn’t sure about that. It might well be that both Lulu and Rupert had been given ample opportunities to learn grammar and had simply avoided doing so. I know good and well that I managed to avoid learning very much in the mathematics classes I’d been forced to endure when I was in school.
However, that is neither here nor there.
“Good,” said Mr. Easthope. “I’m glad to hear it.”
“I’ll really try to help, sir,” said Rupert in a rush of words. “And I really need a job.”
That sentence ended in something of an “Oomph,” and I realized that Lulu had elbowed him in the side when I saw Rupert rub his ribs. To prevent further violence, I said, “I think this will work out very well for all concerned. Don’t you, Mr. Easthope?”
“Indeed I do.”
Mr. Easthope then went on to tell Rupert what he expected of him in terms of houseboy and spy duties and how much he intended to pay him. Rupert, who still had a glazed look about him, might or might not have been listening. I have a feeling he was so desperate for work that he would have taken anything anybody offered him at that point in his life. Lulu looked happy about the pay arrangement, so I guess the wages were all right. From personal experience, I only knew what my own were. I hadn’t a single clue how my pay stacked up against anybody else’s, since I’d had no experience working until Ernie hired me, and I didn’t know anyone else in the working classes to ask. I mean, you can’t just waltz up to a secretarial stranger and ask her what she’s making, now can you?
At last Mr. Easthope stood. Rupert jumped to his feet, too, I guess believing he shouldn’t remain seated if his employer was standing. To my mind, this proved he had decent instincts even if he appeared a trifle rough around the edges.
“I’m so glad we could meet and settle this matter, Rupert,” said Mr. Easthope. I guess that a fellow, after he’s been hired on as a houseboy, no longer qualifies as a mister . “Would you like to come along with me now, or do you have to pack some things first?”
“Um . . . I guess I have to pack.” Rupert cast a desperate glance at Lulu, who nodded. He nodded, too, relieved. “Yeah. I’ll pack some stuff and get to your place as soon as possible.”
“Very well. You know the address.”
“Uh-huh.”
Mr. Easthope had given his address, that of a swanky bungalow on Alvarado Street, and I’d written it down in case Rupert was too befuddled to do so.
“You can take the bus there, Will,” said Lulu. “I’ve got the schedule.”
“Okay,” said Rupert docilely.
“I’m very pleased to have you on my staff,” said Mr. Easthope, shaking Rupert’s hand once more. He turned to me. “The next séance is set for tomorrow night, Miss Allcutt, scheduled to start at eight o’clock.
“Ah, yes. Has Miss Allcutt told you about my problem, Mr. Mullins?” Mr. Easthope asked politely.
After gulping again, Rupert said, “M’sister did, sir. She told me about them fakers taking in your mama.”
Mr. Easthope’s eyebrows rose slightly, and he seemed to be contemplating Rupert’s response. I wondered if Mr. Easthope was faintly disappointed, as I was, by the naive and ill-spoken Rupert. However, as so many people have said before, beggars can’t be choosers. Rupert was here, available, and needed a job, and he might well be smarter than he appeared. He certainly wouldn’t be the only bright person in the world who, through lack of opportunity, had failed to achieve a first-class education. At least that’s what I’d read often enough.
Surreptitiously eyeing both brother and sister from the corner of my eye, I wasn’t sure about that. It might well be that both Lulu and Rupert had been given ample opportunities to learn grammar and had simply avoided doing so. I know good and well that I managed to avoid learning very much in the mathematics classes I’d been forced to endure when I was in school.
However, that is neither here nor there.
“Good,” said Mr. Easthope. “I’m glad to hear it.”
“I’ll really try to help, sir,” said Rupert in a rush of words. “And I really need a job.”
That sentence ended in something of an “Oomph,” and I realized that Lulu had elbowed him in the side when I saw Rupert rub his ribs. To prevent further violence, I said, “I think this will work out very well for all concerned. Don’t you, Mr. Easthope?”
“Indeed I do.”
Mr. Easthope then went on to tell Rupert what he expected of him in terms of houseboy and spy duties and how much he intended to pay him. Rupert, who still had a glazed look about him, might or might not have been listening. I have a feeling he was so desperate for work that he would have taken anything anybody offered him at that point in his life. Lulu looked happy about the pay arrangement, so I guess the wages were all right. From personal experience, I only knew what my own were. I hadn’t a single clue how my pay stacked up against anybody else’s, since I’d had no experience working until Ernie hired me, and I didn’t know anyone else in the working classes to ask. I mean, you can’t just waltz up to a secretarial stranger and ask her what she’s making, now can you?
At last Mr. Easthope stood. Rupert jumped to his feet, too, I guess believing he shouldn’t remain seated if his employer was standing. To my mind, this proved he had decent instincts even if he appeared a trifle rough around the edges.
“I’m so glad we could meet and settle this matter, Rupert,” said Mr. Easthope. I guess that a fellow, after he’s been hired on as a houseboy, no longer qualifies as a mister . “Would you like to come along with me now, or do you have to pack some things first?”
“Um . . . I guess I have to pack.” Rupert cast a desperate glance at Lulu, who nodded. He nodded, too, relieved. “Yeah. I’ll pack some stuff and get to your place as soon as possible.”
“Very well. You know the address.”
“Uh-huh.”
Mr. Easthope had given his address, that of a swanky bungalow on Alvarado Street, and I’d written it down in case Rupert was too befuddled to do so.
“You can take the bus there, Will,” said Lulu. “I’ve got the schedule.”
“Okay,” said Rupert docilely.
“I’m very pleased to have you on my staff,” said Mr. Easthope, shaking Rupert’s hand once more. He turned to me. “The next séance is set for tomorrow night, Miss Allcutt, scheduled to start at eight o’clock.
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