SV - 05 - Sergeant Verity and the Swell Mob. by Francis Selwyn Page A

And anyone who says or thinks otherwise is a
foul-mouthed scoundrel, sir. With respect, sir.'
    Croaker paused, with the air
of one who has committed a tactical error but for whom victory remains assured.
    'As to
that, sergeant, the matter will no doubt be fully aired when the public
proceedings are brought. And since Mr Lavengro will presently be here, he may
enlighten us even before then.'
    'He got nothing to enlighten
anyone about, sir. And if he knows what's good for him, he'll stay away! Else.
. .'
    'Or else, sergeant, you will
give him another good drubbing, will you? That is what you were about to say,
is it not? I strongly advise you, before the charge comes to court, to keep a
tight rein on your tongue. Mr Lavengro will be here, have no fear. He is this
moment being fetched by two uniformed constables.'
    Verity stood at
attention, as smartly as on parade. In his mind were the other two items of
information which he had received in the clairvoyant's booth on Sunday
afternoon. The two crimes to be committed upon the following day. It had first
occurred to him that he ought to mention these prophecies to Mr Croaker. But
then he thought that Lavengro might now deny having made them. In that case,
they would appear merely as his own falsehoods, the last measures of a
desperate man.
    From
outside the room there came a sound of approaching voices. Two of these were
the calm insistent tones of the escorting officers. The third, high and shrill,
was evidently that of the outraged clairvoyant himself. There was a tap at the
door. Croaker barked out a challenge and the door opened. Verity had his back
to it but he saw Croaker rise and heard the other men come in.
    'Mr Lavengro!' said Croaker
unctuously. It is indeed so good of you to come here and assist us in so
distressing an affair. Permit me, my dear sir, to offer you the profoundest
apologies on behalf of the Private-Clothes Detail for the ruffianly assault to
which you have been subjected.'
    Like a
trusted companion offering assistance to an invalid, Croaker took the Great
Lavengro's arm and led him round the desk so that they both faced Verity from
the far side.
    'There!' said Croaker,
gesturing with a finger which would have done credit to the Hoxton melodrama.
'There is your attacker, sir! Lay what charges you please! You shall make no
enemies here for doing so!'
    In the
morning light, Lavengro looked less sallow than he had done in the canvas
booth. His hair, released from the black and gold skull cap, now formed a short
tumble of dark, oiled curls. He looked malignantly at Verity, and also at the
others in the room. Then he shrugged.
    ‘Never saw him in my life before.'
    'Look again!' yapped Croaker.
This is the man who brutally assaulted you in the middle of yesterday
afternoon and brought down your tent into the bargain!' Lavengro shrugged a
second time.
    ‘I'f you say so. Only thing
is, I was out cock-fighting at the Dog and Duck in Preston village, and there's
a dozen gents or more that was with me. Bleeding ask 'em!'
    Croaker's sickly yellow
features were immobile in a moment of terrible realisation. The dark little
eyes froze with a deep, unfathomable agony.
    '
'nother thing,' said Lavengro irritably. 'There was dancing. That Janet Bond,
the Female Hussar. Her with the dark hair done up in a top-knot and that big
bum. Split 'er fleshings when she kicked her legs. I was there all right.'
    'Your tent!'
shouted Croaker. 'It was destroyed!'
    'Nothing wrong with it Monday
morning, however. Tents don't destroy easy. They falls down and you puts 'em up
again. P'raps someone put mine up again.'
    'Why
weren't you there on Sunday afternoon?' Croaker's tone was almost pleading in
his exasperation.
    ' 'Cos
the watch-committee don't approve of the magical arts being exercised on the
sabbath. Even young Janet can only flash about before a audience of private
gents. Any case, I likes a day to meself. Me and Janet got a bit of an
understanding just now, and that takes up a