The Moon Moth and Other Stories by Jack Vance Read Free Book Online Page A

cleared his throat. “Mrs. Chickering, a word with you aside.” He drew her out of earshot of the others. “Mrs. Chaim and Mrs. Borgage—they are friends of yours?”
    Mrs. Chickering cast an anxious glance over her shoulder. “I can’t understand the situation at all,” she muttered feverishly. “Mrs. Chaim is the president of the Woman’s League and Mrs. Borgage is treasurer…I can’t understand them running around with their clothing in shreds…”
    Magnus Ridolph said candidly, “Well, Mrs. Chickering, in carrying out your instructions, I allowed scope to the natural combativeness of the natives, and perhaps they—”
    “Martha,” came Mrs. Chaim’s grating voice close at hand, “what is your connection with this man? I have reason to suspect that he is mixed up in this terrible attack…look at him!” Her voice rose furiously. “They haven’t laid a finger on him! And the rest of us—”
    Martha Chickering licked her lips. “Well, Olga dear, this is Magnus Ridolph. In accordance with last month’s resolution, we hired him to close down the gambling here at the inn.”
    Magnus Ridolph said in his suavest tones, “Following which, Mrs. Chaim and Mrs. Borgage naturally thought it best to come out and study the situation at first hand; am I right?”
    Mrs. Chaim and Mrs. Borgage glared. Mrs. Chaim said, “If you think, Martha Chickering, that the Woman’s League will in any way recognize this rogue—”
    “My dear Mrs. Chaim,” protested Magnus Ridolph.
    “But, Olga—I promised him a thousand munits a week!”
    Magnus Ridolph waved his hand airily. “My dear Mrs. Chickering, I prefer that any sums due me be distributed among worthy charities. I have profited during my short stay here—”
    “ See! ” came Captain Bussey’s voice. “For God’s sake, man, control yourself!”
    Magnus Ridolph, turning, found See struggling in the grasp of Captain Bussey. “Try and collect!” See cried out to Magnus Ridolph. He angrily thrust Captain Bussey’s arms aside, stood with hands clenching and unclenching. “Just try and collect!”
    “My dear Mr. See, I have already collected.”
    “You’ve done nothing of the sort—and if I catch you in my boat again, I’ll break your scrawny little neck!”
    Magnus Ridolph held up his hand. “The hundred thousand munits I wrote off immediately; however, there were six other bets which I placed by proxy; these were paid, and my share of the winnings came to well over three hundred thousand munits. Actually, I regard this sum as return of the capital which I placed with the Outer Empire Investment and Realty Society, plus a reasonable profit. Everything considered, it was a remunerative as well as instructive investment.”
    “Ridolph,” muttered See, “one of these days—”
    Mrs. Chaim shouldered forward. “Did I hear you say ‘Outer Empire Realty and Investment Society’?”
    Magnus Ridolph nodded. “I believe that Mr. See and Mr. Holpers were responsible officials of the concern.”
    Mrs. Chaim took two steps forward. See frowned uneasily; Bruce Holpers began to edge away. “Come back here!” cried Mrs. Chaim. “I have a few words to say before I have you arrested.”
    Magnus Ridolph turned to Captain Bussey. “You return to Methedeon on schedule, I assume?”
    “Yes,” said Captain Bussey dryly.
    Magnus Ridolph nodded. “I think I will go aboard at once, since there will be considerable demand for passage.”
    “As you wish,” said Captain Bussey.
    “I believe No. 12 is your best cabin?”
    “I believe so,” said Captain Bussey.
    “Then kindly regard Cabin No. 12 as booked.”
    “Very well, Mr. Ridolph.”
    Magnus Ridolph looked up the mountainside. “I noticed Mr. Pilby running along the ridge a few minutes ago. I think it would be a real kindness if he were notified that the war is over.”
    “I think so too,” said Captain Bussey. They looked around the group. Mrs. Chaim was still engaged with Julius See and Bruce Holpers.