“Carefully scheming and rehearsing, we finally perfected the details; at last all was ready and I was nearly frantic. The afternoon came-the girl usually passed our shop on what seemed to be an afternoon stroll, at about three o'clock. All was set-the shopkeeper lolled in the doorway; myself, my cock rampant and bared for action, lay on the packing case; the two rascals sat on other boxes beside me, wide grins on their faces as they contemplated the performance they were about to take part in.
“Soon my waiting was rewarded; my eye glued to a slit between the sidewalk boards, a feminine form stepped to the shopwindow and stood there, feet slightly apart, directly over my bulging eyes; I recognized the by-now-familiar proportions of the beautiful legs, white thighs and, between the lacy film of her drawers, the dark patch of hair on that darling quim. I tapped on the ceiling-the signal to the storekeeper- sprung the trap, and with a startled shriek the damsel's body came hurtling through the door. Her ankles were quickly seized by my two helpers; I advanced my now raging penis to the delightful cleft so invitingly spread before my eyes and, with a violent shove, embedded it in the delightful grotto of love. The girl's shrieks rent the air but she was powerless to struggle, gripped as she was by the two grinning confederates below and by my partner up above.
“A few sharp motions sufficed; my excitement was too much for me and in a shake I had spent. Telling my confederates to release the girl, I quickly buttoned my clothing, raced up the stairs and appeared at the front door, where I aided my ancient partner in extricating the girl from her predicament. She was so confused she hardly knew what was happening. A small knot of sympathetic onlookers had gathered. We took the girl into the shop, where we solicitously inquired whether she were injured. Gingerly feeling her limbs, she stated she seemed to be all right; if she realized what had happened to her lower parts she was too modest to mention it; although her face was a bright crimson, she said nothing of having been mistreated.
“From that time on, the maid discontinued her walks past our shop; at infrequent intervals I would see her on other streets, but she passed our place no more. Nothing was ever said, at least to me, about her experience; whether she related her troubles at home I do not know, but if it is so, I presume her people realized it would be next to impossible to prove a rape under such peculiar conditions, in plain sight of a half dozen people, so if they knew what had happened they at least made no fuss about it.
“A few months later I learned that the girl had crossed the Channel and was taking a 'rest' in France; I strongly suspect that I am the father of a child I have never seen, but that, of course, is only a suspicion.”
“Bravo!” cried Roxboro. “That was an ingenious scheme, but you are a lucky rascal indeed that you were able to perpetrate such an outrageous piece of villainy and go scot-free!”
“My lord,” said Montgomery, “I have a little scheme in mind, which I think will bring your lordship some amusement. I am acquainted with certain people in town, particularly a Mrs. Edwards, the guardian of a certain very beautiful young lady who is about to be married to a fellow named Trant. I have a plan which, with your lordship's permission, I shall try to put into effect. If your lordship will grant me some time off in which to perfect my plans and, incidentally, a few banknotes with which to take care of certain details, I shall endeavor to bring about something that I am sure will please you; that is, if you care to trust me with such a mission.”
“By all means,” replied Roxboro. “You may take what time you need. You are an ingenious devil, Montgomery, and I will leave the details up to you; I am expecting something which will be new and novel and highly entertaining; try not to disappoint me.”
“Very well, your lordship,” replied the crafty Montgomery. “If my plans go through, I think I can safely promise you some lively entertainment.”
With which he excused himself.
VOLUME VI
Well, here we are, Montgomery thought to himself, and stopping before the busy shop that bore the name of Trant over the door, he opened it and entered.
Proceeding directly back to the tiny office, he gently rapped and, upon being invited to enter, saluted the handsome young man at a desk and proffered a letter written by Lord Roxboro himself.
Mr. Trant (for that was who it was) opened the missive and after reading it rose to his feet and bowed to Montgomery and invited him to seat himself in a chair before the desk.
Montgomery sat down and, drawing out a cigar, offered one to his companion and proceeded at once to the subject that was on his mind.
“I suppose, Mr. Trant,” he started, “that you fully understand that Lord Roxboro considers you one of his best friends and in fact has had an eye upon you ever since you have started in business here.
“Lord Roxboro is of that type and likes to encourage others in business.
“I can assure you that affiliations once made with so powerful a man will lead you far in the business world.”
Trant was all at sea as to Montgomery's visit and murmuring thanks for his lordship's interest, he awaited further details of the emissary's call.
Montgomery, however, was in no hurry to conclude his task and, after critically examining the glowing cigar tip, continued in a voice so as not to be heard on the other side of the short partition that separated them from the shop proper:
“Lord Roxboro, as you are probably aware,” he said, “is one of the most wealthy and influential men in the district and from your contact with him in business you know that what he says is generally always done!
“Lord Roxboro is aware of your coming nuptials, and your connection with the family of Miss Hanscombe is looked upon by him with the greatest favor.
“By the way, Trant, what is Miss Hanscombe's Christian name, may I ask?”
“Grace,” answered Trant, looking hard at his self-possessed visitor and wondering what this talk would lead to.
“Well, well-Grace,” said Montgomery, rolling the name over in his mouth. “A pretty name, I must say.
“Well, Trant, as I have said before, Lord Roxboro takes an active interest in your affairs, and I being his confidant in all matters of this sort, happen to know… to know that at present you find your financial affairs at a low ebb. Am I right in this, Trant?”
“Oh, yes,” admitted Trant, thinking that at last he was seeing the dawn. “I am rather short of funds and I realize that his lordship has several of my notes on hand which were to be paid earlier and I assure you that at a very near date I will redeem them and I will no longer have to worry in regard to financial straits.”
“Ah,” said Montgomery significantly, “now we reach the crux of it.
“As you say, Trant, in a very short time you will have no reason to worry in regard to funds. If you will pardon my asking you a rather intimate question, is it not true that your conjunction with the fair Grace is expected to alleviate your worries in this particular quarter?”
Trant leaped to his feet at this and Montgomery, raising a restraining hand, begged him to reseat himself.
Realizing his predicament, the merchant slumped down in the chair and, bowing his head in his hands, bitterly admitted that Montgomery's guess was true.
“Well, then,” said the satisfied valet, “now that we have cleared that up, I hope that you will admit to me that your marriage with the fair Grace is based mostly upon the financial help that she will bring to you.
“In other words the money she brings is of far more interest to you than the passenger herself. Am I not right, Trant?”