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But that was not it。 The feeling that he had read all this before grew instead of vanishing； as is generally the way on these occasions。 He had read this stuff before。 He was certain of it。 But when？ And where？ And above all why？ Surely he had not done it from choice。
It was the total impossibility of his having done it from choice that led his memory in the right direction。 There had only been a year or so in his life when he had been obliged to read things which he would not have read of his own free will； and that had been when he worked on the Chronicle。 Could it have been that they had given him this book of poems to review？ Or？
And then memory； in its usual eccentric way； having taken all this time to make the first part of the journey； finished the rest of it with one lightning swoop； and he knew。
And with the illumination came dismay。 Worse than dismay。 Horror。
〃Gosh！〃 said Jimmy。
He knew now why he had thought on the occasion of their first meeting in London that he had seen hair like Ann's before。 The mists rolled away and he saw everything clear and stark。 He knew what had happened at that meeting five years before； to which she had so mysteriously alluded。 He knew what she had meant that evening on the boat； when she had charged one Jimmy Crocker with having cured her of sentiment。 A cold sweat sprang into being about his temples。 He could remember that interview now； as clearly as if it had happened five minutes ago instead of five years。 He could recall the article for the Sunday Chronicle which he had written from the interview； and the ghoulish gusto with which he had written it。 He had had a boy's undisciplined sense of humour in those days； the sense of humour which riots like a young colt； careless of what it bruises and crushes。 He shuddered at the recollection of the things he had hammered out so gleefully on his typewriter down at the Chronicle office。 He found himself recoiling in disgust from the man he had been； the man who could have done a wanton thing like that without punction or ruth。 He had read extracts from the article to an appreciative colleague。 。 。 。
A great sympathy for Ann welled up in him。 No wonder she hated the memory of Jimmy Crocker。
It is probable that remorse would have tortured him even further； had he not chanced to turn absently to page forty…six and read a poem entitled 〃Love's Funeral。〃 It was not a long poem； and he had finished it inside of two minutes； but by that time a change had e upon his mood of self…loathing。 He no longer felt like a particularly mean murderer。 〃Love's Funeral〃 was like a tonic。 It braced and invigourated him。 It was so unspeakably absurd； so poor in every respect。 All things； he now perceived； had worked together for good。 Ann had admitted on the boat that it was his satire that had crushed out of her the fondness for this sort of thing。 If that was so； then the part he had played in her life had been that of a rescuer。 He thought of her as she was now and as she must have been then to have written stuff like this； and he rejoiced at what he had done。 In a manner of speaking the Ann of to…day； the glorious creature who went about the place kidnapping Ogdens； was his handiwork。 It was he who had destroyed the minor poetry virus in her。
The refrain of an old song came to him。
〃You made me what I am to…day！ I hope you're satisfied！〃
He was more than satisfied。 He was proud of himself。
He rejoiced； however； after the first flush of enthusiasm somewhat moderately。 There was no disguising the penalty of his deed of kindness。 To Ann Jimmy Crocker was no rescuer； but a sort of blend of ogre and vampire。 She must never learn his real identityor not until he had succeeded by assiduous toil； as he hoped he would； in neutralising that prejudice of the distant past。 A footstep outside broke in on his thoughts。 He thrust the book quickly back into its place。 Ann came in； and shut the door behind her。
〃Well？〃 she said eagerly。
Jimmy did not reply for a moment。 He was looking at her and thinking how perfect in every way she was now； as she stood there purged of sentimentality； all aglow with curiosity to know how her nefarious plans had succeeded。 It was his Ann who stood there； not the author of 〃The Lonely Heart。〃
〃Did you ask her？〃
〃Yes。 But〃
Ann's face fell。
〃Oh！ She won't let him e back？〃
〃She absolutely refused。 I did my best。〃
〃I know you did。〃
There was a silence。
〃Well； this settles it；〃 said Jimmy。 〃Now you will have to let me help you。〃
Ann looked troubled。
〃But it's such a risk。 Something terrible might happen to you。 Isn't impersonation a criminal offence？〃
〃What does it matter？ They tell me prisons are excellent places nowadays。 Concerts； picnicsall that sort of thing。 I shan't mind going there。 I have a nice singing…voice。 I think I will try to make the glee…club。〃
〃I suppose we are breaking the law；〃 said Ann seriously。 〃I told Jerry that nothing could happen to us except the loss of his place to him and being sent to my grandmother to me； but I'm bound to say I said that just to encourage him。 Don't you think we ought to know what the penalty is； in case we are caught？〃
〃It would enable us to make our plans。 If it's a life sentence； I shouldn't worry about selecting my future career。〃
〃You see；〃 explained Ann； 〃I suppose they would hardly send me to prison； as I'm a relationthough I would far rather go there than to grandmother's。 She lives all alone miles away in the country； and is strong on disciplinebut they might do all sorts of things to you； in spite of my pleadings。 I really think you had better give up the idea； I'm afraid my enthusiasm carried me away。 I didn't think of all this before。〃
〃Never。 This thing goes through； or fails over my dead body。 What are you looking for？〃
Ann was deep in a bulky volume which stood on a lectern by the window。
〃Catalogue；〃 she said briefly； turning the pages。 〃Uncle Peter has heaps of law books。 I'll look up kidnapping。 Here we are。 Law Encyclopedia。 Shelf X。 Oh； that's upstairs。 I shan't be a minute。〃
She ran to the little staircase； and disappeared。 Her voice came from the gallery。
〃Here we are。 I've got it。〃
〃Shoot；〃 said Jimmy。
〃There's such a lot of it；〃 called the voice from above。 〃Pages and pages。 I'm just skimming。 Wait a moment。〃
A rustling followed from the gallery； then a sneeze。
〃This is the dustiest place I was ever in；〃 said the voice。 〃It's inches deep everywhere。 It's full of cigarette ends； too。 I must tell uncle。 Oh； here it is。 Kidnappingpenalties〃
〃Hush〃 called Jimmy。 〃There's some one ing。〃
The door opened。
〃Hello；〃 said Ogden； strolling in。 〃I was looking for you。 Didn't think you would be here。〃
〃e right in； my little man； and make yourself at home；〃 said Jimmy。
Ogden eyed him with disfavour。
〃You're pretty fresh； aren't you？〃
〃This is praise from Sir Hubert Stanley。〃
〃Eh？ Who's he？〃
〃Oh； a gentleman who knew what was what。〃
Ogden closed the door。
〃Well； I know what's what； too。 I know what you are for one thing。〃 He chuckled。 〃I've got your number all right。〃
〃In what respect？〃
Another chuckle proceeded from the bulbous boy。
〃You think you're smooth； don't you？ But I'm onto you； Jimmy Crocker。 A lot of Jimmy Crocker you are。 You're a crook。 Get me？ And I know what you're after； at that。 You're going to try to kidnap me。〃
From the corner of his eye Jimmy was aware of Ann's startled face； looking over the gallery rail and withdrawn hastily。 No sound came from the heights； but he knew that she was listening intently。
〃What makes you think that？〃
Ogden lowered himself into the depths of his favourite easy chair； and； putting his feet restfully on the writing…desk； met Jimmy's gaze with a glassy but knowing eye。
〃Got a cigarette？〃 he said。
〃I have not；〃 said Jimmy。 〃I'm sorry。〃
〃So am I。〃
〃Returning； with your permission； to our original subject；〃 said Jimmy； 〃what makes you think that I have e here to kidnap you？〃
Ogden yawned。
〃I was in the drawing…room after lunch； and that guy Lord Wisbeach came in and said he wanted to talk to mother privately。 Mother sent me out of the room； so of course I listened at the door。〃
〃Do you know where little boys go who listen to private conversations？〃 said Jimmy severely。
〃To the witness…stand generally； I guess。 Well； I listened； and I heard this Lord Wisbeach tell mother that he had only pretended to recognise you as Jimmy Crocker and that really he had never seen you before in his life。 He said you were a crook and that they had got to watch you。 Well； I knew then why you had e here。 It was pretty smooth； getting in the way you did。 I've got to hand it to you。〃
Jimmy did not reply。 His mind was occupied with the contemplation of this dashing counter…stroke on the part of Gentleman Jack。 He could hardly refrain from admiring the simple strategy with which the latter had circumvented him。 There was an artistry about the move which pelled respect。
〃Well； now； see here；〃 said Ogden； 〃you and I have got to get together on this proposition。 I've been kidnapped twice before； and the only guys that made anything out of it were the kidnappers。 It's pretty soft fo