Boxen: Childhood Chronicles Before Narnia

XI

H.M.S. Thrush had a great liking for the port of Marston on the Great Lake. Thither she wended her way immediately on her return from Floe. And so one evening Bar might have been seen talking to the manager of The Lake Inn.

‘Yes, Mr Bar?’

‘Can you tell me is there a Mr Orring staying here?’

‘Yes Mr Bar. Do you wish to see him?’

‘Yes.’

Bar followed the manager to a private sitting room. Here he found Mr Orring, an elderly lizard. The manager left them.

‘My dear Bar.’

‘’Evening. I come on business.’

‘You come on business?’

‘Yes. About your new Clique.’ He spoke curtly.

‘Ah!’

‘It appears you’ve quarrelled with Green.’

–“THE LITTLE BEAR WAS FURIOUS”–

‘Yes: he’s a most provoking bird.’

‘Well, you’ve got left!’

‘How!?’

‘Green and your Prussian friends & the others have undertaken to oppose tooth and nail any bill you bring in. Also they’re going to draw up a new bill leaving you out! A very good thing too. But d – n it all they’ve forgotten me as well!!’

The little bear was furious. He ruffled his well oiled fur, he flung things about the room. The lizard was despairingly calm. Presently he said, ‘Its all up Mr Bar. Its a hopeless job. My work has been useless.’

‘I told you that these Prussians would be the ruin of it!!’

‘Well this is no time for regrets. I will this evening start for Piscia, & live privately. I shall be practically ruined. I promised all in the League Cliqueships. I promised £400 compensation each if the plan failed.’

Bar was so genuinely distressed at the other’s fix that he forgot his own dissapointment.

‘Oh no Mr Orring. I for one would never touch a penny of it, & I am sure none of the others would. It was only ill luck. On the contrary we will all respect you for your effort & sympathise with your misfortune!’

‘It was not luck. It was my foolishness in quarelling with that bird. Of course I shall pay. It was my fault. Good evening.’

Bar went out more annoyed than he could say. But he saw the other would be better alone to think out a plan.

XII

The unhappy lizard’s position was indeed most unenviable. He was not originally rich when he had brought in the motion for the new clique, but he was a somewhat unscrupulous reptile and spent money like water in bribing here & there: doubtless he hoped to refind it when he became the new Little Master. Let it also be said for him that he thought the means justified his end. Then half way through, the foreigners threatened to back out & inform if they were [not] silenced with another fabulous bribe. And so when the blow fell Orring had had just enough to keep things going till the motion was carried. Now to 5 people he owed £400 (the 5 who had been promised Cliqueships) & to the other members of the League, of whom there were about 10 he owed 300 each. The Prussians now demanded a silence fee of £700 each, which he must pay or go to jail for bribery. The debts were –

5 Cliqueships …………….. £2000.

League ……………………. £3000.

3 Prussians ………………. £2100.

Total …………………… £7100.

That night he sat up late in his room, thinking, when suddenly a knock at the door broke in upon his reverie.

‘Come in.’

‘Mr Orring?’

‘Yes Sir.’

‘This letter for you.’

‘Thanks.’

The man went. And on opening the letter the lizard’s joy knew no bounds. It was a document to state that ‘Arnold Olderwell, gentleman, deceased, does give & bequeath to his cousen James Orring £100,000.’

XIII

The city of Murry read by a notice in every inn that on Monday, Parliament would assemble. Among the first to read the notice was General Quicksteppe as he sat down to breakfast in the Inner of the Goose. So the blow had fallen! Although the official notice did not state the business which was to be discussed, the old strategian knew. These beggars had brought in their new Clique bill. The present Clique of which he was a member had been in office for over two years & it was only natural that it should fall to peices sooner or later. His attempt to make an ally of Macgoullah had failed: the captain was too busy in his own work to take up politics. Presently Colonel Chutney sat down at the same table.

‘Good morning, General.’

‘Why, that’s you Chutney. Were you at the opera?’

‘Yes. Do you see about the session?’

‘Yes. I suppose that means a new Clique.’

‘Yes. We won’t be in it if there is?’

‘No. Hullo here’s Puddiphat. My good owl –’

‘’Morning. Do you see the notice –?’

‘Yes. A new Clique –’

‘No,’ said the viscount. ‘Because, look here. Orring the leader of the movement has gone home to Piscia & settled down.’

‘Rubbish!’