The Brother of Daphne

Name: The Brother of Daphne
Author: Dornford Yates

by Dornford Yates

Pages: about 267
Category: Literature & Fiction
Language: English
Reading time: 4.9 h at 250 wpm

Start readingThe whole book, as cards or one word at a time. 2.7 h at 450 wpm in Read mode.

From the opening

"I said you'd do something," said Daphne, leaning back easily in her long chair.
"I don't even care," said Daphne. "But I didn't lie, old chap. My word is--"
"Your bond? Quite so. But not mine. The appointment I have in Town that day--"
It was a bazaar fete thing. Daphne and several others--euphemistically styled workers--had conspired and agreed together to obtain money by false pretences for and on behalf of a certain mission, to wit the Banana. I prefer to put it that way. There is a certain smack about the wording of an indictment. Almost a relish. The fact that two years before I had been let in for a stall and had defrauded fellow men and women of a considerable sum of money, but strengthened my determination not to be entrapped again. At the same time I realized that I was up against it.
The crime in question was fixed for Wednesday or Thursday--so much I knew. But no more. There was the rub. I really could not toil up to Town two days running.
"Let's see," I said carelessly, "the fete's on--er--Wednesday, or Thursday, is it?"
"Which day are you going up to Town?" said Daphne. I changed my ground.
"That's bad," said I musingly. "To any nation the consumption of home produce is of vital--"
Before she could reply, tea began to appear. When the footman had retired to fetch the second instalment of accessories, I pointed the finger of scorn at the table, upon which he had set the tray.
"It'd do for anything," said I. "Its silly sides, its crazy legs-"
"What if it would?" I said severely. "It's months since we gave up the elephants."
"My dear girl," I said hurriedly, "if it were not imperative for me to be in Town--"

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The Brother of Daphne

From the opening

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